N-CSR 1 fp0034338_ncsr.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act file number: 811-08194

 

FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Karen Gilomen, Esq., Secretary

Financial Investors Trust

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-623-2577

 

Date of fiscal year end: April 30

 

Date of reporting period: May 1, 2017 – April 30, 2018

 

 

 

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  PAGE
Manager Commentary  
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 1
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 3
Performance Update  
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 5
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 7
Consolidated Disclosure of Fund Expenses 9
Consolidated Schedule of Investments  
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 10
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 12
Consolidated Statements of Assets & Liabilities 14
Consolidated Statements of Operations 16
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets  
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 17
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 18
Consolidated Financial Highlights  
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 19
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 21
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 23
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 34
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements 35
Additional Information 37
Trustees and Officers 38
Privacy Policy 43

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Performance Results  

For the twelve-month period ending April 30, 2018, the Class I shares of the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) posted a return of -3.13%. Per its mandate, the Fund maintained tight correlation to the Aspen Managed Futures Beta Index (“Aspen MFBI” or the “Index”). The Index uses a combination of trend and counter-trend algorithms to determine exposures to 23 futures markets. In following the Index, the Fund can take long or short positions in each of the eligible markets. A long position in a futures market will profit if the price of the futures contract rises, whereas a short position will profit if the price of the futures contract falls.

 

The Barclay BTOP50 Index, a managed futures benchmark, returned -0.61% over the same period. It is important to note that there are substantive differences between the Fund and this index in terms of construction. There were no significant changes to the Fund strategy during this period.

 

Explanation of Fund Performance  

Until January of 2018, broad backdrop market volatility remained near all-time lows globally, as it had been for virtually all of 2017. While low volatility is typically not an auspicious backdrop for trend following strategies, it does not usually tend to produce significantly poor results either. The May-December period was an example of that phenomenon, as a series of relatively small monthly gains and small monthly losses for the Fund combined to produce a small end-to-end loss.

 

When backdrop volatility is abnormally low, occasional “events” that punctuate the markets with brief spikes of more elevated volatility can have an outsized effect on trend following performance. One such event occurred in May 2017. Heading into that month, the Fund was positioned on the short side in energy futures. But midmonth, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced a deal in principle to extend an oil output freeze for an extra nine months. Energy prices soared on the news, causing losses for the Fund in energies, and causing the trend model to reverse into long energy positions. Then in late May the official OPEC meeting occurred. Though OPEC members ratified the pre-announced deal, no further supportive measures were forthcoming. Disappointment in the markets caused energy prices to plunge once again, causing classic “V-top” losses for the Fund (i.e., losses arising from prices moving up and then down in an inverted V-shaped pattern). Largely as a consequence of this move, the Fund returned -1.51% in May.

 

The first several weeks of June were profitable, if uneventful. Then in the last week of the month, European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi gave a speech that markets interpreted as unexpectedly hawkish. The resulting activity could be described as a European version of the “taper tantrum” that hit the markets after similar comments by US Federal Reserve president Ben Bernanke were interpreted similarly: Both equity and fixed income markets declined rapidly as markets contemplated the consequences of potentially faster-than-expected reductions in ECB accommodation. This produced losses for Fund, albeit insufficient to eliminate the entire monthly gain. The final June fund return was +1.10%.

 

The entirety of the third and fourth quarters constituted a fairly uneventful and incredibly low-volatility period for investment markets. A few sustained trends developed (most notably long positions in equities and a long position in copper); others were profitable at times with occasional reversals (e.g., downtrends in fixed income, which performed well in July and reversed in August, but then resumed at the end of the year; and uptrends across most currencies, which were profitable through most of the third quarter, reversed at the end of September, and also resumed as the year ended). The result of primarily low-vol, range-bound activity was a continued series of minor monthly returns. For the months of July, August, September, October, November, and December, Fund returns were +1.63%, -1.81%, 0.76%, +0.33%, -1.31%, and +1.33%, respectively.

 

Long equity trends carried into 2018, where they proved profitable in the equity “melt-up” that characterized most of January. Interestingly, volatility—direct and implied—increased as the month progressed, but initially risk assets like equities and energies continued rising, and bonds lost value as interest rates rose as well (traditionally another “risk on” occurrence). The Fund was well-positioned for these movements, and returned +2.29% for the month of January.

 

Late in January, however, markets peaked and began a very rapid descent. In just six trading days, equity markets gave back all of their year-to-date gains and more, as did the Fund. The carnage ended in early February and recovered somewhat from there, but Fund return was -3.84% for the full month.

 

Notably, as we have often had occasion to mention, many other trend-following Call to Action (CTAs) (as proxied by benchmarks like the BTOP50 Index) have demonstrated significantly greater exposure to long equity futures positioning than does the Fund. The first two months of 2018 were a good example, as the BTOP50 Index returned +3.13% in January and -5.58% in February. In fact, February was the worst month for the benchmark since 2003.

 

After February, broad market volatility remained higher than it had been in 2017. The losses sustained by the Fund’s trend following model led to mostly defensive, internally hedged positioning for much of March and April, resulting in mostly small daily and monthly moves. March and April returns were -0.11% and -0.33%, respectively. April performance was bolstered by positive returns from the Fund’s counter-trend model, which itself was bolstered by the inclusion of the US dollar as a “long” leg (actually expressed as a flat position), making counter-trend net short foreign

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

exchange overall, coinciding with a rally in the US dollar in April. However, the same phenomenon caused reversals in long currency trend positioning, which had built up due to US dollar weakness over the preceding months.

 

Outlook  

While the sudden reversal of entrenched long equity trends and the lack of directional consensus among other risk assets produced mild losses for the Fund in the early months of 2018, the return of volatility, if it holds up, is generally a cause for optimism. Of course, volatility is always bidirectional, and the ride may continue to be wilder from here. But whereas the wild ups and downs of an elevated volatility backdrop are often detrimental to risk asset performance, they have historically tended to accumulate to positive returns for traditional trend following models like the one executed in the Fund.

 

The counter-trend model appears set to remain net short foreign exchange futures for the foreseeable future, portending positive returns if the latest US dollar rally continues, and losses if it reverses instead.

 

Sincerely,

Bryan R. Fisher

William Ware Bush

Aspen Partners, Ltd.

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data please call 1-855-845-9444.

 

The views of Aspen Partners, Ltd. and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writers’ current views. The views expressed are those of the Fund’s adviser only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Aspen Partners Ltd. nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

Correlation - a statistical measure of how two securities or portfolios move in relation to each other.

 

Aspen Managed Futures Beta Index (Aspen MFBI) is constructed using a quantitative, rules-based model designed to replicate the trend following and counter-trend exposure of futures markets by allocating assets to liquid futures contracts of certain financial and commodities futures markets. The Index therefore seeks to reflect the performance of strategies and exposures common to a broad universe of futures markets, i.e., managed futures beta. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor cannot invest directly in the Index.

 

Barclay BTOP50 Index is an index of the largest investable CTA programs as measured by assets under management. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

Taper tantrum - the term used to refer to the 2013 surge in U.S. Treasury yields, which resulted from the Federal Reserve’s use of tapering to gradually reduce the amount of money it was feeding into the economy.

 

 

2

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Performance Results  

For the twelve-month period ending April 30, 2018, the Class I shares of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund (the “Fund”) posted a return of +7.76%. Per its mandate, the Fund traded the Aspen Portfolio Strategy, which combines full exposure to US large-cap equities (the “Equity Strategy”) with full exposure to Aspen’s proprietary diversified trend following program (the “Futures Strategy”). To capture the Equity Strategy, the Fund can employ a variety of vehicles, including exchange-traded funds and futures contracts. To capture the Futures Strategy, the Fund can take long or short positions in each eligible futures market. A long position in a futures market will profit if the price of the futures contract rises, whereas a short position will profit if the price of the futures contract falls.

 

The S&P 500 Index, a US large-cap equity benchmark, returned +13.27%. See the following section for a description of the sources of the sub-period and full-period return differential between the Fund and the S&P 500.

 

Explanation of Fund Performance 

Until January of 2018, broad backdrop market volatility remained near all-time lows globally. A low volatility regime is often a good backdrop for risk assets like equities, and given the return of the Equity Strategy, the period in question was no exception. Conversely, low volatility is typically not an auspicious backdrop for trend following strategies.

 

When backdrop volatility is abnormally low, occasional “events” that punctuate the markets with brief spikes of more elevated volatility can have an outsized effect on trend following performance. One such event occurred in May 2017. Heading into that month, the Fund was positioned on the short side in energy futures. But midmonth, Saudi Arabia and Russia announced a deal in principle to extend an oil output freeze for an extra nine months. Energy prices soared on the news, causing losses for the Fund in energies, and causing the Futures Strategy to reverse into long energy positions. Then in late May the official OPEC meeting occurred. Though OPEC members ratified the pre-announced deal, no further supportive measures were forthcoming. Disappointment in the markets caused energy prices to plunge once again, causing classic “V-top” losses for the Futures Strategy (i.e., losses arising from prices moving up and then down in an inverted V-shaped pattern). Conversely, May was a strong positive month for equities, and the Fund was able to produce a mildly positive return of +0.20% despite the losses in the Futures Strategy.

 

The first several weeks of June were profitable for both the Equity Strategy and the Futures Strategy. Then in the last week of the month, European Central Bank president Mario Draghi gave a speech that markets interpreted as unexpectedly hawkish. The resulting activity could be described as a European version of the “taper tantrum” that hit the markets after similar comments by US Federal Reserve president Ben Bernanke were interpreted similarly in 2013: Both equity and fixed income markets declined rapidly as markets contemplated the consequences of potentially faster-than-expected reductions in ECB accommodation. This produced losses for Fund, albeit insufficient to eliminate the entire monthly gain. The final June fund return was +0.82 %.

 

The entirety of the third and fourth quarters constituted a fairly uneventful and incredibly low-volatility period for investment markets. A few sustained trends developed and benefitted the Futures Strategy (most notably long positions in equities and a long position in copper); others were profitable briefly and then reversed (e.g., downtrends in fixed income, which performed well in July and reversed in August, but then resumed at the end of the year; and uptrends across most currencies, which were profitable through most of the third quarter, reversed at the end of September, and also resumed as the year ended). Over that same timeframe, the Equity Strategy continued to contribute positively and fairly consistently.

 

Overall Fund returns were +3.36%, -0.86%, +1.58%, +3.11%, +2.94%, and +0.77% in July, August, September, October, November, and December, respectively. (I.e., of these six months, only in August were there negative Futures Strategy returns in sufficient quantity to outrun minor positive Equity Strategy returns.)

 

Incredibly, the S&P 500 (which is tracked directly by the Equity Strategy) posted a positive total return for thirteen consecutive months ending in January 2018—the longest such streak in over 30 years. January was arguably the crowning achievement of the entire streak. A strong monthly gain for US and global equities, as tracked by long trends in the Futures Strategy, produced a gain of +8.50% for the Fund that month. Interestingly, volatility—direct and implied—increased as the month progressed, but initially risk assets like equities and energies continued rising, and bonds lost value as interest rates rose as well (traditionally another “risk on” occurrence).

 

Late in January, however, markets peaked and began a very rapid descent. In just six trading days, equity markets gave back all of their year-to-date gains and more, as did the Fund. The carnage ended in early February and recovered somewhat from there, but Fund return was -8.00% for the full month. As we’ve noted elsewhere, historically the combination of equity and trend following returns tends to reduce both the kurtosis (think “fat-tailedness”) and skewness (think “tendency for outliers to fall to one side”) of both asset classes stand-alone. The combined portfolio is more Gaussian—more “normalized”—than either stand-alone. A consequence of reducing the dangerous tail observations, though, is what mathematicians call “broad shoulders”: I.e., there are more observations of intermediate-sized volatility. The January gain and February loss are illustrative of the positive and negative “broad shoulders” of a normalized distribution.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Further losses in US equities contributed to a negative month in March, resulting in Fund returns of -2.88%. In April, losses in long currency trend positioning contributed to the Fund’s -0.49% return, as the US dollar rallied from its descent over several months prior.

 

Outlook  

While the sudden reversal of entrenched long equity trends and the lack of directional consensus among other risk assets produced losses for both the Equity Strategy and the Futures Strategy in the early months of 2018, the return of volatility, if it holds up, is generally a cause for optimism at least for trend following strategies. Of course, volatility is always bidirectional, and the ride may continue to be wilder from here. The ideal scenario would be one in which US equities could resume their generally upward trajectory against a backdrop of sustained elevated volatility with the potential to produce tradable trends across the market spectrum. Such a scenario has not generally prevailed in the post-Great Financial Crisis years, but it was commonplace for both US equities and traditional trend following managers to post gains simultaneously in the years prior.

 

Sincerely,

Bryan R. Fisher

William Ware Bush

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data please call 1-855-845-9444.

 

The views of Aspen Partners, Ltd. and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writers’ current views. The views expressed are those of the Fund’s adviser only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Aspen Partners Ltd. nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Aspen Portfolio Strategy Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

Taper tantrum - the term used to refer to the 2013 surge in U.S. Treasury yields, which resulted from the Federal Reserve’s use of tapering to gradually reduce the amount of money it was feeding into the economy.

 

 

4

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance as of April 30, 2018

 

        Since Expense Ratios
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Inception* Total Net(1)
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund - Class A (NAV)(2) -3.33% -5.21% -1.00% -1.82% 1.62% 1.62%
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund - Class A (MOP)(3) -8.61% -6.97% -2.11% -2.64% 1.62% 1.62%
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund - Class I -3.15% -5.17% -0.83% -1.59% 1.29% 1.29%
SG CTA Index(4) -0.26% -1.85% 1.58% 0.65%    
Aspen Managed Futures Beta Index(5) -2.39% -4.74% -0.43% -1.11%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-845-9444.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

*Fund Inception date of August 2, 2011.

 

(1)Aspen Partners, Ltd. (the “Adviser”) has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursements (excluding distribution and service (12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.55% of the Funds’ average daily net assets. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Funds’ expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Funds’ Board of Trustees

(2)Net Asset Value (NAV) is the share price without sales charges.

(3)Maximum Offering Price (MOP) includes sales charges. Class A returns include effects of the Funds’ maximum sales charge of 5.50%.

(4)The SG CTA Index (formerly, the Newedge CTA Index) provides the market with a reliable daily performance benchmark of major commodity trading advisors (CTAs). The SG CTA Index calculates the daily rate of return for a pool of CTAs selected from the larger managers that are open to new investment. Selection of the pool of qualified CTAs used in construction of the Index will be conducted annually, with re-balancing on January 1st of each year. A committee of industry professionals has been established to monitor the methodology of the index on a regular basis. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor cannot invest directly in the Index.

(5)Aspen Managed Futures Beta Index – The Managed Futures Beta Index is constructed using a quantitative, rules-based model designed to replicate the trend-following and counter-trend exposure of futures markets by allocating assets to liquid futures contracts of certain financial and commodities futures markets. The Index therefore seeks to reflect the performance of strategies and exposures common to a broad universe of futures markets, i.e., managed futures beta. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

Portfolio Composition as of April 30, 2018 

As a percentage of Net Assets^

 

 (PIE CHART)

 

^Holdings subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance of $10,000 Initial Investment (as of April 30, 2018) 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 

6

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance as of April 30, 2018

 

      Expense Ratios
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 1 Year Since Inception* Gross Net(1)
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund - Class A (NAV)(2) 7.44% 3.77% 2.83% 1.99%
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund - Class A (MOP)(3) 1.54% -0.54% 2.83% 1.99%
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund - Class I 7.76% 4.10% 2.26% 1.59%
S&P 500® Index(4) 13.27% 15.17%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-845-9444.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

*Fund Inception date of December 28, 2016.
(1)Aspen Partners, Ltd. (the “Adviser”) has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursements (excluding distribution and service (12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.55% of the Funds’ average daily net assets. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Funds’ expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Funds’ Board of Trustees
(2)Net Asset Value (NAV) is the share price without sales charges.
(3)Maximum Offering Price (MOP) includes sales charges. Class A returns include effects of the Funds’ maximum sales charge of 5.50%.
(4)The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

Portfolio Composition as of April 30, 2018 

As a percentage of Net Assets^

 

(PIE CHART) 

 

^Holdings subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance of $10,000 Initial Investment (as of April 30, 2018) 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 

8

 

Aspen Funds Consolidated Disclosure of Fund Expenses
 
April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; shareholder servicing fees; and other fund operating expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars), of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period of November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  Beginning
Account Value
11/1/17
Ending
Account Value
4/30/18
Expense Ratio(a) Expenses Paid
During period
11/1/17 - 4/30/18(b)
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $978.80 1.52% $7.46
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.26 1.52% $7.60
Class I        
Actual $1,000.00 $979.20 1.45% $7.12
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.60 1.45% $7.25
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $993.20 1.65% $8.15
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,016.61 1.65% $8.25
Class I        
Actual $1,000.00 $993.90 1.55% $7.66
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.11 1.55% $7.75

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.
(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Principal Amount/Shares  

Value

(Note 2)

 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (92.36%)          
MONEY MARKET FUND (8.70%)          
Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management Fund - Institutional Shares, 7-day yield, 1.537%   7,721,143   $7,721,143 
           
U.S. TREASURY BILLS (83.66%)          
1.159%, 05/24/2018(a)  $5,500,000    5,494,404 
1.126%, 06/21/2018(a)   11,200,000    11,173,344 
1.171%, 07/19/2018(a)   9,000,000    8,965,462 
1.267%, 08/16/2018(a)   9,700,000    9,646,827 
1.411%, 09/13/2018(a)   13,350,000    13,256,258 
1.548%, 10/11/2018(a)   10,300,000    10,209,409 
1.752%, 11/08/2018(a)   6,550,000    6,483,799 
1.819%, 12/06/2018(a)   9,150,000    9,048,694 
         74,278,197 
           
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $82,082,859)        81,999,340 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (92.36%)          
(Cost $82,082,859)       $81,999,340 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (7.64%)        6,787,620(b)
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $88,786,960 

 

(a)Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.
(b)Includes cash which is being held as collateral for futures contracts.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

10

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments
 
April 30, 2018

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

At April 30, 2018, the Fund had the following outstanding futures contracts:

 

Description  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
 
Commodity Contracts                       
Corn Future(a)   Long    191   07/13/2018  $3,827,162   $47,043 
NY Harbor ULSD Future(a)   Long    41   05/31/2018   3,701,095    44,295 
Soybean Future(a)   Long    48   07/13/2018   2,516,400    22,023 
WTI Crude Future(a)   Long    55   05/22/2018   3,771,350    5,741 
Equity Contracts                       
FTSE 100 Index Future   Long    51   06/15/2018   5,237,794    136,812 
Nikkei 225 Index Future   Long    48   06/07/2018   5,388,000    189,263 
Foreign Currency Contracts                       
CHF Currency Future   Short    156   06/18/2018   (19,757,400)   345,852 
Euro FX Currency Future   Short    99   06/18/2018   (15,002,213)   122,180 
                $(10,317,812)  $913,209 

 

Description  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value and
Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Commodity Contracts                       
Copper Future(a)   Long    16   07/27/2018  $1,229,600   $(33,452)
Gold 100 Oz Future(a)   Long    19   06/27/2018   2,506,480    (41,482)
Silver Future(a)   Long    15   07/27/2018   1,230,075    (13,249)
Sugar No. 11 (World) Future(a)   Short    291   06/29/2018   (3,829,560)   (206,450)
Equity Contracts                       
EURO STOXX 50 Index Future   Short    63   06/15/2018   (2,642,978)   (45,048)
S&P 500 E-Mini Future   Long    20   06/15/2018   2,647,000    (52,396)
Foreign Currency Contracts                       
Australian Dollar Currency Future   Long    133   06/18/2018   10,014,900    (329,975)
Canadian Dollar Currency Future   Long    63   06/19/2018   4,910,220    (22,216)
Japanese Yen Currency Future   Long    43   06/18/2018   4,933,175    (115,213)
Interest Rate Contracts                       
Canadian 10 Year Bond Future   Short    147   06/20/2018   (15,049,768)   (52,456)
Euro-Bund Future   Short    52   06/07/2018   (9,968,113)   (85,355)
Long Gilt Future   Short    88   06/27/2018   (14,811,754)   (160,724)
U.S. 10 Year Treasury Note Future   Short    125   06/20/2018   (14,953,125)   (34,417)
                $(33,783,848)  $(1,192,433)

 

Common Abbreviations:

FTSE - Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange

S&P - Standard and Poor's

ULSD - Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel

 

(a)Owned by an entity that is owned by the Fund and is consolidated as described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares  

Value

(Note 2)

 
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (79.17%)          
SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust   150,442   $39,795,140 
           
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS          
(Cost $35,492,605)        39,795,140 
           
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (12.51%)          
MONEY MARKET FUND (12.51%)          
Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management Fund - Institutional Shares, 7-day yield, 1.537%   6,285,392    6,285,392 
           
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $6,285,392)        6,285,392 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (91.68%)          
(Cost $41,777,997)       $46,080,532 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (8.32%)        4,181,600(a)
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $50,262,132 

 

(a)Includes cash which is being held as collateral for futures contracts.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

12

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments
 
April 30, 2018

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

At April 30, 2018, the Fund had the following outstanding futures contracts:

 

Description  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value and
Unrealized
Appreciation
 
Commodity Contracts                       
Corn Future(a)   Long    124   07/13/2018  $2,484,650   $51,804 
NY Harbor ULSD Future(a)   Long    27   05/31/2018   2,437,306    35,322 
Soybean Future(a)   Long    31   07/13/2018   1,625,175    22,360 
WTI Crude Future(a)   Long    35   05/22/2018   2,399,950    26,016 
Equity Contracts                       
FTSE 100 Index Future   Long    33   06/15/2018   3,389,161    97,743 
Nikkei 225 Index Future   Long    31   06/07/2018   3,479,750    145,279 
Foreign Currency Contracts                       
Australian Dollar Currency Future   Short    84   06/18/2018   (6,325,200)   24,078 
                $9,490,792   $402,602 

 

Description  Position   Contracts   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Value
   Value and
Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Commodity Contracts                       
Copper Future(a)   Long    10   07/27/2018  $768,500   $(20,033)
Gold 100 Oz Future(a)   Long    12   06/27/2018   1,583,040    (33,959)
Silver Future(a)   Long    9   07/27/2018   738,045    (10,199)
Sugar No. 11 (World) Future(a)   Short    189   06/29/2018   (2,487,240)   (142,553)
Equity Contracts                       
EURO STOXX 50 Index Future   Short    41   06/15/2018   (1,720,034)   (37,239)
S&P 500 E-Mini Future   Long    109   06/15/2018   14,426,150    (378,684)
Foreign Currency Contracts                       
Canadian Dollar Currency Future   Long    41   06/19/2018   3,195,540    (10,087)
Euro FX Currency Future   Long    21   06/18/2018   3,182,288    (82,626)
Japanese Yen Currency Future   Long    28   06/18/2018   3,212,300    (102,456)
Interest Rate Contracts                       
Canadian 10 Year Bond Future   Short    96   06/20/2018   (9,828,420)   (25,938)
Euro-Bund Future   Short    34   06/07/2018   (6,517,613)   (55,826)
Long Gilt Future   Short    58   06/27/2018   (9,762,292)   (117,866)
U.S. 10 Year Treasury Note Future   Short    82   06/20/2018   (9,809,250)   (17,658)
                $(13,018,986)  $(1,035,124)

 

Common Abbreviations:

FTSE - Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange

S&P - Standard and Poor's

ULSD - Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel

 

(a)Owned by an entity that is owned by the Fund and is consolidated as described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

Aspen Funds Consolidated Statements of Assets & Liabilities
 
April 30, 2018

 

   Aspen Managed
Futures Strategy
Fund
   Aspen Portfolio
Strategy Fund
 
ASSETS:          
Investments, at value  $81,999,340   $46,080,532 
Foreign cash due from broker for futures contracts(Cost $– and $248,168) (Note 3)       246,547 
Deposit with broker for futures contracts (Note 3)   7,762,766    4,087,800 
Receivable for shares sold   11,726    144,090 
Interest receivable   11,805    7,152 
Prepaid and other assets   5,662    10,469 
Total assets   89,791,299    50,576,590 
           
LIABILITIES:          
Foreign cash due to broker for futures contracts (Note 3)   574,524     
Payable to advisor   55,813    27,199 
Payable for investments purchased   3    276 
Variation margin payable   134,579    201,247 
Payable for shares redeemed   100,079     
Payable for administration fees   37,760    27,224 
Payable for distribution and service fees          
Class A   3,125    1,884 
Payable for transfer agency fees   13,995    12,377 
Delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees          
Class A   157     
Class I   15,819    6,661 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   1,005    546 
Payable for professional fees   30,134    25,603 
Payable for chief compliance officer fees   4,912    2,669 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   540    293 
Payable for licensing fees   18,605     
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   13,289    8,479 
Total liabilities   1,004,339    314,458 
NET ASSETS  $88,786,960   $50,262,132 
           
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:          
           
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $116,680,030   $47,462,200 
Accumulated net investment loss   (367,562)   (24,568)
Accumulated net realized loss   (27,176,061)   (843,616)
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (349,447)   3,668,116 
NET ASSETS  $88,786,960   $50,262,132 
           
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $82,082,859   $41,777,997 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

14

 

Aspen Funds Consolidated Statements of Assets & Liabilities
 
  April 30, 2018

 

   Aspen Managed
Futures Strategy
Fund
   Aspen Portfolio
Strategy Fund
 
PRICING OF SHARES:          
Class A:          
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $7.85   $25.81 
Net Assets  $3,452,141   $2,729,664 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   439,627    105,747 
Maximum offering price per share (NAV/0.9450), based on maximum sales charge of 5.50% of the offering price  $8.31   $27.31 
           
Class I:          
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $7.99   $25.87 
Net Assets  $85,334,819   $47,532,469 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   10,676,386    1,837,591 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

Aspen Funds Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Aspen Managed
Futures Strategy
Fund
   Aspen Portfolio
Strategy Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME:        
Interest  $1,049,678   $ 
Dividends   90,544    799,750 
Total investment income   1,140,222    799,750 
           
EXPENSES:          
Investment advisory fees (Note 6)   920,192    473,083 
Investment advisory fees - subsidiary (Note 6)   118,827    13,170 
Administrative fees   232,293    118,908 
Distribution and service fees          
Class A   23,067    6,059 
Transfer agency fees   64,288    49,860 
Delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees          
Class A   819     
Class I   90,551    28,138 
Professional fees   36,068    28,003 
Offering costs       48,967 
Custodian fees   11,454    9,577 
Trustee fees and expenses   15,012    13,573 
Principal financial officer fees   3,513    1,487 
Chief compliance officer fees   32,012    12,844 
Licensing fees   306,731     
Other   64,181    42,079 
Total expenses before waiver/reimbursement   1,919,008    845,748 
Waiver of investment advisory fees       (93,224)
Waiver of investment advisory fees - subsidiary (Note 6)   (118,827)   (13,170)
Total net expenses   1,800,181    739,354 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME/(LOSS)   (659,959)   60,396 
           
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments   (53,018)   985 
Net realized loss on futures contracts   (4,914,905)   (22,118)
Net realized gain/(loss) on foreign currency transactions   (253,967)   32,019 
Total net realized gain/(loss)   (5,221,890)   10,886 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments   64,154    3,678,102 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on futures contracts   2,236,408    (651,297)
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency transactions   (51,962)   (4,306)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   2,248,600    3,022,499 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS   (2,973,290)   3,033,385 
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $(3,633,249)  $3,093,781 

  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

16

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

  

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment loss  $(659,959)  $(1,929,803)
Net realized loss   (5,221,890)   (7,661,403)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   2,248,600    (7,772,050)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations   (3,633,249)   (17,363,256)
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 4):          
From net investment income          
Class A       (87,401)
Class I       (2,130,729)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions       (2,218,130)
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sales of shares   1,957,143    5,709,455 
Distributions reinvested       77,296 
Cost of shares redeemed   (4,685,659)   (18,518,215)
Redemption fees   40    2,337 
Class I          
Proceeds from sales of shares   36,658,111    67,326,891 
Distributions reinvested       1,277,264 
Cost of shares redeemed   (142,925,441)   (119,175,878)
Redemption fees   7,858    9,991 
Net decrease from share transactions   (108,987,948)   (63,290,859)
           
Net decrease in net assets   (112,621,197)   (82,872,245)
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   201,408,157    284,280,402 
End of period*  $88,786,960   $201,408,157 
*Includes accumulated net investment loss of:  $(367,562)  $(592,781)
           
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Class A          
Sold   244,494    657,148 
Distributions reinvested       8,695 
Redeemed   (584,494)   (2,116,176)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (340,000)   (1,450,333)
           
Class I          
Sold   4,482,058    7,602,448 
Distributions reinvested       141,447 
Redeemed   (17,442,220)   (13,558,549)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (12,960,162)   (5,814,654)

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

  For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the Period December 29, 2016
(Commencement) to April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income/(loss)  $60,396   $(2,905)
Net realized gain/(loss)   10,886    (1,514,647)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   3,022,499    645,617 
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   3,093,781    (871,935)
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 4):          
From net investment income          
Class A   (10,269)    
Class I   (268,936)    
From net realized gains on investments          
Class A   (34,580)    
Class I   (612,820)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (926,605)    
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sales of shares   717,112    4,346,888 
Distributions reinvested   44,794     
Cost of shares redeemed   (345,910)   (2,024,348)
Class I          
Proceeds from sales of shares   9,638,520    42,535,105 
Distributions reinvested   767,869     
Cost of shares redeemed   (6,046,036)   (669,987)
Redemption fees   284    2,600 
Net increase from share transactions   4,776,633    44,190,258 
           
Net increase in net assets   6,943,809    43,318,323 
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   43,318,323     
End of period*  $50,262,132   $43,318,323 
*Includes accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $(24,568)  $62,516 
           
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Class A          
Sold   27,302    173,467 
Distributions reinvested   1,679     
Redeemed   (13,079)   (83,622)
Net increase in shares outstanding   15,902    89,845 
           
Class I          
Sold   361,712    1,707,193 
Distributions reinvested   28,731     
Redeemed   (232,745)   (27,300)
Net increase in shares outstanding   157,698    1,679,893 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

18

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund – Class A Consolidated Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2018 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2017 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2016 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2015 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2014 (a)

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $8.12  $8.83  $10.01  $8.97  $9.29 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(b)   (0.06)  (0.04)  (0.12)  (0.14)  (0.16)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   (0.21)  (0.57)  (0.39)  1.39   (0.05)
Total from investment operations   (0.27)  (0.61)  (0.51)  1.25   (0.21)
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From net investment income      (0.10)  (0.14)      
Distributions from net realized gain on investments         (0.53)  (0.21)  (0.12)
Total distributions      (0.10)  (0.67)  (0.21)  (0.12)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID IN CAPITAL   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.01 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (0.27)  (0.71)  (1.18)  1.04   (0.32)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $7.85  $8.12  $8.83  $10.01  $8.97 
                      
TOTAL RETURN(d)   (3.33%)  (6.97%)  (5.20%)  14.00%  (2.15%)
                      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net assets, end of period (000's)  $3,452  $6,331  $19,682  $23,850  $12,914 
                      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Operating expenses excluding fee waivers/reimbursements   1.66%(e)  1.00%(e)  1.56%(e)  1.64%  1.83%
Operating expenses including fee waivers/reimbursements   1.66%  1.00%  1.56%  1.64%  1.83%
Net investment loss including fee waivers/reimbursements   (0.72%)  (0.52%)  (1.24%)  (1.50%)  (1.72%)
                      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   0%  31%  58%  38%  90%

  

(a)Per share amounts and ratios to average net assets include income and expenses of the Aspen Futures Fund Ltd. (subsidiary), exclusive of the subsidiary's management fee.
(b)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(c)Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(e)The ratio of operating expenses excluding fee waiver/reimbursements to average net assets is calculated excluding the waived Subsidiary management fee (see Note 6 for additional detail). The ratio inclusive of that fee would be 1.76%, 1.07% and 1.64% for the years ended April 30, 2018, April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2016, respectively.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund – Class I Consolidated Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2018 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2017 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2016 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2015 (a)

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30,

2014 (a)

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $8.25  $8.98  $10.17  $9.07  $9.36 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(b)   (0.04)  (0.07)  (0.09)  (0.11)  (0.11)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   (0.22)  (0.58)  (0.40)  1.42   (0.06)
Total from investment operations   (0.26)  (0.65)  (0.49)  1.31   (0.17)
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From net investment income      (0.08)  (0.17)      
Distributions from net realized gain on investments         (0.53)  (0.21)  (0.12)
Total distributions      (0.08)  (0.70)  (0.21)  (0.12)
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID IN CAPITAL   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c)   0.00(c) 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (0.26)  (0.73)  (1.19)  1.10   (0.29)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $7.99  $8.25  $8.98  $10.17  $9.07 
                      
TOTAL RETURN   (3.15%)  (7.33%)  (4.97%)  14.51%  (1.81%)
                      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net assets, end of period (000's)  $85,335  $195,077  $264,598  $242,575  $167,258 
                      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Operating expenses excluding fee waivers/reimbursements   1.46%(d)  1.28%(d)  1.22%(d)  1.25%  1.30%
Operating expenses including fee waivers/reimbursements   1.46%  1.28%  1.22%  1.25%  1.30%
Net investment loss including fee waivers/reimbursements   (0.53%)  (0.78%)  (0.94%)  (1.11%)  (1.20%)
                      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   0%  31%  58%  38%  90%

 

(a)Per share amounts and ratios to average net assets include income and expenses of the Aspen Futures Fund Ltd. (subsidiary), exclusive of the subsidiary's management fee.
(b)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(c)Less than $0.005 per share.
(d)The ratio of operating expenses excluding fee waiver/reimbursements to average net assets is calculated excluding the waived Subsidiary management fee (see Note 6 for additional detail). The ratio inclusive of that fee would be 1.56%, 1.35% and 1.30% for the years ended April 30, 2018, April 30, 2017 and April 30, 2016, respectively.

  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

20

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund – Class A Consolidated Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

  

For the
Year Ended
April 30

, 2018(a)

  

For the
Period Ended
April 30,

2017(a)(b)

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $24.45   $25.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment loss(c)   (0.02)(d)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.86    (0.52)
Total from investment operations   1.84    (0.55)
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:          
From net investment income   (0.11)    
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   (0.37)    
Total distributions   (0.48)    
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.36    (0.55)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $25.81   $24.45 
           
TOTAL RETURN(e)   7.44%   (2.20%)(f)
           
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:          
Net assets, end of period (000's)  $2,730   $2,196 
           
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:          
Operating expenses excluding fee waivers/reimbursements   1.93%(g)   2.79%(g)(h)
Operating expenses including fee waivers/reimbursements   1.79%   1.95%(h)
Net investment loss including fee waivers/reimbursements   (0.09%)   (0.40%)(h)
           
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   0%   0%(f)(i)

 

(a)Per share amounts and ratios to average net assets include income and expenses of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Ltd. (subsidiary), exclusive of the subsidiary's management fee.
(b)The Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund is for the period from December 29, 2016 (commencement of operations) to April 30, 2017.
(c)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(d)The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.
(e)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(f)Not annualized.
(g)The ratio of operating expenses excluding fee waiver/reimbursements to average net assets is calculated excluding the waived Subsidiary management fee (see Note 6 for additional detail). The ratio inclusive of that fee would be 1.96% and 2.82% for the year ended April 30, 2018 and for the period ended April 30, 2017, respectively.
(h)Annualized.
(i)Less than 0.05%.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund – Class I Consolidated Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented.

 

  

For the
Year Ended
April 30,

2018(a)

  

For the
Period Ended
April 30,

2017(a)(b)

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $24.48   $25.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income(c)   0.04    0.00(d)(e) 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.88    (0.52)
Total from investment operations   1.92    (0.52)
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:          
From net investment income   (0.16)    
Distributions from net realized gain on investments   (0.37)    
Total distributions   (0.53)    
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID IN CAPITAL   0.00(d)    0.00(d) 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.39    (0.52)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $25.87   $24.48 
           
TOTAL RETURN   7.76%   (2.08%)(f)
           
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:          
Net assets, end of period (000's)  $47,532   $41,122 
           
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:          
Operating expenses excluding fee waivers/reimbursements   1.75%(g)   2.22%(g)(h)
Operating expenses including fee waivers/reimbursements   1.55%   1.55%(h)
Net investment income including fee waivers/reimbursements   0.14%   0.01%(h)
           
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   0%   0%(f)(i)

 

(a)Per share amounts and ratios to average net assets include income and expenses of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund Ltd. (subsidiary), exclusive of the subsidiary's management fee.
(b)The Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund is for the period from December 29, 2016 (commencement of operations) to April 30, 2017.
(c)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(d)Less than $0.005 per share.
(e)The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.
(f)Not annualized.
(g)The ratio of operating expenses excluding fee waiver/reimbursements to average net assets is calculated excluding the waived Subsidiary management fee (see Note 6 for additional detail). The ratio inclusive of that fee would be 1.78% and 2.25% for the year ended April 30, 2018 and for the period ended April 30, 2017, respectively.
(h)Annualized.
(i)Less than 0.05%.

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

22

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). As of October 31, 2017, the Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund seeks investment results that replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Aspen Managed Futures Beta Index (the “MFBI” or “Index”). The Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Funds offer Class A and Class I shares.

 

Basis of Consolidation

Aspen Futures Fund, Ltd. (the “Aspen Fund Subsidiary”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund, Ltd. (the “Aspen Portfolio Subsidiary”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund. The investment objective of both the Aspen Fund Subsidiary and the Aspen Portfolio Subsidiary (collectively the “Subsidiaries”) is designed to enhance the ability of the Funds to obtain exposure to equities, financial, currency and commodities markets consistent with the limits of the U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to registered investment companies. The Subsidiaries are subject to substantially the same investment policies and investment restrictions as the Funds. The Subsidiaries act as an investment vehicle for the Funds in order to effect certain commodity-related investments on behalf of the Funds. Investments in the Subsidiaries are expected to provide the Funds with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and recent IRS revenue rulings, as discussed below under “Federal Income Taxes”. The Funds are the sole shareholder of the Subsidiaries pursuant to a subscription agreement dated as of August 2, 2011 for the Aspen Fund Subsidiary and December 16, 2016 for the Aspen Portfolio Subsidiary and it is intended that each Fund will remain the sole shareholder and will continue to control the Subsidiaries. Under the Articles of Association of the Subsidiaries, shares issued by the Subsidiaries confers upon a shareholder the right to wholly own and vote at general meetings of the Subsidiaries and certain rights in connection with any winding-up or repayment of capital, as well as the right to participate in the profits or assets of the Subsidiaries. Each Fund may invest up to 25% of their total assets in shares of the Subsidiaries. All investments held by the Subsidiaries are disclosed in the accounts of each Fund. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Funds, all assets and liabilities, income and expenses of the Subsidiaries are consolidated in the financial statements and financial highlights of the Funds. All investments held by the Subsidiaries are disclosed in the accounts of the Funds. As of April 30, 2018, net assets of the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund were $88,786,960, of which net assets of $15,592,443 or 17.56%, represented the Fund’s ownership of all issued shares and voting rights of the Aspen Fund Subsidiary. As of April 30, 2018, net assets of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund were $50,262,132, of which $1,535,385 or 3.05%, represented the Fund's ownership of all issued shares and voting rights of the Aspen Portfolio Subsidiary.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds and Subsidiaries in preparation of the financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more brokers–dealers that make a market in the security.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
April 30, 2018

 

Futures contracts that are listed or traded on a national securities exchange, commodities exchange, contract market or comparable over-the-counter market, and that are freely transferable, are valued at their closing settlement price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded or based upon the current settlement price for a like instrument acquired on the day on which the instrument is being valued. A settlement price may not be used if the market makes a limit move with respect to a particular commodity.

 

Forward currency exchange contracts have a fair value determined by the prevailing foreign currency exchange daily rates and current foreign currency exchange forward rates. The foreign currency exchange forward rates are calculated using an automated system that estimates rates on the basis of the current day foreign currency exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

Investment securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges, except when an occurrence subsequent to the time a value was so established is likely to have changed such value. In such an event, the fair value of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Aspen Partners, Ltd. (the “Adviser”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Funds disclose the classification of their fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of each of the Funds’ investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in their entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

 

24

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

The following is a summary of each input used to value the Funds as of April 30, 2018:

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant Observable Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant Unobservable Inputs
   Total 
Short Term Investments                    
Money Market Fund   7,721,143            7,721,143 
U.S. Treasury Bills       74,278,197        74,278,197 
TOTAL  $7,721,143   $74,278,197   $   $81,999,340 
Other Financial Instruments                    
Assets:                    
Futures Contracts                    
Commodity Contracts  $119,102   $   $   $119,102 
Equity Contracts   326,075            326,075 
Foreign Currency Contracts   468,032            468,032 
Liabilities:                    
Futures Contracts                    
Commodity Contracts   (294,633)           (294,633)
Equity Contracts   (97,444)           (97,444)
Foreign Currency Contracts   (467,404)           (467,404)
Interest Rate Contracts   (332,952)           (332,952)
TOTAL  $(279,224)  $   $   $(279,224)

 

Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant Observable Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant Unobservable Inputs
   Total 
Exchange Traded Funds  $39,795,140   $   $   $39,795,140 
Short Term Investments   6,285,392            6,285,392 
TOTAL  $46,080,532   $   $   $46,080,532 
Other Financial Instruments                    
Assets:                    
Futures Contracts                    
Commodity Contracts  $135,502   $   $   $135,502 
Equity Contracts   243,022            243,022 
Foreign Currency Contracts   24,078            24,078 
Liabilities:                    
Futures Contracts                    
Commodity Contracts   (206,744)           (206,744)
Equity Contracts   (415,923)           (415,923)
Foreign Currency Contracts   (195,169)           (195,169)
Interest Rate Contracts   (217,288)           (217,288)
TOTAL  $(632,522)  $   $   $(632,522)

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis the Funds use for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Foreign Securities: The Funds may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed and is included in realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, when applicable.

 

Foreign Currency Spot Contracts: The Funds may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities or to convert foreign currency receipts into U.S. dollars. A foreign currency spot contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell currencies at the current market rate, for settlement generally within two business days. The U.S. dollar value of the contracts is determined using current currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service. The contract is marked-to-market daily for settlements beyond one day and any change in market value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value on the open and close date. Losses may arise from changes in the value of the foreign currency, or if the counterparties do not perform under the contract’s terms. The maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to each of the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Funds are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund and Class Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a class of shares of the Funds, including distribution fees (Rule 12b-1 fees) and shareholder servicing fees, are charged directly to that share class. All expenses of the Funds, other than class specific expenses, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Offering Costs: Offering costs, including costs of printing initial prospectuses, legal and registration fees, are being amortized over twelve months from the inception date of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund. Amounts amortized during the period ended April 30, 2018 for the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund are shown on the Statements of Operations. As of April 30, 2018, the offering costs have been fully amortized for the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund.

 

Federal Income Taxes: The Funds comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute substantially all of their net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on distributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year or period ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Funds normally pay dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from interest and other income the Funds receive from their investments, including short term capital gains. Long term capital gains distributions are derived from gains realized when the Funds sell a security it has owned for more than a year. The Funds may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for the Funds to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

 

26

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

3. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

 

The Funds use derivatives (including futures) to pursue their investment objective. The Funds’ use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks may include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill their contractual obligations, (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation, and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. These risks could cause the Funds to lose more than the principal amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the Funds.

 

The Funds’ use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Funds are using derivatives to decrease, or hedge, exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Funds, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions. Derivatives may have little or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage allows the Funds to increase their market value exposure relative to their net assets and can substantially increase the volatility of the Funds’ performance.

 

In addition, use of derivatives may increase or decrease exposure to the following risk factors:

 

Equity Risk: Equity risk relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.

 

Interest Rate Risk: When the Funds invest in fixed-income securities or derivatives, the value of an investment in the Funds will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed-income securities or derivatives owned by the Funds. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay their obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments).

 

Foreign Currency Risk: Currency trading involves significant risks, including market risk, interest rate risk, country risk, counterparty credit risk and short sale risk. Market risk results from the price movement of foreign currency values in response to shifting market supply and demand. Interest rate risk arises whenever a country changes its stated interest rate target associated with its currency. Country risk arises because virtually every country may interfere with international transactions in its currency. Counterparty credit risk arises when the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations to the Funds. Short sale risk arises from the sale of a security that is not owned, or any sale that is completed by the delivery of a security borrowed.

 

Commodity Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Funds to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Commodity prices are influenced by unfavorable weather, animal and plant disease, geologic and environmental factors, as well as changes in government regulation such as tariffs, embargoes or burdensome production rules and restrictions.

 

Futures: The Funds and the Subsidiaries may enter into futures contracts. Futures contracts are agreements between two parties to buy and sell a particular commodity, instrument or index for a specified price on a specified future date. When the Funds or the Subsidiaries enter into a futures contract, it is required to deposit with (or for the benefit of) their broker an amount of cash or short-term high-quality securities as “initial margin”. The margin requirements are set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract that is returned to the Funds upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. As the value of the contract changes, the value of the futures contract position increases or declines. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin”, are made or received by the Funds or the Subsidiaries each day, depending on the price fluctuations in the fair value of the contract and the value of cash or securities on deposit with the broker. Such payments or receipts are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gains or losses by the Funds. Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Funds but is instead a settlement between the Funds and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. When the contract is closed, the Funds record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. When the Funds or the Subsidiaries enter into a futures contract certain risks may arise, such as illiquidity in the futures market, which may limit the Funds’ or the Subsidiaries’ ability to close out a futures contract prior to settlement date, and unanticipated movements in the value of securities, commodities or interest rates. Futures contracts are exchange-traded. Exchange-traded futures are standardized contracts and are settled through a clearing house with fulfillment supported by the credit of the exchange. Therefore, counterparty credit risk to the Funds and the Subsidiaries are reduced. With exchange traded futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Funds since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as a counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities - Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as of April 30, 2018:

 

Risk Exposure  Asset Derivatives
Statements of Assets and
Liabilities Location
  Fair Value   Liabilities Derivatives
Statements of Assets and
Liabilities Location
  Fair Value 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund             
Futures Contracts  Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)  $913,209   Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)  $1,192,433 
      $913,209      $1,192,433 
                 
   Risk Exposure to Fund             
   Commodity Contracts  $119,102      $294,633 
   Equity Contracts   326,075       97,444 
   Foreign Currency Contracts   468,032       467,404 
   Interest Rate Contracts          332,952 
      $913,209      $1,192,433 
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund             
Futures Contracts  Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts(a)  $402,602   Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts(a)  $1,035,124 
      $402,602      $1,035,124 
                 
   Risk Exposure to Fund             
   Commodity Contracts  $135,502      $206,744 
   Equity Contracts   243,022       415,923 
   Foreign Currency Contracts   24,078       195,169 
   Interest Rate Contracts          217,288 
      $402,602      $1,035,124 

 

(a)Represents cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s net variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

28

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations - The effect of Derivative Instruments for the year ended April 30, 2018:

 

Derivatives Instruments  Location of Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives
Statements of Operations
 

Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Derivatives

Statements of

Operations

  

Change in Unrealized

Appreciation/(Depreciation)

on Derivatives Statements

of Operations

 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund          
Futures Contracts  Net realized loss on futures contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) on futures contracts  $(4,914,905)  $2,236,408 
      $(4,914,905)  $2,236,408 
              
   Risk Exposure to Fund          
   Commodity Contracts  $(2,827,167)  $327,515 
   Equity Contracts   966,831    (74,509)
   Foreign Currency Contracts   (2,076,857)   2,272,251 
   Interest Rate Contracts   (977,712)   (288,849)
      $(4,914,905)  $2,236,408 
              
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund             
Futures Contracts  Net realized loss on futures contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) on futures contracts  $(22,118)  $(651,297)
      $(22,118)  $(651,297)
              
   Risk Exposure to Fund          
   Commodity Contracts  $(702,818)  $14,398 
   Equity Contracts   1,053,381    (232,150)
   Foreign Currency Contracts   (253,536)   (226,384)
   Interest Rate Contracts   (119,145)   (207,161)
      $(22,118)  $(651,297)

 

The average notional value of futures contracts, net of both long and short positions, held by the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund during the year was $29,973,759 and $23,134,301, respectively.

 

4. TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: Reclassifications to paid-in capital relate primarily to differing book/tax treatment of foreign currency transactions, net operating losses, income from a controlled foreign corporation, and non-deductible expenses. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the following reclassifications, which had no impact on results of operations or net assets, were recorded to reflect tax character:

 

Fund  Paid-in Capital  

Accumulated Net

Investment

Income/(Loss)

  

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gain/(Loss)

 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund  $(3,966,612)  $885,178   $3,081,434 
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund   (803,018)   131,725    671,293 

 

Included in those amounts reclassified was a net operating loss offset to Paid-in capital for the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund in the amount of $1,225,358. 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized depreciation for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

   Cost of   Investments   Gross Appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)    Gross Depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)   Net Appreciation on Futures Contracts and Foreign Currencies  

Net Appreciation/

(Depreciation) on Investments

 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund  $82,082,859   $1,016,483   $(1,276,857)  $13,295   $(247,079)
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund   41,778,106    5,265,728    (1,035,564)   (1,897)   4,228,267 

 

Components of Distributable Earnings: At April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were on a tax basis as follows:

 

   Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund   Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 
Accumulated net capital losses   (27,278,429)   (1,403,767)
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (247,079)   4,228,267 
Other cumulative effect of timing differences   (367,562)   (24,568)
Total distributable earnings  $(27,893,070)  $2,799,932 

 

Capital Losses: As of April 30, 2018, the Funds have available for Federal income tax purposes unused capital losses that may be used to offset future realized capital gains. The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund had $10,342,876 in short-term losses and $15,489,191 in long-term losses that will be carried forward indefinitely to offset future realized gains.

 

The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund elect to defer $1,446,362 and $1,403,767, respectively, to the period ending April 30, 2019, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018.

 

Ordinary Losses: As of April 30, 2018, Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund elected to defer to the period ending April 30, 2019, late year ordinary losses in the amount of $367,562 and $24,568, respectively.

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which differ from GAAP, and, therefore, may differ significantly in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains for financial reporting purposes. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character but are not adjusted for temporary differences.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ending April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income  

Long-Term

Capital Gain

 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund  $   $ 
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund   538,089    388,516 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ending April 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income  

Long-Term

Capital Gain

 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund  $2,217,954   $ 
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund        

 

 

30

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of each of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Fund shares redeemed within 30 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. The amount of redemption fees received during the period are presented in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

6. MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

 

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds’ investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Board. Pursuant to each Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement, (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund will pay the Adviser an annual management fee of 0.75%, based on the Fund’s average daily net asset. The Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund will pay the Adviser an annual management fee of 1.00%, based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

The Subsidiaries have each entered into a separate advisory agreement (collectively, the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser for the management of each Subsidiary’s portfolio pursuant to which the Subsidiaries are obligated to pay the Adviser a management fee at the same rate that the Funds pay the Adviser for investment advisory services provided to the Funds. The Adviser has agreed to waive the advisory fee it receives from the Funds in an amount equal to the management fee paid by the Subsidiaries. This agreement may be terminated based on the terms of the Advisory Agreement. For the year ended April 30, 2018, this amount equaled $118,827 and $13,170 for Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund, respectively, and are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. These waivers are not subject to reimbursement/recoupment.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the Funds’ total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of distribution and service (12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.55% of each of the Funds’ average daily net assets for each of Class A and Class I Shares. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect from September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018 for the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund. The prior Expense Agreement for the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund was in effect from September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017. The Expense Agreement for the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund is in effect from December 14, 2016 through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Funds’ expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds will not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Adviser may not discontinue or modify this waiver prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Funds’ Board of Trustees.

 

As of April 30, 2018, the fee waivers/reimbursements and recoupments of past waived fees were as follows:

 

Fund  Fees Waived/Reimbursed By Advisor   Recoupment of Past Waived Fees By Advisor   Total 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund - Class A  $   $   $ 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund - Class I            
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund - Class A   (3,450)       (3,450)
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund - Class I   (89,774)       (89,774)

 

As of April 30, 2018, the balances of recoupable expenses for each Fund were as follows:

 

Fund  Expires 2019   Expires 2020   Expires 2021   Total 
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund                    
Class A  $   $   $   $ 
Class I                
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund                    
Class A       8,063    3,450    11,513 
Class I       61,839    89,774    151,613 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Fund Administrator Fees and Expenses  

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds and the Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with its administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Fund including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assist in the Funds’ operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Funds’ administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

ALPS is reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent 

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services

ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Funds. Compliance service fees paid by the Funds for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer 

ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Funds. Principal financial officer fees paid by the for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Funds’ shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Funds have adopted a plan of distribution for Class A shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”). The Plan allows the Funds to use Class A assets to pay fees in connection with the distribution and marketing of Class A shares and/or the provision of shareholder services to Class A shareholders. The Plan permits payment for services in connection with the administration of plans or programs that use Class A shares as their funding medium and for related expenses. The recipients of such payments may include the Distributor, other affiliates of the Adviser, broker-dealers, financial institutions, plan sponsors and administrators and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase shares of the Funds. The Plan permits the Funds to use their Class A assets to make total payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Funds’ average daily net assets attributable to their Class A shares. The expenses of the plan are reflected as distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The Funds have adopted a shareholder service plan (a “Shareholder Services Plan”) for Class A shares. Under the Shareholder Services Plan the Funds are authorized to compensate certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers and the Funds’ affiliates, which may include the Distributor, Adviser and/or the transfer agent (“Participating Organizations”), an aggregate fee in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis 0.15% for Class A shares of the average daily net asset value of the Class A shares attributable to or held in the name of a Participating Organizations for its clients as compensation for providing shareholder service activities, which do not include distribution services, pursuant to an agreement with a Participating Organizations. Any amount of such payment not paid to the Participating Organizations during the Funds’ fiscal year for such service activities shall be reimbursed to the Funds as soon as practicable. Shareholder Services Plan fees are included with distribution and service fees on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Fees recaptured pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are included as an offset to distribution and service fees as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Certain intermediaries may charge networking, omnibus account or other administrative fees with respect to transactions in shares of the Funds. Transactions may be processed through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or similar systems or processed on a manual basis. These fees are paid by the Funds to the Distributor, which uses such fees to reimburse intermediaries. In the event an intermediary receiving payments from the Distributor on behalf of the Funds converts from a networking structure to an omnibus account structure or otherwise experiences increased costs, fees borne by the Funds may increase. Fees paid by the Funds for the year or period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Delegated Transfer Agent Equivalent Services.

 

 

32 

 

Aspen Funds Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Index Licensing Services  

The Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund has adopted an Index Licensing Agreement and the Adviser pursuant to which the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly annualized licensing fee of 0.25%, based on the Fund’s average daily net assets for the right to use the Index in connection with the Fund. Fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as Licensing fees.

 

7. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales (excluding short-term securities) of U.S. Government securities for the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Exchange Traded Funds for the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund during the year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund    
Cost of Investments Purchased  $ 
Proceeds from Investments Sold  $54,589,870 
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund     
Cost of Investments Purchased  $2,341,529 
Proceeds from Investments Sold  $ 

 

8. INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

Aspen Funds Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedules of investments, of Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and subsidiary and Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund and subsidiary (the “Funds”), two of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018; the related consolidated statements of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the consolidated financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended for Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and subsidiary; the related consolidated statement of operations for the year ended April 30, 2018, and the consolidated statements of changes in net assets and consolidated financial highlights for the year ended April 30, 2018, and for the period from December 28, 2016 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2017 for Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund and subsidiary; and the related notes.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and subsidiary as of April 30, 2018, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund and subsidiary as of April 30, 2018, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the changes in their net assets and financial highlights for the year ended April 30, 2018 and for the period from December 28, 2016 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Denver, Colorado
June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Aspen Partners, Ltd. since 2012.

 

 

34

 

Aspen Funds Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

ASPEN MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND
ASPEN PORTFOLIO STRATEGY FUND

 

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. In renewing and approving the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Aspen Funds:

 

Investment Advisory Fee Rate: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee paid by the Trust, on behalf of the Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund (the “Aspen Managed Futures Fund”) of 0.75% of the Fund’s daily net assets and on behalf of the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund (the “Aspen Portfolio Fund”) of 1.00% of the Fund’s daily net assets, to Aspen, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Aspen to the Funds.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of the Aspen Funds’ contractual and actual advisory fees and overall expenses with those of funds in the peer groups and universes of funds provided by an independent provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the contractual advisory fee rate for both classes of the Managed Futures Funds was below the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group, the contractual advisory fee rate for Class A of Aspen Portfolio Fund was the same as the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group, and the contractual advisory fee rate for Class I of the Aspen Portfolio Fund was below the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group.

 

Total Expense Ratios: The Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratio (after waivers) of 1.61% and 1.28% for the Aspen Managed Futures Fund’s Class A and Class I shares, respectively, and 1.95% and 1.55% for the Aspen Portfolio Fund’s Class A and Class I shares, respectively. The Trustees noted that for both classes of the Aspen Managed Futures Fund, the total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers), for Class A of the Aspen Portfolio Fund the total expense ratio (after waivers) was above the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers), and for Class I of the Aspen Portfolio Fund the total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers).

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Advisory Agreement: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the Aspen Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by Aspen in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Aspen’s investment advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager, and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Aspen and its affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Aspen, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Aspen Funds.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Aspen’s management in connection with the Aspen Funds, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Funds and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Aspen’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

Performance: The Trustees reviewed performance information for the Aspen Funds. That review included a comparison of the Aspen Funds’ performance to the performance of a group of comparable funds selected by Data Provider. The Trustees noted the performance of each class of the Aspen Managed Futures Fund was below the respective Data Provider performance universe median for the three-month, one-year, three-year, and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017 and the performance of each class of the Aspen Portfolio Fund was above the respective Data Provider performance universe median for the three-month and one-year periods ended December 31, 2017. The Trustees also considered Aspen’s performance and reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted Aspen’s statements that it did not offer either Aspen Fund’s strategy to other clients.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered a retrospective and projected profitability analysis prepared by Aspen based on the fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Aspen Funds. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Aspen in connection with the operation of the Aspen Funds. The Board then reviewed Aspen’s audited consolidated financial statements and supplemental schedule for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Aspen.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35

 

Aspen Funds Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Aspen Funds will be passed along to the shareholders under the agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Aspen from its relationship with the Aspen Funds, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In renewing Aspen as the Aspen Funds’ investment adviser and renewing the Investment Advisory Agreement and the fees charged under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the contractual advisory fee rate for both classes of the Managed Futures Funds was below the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group, the contractual advisory fee rate for Class A of Aspen Portfolio Fund was the same as the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group, and the contractual advisory fee rate for Class I of the Aspen Portfolio Fund was below the median of the funds in the Data Provider peer group;
for both classes of the Aspen Managed Futures Fund, the total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers), for Class A of the Aspen Portfolio Fund the total expense ratio (after waivers) was above the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers), and for Class I of the Aspen Portfolio Fund the total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers);
 the nature, extent and quality of services rendered by Aspen under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Aspen Funds were adequate;
the performance of each class of the Aspen Managed Futures Fund was below the respective Data Provider performance universe median for the three-month, one-year, three-year, and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017 and the performance of each class of the Aspen Portfolio Fund was above the respective Data Provider performance universe median for the three-month and one-year periods ended December 31, 2017;
there were no directly comparable accounts managed by Aspen for the Board to consider;
the profit, if any, realized by Aspen in connection with the operation of the Aspen Funds is not unreasonable to the Aspen Funds; and
there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Aspen in connection with its relationship with the Aspen Funds.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Aspen’s compensation for investment advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the Aspen Funds and their shareholders.

 

 

36

 

Aspen Funds Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) 855-845-9444 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

 

 

The Funds designated the following for federal income tax purposes for distributions made during the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

  QDI DRD
Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund 0.00% 0.00%
Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund 0.00% 0.00%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distribution paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund designated $388,516 as long-term capital gain dividends.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

Aspen Funds Trustees and Officers
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-828-9909.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with

Fund

Term of Office**

and Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Trustee****

Other Directorships Held by

Trustee During Past 5 Years***

Mary K. Anstine,
1940
Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems,
1976
Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 

38

 

Aspen Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Name, Address* & Year of Birth Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****

Other Directorships Held by

Trustee During Past 5 Years***

Jerry G. Rutledge, 1944 Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell,
1970
Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

Aspen Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

Name, Address* & Year of Birth Position(s)
Held
with Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During
Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships Held by
Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Edmund J. Burke, 1961 Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All- Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All- Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 

40

 

Aspen Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

Name, Address* &
Year of Birth
Position(s) Held
with Fund

Term of Office**

and Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms,
1972
Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen,
1970
Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl,
1974
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella,
1974
Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.
Alan Gattis,
1980
Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

Aspen Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

Name, Address* &
Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund

Term of Office**

and Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Sharon Akselrod,
1974
Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.
Jennifer Craig
1973
Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon,
1980
Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.
**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.
****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Aspen Partners, Ltd. provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

42

 

Aspen Funds Privacy Policy
 
April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are  
Who is providing this notice? Aspen Managed Futures Strategy Fund and Aspen Portfolio Strategy Fund.
What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information? We collect your personal information, for example, when you
 

●     open an account

●     provide account information or give us your contact information

●     make a wire transfer or deposit money

Why can’t I limit all sharing? Federal law gives you the right to limit only
 

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

●     affiliates from using your information to market to you

●     sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

  State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
 

●     The Funds do not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
 

●     The Funds do not jointly market.

Other Important Information  
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

Aspen Funds Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

FACTS WHAT DO THE FUNDS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What? The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
 

     ●     Social Security number and account transactions

     ●     Account balances and transaction history

     ●     Wire transfer instructions

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Do the Funds share: Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus Yes No
For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences Yes No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness No We do not share.
For non-affiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

44

 

(BACK COVER)

 

This material must be accompanied or preceded by the prospectus.

 

 

 

(FRONT COVER) 

 

 

(Disciplined Growth Investors Logo) 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ANNUAL REPORT

 

SHAREHOLDER LETTER 1
PERFORMANCE UPDATE 4
DISCLOSURE OF FUND EXPENSES 6
PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS 7
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 17
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS 18
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS 19
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 20
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 22
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 30
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 31
SHAREHOLDER VOTING RESULTS 32
DISCLOSURE REGARDING APPROVAL OF FUND ADVISORY AGREEMENTS 33
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 36
PRIVACY POLICY 41

 

Disciplined Growth Investors’ goal is to communicate clearly and transparently with our clients and mutual fund shareholders. It is mutually beneficial when our shareholders understand how we invest, what we are currently thinking and forecasting, and the specific investment decisions we have made. Our views and opinions regarding the investment prospects of our portfolio holdings and the Fund are “forward looking statements” which may or may not be accurate over the long term. While we believe we have a reasonable basis for these forecasts and have confidence in our investment team’s views, actual results may differ materially from those we anticipate. Information provided in this report should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security.

 

You can identify forward looking statements as those including words such as “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “forecast”, and similar statement. We cannot assure future performance. These forward-looking statements are made only as-of the date of this report. Following the publication of this report, we will not update any of the forward-looking statements included here.

 

This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

THE DISCIPLINED GROWTH INVESTORS FUND

APRIL 30, 2018 DGIFUND.COM

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Updates to The DGI Fund in 2017:

During 2017, we made changes intended to improve your experience as a shareholder. These changes touch everything from the quarterly statements you receive to the Fund’s minimum investment amount and forms; from how we communicate with you to how we promote the Fund to new investors. These are exciting first steps for us in making sure your service experience meets our standards.

 

Each quarter on your statements we will inform you of how we are doing, how your investment is doing, what you own in the Fund, and what investment decisions we made.

 

For both new and existing investors, we changed the initial investment minimum in the Fund to include a $100-per-month savings program (as an alternative to the $10,000 initial investment minimum). Along with this, we began updating the account applications and forms to make them easier to complete.

 

This past February, Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. (“DGI”) instituted an annual shareholder conference call with our investment team. We will hold this call every year the Tuesday after the pro football championship game.

 

We also launched a new DGI Fund website using the same www.dgifund.com address. This new website supports our first promotional campaign for the Fund. We have advertisements on busses and billboards in the Minneapolis area. A few examples are below. The goal, along with online advertising, is to catch the attention of more investors like you.

 

(GRAPHIC) 

 

If you live in or visit the Minneapolis area and see these ads, we would love to hear what you think of them.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Fund Performance and Asset Mix:

The DGI Fund’s fiscal year ends on April 30th each year. For the 2017 fiscal year (5/1/17-4/30/18), The DGI Fund returned 9.75%.

 

During the fiscal year, The DGI Fund held 39 stocks that increased in value and 15 stocks that declined in value. The ten largest equity holdings accounted for 6.26% of the Fund’s total performance. Stocks in the Fund returned 15.42% while bonds returned 0.08%.*

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Stocks in The DGI Fund outperformed the S&P 500’s stocks, which increased 13.27% during the fiscal year. The Fund’s bond portfolio was essentially even through the year in a rising interest rate environment. With 70.2% stocks and 29.8% bonds and cash as of 4/30/18, we have positioned the Fund to reflect our view that the investment environment heavily favors stocks while maintaining an adequate allocation to bonds.

 

Portfolio Activity:

In the past twelve months, our investment team added six new stocks to The DGI Fund. We sold two holdings and three portfolio companies were acquired. New investments and sales for the first six months of the fiscal year were reported in the semiannual report (10/31/17). Our sole new addition since the semi-annual report we issued six months ago was Medidata solutions.

 

Medidata Solutions (MDSO) makes software that helps medical companies run official trials to test drugs and devices. We believe the company can become the industry-wide standard for trial planning and execution. After expanding their functionality, several large drug companies have adopted their platform, moving them towards the goal of being the de facto standard in the industry. This confirmation of our investment thesis, and an attractive expected return, caused us to make an initial purchase. Please note that this company is well known to our team because we have owned it for many years in another institutional investment portfolio for smaller companies.

 

Sincerely,

 

-s- Frederick K. Martin 

CFA -- Portfolio Manager

Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc.

 

*Asset class-specific performance is before fees. The Fund’s single fee – the management fee – is paid from the Fund’s holding of cash. Total Fund net-of-fees performance is presented in this letter, later in this annual report, and is updated monthly on the Fund’s website, www.dgifund.com.

 

 

2 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

The views of Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writers’ current views. The views expressed are those of the Fund’s adviser only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

Fred Martin is a registered representative of ALPS Distributors, Inc. CFA Institute Marks are trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

  6 month YTD 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Since Inception*
Disciplined Growth Investors Fund 4.31% 0.20% 9.75% 7.31% 9.92% 12.04%
S&P 500® Total Return Index(1) 3.82% -0.38% 13.27% 10.57% 12.96% 15.21%

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data please call 1.855.DGI.FUND.

 

The table does not reflect the deductions of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemptions of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

*Fund Inception date of August 12, 2011.

 

(1)The S&P 500® Total Return Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

4 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 Investment in the Fund (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Industry Sector Allocation

(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Technology 31.13%
Consumer Discretionary 15.58%
Health Care 12.40%
Industrials 7.39%
Financials 0.72%
Energy 1.94%
Closed End Funds 1.01%
Corporate Bonds 20.81%
Foreign Government Bonds 0.40%
Government & Agency Obligations 3.76%
Short Term Investments 4.63%
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities 0.23%

 

Top Ten Holdings

(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. 4.26%
U.S. Treasury Note 3.41%
United States Treasury Bill 3.39%
Intuit, Inc. 3.38%
TJX Cos., Inc. 3.24%
Autodesk, Inc. 3.16%
Align Technology, Inc. 3.13%
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. 3.04%
Middleby Corp. 2.71%
Open Text Corp. 2.49%
Top Ten Holdings 32.21%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other fund operating expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars), of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period of November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  Beginning
Account Value
11/1/2017
Ending
Account Value
4/30/2018
Expense
Ratio(a)
Expenses Paid
During period
11/1/2017 -
4/30/2018(b)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,043.10 0.78% $3.95
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.93 0.78% $3.91

 

(a)The Fund’s expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund’s most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

6 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares  

Value
(Note 2)

 
CLOSED END FUNDS (1.01%)          
Altaba, Inc. (a)   29,462   $2,064,697 
           
TOTAL CLOSED END FUNDS          
(Cost $1,085,903)        2,064,697 
           
COMMON STOCKS (69.16%)          
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (15.58%)          
Apparel & Textile Products (1.40%)          
Ralph Lauren Corp.   13,193    1,449,251 
Under Armour, Inc., Class A(a)   79,050    1,403,928 
         2,853,179 
           
Automotive (2.14%)          
Gentex Corp.   140,450    3,193,833 
Gentherm, Inc. (a)   34,825    1,177,085 
         4,370,918 
           
Gaming, Lodging & Restaurants (2.37%)          
Cheesecake Factory, Inc.   21,687    1,126,640 
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.   34,312    3,712,215 
         4,838,855 
           
Leisure (0.29%)          
TripAdvisor, Inc. (a)   15,612    584,201 
           
Passenger Transportation (1.38%)          
JetBlue Airways Corp. (a)   147,000    2,820,930 
           
Retail - Consumer Discretionary (8.00%)          
Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc.   65,381    1,441,651 
L Brands, Inc.   65,602    2,290,166 
Nordstrom, Inc.   48,325    2,443,312 
Select Comfort Corp. (a)   82,848    2,347,912 
TJX Cos., Inc.   77,925    6,611,936 
Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a)   29,550    1,189,979 
         16,324,956 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY        31,793,039 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares  

Value
(Note 2)

 
ENERGY (1.94%)        
Oil, Gas & Coal (1.94%)          
Core Laboratories NV   10,862   $1,330,052 
Southwestern Energy Co. (a)   446,693    1,831,441 
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (a)(b)(c)   19,213    41,846 
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (a)   314,490    761,066 
         3,964,405 
           
TOTAL ENERGY        3,964,405 
           
FINANCIALS (0.72%)          
Banks (0.72%)          
TCF Financial Corp.   59,362    1,473,958 
           
TOTAL FINANCIALS        1,473,958 
           
HEALTH CARE (12.40%)          
Medical Equipment & Devices (12.40%)          
Align Technology, Inc. (a)   25,575    6,389,914 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a)   68,300    8,698,688 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)   14,068    6,200,893 
Myriad Genetics, Inc. (a)   39,537    1,118,502 
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a)   25,100    2,901,309 
         25,309,306 
           
TOTAL HEALTH CARE        25,309,306 
           
INDUSTRIALS (7.39%)          
Electrical Equipment (0.65%)          
Cognex Corp.   28,450    1,315,812 
           
Machinery (3.64%)          
Graco, Inc.   43,086    1,895,353 
Middleby Corp. (a)   43,966    5,532,682 
         7,428,035 
           
Manufactured Goods (1.54%)          
Proto Labs, Inc. (a)   26,375    3,142,581 
           
Transportation & Logistics (1.56%)          
Landstar System, Inc.   31,375    3,189,269 
           
TOTAL INDUSTRIALS        15,075,697 

 

 

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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
TECHNOLOGY (31.13%)        
Design, Manufacturing & Distribution (2.19%)          
Plexus Corp. (a)   81,637   $4,476,973 
           
Hardware (9.08%)          
Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Class A   24,000    1,435,680 
Garmin, Ltd.   48,850    2,866,030 
Plantronics, Inc.   50,687    3,302,258 
Seagate Technology PLC   71,687    4,149,960 
Super Micro Computer, Inc. (a)   59,025    1,044,743 
Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. (a)   52,137    3,715,283 
ViaSat, Inc. (a)   31,381    2,007,756 
         18,521,710 
           
Semiconductors (3.32%)          
Microchip Technology, Inc.   29,075    2,432,415 
Power Integrations, Inc.   52,418    3,553,940 
Synaptics, Inc. (a)   17,862    777,354 
         6,763,709 
           
Software (12.89%)          
Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)   52,762    3,780,397 
Autodesk, Inc. (a)   51,212    6,447,591 
Intuit, Inc.   37,287    6,890,265 
Manhattan Associates, Inc. (a)   31,700    1,365,002 
Open Text Corp.   144,099    5,091,018 
RealPage, Inc. (a)   51,137    2,735,829 
         26,310,102 
           
Technology Services (3.65%)          
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.   20,033    3,788,441 
IHS Markit, Ltd. (a)   25,736    1,264,410 
Medidata Solutions, Inc. (a)   17,271    1,232,458 
Paychex, Inc.   19,337    1,171,242 
         7,456,551 
           
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY        63,529,045 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $92,189,489)        141,145,450 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (20.81%)          
COMMUNICATIONS (1.25%)          
Cable & Satellite (0.31%)          
Comcast Corp.          
3.375%  08/15/2025  $648,000   $629,742 
           
Entertainment Content (0.31%)          
CBS Corp.          
4.000% 01/15/2026   647,000    634,537 
           
Wireless Telecommunications Services (0.63%)          
AT&T, Inc.          
4.250% 03/01/2027   635,000    631,204 
AT&T, Inc.          
4.450% 04/01/2024   4,000    4,101 
Verizon Communications, Inc.          
4.125% 03/16/2027   645,000    644,742 
         1,280,047 
TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS        2,544,326 
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (2.68%)          
Airlines (0.31%)          
Southwest Airlines Co.          
3.000% 11/15/2026   685,000    643,585 
           
Apparel & Textile Products (0.32%)          
Cintas Corp.          
3.700% 04/01/2027   660,000    648,729 
           
Automobiles Manufacturing (0.64%)          
Ford Motor Co.          
4.346% 12/08/2026   640,000    628,509 
General Motors Co.          
4.875% 10/02/2023   650,000    670,462 
         1,298,971 
Restaurants (0.31%)          
McDonald’s Corp.          
6.300% 03/01/2038   507,000    638,095 
           
Retail - Consumer Discretionary (1.10%)          
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.          
4.500% 12/01/2023   620,000    635,383 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.          
5.750% 05/01/2020   3,000    3,137 
Amazon.com, Inc.          
5.200% 12/03/2025   885,000    979,696 

 

 

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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
Retail - Consumer Discretionary (continued)          
Lowe’s Cos., Inc.          
2.500% 04/15/2026  $680,000   $622,530 
         2,240,746 
TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY        5,470,126 
CONSUMER STAPLES (0.98%)          
Food & Beverage (0.30%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc.          
3.650% 02/01/2026   637,000    622,952 
           
Mass Merchants (0.36%)          
Costco Wholesale Corp.          
2.750% 05/18/2024   760,000    735,440 
           
Supermarkets & Pharmacies (0.32%)          
CVS Health Corp.          
5.000% 12/01/2024   620,000    651,526 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES        2,009,918 
ENERGY (2.35%)          
Exploration & Production (0.32%)          
Conoco Funding Co.          
7.250% 10/15/2031   496,000    649,040 
           
Pipeline (2.03%)          
Boardwalk Pipelines LP          
5.950% 06/01/2026   602,000    645,875 
Enbridge Energy Partners LP          
5.875% 10/15/2025   573,000    625,901 
Enbridge Energy Partners LP          
4.200% 09/15/2021   4,000    4,036 
Enterprise Products Operating LLC          
3.350% 03/15/2023   647,000    640,685 
MarkWest Energy Partners LP / MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.          
4.500% 07/15/2023   507,000    511,362 
ONEOK Partners LP          
4.900% 03/15/2025   556,000    576,722 
TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd.          
7.250% 08/15/2038   415,000    552,865 
Williams Partners LP          
3.900% 01/15/2025   603,000    587,441 
         4,144,887 
TOTAL ENERGY        4,793,927 

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
FINANCIALS (4.05%)        
Banks (0.31%)        
Bank of America Corp., Series L          
4.183% 11/25/2027  $655,000   $636,887 
           
Consumer Finance (0.31%)          
American Express Co.          
3.625% 12/05/2024   638,000    625,608 
           
Diversified Banks (1.24%)          
Citigroup, Inc.          
4.300% 11/20/2026   650,000    641,117 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.          
3.375% 05/01/2023   650,000    637,172 
US Bancorp          
3.100% 04/27/2026   669,000    629,620 
Wells Fargo & Co., Series M          
3.450% 02/13/2023   645,000    631,920 
         2,539,829 
Financial Services (1.27%)          
Blackrock, Inc.          
3.200% 03/15/2027   670,000    644,098 
Morgan Stanley          
2.750% 05/19/2022   695,000    674,429 
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.          
2.950% 02/07/2024   657,000    635,183 
Northern Trust Corp.          
3.950% 10/30/2025   626,000    639,599 
         2,593,309 
Life Insurance (0.31%)          
Metlife, Inc.          
3.600% 11/13/2025   639,000    625,687 
           
Property & Casualty Insurance (0.31%)          
American International Group, Inc.          
3.750% 07/10/2025   639,000    626,403 
           
Real Estate (0.30%)          
Welltower, Inc.          
4.250% 04/01/2026   632,000    624,249 
           
TOTAL FINANCIALS        8,271,972 

 

 
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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
HEALTH CARE (1.23%)          
Managed Care (0.62%)          
Anthem, Inc.          
3.650% 12/01/2027  $656,000   $625,025 
UnitedHealth Group, Inc.          
3.750% 07/15/2025   632,000    631,918 
         1,256,943 
Pharmaceuticals (0.61%)          
AbbVie, Inc.          
3.600% 05/14/2025   639,000    620,901 
Johnson & Johnson          
5.850% 07/15/2038   497,000    633,836 
         1,254,737 
TOTAL HEALTH CARE        2,511,680 
INDUSTRIALS (2.83%)          
Aerospace & Defense (0.64%)          
Lockheed Martin Corp.          
3.100% 01/15/2023   680,000    672,599 
Rockwell Collins, Inc.          
3.500% 03/15/2027   670,000    636,834 
         1,309,433 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.31%)          
Waste Management, Inc.          
3.150% 11/15/2027   680,000    638,935 
           
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (0.53%)          
Emerson Electric Co.          
5.000% 04/15/2019   1,000    1,022 
General Electric Co.          
5.875% 01/14/2038   535,000    608,028 
Tyco Electronics Group SA          
3.500% 02/03/2022   463,000    466,049 
         1,075,099 
Industrial Other (0.23%)          
Fluor Corp.          
3.375% 09/15/2021   469,000    468,659 
           
Railroad (0.51%)          
Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC          
4.700% 10/01/2019   1,000,000    1,025,593 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC          
3.000% 03/15/2023   2,000    1,965 
         1,027,558 

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
Transportation & Logistics (0.30%)          
United Parcel Service, Inc.          
6.200% 01/15/2038  $487,000   $617,736 
           
Waste & Environmental Services & Equipment (0.31%)          
Republic Services, Inc.          
5.500% 09/15/2019   1,000    1,035 
Republic Services, Inc.          
3.375% 11/15/2027   670,000    633,823 
         634,858 
TOTAL INDUSTRIALS        5,772,278 
TECHNOLOGY (0.26%)          
Hardware (0.26%)          
Corning, Inc.          
6.625% 05/15/2019   502,000    521,125 
           
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY        521,125 
UTILITIES (5.18%)          
Utilities (5.18%)          
Ameren Illinois Co.          
9.750% 11/15/2018   411,000    426,193 
Arizona Public Service Co.          
8.750% 03/01/2019   415,000    435,744 
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.          
3.350% 07/01/2023   557,000    554,293 
CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.          
4.500% 01/15/2021   346,000    355,297 
CMS Energy Corp.          
5.050% 03/15/2022   417,000    438,694 
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.          
7.125% 12/01/2018   516,000    528,394 
Dominion Energy, Inc., Series B          
2.750% 09/15/2022   695,000    667,717 
DTE Energy Co., Series C          
3.500% 06/01/2024   645,000    631,434 
Duke Energy Corp.          
3.750% 04/15/2024   638,000    636,720 
Edison International          
2.400% 09/15/2022   565,000    536,260 
Interstate Power & Light Co.          
3.650% 09/01/2020   420,000    425,419 
ITC Holdings Corp.          
4.050% 07/01/2023   540,000    545,920 
Jersey Central Power & Light Co.          
7.350% 02/01/2019   521,000    537,447 

 

 
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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
Utilities (continued)          
Nevada Power Co.          
7.125% 03/15/2019  $3,000   $3,111 
Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC          
7.000% 09/01/2022   460,000    524,555 
PacifiCorp          
5.650% 07/15/2018   17,000    17,109 
PPL Capital Funding, Inc.          
3.500% 12/01/2022   587,000    585,317 
PSEG Power LLC          
5.125% 04/15/2020   620,000    641,807 
Puget Energy, Inc.          
5.625% 07/15/2022   416,000    444,104 
Sempra Energy          
2.875% 10/01/2022   548,000    533,627 
Southern Power Co., Series 15B          
2.375% 06/01/2020   565,000    555,636 
Wisconsin Electric Power Co.          
3.100% 06/01/2025   558,000    539,844 
           
TOTAL UTILITIES        10,564,642 
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $43,682,566)        42,459,994 
           
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS (0.40%)          
Province of Quebec Canada, Series NN          
7.125% 02/09/2024   351,000    418,111 
           
Corp Andina de Fomento          
8.125% 06/04/2019   375,000    396,499 
           
TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS          
(Cost $823,085)        814,610 
           
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (3.76%)          
U.S. Treasury Note          
1.500% 01/31/2019   7,000,000    6,964,453 
           
U.S. Treasury Bond          
1.500% 08/15/2026   689,000    616,144 

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Principal

Amount

  

Value

(Note 2)

 
GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (continued)          
U.S. Treasury Bond          
6.500% 11/15/2026  $77,000   $97,778 
           
TOTAL GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS          
(Cost $7,726,664)        7,678,375 

 

   Yield  Shares  

Value

(Note 2)

 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (4.63%)              
MONEY MARKET FUND (1.24%)              
Fidelity Institutional Money Market              
Government Portfolio - Class I   1.58%(d)  2,518,456    2,518,456 
               
U.S. TREASURY BILLS (3.39%)              
United States Treasury Bill, 12/06/2018   1.66%(e)  7,000,000    6,922,498 
               
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS              
(Cost $9,447,373)            9,440,954 
               
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.77%)              
(Cost $154,955,080)           $203,604,080 
               
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (0.23%)            464,397 
               
NET ASSETS (100.00%)           $204,068,477 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.
(b)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.
(c)Restricted security; these securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933.
(d)Represents the 7-day yield.
(e)Rate shown represents the bond equivalent yield to maturity at date of purchase.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

ASSETS    
Investments, at value  $203,604,080 
Receivable for shares sold   150,251 
Dividends and interest receivable   533,192 
Total assets   204,287,523 
      
LIABILITIES     
Payable for shares redeemed   87,750 
Payable to adviser   131,296 
Total liabilities   219,046 
NET ASSETS  $204,068,477 
      
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF     
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $154,586,428 
Accumulated net investment income   76,473 
Accumulated net realized gain   756,576 
Net unrealized appreciation   48,649,000 
NET ASSETS  $204,068,477 
      
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $154,955,080 
      
PRICING OF SHARES     
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $19.12 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   10,671,798 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Statement of Operations

 

 

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 
INVESTMENT INCOME     
Dividends  $1,266,024 
Foreign taxes withheld   (14,636)
Interest   1,369,530 
Total investment income   2,620,918 
      
EXPENSES     
Investment advisory fees (Note 6)   1,441,119 
Total expenses   1,441,119 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   1,179,799 
      
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS     
Net realized gain on investments   5,798,256 
Net increase from payment by affiliate (Note 6)   36,717 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments   9,802,428 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS   15,637,401 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $16,817,200 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 
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The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $1,179,799   $702,109 
Net realized gain   5,834,973    3,378,091 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   9,802,428    15,325,356 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   16,817,200    19,405,556 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS (Note 3)          
From net investment income   (1,134,526)   (707,562)
From net realized gains on investments   (6,984,215)   (415,680)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (8,118,741)   (1,123,242)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5)          
Proceeds from sales of shares   50,597,596    40,314,153 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   8,084,564    1,115,854 
Cost of shares redeemed, net of redemption fees   (23,086,274)   (19,795,072)
Net increase from capital share transactions   35,595,886    21,634,935 
           
Net increase in net assets   44,294,345    39,917,249 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of period   159,774,132    119,856,883 
End of period*  $204,068,477   $159,774,132 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income of:  $76,473   $30,658 
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Share Transactions          
Issued   2,685,263    2,352,037 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   428,168    64,640 
Redeemed   (1,218,824)   (1,149,715)
Net increase in share transactions   1,894,607    1,266,962 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
Net investment income(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
From net investment income
From net realized gain on investments
Total distributions
 
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD
 
TOTAL RETURN
 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS
Expenses
Net investment income
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)In 2018 the Fund’s total return consists of a voluntary reimbursement by the advisor for a realized investment loss. Excluding this item, total return would not have been impacted. (Note 6).

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 
20 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding during the periods presented

 

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2015

  

For the

Year Ended

April 30, 2014

 
$18.20   $15.96   $16.75   $15.02   $13.17 
                       
 0.12    0.09    0.09    0.10    0.07 
 1.64    2.29    (0.44)   1.83    1.90 
 1.76    2.38    (0.35)   1.93    1.97 
                       
 (0.12)   (0.09)   (0.10)   (0.09)   (0.07)
 (0.72)   (0.05)   (0.34)   (0.11)   (0.05)
 (0.84)   (0.14)   (0.44)   (0.20)   (0.12)
                       
                  
 0.92    2.24    (0.79)   1.73    1.85 
$19.12   $18.20   $15.96   $16.75   $15.02 
                       
 9.75%(b)   14.96%   (2.05%)   12.87%   15.02%
                       
$204,068   $159,774   $119,857   $113,342   $86,741 
                       
 0.78%   0.78%   0.78%   0.78%   0.78%
 0.64%   0.50%   0.59%   0.61%   0.47%
                       
 18%   16%   13%   14%   10%

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund seeks long-term capital growth and as a secondary objective, modest income with reasonable risk.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in preparation of its financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more broker–dealers that make a market in the security. Fixed-income obligations, excluding municipal securities, having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days, are typically valued at the mean between the evaluated bid and ask prices formulated by an independent pricing service. Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government & Agency, and U.S. Treasury Bonds & Notes are valued using market models that consider trade data, quotations from dealers and active market makers, relevant yield curve and spread data, creditworthiness, trade data or market information on comparable securities, and other relevant security specific information. Mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are valued based on models that consider trade

 

 
22 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

data, prepayment and default projections, benchmark yield and spread data and estimated cash flows of each tranche of the issuer. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as of the close of business of that market.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Fund discloses the classification of its fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The following is a summary of each input used to value the Fund as of April 30, 2018:

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Level 1 -

Unadjusted

Quoted Prices

  

Level 2 -

Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Level 3 -

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

   Total 
Closed End Funds  $2,064,697   $   $   $2,064,697 
Common Stocks                    
Consumer Discretionary   31,793,039            31,793,039 
Energy   3,922,559        41,846    3,964,405 
Financials   1,473,958            1,473,958 
Health Care   25,309,306            25,309,306 
Industrials   15,075,697            15,075,697 
Technology   63,529,045            63,529,045 
Corporate Bonds(a)       42,459,994        42,459,994 
Foreign Government Bonds       814,610        814,610 
Government & Agency                    
Obligations       7,678,375        7,678,375 
Short Term Investments                    
Money Market Fund   2,518,456            2,518,456 
U.S. Treasury Bills       6,922,498        6,922,498 
TOTAL  $145,686,757   $57,875,477   $41,846   $203,604,080 

 

(a)For detailed descriptions of the underlying industries, see the accompanying Portfolio of Investments.

 

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Balance

as of 04/30/2017

   Return of Capital   Realized Gain/(Loss)  

Change in Unrealized Appreciation/

Depreciation

   Purchases   Sales Proceeds   Transfer in and/or (out) of Level 3  

Balance

as of 04/30/2018

   Net change in unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at 04/30/2018 
Common Stocks  $193,667   $   $   $(151,821)  $   $   $   $41,846   $(151,821)
Total  $193,667   $   $   $(151,821)  $   $   $   $41,846   $(151,821)

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on Level 3 securities is included on the Statement of Operations under Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments.

 

 

24 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis the Fund uses for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Fund.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Fund. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Fund are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund Expenses: Expenses that are specific to the Fund are charged directly to the Fund.

 

Federal Income Taxes: The Fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute substantially all of their net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund files U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Fund’s tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Fund normally pays dividends, if any, quarterly and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income the Fund receives from its investments, including short term capital gains. Long term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when the Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. The Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for the Fund to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

3.  TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and were primarily attributed to minor differences between book and tax characterizations of paydown transactions.

 

The reclassifications as of April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund 

Paid-in

Capital

  

Accumulated

Net Investment

Income

  

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Investments

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund  $   $542   $(542)

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

   The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund 
Gross appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)  $57,992,211 
Gross depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)   (9,343,348)
Net unrealized appreciation  $48,648,863 
Cost of investments for income tax purposes  $154,955,217 

 

Components of Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income  $151,718 
Accumulated capital gains   681,468 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   48,648,863 
Total  $49,482,049 

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain was recorded by the Fund.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended April 30, 2018, were as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income  

Long-Term

Capital Gain

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund  $1,182,759   $6,935,982 

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended April 30, 2017, were as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income  

Long-Term

Capital Gain

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund  $833,014   $290,228 

 

 

26 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

4.  SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

During the year ended April 30, 2018, equity holdings, asset/mortgage backed securities, fixed income securities and U.S. Treasury Bonds were transferred in-kind into the Fund. The intent of the transfers was to save on equity transaction costs both for the new shareholders at the institution they transferred from and for the Fund on the addition of assets. The assets of four separate accounts were transferred-in-kind into the Fund in the amount of $19,146,064.

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short-term securities, transfers-in-kind, and U.S. Government Obligations) during the year ended April 30, 2018, were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of Securities  

Proceeds From

Sales of Securities

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund  $40,017,805   $30,673,311 

 

Investment transactions in U.S. Government Obligations (excluding transfers-in-kind) during the year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of Securities  

Proceeds From

Sales of Securities

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund  $6,974,883   $ 

 

5.  SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Fund of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors (other than the purchase price for the shares or make contributions to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Prior to September 1, 2015, shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase may have incurred a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. Effective September 1, 2015, the Fund no longer imposes redemption fees. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not receive any redemption fees.

 

6.  MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fund’s business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Trustees. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a unitary management fee for the services and facilities it provides payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate of 0.78% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, bookkeeping and pricing services, legal, audit and other services, except for interest expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. Also included are Trustee fees which were $3,755 for the year ended April 30, 2018.

 

Payment from Affiliate  

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund was reimbursed $36,717 from the Advisor as a result of a trading error.

 

Fund Administrator Fees and Expenses  

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Fund. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Fund including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assists in the Fund’s operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Fund’s administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. The Administrator is also reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The administrative fee and out-of-pocket expenses are included in the unitary management fee paid to the Adviser.

 

Transfer Agent  

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee and out-of-pocket expenses are included in the unitary management fee paid to the Adviser.

 

Compliance Services  

ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. The fee and out-of-pocket expenses are included in the unitary management fee paid to the Adviser.

 

Principal Financial Officer  

ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Fund. The fee is included in the unitary management fee paid to the Adviser.

 

Distributor 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Fund, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Fund’s shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

28 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

7.  INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights  

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund (the “Fund”), one of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund of Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. since 2012.

 

 

30 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1.  FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Fund’s Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2.  FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) 855-DGI-Fund and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3.  TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

 

The Fund designates the following for federal income tax purposes for distributions made during the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

Dividend Received Deduction 70.81%
Qualified Dividend Income 100.00%

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Disciplined Growth Investors Fund designated $6,935,982 as long-term capital gain dividends.

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distributions paid to them by the Fund during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Fund will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Fund, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Shareholder Voting Results

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

A Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund was held on February 12, 2018. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 26, 2017 voted to approve the following proposal:

 

Proposal: To approve a new Advisory Agreement among Financial Investors Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc.

 

Shares Voted

In Favor

Shares Voted Against

or Abstentions

5,830,167 5,582

 

 

32 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of an interim investment advisory agreement (the “Interim Agreement”) and a new investment advisory agreement (the “New Agreement”), each between the Trust and the Adviser (collectively, the “Agreements”), in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act.

 

In approving the Interim Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the DGI Fund:

 

Compensation: The compensation to be received under the Interim Agreement is the same compensation as is being received under the current investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser (the “Current Agreement”).

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services: The scope and quality of services under the Interim Agreement are the same as those under the Current Agreement.

 

Termination: The Interim Agreement includes a provision for termination by the Board or the DGI Fund’s shareholders upon not more than 10 calendar days’ written notice to DGI.

 

Terms and Conditions: The terms and conditions in the Interim Agreement are substantially the same as those in the Current Agreement, except for the effective and termination dates and the inclusion of specific provisions required by Rule 15a-4 of the 1940 Act.

 

In determining whether to recommend that DGI Fund shareholders approve the New Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the DGI Fund, but did not identify any single factor as all-important or controlling:

 

The assurances from DGI that the way the DGI Fund’s assets are managed will not change in any material manner, that the personnel who currently manage the Fund’s assets will continue to do so after the Transaction, and that there is not expected to be any diminution in the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund;

The fact that the material terms of the New Agreement, including the fees payable by the DGI Fund, are substantively identical to the material terms of the Current Agreement;

The history, reputation, qualifications and background of DGI and its key personnel;

The fact that DGI Fund shareholders will not bear any costs relating to the Transaction, insofar as DGI and its affiliates thereof have agreed to pay such expenses, including proxy solicitation expenses;

Information provided by representatives of DGI regarding the anticipated impact of the Transaction; and

Other factors described in greater detail below.

 

In approving the Agreements, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, also considered the following factors with respect to the DGI Fund:

 

Investment Advisory Fee Rate: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee to be paid by the Trust, on behalf of the DGI Fund, to DGI, of 0.78% of the Fund’s daily net assets, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services to be provided by DGI to

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

the DGI Fund. The Trustees noted that the advisory fee is a “unitary” fee whereby DGI pays substantially all expenses of the DGI Fund from the advisory fee, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, bookkeeping and pricing services, legal, audit and other services, except for interest expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of the DGI Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate with those of funds in the expense group and universe of funds provided by an independent provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the DGI Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate was above the Data Provider peer group median, at least in part because of the additional scope of services under the unitary fee arrangement.

 

Total Expense Ratios: The Trustees noted that the total expense ratio was attributable entirely to the unitary fee payable to DGI. The Trustees further reviewed and considered that the DGI Fund’s total expense ratio of 0.78% was below the Data Provider peer group median.

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the DGI Fund under the Agreements, including potential changes as a result of the Transaction. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by DGI in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered DGI’s investment advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager, and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by DGI and its affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by DGI, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the DGI Fund.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of DGI’s management in connection with the DGI Fund, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, DGI’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

Performance: The Trustees reviewed performance information for the DGI Fund for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017. That review included a comparison of the DGI Fund’s performance to the performance of the group of comparable funds selected by the Data Provider. The Trustees noted that the performance of the DGI Fund was below the Data Provider universe median for the 3-month and 1-year periods, but top quartile for the 5-year period and top decile for the 3-year and since inception periods. The Trustees also considered DGI’s discussion of its reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

 

34 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted certain information provided by DGI regarding fees charged to its other clients utilizing a strategy similar to that employed by the DGI Fund.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered a retrospective and projected profitability analysis prepared by DGI based on the fees payable under the Agreements with respect to the DGI Fund. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by DGI in connection with the operation of the Fund. The Board then reviewed DGI’s audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of DGI.

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the DGI Fund will be passed along to the shareholders under the proposed agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by DGI from its relationship with the DGI Fund, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In approving the Agreements and the fees charged under the Agreements, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to approve the Agreements. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the DGI Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate was above the Data Provider peer group median;

the DGI Fund’s total expense ratio was below its Data Provider peer group median;

the nature, extent and quality of services rendered by DGI under the Agreements with respect to the DGI Fund would be adequate;

for the period ended September 30, 2017, the performance of the DGI Fund was below the Data Provider universe median for the 3-month and 1-year periods, but top quartile for the 5-year period and top decile for the 3-year and since inception periods;

bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable to DGI’ other clients employing a comparable strategy to the DGI Fund was not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory fee payable by the Fund;

the profit, if any, realized by DGI in connection with the operation of the Fund is not unreasonable to the Fund; and

there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to DGI in connection with its relationship with the DGI Fund.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that DGI’s compensation for investment advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the DGI Fund and its shareholders.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35

 

 
The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Trustees and Officers

 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 877-421-5078.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

   

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s)

Held with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in Fund Complex Overseen

by Trustee****

Other

Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years***

Mary K. Anstine,
1940
Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems,
1976
Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co- Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 
36 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES (continued)

 

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s)

Held with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee****

Other

Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years***

Jerry G. Rutledge,
1944
Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell,
1970
Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Trustees and Officers
 
    April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s)

Held with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

 Funds in Fund

Complex Overseen

by Trustee****

Other

Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years***

Edmund J. Burke,
1961
Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 
38 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held

with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms,
1972
Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen,
1970
Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl,
1974
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella,
1974
Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS (continued)

 

Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held

with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Alan Gattis,
1980
Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.
Sharon Akselrod,
1974
Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.
Jennifer Craig,
1973
Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon,
1980
Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.

**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.

***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.

****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Disciplined Growth Investors, Inc. provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

40 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Privacy Policy
 

 

WHO WE ARE  
Who is providing this notice? The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund
WHAT WE DO  
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●     open an account

●     provide account information or give us your contact information

●     make a wire transfer or deposit money

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

●     sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes- information about your creditworthiness

●     affiliates from using your information to market to you

●     sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

 

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

DEFINITIONS  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates

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

 

●     The Fund does not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

●     The Fund does not jointly market.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Privacy Policy

 

 

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

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

●     Social Security number and account transactions

●     Account balances and transaction history

●     Wire transfer instructions

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

 

REASONS WE CAN SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION DOES THE FUND SHARE: CAN YOU LIMIT THIS SHARING?

For our everyday business purposes –

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

Yes No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

No We do not share.
For non-affiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

42 1-855-DGI-FUND (344-3863) | www.DGIfund.com

 

 

The Disciplined Growth Investors Fund Privacy Policy
 

 

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

 

(DISCIPLINED GROWTH INVESTORS FUND LOGO) 

 

THIS MATERIAL MUST BE PRECEDED OR ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS.

THE DISCIPLINED GROWTH INVESTORS FUND IS DISTRIBUTED BY ALPS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.

 

 

 

(FRONT COVER) 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Manager Commentary  
Emerald Growth Fund 1
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund 6
Emerald Insights Fund 12
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund 16
Disclosure of Fund Expenses 22
Schedule of Investments  
Emerald Growth Fund 24
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund 26
Emerald Insights Fund 28
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund 30
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 32
Statements of Operations 33
Statements of Changes in Net Assets  
Emerald Growth Fund 34
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund 35
Emerald Insights Fund 37
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund 38
Financial Highlights  
Emerald Growth Fund 40
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund 44
Emerald Insights Fund 48
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund 52
Notes to Financial Statements 56
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 65
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements 66
Additional Information 68
Trustees & Officers 69
Privacy Policy 74

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Manager Commentary
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

Investment Results:

The performance of the Emerald Growth Fund’s Class A shares (without sales load), for the twelve months ended April 30, 2018, advanced by 19.06% outpacing the Russell 2000® Growth Index(1) which appreciated by 16.60%.

 

The last twelve months have been a tale of two parts. Calendar year 2017 was a record year for the S&P 500® Index(2). While the S&P 500® Index’s total return of 21.8% was certainly notable, it wasn’t the return that set records, it was the index’s seemingly unrelenting advance. In the process of hitting all-time highs 62 times during the course of the year (Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sp-500-breaks-54-year-old-record-for-all-time-highs-notched-in-january-2018-01-23), the index recorded a positive return in each and every month of 2017, representing the first time in the history of the S&P 500® Index that this has occurred. The volatility of returns was similarly low with the worst drop from the peak of 2017 limited to just 2.8%. The driving force behind these consistent gains and low volatility were the collective combination of the broad-based synchronized acceleration in global economic growth, improving forward looking economic indicators and strong corporate profit recovery. The market backdrop however shifted dramatically entering 2018, and after a strong start to January with the S&P 500® Index advancing 7.5% in the first 18 days of trading, the S&P 500® Index over the proceeding weeks and months retraced, erasing early gains as uncertainty and volatility rose in tandem. While the absolute change in volatility has been dramatic, the factors driving the market’s volatility have varied from month to month with inverse volatility ETF’s, inflationary fears, Federal Reserve (Fed) concerns, the specter of a trade war with China, fears of peaking growth rates of both global economic and corporate earnings, a flattening yield curve, the surge in LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) and the widening TED spread (the spread between 3-month LIBOR and 3-month Treasury Bill) all contributing to spiking volatility and the market’s rising wall of worry.

 

Despite all of the concerns that have gated market returns on year-to-date basis, the underlying fundamental factors that have driven the market over the last 12 months remain firmly intact. Domestic economic growth appears to be reaccelerating after a weaker than expected first quarter report and corporate earnings and outlooks have continued to demonstrate resounding strength. According to FactSet’s May 4, 2018 Earnings Insight report, the blended earnings growth for Q1 S&P 500 earnings per share currently stands at 24.2%, better than the 11.3% expected at the start of the quarter. The blended revenue growth rate is 8.5%. Of the 81% of S&P 500 companies that have now reported as of the May 4, 2018 FactSet Report for Q1, 78% have beaten consensus earnings expectations, better than the one-year average of 74% and above the 70% five-year average. In addition, 77% have surpassed consensus sales expectations, above the 70% one-year average and the 57% five-year average. While it is true that some of the benefit to year over year earnings growth is coming from tax reform (estimated 1000 bps contribution to earnings growth), revenue growth is exceeding expectations and meaningfully contributing to the upside relative to consensus expectations. Forward earnings guidance has been equally impressive. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in a May 7, 2018 earnings update report indicated that guidance this earnings season has been stronger than expected with management guiding above consensus two times as much as below consensus, which represents the best monthly ratio since 2010. While we agree that the rate of corporate earnings growth is unlikely to accelerate beyond the 24% achieved during the first quarter, in our opinion the fact that revenue growth has accelerated sequentially and is tracking better than expectations is encouraging and supportive of ongoing strength.

 

This strong corporate earnings backdrop has been favorable for growth stocks which have demonstrated meaningful outperformance relative to their value counterparts. Small capitalization growth stocks as measured by the Russell 2000® Growth Index for the trailing 12-month period ended April 28, 2018 appreciated by 16.60% outpacing small capitalization value stocks as measured by Russell 2000® Value Index(3) which gained a more modest 11.54%.

 

Investment Analysis:

On a relative basis, the portfolio outpaced the benchmark for the trailing period as the positive contribution to return from stock selection within the financial services, technology, utilities, and healthcare sectors offset relative underperformance within the producer durables, consumer discretionary and materials sectors.

 

The financial services sector was the largest contributor to return for the trailing period as stock selection within the consumer lending, banking, and diversified financial services industries contributed to the relative outperformance.

 

The technology sector also contributed positively to return driven by a combination of the portfolio’s relative overweight position and stock selection within the electronics, communication technology, electronic entertainment, semiconductor, and telecommunications equipment industries. The portfolio also demonstrated relative outperformance within the utilities and healthcare sectors driven largely by stock selection within the telecommunications, biotechnology and healthcare services industries.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Relative outperformance in the aforementioned was partially offset by relative underperformance within the producer durables, consumer discretionary and materials sectors. Performance within the producer durables sector was the most significant detractor to performance as challenging stock selection within the industrial machinery, air transport, trucking and construction industries offset relative outperformance within the aerospace industry.

 

Performance within the consumer discretionary and materials sectors also detracted from returns as the collective negative contribution from stock selection within the consumer services, restaurant, casinos and gambling, and glass industries weighed on relative performance.

 

Exiting April 2018, the portfolio held the largest active exposure to the financial services, energy, technology and utilities sectors. Thoughts on those sectors and other areas of notable opportunity/ portfolio exposure are highlighted below:

 

The portfolio has maintained its overweight to the financial services sector, with a notable overweight to the banking and consumer lending industries. Emerald continues to believe that the underlying fundamentals of small cap community bank stocks remain attractive and in fact begin to look more attractive when we add in the benefits from reduced corporate tax rates, possible regulatory relief, loan growth that outpaces that of their large cap brethren and continued rate increases from the Fed.

 

Specific to the technology sector, the portfolio is overweight the communications technology, electronics, computer technology and computer software and services industries. Software remains the portfolio’s largest absolute industry exposure with holdings focused on areas of secular growth such as enterprise security and vertical software. We believe that security spending will continue to be strong given the current fundamental backdrop, which includes a number of high profile attacks (i.e. Wannacry and Equifax) and the implementation of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe in 2018. Further, we see the potential for enterprise software spending to accelerate in 2018 in response to increased corporate profits, increased investment by the financial services industry (20% of technology spending), deregulation and better spending in Europe.

 

The portfolio also maintains an overweight position to the utilities sector. Within the utilities sector, Emerald continues to believe that adoption of unified communications among mid-market and enterprise customers is in the very early stages and that the segment will continue to expand, shifting market leadership from traditional telephony equipment providers to a new group of software/network centric companies.

 

The portfolio also holds a meaningful absolute weighting within the healthcare sector. The healthcare sector also remains an area of meaningful exposure within the portfolio, although the portfolio remains underweight relative to the benchmark. At the industry level, the biotechnology industry remains the largest aggregate exposure. Emerald remains optimistic regarding the ongoing opportunity within the biotechnology industry given the high-level of innovation and the substantive progress being witnessed in drug development amidst what continues to be a very accommodating FDA (46 new drugs were approved over the course of 2017). Further, Emerald also believes that the biotechnology industry could be a beneficiary if merger and acquisition activity accelerates during 2018.

 

Market Outlook:

As we look to the balance of calendar 2018, while the recent market narrative has been altered by the uncertainty related to global trade and peaking rates of global growth, the fundamental underpinnings of our optimism entering 2018 remain firmly intact. Global economic growth in aggregate remains strong and the earnings outlook has improved thanks to lower taxes and better top-line growth. As a result of rising earnings and more muted first quarter market returns, valuations across the equity universe have gotten more reasonable. All of these factors on a fundamental basis keep us highly encouraged.

 

While positive on the underlying fundamentals of the marketplace, we remain mindful of the growing list of uncertainties that have driven the acceleration in volatility year to date. Of these, trade tensions have moved to the top of the list as a trade war with China could have broad implications to growth and inflation. Although we are more inclined to expect a rational and potentially beneficial outcome to trade discussions, the markets daily handicapping of the vast array of potential outcomes is likely to keep volatility elevated. Further, we continue to monitor inflation, the direction of monetary policy, the shape of the yield curve(4), credit conditions, and the direction of the dollar. Geopolitical risk similarly remains elevated in our view as is domestic political/policy risk, particularly as it relates to the outcome of mid-term elections and the implications to U.S. congressional control. While the list of risks is long and evolving each of these issues independently has the potential to be disruptive to the market. That being said with all of these risks acknowledged, Emerald continues to believe that the improving global economic backdrop will be supportive of further positive revisions in forward earnings growth and market returns. Within this backdrop, we believe small capitalization stocks are particularly well positioned as we move through the balance of 2018.

 

 
2 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Top Contributors: Top Detractors:  
LendingTree, Inc. Nutrisystem Inc.  
Chegg Inc. Spirit Airlines Inc.  
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. Tile Shop Holdings Inc.  
Ignyta Inc. MicroStrategy Incorporated  
Varonis Systems Inc. Apogee Enterprises Inc.  
     
Kenneth G. Mertz II, CFA Stacey L. Sears Joseph W. Garner
Chief Investment Officer Portfolio Manager Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager    

 

Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Fund prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please visit www.emeraldmutualfunds.com to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

The views of Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer’s current views. The views expressed are those of the author only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Fund or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information. The Emerald Growth Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

(1)The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with higher price-to-value ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(2)The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for the market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(3)The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios (A ratio used to compare a stock’s market value to its book value. It is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter’s book value per share.) and lower forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(4)A yield curve is a line that plots the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The most frequently reported yield curve compares the three-month, two-year, five-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury debt. This yield curve is used as a benchmark for other debt in the market, such as mortgage rates or bank lending rates, and it is also used to predict changes in economic output and growth.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Manager Commentary
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS
(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Chegg, Inc. 2.44%
FCB Financial Holdings, Inc. 2.09%
KLX, Inc. 2.06%
Vonage Holdings Corp. 1.95%
Varonis Systems, Inc. 1.93%
EPAM Systems, Inc. 1.84%
LendingTree, Inc. 1.82%
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. 1.65%
Cadence BanCorp 1.60%
Proofpoint, Inc. 1.56%
Top Ten Holdings 18.94%

 

INDUSTRY SECTOR ALLOCATION
(as a % of Net Assets)

 

Technology 21.59%
Health Care 17.67%
Consumer Discretionary 17.16%
Financial Services 16.23%
Producer Durables 12.08%
Materials & Processing 6.33%
Energy 3.38%
Utilities 3.36%
Consumer Staples 1.08%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 1.12%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

 

  1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year

Since

Inception(1)

Expense Ratio
Gross(2) Net(2)
Class A (NAV) 19.06% 10.00% 14.70% 12.01% 11.39% 1.08% 1.08%
Class A (MOP) 13.39% 8.23% 13.59% 11.46% 11.18% 1.08% 1.08%
Russell 2000® Growth Index 16.60% 9.89% 13.07% 10.41% 8.48%    
Class C (NAV) 18.29% 9.30% 13.96% 11.31% 6.42% 1.73% 1.73%
Class C (CDSC) 17.29% 9.30% 13.96% 11.31% 6.42% 1.73% 1.73%
Russell 2000® Growth Index 16.60% 9.89% 13.07% 10.41% 5.43%    
Investor Class 18.99% 9.94% 14.66% 12.09% 1.13% 1.13%
Russell 2000® Growth Index 16.60% 9.89% 13.07% 10.96%    
Institutional Class 19.41% 10.35% 15.06% 15.75% 0.77% 0.77%
Russell 2000® Growth Index 16.60% 9.89% 13.07% 14.80%    

 

Performance quoted represents past performance, does not guarantee future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained at www.emeraldmutualfunds.com.

 

Performance shown for periods prior to March 16, 2012, reflects the performance of the Forward Growth Fund, a series of Forward Funds (as a result of a reorganization of the Forward Growth Fund into the Emerald Growth Fund).

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Maximum Offering Price (MOP) for Class A shares includes the Fund’s maximum sales charge of 4.75%. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) of 1.00% may apply to Class C shares redeemed within the first 12 months after a purchase.

 

(1)Inception Dates - Class A: 10/01/1992, Class C: 07/01/2000, Class Institutional: 10/21/2008, Class Investor: 05/01/2011
(2)Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust (“Emerald” or the “Adviser”) has agreed contractually to waive a portion of its fees and reimburse other expenses until August 31, 2018 in amounts necessary to limit the Fund’s operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expense) for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares to an annual rate (as percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets) of 1.29%, 1.94%, 0.99% and 1.34% respectively. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the annual rates set forth in the relevant agreement. The Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the year(s) in which the fees and expense were incurred. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver prior to August 31, 2018, without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with higher price-to-value ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.



 
4 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

Investment Results: 

The performance of the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Investor Class, for the twelve months ended April 30, 2018, reflected a gain of 12.54% (without sales load) outperforming the Russell 2000® Value Index(1) (or “R2V”) which was up 6.53%.

 

After a strong performance in 2016 small cap value stocks lagged other U.S. domestic equity asset classes. During the past year, larger companies outperformed smaller ones, and growth beat value. Heading into 2017 our belief was that the Trump’s administration “America First” policies, coupled with the Federal Reserves’ interest rate hikes, would meaningfully favor small value companies domiciled in the U.S. However, this thesis did not yet come to fruition.

 

Volatility significantly increased from the benign environment we experienced in 2017. The VIX Index(2) rose from 9 to 39 and now stands in the mid-teens, which is below the VIX average of around 20, going back to 1990 according to Steven DeSanctis of Jefferies(3). In addition, an interesting reversal in Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) fund flows occurred during the first quarter of 2018, as large cap ETF flows went from +$18.6 billion to -$19 billion in the latter part of the quarter, and small caps experienced outflows of $4.3 billion by March 2, but saw inflows of $3.8 billion since. “This has been a driver behind the smallest of the small holding up well and not kind to active managers’ performance” according to Steven DeSanctis of Jefferies. 

 

Investment Analysis:

The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund (without sales load) outperformed its benchmark for the 12-month period ended April 30, 2018. At the sector level, relative outperformance was driven by stock selection within the consumer discretionary, utilities and financial services sectors, and our relative underweight in consumer staples. Relative underperformance was experienced within the healthcare sector, driven by our underweight to the biotechnology industry. It is worth to mention that for the 12 month period ending on April 30, 2018, the Fund had no sector with a negative stock selection attribution.

 

The Fund’s outperformance in the financial services sector was due to strong stock selection within our bank holdings versus the benchmark. We are still overweight banks, as we believe that the underlying fundamentals of small cap community bank stocks remain attractive and in fact begin to look more attractive when we add in the potential benefits from reduced corporate tax rates, possible regulatory relief, loan growth that outpaces that of their large cap brethren and continued rate increases from the Fed. Our primary concern as we enter the second quarter of 2018 will be the cost of deposits. Funding pressures and deposit costs are growing for small cap community banks, but not as quickly as they are at larger institutions. We believe the ability of small cap community banks to lag deposit rates set by larger competitors should allow community banks to report additional net interest margin expansion over the next few years. We believe that banks with $10 billion in assets or less will produce further increases in margins, and coupled with a lower tax rate, can produce superior community bank returns.

 

Over the past year, we have increased our weight in the energy sector, and we also added new healthcare holdings to our portfolio. The Healthcare sector has performed well in the past 18 months within our R2V benchmark. Most of the outperformance came from the biotechnology industry, which is 3.1% of the R2V. We are actively looking to narrow our relative underweight to this group.

 

Market Outlook:

Despite higher volatility, more moderate domestic economic indicators, increased geopolitical risk, potential trade wars with adversaries and allies, Federal Reserve tapping on the breaks (rate hikes and balance sheet reduction), and a stock market that is only 6% away from its all-time high, we have not changed our outlook over the last quarter.

 

We are often asked: why do you believe small cap value will do well given recent underperformance relative to other domestic equity asset classes? And below, is our response. 

 

While we still believe that the US business cycle is maturing, current market conditions are supportive of further growth and margin expansion in domestic companies. ISM Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing PMIs have been strong, signaling rapid growth (www.instituteforsupplymanagement.org). NFIB Small Business Optimism Index has been at lofty levels since the 2016 election (www.nfib.com), the unemployment rate is at 3.9%, and the U6 underemployment rate fell to 7.8 % (www.bls.gov) both lowest in over a decade and indicative of full employment. Small caps (who generally have more of their revenues generated in the U.S. vs. large caps) can benefit by pro-growth domestic policy such as the recently passed tax reform, ongoing deregulation, and an eventual sizable increase in infrastructure spending.

 

 
6 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As 2017 came to a close the price/earnings ratio of the average small-cap growth fund was 28.3, vs. 19.8 for the average small-cap value funds. The average price-to-book ratio of small-cap growth funds was 3.7, vs. 1.7 for small-cap value funds, according to Fidelity. These are some of the widest gaps in valuation that we have seen in some time.

 

Furthermore, an investor should note that, by nature, financial stocks, such as banks and insurance companies, represent a larger portion of the average value index than the average growth index (currently 40.9% in R2V vs. 10.5% in Russell 2000® Growth Index(4)). This oversize exposure can carry more market risk than growth stocks during recessions. For example, during The Great Depression, and more recently The Great Recession of 2007 and 2008, financial stocks experienced much larger losses in price than any other sector. We would argue that the underperformance that we have seen in value stocks since the Great Recession has been largely driven by the overweight to banks in the value indices and the perception that the low rate environment, increased regulatory environment and the slow growth economy would all be a negative for the earnings power at banks.

 

We believe that the set-up for banks over the next several years is positive given the tailwinds of a Fed that is raising rates, regulatory relief for the banks, reduced corporate taxes and a stronger growth economy. We also believe strongly in the long term historical outperformance of value and that such outperformance can continue over time.

 

Recently, Furey Research, performed an analysis on small cap performance during different inflation regimes(5). The study shows that when the inflation rate is between 2% - 4% and rising, small cap value outperformed small cap growth 63% of the time. In addition, the median relative outperformance in these inflation conditions was 400 bps. Bottom line, small cap value has tended to outperform in more normal inflation environments.

 

So, will we see a reversal soon? Will Value finally outperform Growth over a significant period of time? Only time will tell. However, regardless which index will do better for the rest of 2018, we feel confident in the current holdings in the small cap value portfolio.

 

Top Contributors: Top Detractors:
Zagg, Inc. Xperi Corp
Vonage Holdings Corp. Jones Energy, Inc.
Mitel Networks Corporation Tutor Perini Corporation
Microsemi Corporation Gray Television, Inc.
ICF International, Inc. Meritor, Inc.
   
Sincerely,  
   
Ori Elan Steven E. Russell, Esq.
Vice President Vice President
Portfolio Manager Portfolio Manager

 

Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust 

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Fund prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please visit www.emeraldmutualfunds.com to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. 

 

The views of Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer's current views. The views expressed are those of the author only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Fund or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses. 

 

(1)The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios (A ratio used to compare a stock's market value to its book value. It is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter's book value per share.) and lower forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(2)The CBOE Volatility Index, known by its ticker symbol VIX, is a popular measure of the stock market's expectation of volatility implied by S&P 500® Index options, calculated and published by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). It is colloquially referred to as the fear index or the fear gauge.

 

(3)Jefferies, JEF's SMID-Cap Performance Scorecard: A very eventful Q1 ends with small on top, 01 April, 2018

 

(4)The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with higher price-to-value ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(5)Furey Research, Thoughts on Value performance in Inflationary environments, 28 March, 2018.

 

 
8 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

First Defiance Financial Corp. 2.07%
BofI Holding, Inc. 2.02%
Mitel Networks Corp. 1.98%
Meta Financial Group, Inc. 1.90%
Viad Corp. 1.79%
ICF International, Inc. 1.72%
Meritor, Inc. 1.59%
Invacare Corp. 1.58%
Koppers Holdings, Inc. 1.54%
Builders FirstSource, Inc. 1.49%
Top Ten Holdings 17.68%

 

INDUSTRY SECTOR ALLOCATION

(as a % of Net Assets)

 

Financial Services 46.42%
Consumer Discretionary 12.13%
Materials & Processing 10.88%
Technology 8.49%
Energy 7.07%
Producer Durables 6.06%
Health Care 3.76%
Utilities 1.23%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 3.96%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN (for the period ended April 30, 2018)(1),(2)

 

 

  1 Year 3 Years 5 Years

Since

Inception(2)

Expense Ratio
Gross(3) Net(3)
Class A (NAV) 12.41% 10.52% 11.40% 13.12% 2.27% 1.36%
Class A (MOP) 7.08% 8.74% 10.33% 12.12% 2.27% 1.36%
Russell 2000® Value Index(4) 6.53% 9.27% 10.36% 12.28%    
Class C (NAV) 11.63% 9.78% 10.67% 12.37% 2.71% 2.01%
Class C (CDSC) 11.00% 9.78% 10.67% 12.37% 2.71% 2.01%
Russell 2000® Value Index(4) 6.53% 9.27% 10.36% 12.28%    
Investor Class 12.54% 10.68% 11.54% 13.27% 1.84% 1.26%
Russell 2000® Value Index(4) 6.53% 9.27% 10.36% 12.28%    
Institutional Class 12.76% 10.88% 11.77% 13.49% 1.57% 1.01%
Russell 2000® Value Index(4) 6.53% 9.27% 10.36% 12.28%    

  

Performance quoted represents past performance, does not guarantee future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained at www.emeraldmutualfunds.com. 

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Maximum Offering Price (MOP) for Class A shares includes the Fund's maximum sales charge of 4.75%. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) of 1.00% may apply to Class C shares redeemed within the first 12 months after a purchase.

 

(1)As of June 26, 2015, the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund was reorganized as a successor to the Elessar Small Cap Value Fund (the Predecessor Fund), a series of Elessar Investment Trust. The performance shown for periods prior to June 26, 2015 reflects the performance of the Predecessor Fund's Institutional Class and Investor Class shares. The Predecessor Fund did not offer Class A or Class C shares. The performance shown for Class A and C shares prior to June 30, 2015 reflect the historical performance of the Predecessor Fund’s Institutional and Investor Shares since inception on October 15, 2012, calculated using the fees and expenses of Class A and C shares, respectively.

 

(2)Commencement Dates - Class A: 06/30/2015, Class C: 06/30/2015, Class Institutional: 10/15/2012, Class Investor:10/15/2012

 

(3)Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust (“Emerald” or the “Adviser”) has agreed contractually to waive a portion of its fees and reimburse other expenses until August 31, 2018 in amounts necessary to limit the Fund’s operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expense) for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares to an annual rate (as percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets) of 1.35%, 2.00%, 1.00% and 1.25% respectively. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above to the extent that the Fund's expenses in later periods fall below the annual rates set forth in the relevant agreement. The Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the year(s) in which the fees and expense were incurred. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver prior to August 31, 2018, without the approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.


 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

(4)The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

Important Risks 

Investing in smaller companies generally will present greater investment risks, including: greater price volatility, greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and less liquidity than the securities of larger, more mature companies.



 
10 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. 

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

Investment Results:

The performance of the Emerald Insights Fund’s Class A shares (without the sales load), for the prior 12 months reflected a gain of 15.53%, trailing the Russell Midcap® Growth Index(1) benchmark of 16.87% by 1.34%. Performance for the period was driven by outperformance in technology, healthcare and energy; with underperformance in financial services and producer durables.

 

Investment Analysis:

The last quarter of the Fund’s year saw the markets cool considerably as investors grew fearful of possible labor inflation and spiking short term rates. Then concerns of a trade war, poor weather, and the combined impact on earnings, plus a potential inversion of the yield curve(2) further heightened investor angst. However, most domestic economic statistics remained strong: employment registered gains through the quarter and capacity utilization, Institute of Supply Management (ISM) indicators, Consumer Confidence, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) all pointed toward moderate growth. The only real economic/monetary negatives were a deceleration in money supply growth, a continued ballooning of the Federal deficit and lackluster retail sales growth. For the Fund's fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, strong earnings and generally strong economic indicators drove stock prices higher, despite persistent concerns about high valuations and expected inflation.

 

As noted, the Insights Fund slightly underperformed for the prior twelve months, as the March/April market correction hurt growth company performance the most. Our modest pro-growth cyclical bent initiated during 2017 affected performance, as did stock specific issues with a few technology and healthcare holdings.

 

Market Outlook:

From a positioning perspective, we remain overweight Technology, Energy, and Materials, and are modestly overweight Healthcare. We continue to underweight Consumer Discretionary and Staples, as well as non-bank Financial Services and Industrials.

 

Market fundamentals remain strong, and, as noted above, have improved markedly on the valuation side due to the most recent market pullback. The Insights Fund portfolio remains similarly sized as the Midcap benchmark, with similar or lower valuation metrics, yet with better expected earnings growth and a lower debt/capital profile. This valuation disparity has persisted for at least the past year, but that positioning has not yet been rewarded. We continue to believe that growth in revenue and earnings drives stock prices and the market will identify and reward the best growth equities over time.

 

Given the valuation reset associated with the recent market pullback, as well as the likely reversion to the mean away from what we see as large, crowded, over-followed and owned, benchmark growth names, we are more optimistic about mid-cap equities than we have been in some time. That optimism notwithstanding, during the past quarter, we transitioned the Fund from a portfolio focused predominantly on opportunities in the mid-cap growth market segment to a more broadly diversified all-cap growth portfolio. This positioning will allow us to further leverage Emerald’s in-house research assets to take advantage of investment opportunities in both smaller and larger cap equities in addition to the mid-cap companies on which we have previously focused our efforts. In fact, we have added to our mid cap exposure in all of our all cap growth portfolios as we think the asset class is very advantaged from a risk/reward perspective at this time.

 

We continue to believe that Emerald’s fundamental, bottom-up research uniquely positions us to identify growth companies with strong management teams and competitive advantages not properly valued or researched by the Street and should provide an opportunity to produce attractive returns regardless of market capitalization.

 

Top Contributors: Top Detractors:
IPG Photonics Corporation LendingTree, Inc.  
ServiceNow, Inc. Spirit Airlines, Inc.  
Chegg, Inc. Foot Locker, Inc.  
Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Kroger Co.  
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.  
     
David A. Volpe, CFA Stephen L. Amsterdam Joseph Hovorka
Deputy Chief Investment Officer Associate Portfolio Manager Associate Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager    
     
Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust    

 

 

12 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Fund prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please visit www.emeraldmutualfunds.com to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

The views of Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer's current views. The views expressed are those of the author only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Fund or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Emerald Insights Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

(1)The Russell MidCap® Growth Index measures the performance of the mid-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell MidCap Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios (A ratio used to compare a stock's market value to its book value. It is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter's book value per share.) and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(2)A yield curve is a line that plots the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The most frequently reported yield curve compares the three-month, two-year, five-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury debt. This yield curve is used as a benchmark for other debt in the market, such as mortgage rates or bank lending rates, and it is also used to predict changes in economic output and growth.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Amazon.com, Inc. 5.10%
Microsoft Corp. 4.73%
Chegg, Inc. 4.20%
Apple, Inc. 3.92%
Facebook, Inc. 2.99%
Alphabet, Inc. 2.71%
LendingTree, Inc. 2.26%
Varonis Systems, Inc. 1.57%
Vonage Holdings Corp. 1.56%
Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. 1.27%
Top Ten Holdings 30.31%

 

INDUSTRY SECTOR ALLOCATION
(as a % of Net Assets)

 

Technology 29.05%
Consumer Discretionary 19.99%
Health Care 13.21%
Financial Services 9.85%
Producer Durables 8.65%
Materials & Processing 6.78%
Energy 6.26%
Consumer Staples 2.60%
Utilities 1.57%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 2.04%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

 

  1 Year 3 Year

Since

Inception(1)

Expense Ratio
Gross(2) Net(2)
Class A (NAV) 15.53% 6.03% 7.45% 2.10% 1.35%
Class A (MOP) 10.00% 4.32% 6.06% 2.10% 1.35%
Russell MidCap® Growth Index 16.87% 9.08% 10.89%    
Class C (NAV) 14.85%(3) 5.33% 6.72% 2.76% 2.00%
Class C (CDSC) 13.85%(3) 5.33% 6.72% 2.76% 2.00%
Russell MidCap® Growth Index 16.87% 9.08% 10.89%    
Investor Class 15.59% 5.99% 7.37% 2.16% 1.40%
Russell MidCap® Growth Index 16.87% 9.08% 10.89%    
Institutional Class 15.86% 6.32% 7.74% 1.80% 1.05%
Russell MidCap® Growth Index 16.87% 9.08% 10.89%    

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, does not guarantee future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained at www.emeraldmutualfunds.com.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Maximum Offering Price (MOP) for Class A shares includes the Fund's maximum sales charge of 4.75%. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) of 1.00% may apply to Class C shares redeemed within the first 12 months after a purchase.

 

(1)Inception Date – August 1, 2014.

 

(2)Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust ("Emerald" or the "Adviser") has agreed contractually to waive a portion of its fees and reimburse other expenses until August 31, 2018 in amounts necessary to limit the Fund's operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expense) for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares to an annual rate (as percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets) of 1.35%, 2.00%, 1.05% and 1.40% respectively. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above to the extent that the Fund's expenses in later periods fall below the annual rates set forth in the relevant agreement. The Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the year(s) in which the fees and expense were incurred. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver prior to August 31, 2018, without the approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

 

(3)Excludes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and as such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the net asset value for financial reporting purposes.

 

The Russell MidCap® Growth Index measures the performance of the mid-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell Midcap Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

Important Risks

Investing in smaller companies generally will present greater investment risks, including: greater price volatility, greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and less liquidity than the securities of larger, more mature companies.




 

14 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

April 30, 2018

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Investment Results:

The Emerald Bank & Finance Fund – Class A outperformed the Russell 2000® Index(1) for the twelve months ended April 30, 2018, returning 13.57% vs. 11.54% for the Index. During the twelve months ended April 30, 2018, the Russell 2000® Financial Services Index(2) returned 5.97%; the SNL Small Cap U.S. Bank & Thrift Index(3) gained 7.30% versus a 13.27% gain delivered by the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index(4) and a gain of 6.53% for the Russell 2000® Value Index(5).

 

After years of post-crisis interventions we believe the central bank officials now have the economy largely where they want it. We view labor markets as strong. Wages are rising and inflation has reached the central bank’s 2% target but with no expectation of a breakout. The Federal Reserve (Fed), in a statement released after its May two day policy meeting, acknowledged the recent firming of inflation but signaled no plans to pick up the pace of rate increases in response. We believe Fed officials see 2% inflation as consistent with an economy with healthy demand for goods and services. Projections released after the Fed’s March meeting show that all 15 participants expected annual core inflation of at least 2% by 2020, and more than half of them see it rising to at least 2.1% in 2019 and staying there through 2020.

 

Fed officials voted in March 2018 to raise their benchmark rate to a range between 1.5% and 1.75%. At the May 2018 meeting the Fed voted unanimously to leave rates there for now. We believe the Fed now faces the difficulty of figuring out how to raise borrowing costs enough to prevent the economy from “overheating” but not so much that it tips the economy into a recession.

 

We believe that while the economy has performed in line with the Fed’s forecasts in 2018, there is great uncertainty as a result of the recent changes to corporate taxes, federal spending and trade policies and “the market” does not like uncertainty.

 

Investment Analysis:

According to S&P Global Research, community banks under $10 billion in assets posted strong first quarter 2018 results. The median net interest margin was 3.61% in the first quarter, up 9 basis points(6) from the year-ago quarter. Meanwhile, the median return on average assets increased to 1.07% from 0.09% and the median efficiency ratio dropped to 62.86% from 63.71%.

 

The largest banks in the analysis completed by S&P Global Research, those between $5 billion and $10 billion in assets, reported a median of 3.64%, up from 3.48% in the first quarter of 2017. Median Return on Assets (ROA) jumped 13 basis points to 1.14%, and the median efficiency ratio improved to 56.80% from 58.92%.

 

Additionally, S&P Global Research has indicated that community banks with less than $10 billion in assets generated median operating revenue growth of 10.9% year-over-year, compared to 8% in the year-ago quarter. The biggest banks in the analysis, those with $5 billion to $10 billion in assets, reported better results with a reported median of 11.1% operating revenue growth for the first quarter of 2018. Operating revenue at banks between $1 billion and $5 billion in assets however outperformed their larger peers with median growth of 11.7% year-over-year. The smallest banks in the analysis, those with less than $1 billion in assets, reported a median of 8.3% operating revenue growth year-over-year and a median efficiency ratio that improved marginally to 72.41% from 73.66% in the year-ago quarter. We believe the lower operating revenue growth and higher efficiency ratios highlight our opinion that banks below $1 billion in assets will find it difficult to sustain their independence and we will continue to see increased merger activity amongst these institutions.

 

Market Outlook:

We believe that the set-up for the next 12 months for the bank sector is the best we have had in some time. We believe that bank sector has several tailwinds that will improve the fundamentals for community banks over the next twelve months such as: lower corporate taxes, deregulation, rising loan yields and continued merger activity.

 

Bank merger and acquisition (M&A) activity remains robust and pricing is trending higher in 2018. Through the first four months of 2018, 83 deals were announced for a combined $6.13 billion and a median deal value-to-tangible book value (PTBV) ratio(7) of 180.2% according to S&P Global Research. Over the same time frame in 2017, 75 deals worth $11.19 billion were announced with a median value-to-tangible book value ratio of 158.6%. We believe that the smaller total combined deal value in 2018 is evidence of more deal activity taking place in the smaller community banks. We believe that the increased regulatory expenses will continue to weigh on the smaller community banks, sub $1 billion in assets, to remain independent despite the potential for increased loan yields as the Fed continues to raise rates.

 

On March 31st the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the sixth time in 3 years and signaled its intention to raise rates twice more in 2018, aiming for a Fed Funds target of 3.5% by 2020. LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, has risen even faster than the Fed Funds

 

 

16 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

rate, up to 2.3% from just 0.3% 2-1/2 years ago. Rising LIBOR rates are a benefit to many of the banks in our portfolio as we tend to invest in community banks that have a focus on commercial lending. Quite often these commercial loans are priced off of LIBOR. Therefore, we believe that new loans coming on to the loan portfolio of our banks will have higher yields than the banks’ current loan portfolio yields.

 

However, there will be a time, very soon, where our banks will also experience higher deposit costs as a result of the rising Fed rates. We believe community banks will be able to offset some of the increase in deposit costs as earning asset yields expand. We believe that the increases in loan yields will continue to outpace the increase in deposit costs in 2018 allowing net interest margins to continue to rise.

 

As expected given the recent rate hikes, deposit costs are growing for community banks but not as quickly as they are at larger institutions. We believe the ability to lag deposit rates set by larger competitors should allow community banks to report additional net interest margin (NIM) expansion over the next few years.

 

Despite three rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in 2017, community banks’ funding costs have held fairly steady with the cost of interest bearing deposits rising modestly to 0.53% from 0.46% in 2016 according to S&P Global Research. Community banks recorded a deposit beta, which is the percentage of changes in rates the banks have passed on to their customers, of just 11% in 2017, well below the roughly 20% beta recorded by the entire banking industry. We believe community banks are capable of maintaining lower deposit betas than larger institutions because of their focus on “relationship” banking and superior service. Additionally, community banks are often in rural areas that are not heavily banked.

 

According to S&P Global Research, community banks are seeing the highest increase in deposit betas on retail CDs. Community banks’ betas on retail CDs rose to 19.1% in 2017 from 13.3% in 2016, but the metric actually declined on larger Jumbo CDs. A number of community banks have actively marketed CD specials at above market rates in an effort to lock in rates on terms extending several years thus allowing institutions to hold the cost on those accounts for several years. Betas on retail CDs eventually rose to nearly 60% during the last rate tightening cycle. While we are not predicting 60% betas, we do expect CD betas to continue to rise as banks put more of their excess liquidity to work and loan-to-deposit ratios rise.

 

Surprisingly, community banks actually decreased their reliance on interest bearing deposits in 2017, according to S&P Global Research, while the industry as a whole saw those balances grow. We believe community banks will see interest bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits grow in 2018 as higher yielding products become more available to customers.

 

The third “tailwind” that we believe should benefit community banks over the next twelve months is the lower corporate tax rate. The majority of community banks were previously taxed at a rate that was higher than 40% and we believe the average tax rate for community banks will be in the low twenty percent range. While U.S. banks plan to share some of the windfall created by tax reform with their employees and customers, the industry stands to retain more than 75% of the savings. S&P Global Market Intelligence projects that a lower U.S. corporate tax rate will push the banking industry's earnings nearly 13% higher in 2018 than results would have been under the previous statutory tax rate.

 

Finally, we believe regulatory relief is on its way and while we do not believe there will be a reduction in regulatory expenses we do believe that the year-over-year growth in regulatory expenses will begin to wane. We believe the bank sector will see some regulatory relief by the end of the second quarter of 2018 in the form of the S.2155 (the Crapo bill) which should be received by investors as a positive for the banking sector. The Crapo bill, which is legislation that will raise Dodd-Frank’s $50 billion threshold, has passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the House. An agreement between House and Senate leadership to advance the Senate’s bank regulatory relief bill through the House was announced by Speaker Ryan that will allow the Senate bill to move through the House unaltered with Chairman Hensarling expected to push for additional bank regulatory rollback measures in future legislation to be taken up by the Senate.

 

Our focus remains on seeking companies capable of producing above average organic growth, relatively stable net interest margins, and improving earnings power aided by lower efficiency ratios, with potential for accretive mergers & acquisitions activity, as we deploy Emerald’s 10-Step research process to seek out companies in this market environment that is poised for the potential of higher short-term interest rates.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Top Contributors: Top Detractors:
LendingTree, Inc. Franklin Financial Network, Inc.
SVB Financial Group Home BancShares, Inc.
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. Customers Bancorp, Inc.
Meta Financial Group, Inc. U.S. Global Investors, Inc. Class A
Bitcoin Investment Trust Gold Coast Bancorp, Inc.
   
Kenneth G. Mertz II, CFA Steven E. Russell, Esq.
Chief Investment Officer Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager  
   
Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust  

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Fund prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please visit www.emeraldmutualfunds.com to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

The views of Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer's current views. The views expressed are those of the author only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Fund or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Emerald Banking and Finance Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

(1)The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction of fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(2)The Russell 2000® Financial Services Index – is comprised of the smallest financial services companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

(3)SNL Small Cap Bank & Thrift Index: Includes all publicly traded (NYSE, NYSE Amex, NASDAQ, OTC BB, Pink Sheets) Banks and Thrifts in SNL's coverage universe with $250M to $1B Total Common Market Capitalization as of most recent pricing data. Source: SNL Financial, data as of April 30, 2018.

 

(4)The Standard & Poor’s 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for the market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index

 

(5)The Russell 2000® Value Index measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios (A ratio used to compare a stock's market value to its book value. It is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter's book value per share.) and lower forecasted growth values. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into the Index.

 

(6)Basis point (BPS) refer to a common unit of measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. One basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1%, or 0.01% (0.0001), and is used to denote the percentage change in a financial instrument.

 

(7)The price to tangible book value (PTBV) is a valuation ratio expressing the price of a security compared to its hard, or tangible, book value as reported in the company's balance sheet. The tangible book value number is equal to the company's total book value less the value of any intangible assets.

 

 

18 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

TOP TEN HOLDINGS

(as a % of Net Assets)*

 

LendingTree, Inc. 2.74%
Meta Financial Group, Inc. 2.62%
SVB Financial Group 2.35%
Triumph Bancorp, Inc. 2.30%
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd. 2.08%
FCB Financial Holdings, Inc. 2.03%
RBB Bancorp 2.00%
Merchants Bancorp 1.98%
CenterState Bank Corp. 1.97%
Ameris Bancorp 1.96%
Top Ten Holdings 22.03%

 

INDUSTRY SECTOR ALLOCATION

(as a % of Net Assets)

 

Banks: Diversified 79.71%
Banks: Savings, Thrift & Mortgage Lending 8.22%
Consumer Lending 2.74%
Computer Services Software & Systems 2.33%
Insurance: Property-Casualty 2.31%
Real Estate Services 1.74%
Financial Data & Systems 1.65%
Commercial Finance & Mortgage Companies 0.49%
Insurance: Multi Line 0.33%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 0.48%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURN (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

 

  1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year

Since

Inception(1)

Expense Ratio
Gross(2) Net(2)
Class A (NAV) 13.57%(3) 17.89% 18.67% 10.34% 9.72% 1.43% 1.43%
Class A (MOP) 8.16% 15.99% 17.53% 9.81% 9.47% 1.43% 1.43%
Russell 2000® Index 11.54% 9.64% 11.74% 9.49% 8.39%    
Russell 2000® Financial Services TR Index†† 5.97% 11.65% 11.85% 8.28% 8.79%    
Class C (NAV) 12.85% 17.13% 17.92% 9.64% 9.98% 2.08% 2.08%
Class C (CDSC) 11.85% 17.13% 17.92% 9.64% 9.98% 2.08% 2.08%
Russell 2000® Index 11.54% 9.64% 11.74% 9.49% 7.75%    
Russell 2000® Financial Services TR Index†† 5.97% 11.65% 11.85% 8.28% 9.78%    
Investor Class 13.67% 17.91% 18.70% 14.72% 1.48% 1.48%
Russell 2000® Index 11.54% 9.64% 11.74% 12.12%    
Russell 2000® Financial Services TR Index†† 5.97% 11.65% 11.85% 12.27%    
Institutional Class 13.94%(3) 18.26% 19.06% 18.76% 1.14% 1.14%
Russell 2000® Index 11.54% 9.64% 11.74% 12.03%    
Russell 2000® Financial Services TR Index†† 5.97% 11.65% 11.85% 13.37%    

 

The performance quoted represents past performance, does not guarantee future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the data quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained at www.emeraldmutualfunds.com.

 

Performance shown for periods prior to March 16, 2012, reflects the performance of the Forward Banking & Finance Fund, a series of Forward Funds (as a result of a reorganization of the Forward Banking & Finance Fund into the Emerald Banking & Finance Fund).

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Maximum Offering Price (MOP) for Class A shares includes the Fund's maximum sales charge of 4.75%. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC) of 1.00% may apply to Class C shares redeemed within the first 12 months after a purchase.

 

(1)Inception Dates - Class A: 02/18/1997, Class C: 07/01/2000, Class Institutional: 03/19/2012, Class Investor: 03/16/2010

 

(2)Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust ("Emerald" or the "Adviser") has agreed contractually to waive a portion of its fees and reimburse other expenses until August 31, 2018 in amounts necessary to limit the Fund's operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expense) for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares to an annual rate (as percentage of the Fund's average daily net assets) of 1.84%, 2.49%, 1.54% and 1.89% respectively. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above to the extent



 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

that the Fund's expenses in later periods fall below the annual rates set forth in the relevant agreement. The Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the year(s) in which the fees and expense were incurred. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver prior to August 31, 2018, without the approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees. Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

 

(3)Excludes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and as such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the net asset value for financial reporting purposes.

 

The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly into an index.

 

††The Russell 2000® Financial Services TR Index is an additional index, and is comprised of the smallest financial services companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

Important Risks

A fund that concentrates in a particular industry will involve a greater degree of risk than a fund with a more diversified portfolio. Investing in smaller companies generally will present greater investment risks, including: greater price volatility, greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and less liquidity than the securities of larger, more mature companies.



 
20 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Manager Commentary

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

GROWTH OF $10,000 INVESTMENT IN THE FUND (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment (includes applicable sales loads)

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

 

Emerald Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including applicable sales charges (loads); and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the (six-month) period and held for the entire period November 1, 2017 through April 30, 2018.

 

Actual Expenses

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

 

Hypothetical Example For Comparison Purposes  

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

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line for each share class of the Fund within the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. If these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

 

Beginning

Account Value

11/01/17

Ending

Account Value

04/30/18

Expense

Ratio(a)

Expense Paid

During Period

11/01/17 - 4/30/18(b)

Emerald Growth Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,042.10 1.02% $5.16
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.74 1.02% $5.11
Class C        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,038.90 1.67% $8.44
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,016.51 1.67% $8.35
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,043.80 0.70% $3.55
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.32 0.70% $3.51
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,041.90 1.05% $5.32
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.59 1.05% $5.26
         
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,026.90 1.35% $6.78
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.10 1.35% $6.76
Class C        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,023.50 2.00% $10.03
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,014.88 2.00% $9.99
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,028.30 1.00% $5.03
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.84 1.00% $5.01
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,026.90 1.25% $6.28
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.60 1.25% $6.26

 

 

22 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

 

Beginning

Account Value

11/01/17

Ending

Account Value

04/30/18

Expense

Ratio(a)

Expense Paid

During Period

11/01/17 - 4/30/18(b)

Emerald Insights Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,059.10 1.35% $6.89
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.10 1.35% $6.76
Class C        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,055.50 2.00% $10.19
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,014.88 2.00% $9.99
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,060.10 1.05% $5.36
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.59 1.05% $5.26
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,059.30 1.40% $7.15
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.85 1.40% $7.00
         
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund        
Class A        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,041.60 1.42% $7.19
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.75 1.42% $7.10
Class C        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,038.10 2.06% $10.41
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,014.58 2.06% $10.29
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,043.20 1.08% $5.47
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.44 1.08% $5.41
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,042.30 1.27% $6.43
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.50 1.27% $6.36

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Schedule of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
COMMON STOCKS: 98.88%    
Consumer Discretionary: 17.16%     
 510,592  American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.  $10,559,043 
 82,312  Burlington Stores, Inc.(a)   11,182,085 
 1,283,779  Chegg, Inc.(a)   29,796,511 
 56,446  Children's Place, Inc.   7,199,687 
 187,299  Chuy's Holdings, Inc.(a)   5,356,751 
 582,767 

Entercom Communications Corp.,

Class A

   5,915,085 
 222,162  Five Below, Inc.(a)   15,686,859 
 74,889  Instructure, Inc.(a)   3,036,749 
 108,864  Jack in the Box, Inc.   9,765,101 
 251,986  Marcus Corp.   7,509,183 
 287,776  Meritage Homes Corp.(a)   12,806,032 
 434,224  Meritor, Inc.(a)   8,454,341 
 400,965  Nutrisystem, Inc.   11,627,985 
 214,326  Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc.(a)   13,331,077 
 328,673  Planet Fitness, Inc., Class A(a)   13,242,235 
 371,626  PlayAGS, Inc.(a)   8,402,464 
 91,851  Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.(a)   5,726,910 
 464,135  SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(a)   7,003,797 
 303,674  Steven Madden, Ltd.   14,652,270 
 362,375  Tilly's, Inc., Class A   4,062,224 
 265,542  Zoe's Kitchen, Inc.(a)   3,916,745 
        209,233,134 
          
Consumer Staples: 1.08%     
 431,905  Freshpet, Inc.(a)   8,551,719 
 51,690  National Beverage Corp.   4,567,328 
        13,119,047 
          
Energy: 3.38%       
 872,227  Callon Petroleum Co.(a)   12,132,678 
 268,600  Enphase Energy, Inc.(a)   1,114,690 
 775,270  Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.(a)   10,946,812 
 529,427  Keane Group, Inc.(a)   8,232,590 
 525,000  Ring Energy, Inc.(a)   8,778,000 
        41,204,770 
          
Financial Services: 16.23%     
 355,586  BofI Holding, Inc.(a)   14,323,004 
 666,128  Cadence BanCorp   19,470,921 
 40,144  CNB Financial Corp.   1,138,484 
 441,020  FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)   25,490,956 
 122,502  First Choice Bancorp   3,258,553 
 82,881  First Foundation, Inc.(a)   1,482,741 
 320,465  Industrial Logistics Properties Trust, REIT   6,575,942 
 93,241  LendingTree, Inc.(a)   22,228,654 
 391,230  Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.   11,052,248 
 198,395  Merchants Bancorp   4,241,685 
 214,690  Moelis & Co., Class A   11,550,322 
Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Financial Services (continued)     
 457,343  Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp.  $7,148,271 
 229,926  National Commerce Corp.(a)   9,955,796 
 350,335  OceanFirst Financial Corp.   9,452,038 
 370,221  Opus Bank   10,440,232 
 505,986  Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.(a)   20,112,944 
 199,849  Triumph Bancorp, Inc.(a)   7,764,134 
 322,454  Union Bankshares Corp.   12,191,986 
        197,878,911 
          
Health Care: 17.67%      
 313,474  Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   9,463,780 
 230,744  Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   7,162,294 
 714,855  Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   10,150,941 
 246,207  Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   3,483,829 
 231,410  Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   9,219,374 
 152,335  ARMO BioSciences, Inc.(a)   4,055,158 
 65,248  Assembly Biosciences, Inc.(a)   2,836,983 
 269,960  AtriCure, Inc.(a)   6,001,211 
 192,982  Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co., Ltd.(a)   5,627,355 
 15,192  Bluebird Bio, Inc.(a)   2,584,919 
 437,450  CareDx, Inc.(a)   4,282,636 
 325,867  Catalent, Inc.(a)   13,396,392 
 494,178  Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   1,383,698 
 97,703  Clovis Oncology, Inc.(a)   4,238,356 
 800,000  ConforMIS, Inc.(a)   1,036,000 
 252,464  Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   5,665,292 
 195,763  Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   2,390,266 
 200,000  Eloxx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   2,454,000 
 218,604  Exact Sciences Corp.(a)   10,932,386 
 279,101  G1 Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   10,703,523 
 374,674  Insmed, Inc.(a)   9,115,818 
 100,125  Integer Holdings Corp.(a)   5,496,863 
 557,396  K2M Group Holdings, Inc.(a)   10,646,264 
 174,830  Merit Medical Systems, Inc.(a)   8,479,255 
 10,000  NeoGenomics, Inc.(a)   95,800 
 328,490  OraSure Technologies, Inc.(a)   5,824,128 
 189,099  Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)   12,055,061 
 289,653  Reata Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Class A(a)   7,658,425 
 67,994  Sage Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   9,785,697 
 129,471  Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   9,886,406 
 186,939  Savara, Inc.(a)   1,731,055 
 129,090  Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Inc.(a)   5,291,399 
 285,399  Teladoc, Inc.(a)   12,272,157 
        215,406,721 
          
Materials & Processing: 6.33%     
 916,985  AK Steel Holding Corp.(a)   4,208,961 
 277,081  Allegheny Technologies, Inc.(a)   7,362,042 
 289,508  Carpenter Technology Corp.   15,419,196 
 436,620  Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.(a)   3,239,721 



 
24 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Materials & Processing (continued)    
 56,752  Innospec, Inc.  $4,125,870 
 141,061  Installed Building Products, Inc.(a)   8,139,220 
 502,731  PQ Group Holdings, Inc.(a)   6,987,961 
 167,973  Trex Co., Inc.(a)   17,449,035 
 174,983  US Concrete, Inc.(a)   10,227,756 
        77,159,762 
          
Producer Durables: 12.08%     
 261,413  Air Transport Services Group, Inc.(a)   5,290,999 
 169,692  Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc.(a)   10,758,473 
 47,752  Blue Bird Corp.(a)   1,134,110 
 641,975  Daseke, Inc.(a)   5,315,553 
 139,049  Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)   14,441,629 
 140,962  Evoqua Water Technologies Corp.(a)   2,879,854 
 336,922  H&E Equipment Services, Inc.   10,899,427 
 440,074  Kennametal, Inc.   16,040,697 
 321,576  KLX, Inc.(a)   25,156,890 
 1,231,686  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.(a)   12,329,177 
 71,365  Manitowoc Co., Inc.(a)   1,759,147 
 106,163  NV5 Global, Inc.(a)   6,247,693 
 51,080  OSI Systems, Inc.(a)   3,270,142 
 211,574  Tetra Tech, Inc.   10,240,182 
 116,067  TopBuild Corp.(a)   9,250,540 
 53,190  TriNet Group, Inc.(a)   2,747,263 
 463,557  Tutor Perini Corp.(a)   9,572,452 
        147,334,228 
          
Technology: 21.59%    
 218,467  Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.(a)   8,821,698 
 543,080  Box, Inc., Class A(a)   12,414,809 
 14,600  Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.(a)   461,068 
 449,455  Ciena Corp.(a)   11,573,466 
 615,814  Cloudera, Inc.(a)   8,775,350 
 196,586  EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   22,479,609 
 265,476  ForeScout Technologies, Inc.(a)   8,492,577 
 143,392  GrubHub, Inc.(a)   14,502,667 
 390,469  GTT Communications, Inc.(a)   18,762,035 
 116,649  Guidewire Software, Inc.(a)   9,870,838 
 224,680  II-VI, Inc.(a)   8,560,308 
 166,930  Imperva, Inc.(a)   7,470,118 
 288,737  Internap Corp.(a)   3,409,984 
 68,605  IPG Photonics Corp.(a)   14,614,923 
 730,058  Leaf Group, Ltd.(a)   5,365,926 
 88,793  Lumentum Holdings, Inc.(a)   4,479,607 
 326,285  Mercury Systems, Inc.(a)   10,467,223 
 76,653  MKS Instruments, Inc.   7,849,267 
 311,360  Model N, Inc.(a)   5,339,824 
 93,284  Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.   10,923,556 
 4,294  nLight, Inc.(a)   107,049 
 160,820  Proofpoint, Inc.(a)   18,967,111 
 445,490  Pure Storage, Inc., Class A(a)   9,012,263 
 116,046  Q2 Holdings, Inc.(a)   5,715,266 
Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Technology (continued)     
 33,020  Rapid7, Inc.(a)  $932,485 
 221,026  Reis, Inc.   4,641,546 
 473,341  USA Technologies, Inc.(a)   4,141,734 
 360,161  Varonis Systems, Inc.(a)   23,536,521 
 50,000  Zscaler, Inc.(a)   1,494,500 
        263,183,328 
          
Utilities: 3.36%     
 153,911  Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc.   7,256,903 
 800,000  Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.(a)   2,504,000 
 197,613  Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.   7,459,891 
 2,124,695  Vonage Holdings Corp.(a)   23,754,090 
        40,974,884 
          
    Total Common Stocks     
    (Cost $904,588,109)   1,205,494,785 
          
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS: 1.45%     
 17,686,023  Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Class 1.590% (7-Day Yield)   17,686,023 
          
    Total Short Term Investments     
    (Cost $17,686,023)   17,686,023 
          
Total Investments: 100.33%    
(Cost $922,274,132)   1,223,180,808 
          
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets: (0.33)%   (3,963,293)
Net Assets: 100.00%  $1,219,217,515 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.




 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
COMMON STOCKS: 96.04%   
Consumer Discretionary: 12.13%     
 2,558  Aaron's, Inc.  $106,848 
 8,691  Gray Television, Inc.(a)   98,208 
 12,621  MDC Partners, Inc., Class A(a)   95,289 
 6,380  Meritor, Inc.(a)   124,219 
 3,023  Nutrisystem, Inc.   87,667 
 2,096  Penske Automotive Group, Inc.   94,530 
 4,152  PlayAGS, Inc.(a)   93,877 
 2,755  Viad Corp.   139,815 
 9,487  ZAGG, Inc.(a)   106,254 
        946,707 
          
Energy: 7.07%     
 5,378  Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.(a)   75,937 
 3,655  Liberty Oilfield Services, Inc., Class A(a)   72,881 
 3,515  Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.(a)   114,167 
 7,963  SRC Energy, Inc.(a)   87,912 
 8,351  Superior Energy Services, Inc.(a)   89,606 
 2,715  Whiting Petroleum Corp.(a)   110,826 
        551,329 
          
Financial Services: 46.42%  
 2,283  BancorpSouth Bank   75,453 
 1,850  BankUnited, Inc.   73,279 
 3,903  BofI Holding, Inc.(a)   157,213 
 1,350  Chemical Financial Corp.   74,102 
 3,400  CNB Financial Corp.   96,424 
 3,220  ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.   85,008 
 2,950  Customers Bancorp, Inc.(a)   85,019 
 1,320  Eagle Bancorp, Inc.(a)   77,484 
 2,071  Employers Holdings, Inc.   84,704 
 3,290  Entegra Financial Corp.(a)   95,575 
 3,897  ESSA Bancorp, Inc.   56,974 
 2,178  First Bancorp   83,091 
 2,700  First Defiance Financial Corp.   161,081 
 2,898  First Financial Bancorp   89,693 
 941  First Merchants Corp.   40,538 
 800  First Savings Financial Group, Inc.   57,984 
 1,892  FS Bancorp, Inc.   108,941 
 1,457  Hancock Holding Co.   71,174 
 2,190  HomeStreet, Inc.(a)   55,845 
 1,150  IBERIABANK Corp.   86,193 
 3,670  Investar Holding Corp.   93,402 
 2,120  LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc.   87,068 
 3,638  Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.   102,774 
 1,330  Meta Financial Group, Inc.   147,830 
 1,825  Moelis & Co., Class A   98,185 
 3,107  Northeast Bancorp   60,587 
 1,420  Northrim BanCorp, Inc.   49,984 
 2,893  OceanFirst Financial Corp.   78,053 
 2,324  PCSB Financial Corp.(a)   47,107 
 4,545  PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.,
Class A(a)
   93,627 
Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Financial Services (continued)    
 2,924  People's Utah Bancorp  $93,129 
 2,380  Popular, Inc.   110,169 
 1,457  Preferred Bank   92,869 
 3,600  Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc., REIT   109,980 
 2,142  Standard AVB Financial Corp.   64,710 
 3,010  State Bank Financial Corp.   94,845 
 3,650  Summit Financial Group, Inc.   91,433 
 1,740  Timberland Bancorp, Inc.   56,811 
 2,172  TriCo Bancshares   81,168 
 3,333  TriState Capital Holdings, Inc.(a)   83,325 
 2,060  Union Bankshares Corp.   77,889 
 8,410  Western New England Bancorp, Inc.   90,828 
        3,621,548 
          
Health Care: 3.76%     
 2,869  Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.(a)   102,079 
 1,217  Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co., Ltd.(a)   35,488 
 1,336  Insmed, Inc.(a)   32,505 
 6,770  Invacare Corp.   123,214 
        293,286 
          
Materials & Processing: 10.88%     
 13,400  AK Steel Holding Corp.(a)   61,506 
 1,877  Apogee Enterprises, Inc.   77,163 
 3,860  Baycom Corp.(a)   84,920 
 6,381  Builders FirstSource, Inc.(a)   116,326 
 20,933  Goldfield Corp.(a)   87,919 
 3,131  Kirkland Lake Gold, Ltd.   54,636 
 2,743  Koppers Holdings, Inc.(a)   120,143 
 2,538  PolyOne Corp.   106,215 
 1,933  Universal Forest Products, Inc.   61,624 
 1,335  US Concrete, Inc.(a)   78,031 
        848,483 
          
Producer Durables: 6.06%     
 4,534  Blue Bird Corp.(a)   107,683 
 872  Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)   90,566 
 1,999  ICF International, Inc.   134,132 
 1,191  OSI Systems, Inc.(a)   76,248 
 3,099  Tutor Perini Corp.(a)   63,994 
        472,623 
          
Technology: 8.49%    
 3,893  ARRIS International PLC(a)   105,111 
 3,283  Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc.(a)   75,148 
 13,860  Mitel Networks Corp.(a)   154,678 
 10,095  Photronics, Inc.(a)   77,227 
 2,915  Tower Semiconductor, Ltd.(a)   75,411 
 6,405  Xcerra Corp.(a)   77,372 
 4,432  Xperi Corp.   97,504 
        662,451 



 
26 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Utilities: 1.23%    
8,572  Vonage Holdings Corp.(a)  $95,835 
         
   Total Common Stocks     
   (Cost $6,433,768)   7,492,262 
         
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS: 3.07%     
239,140  Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Class 1.590% (7-Day Yield)   239,140 
         
   Total Short Term Investments     
   (Cost $239,140)   239,140 
         
Total Investments: 99.11%     
(Cost $6,672,908)   7,731,402 
         
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities: 0.89%   69,046 
Net Assets: 100.00%  $7,800,448 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.



 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
COMMON STOCKS: 97.41%     
Consumer Discretionary: 19.99%     
352  Amazon.com, Inc.(a)  $551,278 
1,996  BorgWarner, Inc.   97,684 
669  Burlington Stores, Inc.(a)   90,884 
19,540  Chegg, Inc.(a)   453,523 
2,591  Cinemark Holdings, Inc.   101,490 
536  Home Depot, Inc.   99,053 
3,208  MGM Resorts International   100,795 
2,210  Nutrisystem, Inc.   64,090 
899  Papa John's International, Inc.   55,738 
3,050  PlayAGS, Inc.(a)   68,961 
964  Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.   104,295 
8,549  SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.(a)   129,004 
1,806  Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Class A   51,200 
874  Six Flags Entertainment Corp.   55,272 
1,944  Tenneco, Inc.   86,877 
1,180  Toll Brothers, Inc.   49,749 
       2,159,893 
         
Consumer Staples: 2.60%     
251  Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A   58,516 
1,993  Energizer Holdings, Inc.   114,318 
1,228  National Beverage Corp.   108,506 
       281,340 
         
Energy: 6.26%     
361  Andeavor   49,934 
1,070  Diamondback Energy, Inc.(a)   137,441 
9,751  Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc.(a)   137,684 
1,597  Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.(a)   51,871 
4,076  Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.   87,308 
310  Pioneer Natural Resources Co.   62,481 
2,859  Ring Energy, Inc.(a)   47,802 
5,938  WPX Energy, Inc.(a)   101,480 
       676,001 
         
Financial Services: 9.30%     
609  Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   100,400 
228  Alliance Data Systems Corp.   46,295 
1,789  Bank of America Corp.   53,527 
1,083  Bank of the Ozarks   50,684 
1,639  Citigroup, Inc.   111,895 
1,023  LendingTree, Inc.(a)   243,883 
5,778  Newmark Group, Inc., Class A(a)   87,248 
366  SBA Communications Corp., REIT(a)   58,644 
264  SVB Financial Group(a)   79,097 
917  Visa, Inc., Class A   116,349 
956  Western Alliance Bancorp(a)   56,385 
       1,004,407 
         
Health Care: 13.21%     
1,246  Abbott Laboratories   72,430 
705  AbbVie, Inc.   68,068 
Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Health Care (continued)     
2,895  Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.(a)  $103,004 
749  Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   23,249 
3,394  Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   48,195 
961  Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   90,843 
1,280  ARMO BioSciences, Inc.(a)   34,074 
1,505  Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Co., Ltd.(a)   43,886 
3,482  BioTelemetry, Inc.(a)   133,012 
942  Clovis Oncology, Inc.(a)   40,864 
1,718  Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   38,552 
10,964  Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   133,870 
3,167  Insmed, Inc.(a)   77,053 
1,856  Integer Holdings Corp.(a)   101,894 
1,294  Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)   82,492 
337  Sage Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   48,501 
1,399  Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   106,828 
2,968  Teladoc, Inc.(a)   127,624 
750  Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A(a)   52,598 
       1,427,037 
         
Materials & Processing: 6.78%     
1,163  Berry Global Group, Inc.(a)   63,965 
4,329  GMS, Inc.(a)   134,892 
1,012  Innospec, Inc.   73,572 
1,016  Installed Building Products, Inc.(a)   58,623 
1,307  Koppers Holdings, Inc.(a)   57,247 
2,521  Masco Corp.   95,470 
1,708  Nucor Corp.   105,247 
1,012  Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.   84,583 
570  Trex Co., Inc.(a)   59,212 
       732,811 
         
Producer Durables: 8.65%     
252  CoStar Group, Inc.(a)   92,398 
6,775  Daseke, Inc.(a)   56,097 
1,122  Dycom Industries, Inc.(a)   116,531 
540  Fortive Corp.   37,967 
1,049  KLX, Inc.(a)   82,063 
2,911  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.(a)   29,139 
1,672  OSI Systems, Inc.(a)   107,042 
320  Parker-Hannifin Corp.   52,678 
2,585  Quanta Services, Inc.(a)   84,013 
1,517  Southwest Airlines Co.   80,143 
1,067  TopBuild Corp.(a)   85,040 
1,726  Trinity Industries, Inc.   55,008 
378  United Rentals, Inc.(a)   56,700 
       934,819 
         
Technology: 29.05%     
1,741  Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.(a)   70,302 
287  Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   292,332 
2,565  Apple, Inc.   423,892 



 
28 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Schedule of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Technology (continued)     
425  Coherent, Inc.(a)  $71,494 
1,632  Dropbox, Inc., Class A(a)   49,140 
1,878  Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)   323,016 
1,742  Fortinet, Inc.(a)   96,437 
545  IAC/InterActive Corp.(a)   88,366 
4,162  Internap Corp.(a)   49,153 
377  IPG Photonics Corp.(a)   80,312 
1,084  Micron Technology, Inc.(a)   49,842 
5,465  Microsoft Corp.   511,087 
480  NVIDIA Corp.   107,952 
3,100  ON Semiconductor Corp.(a)   68,448 
530  Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)   102,030 
13,087  Pixelworks, Inc.(a)   56,012 
1,138  Proofpoint, Inc.(a)   134,216 
793  PTC, Inc.(a)   65,304 
684  salesforce.com, Inc.(a)   82,757 
530  ServiceNow, Inc.(a)   88,054 
663  Splunk, Inc.(a)   68,057 
302  Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.(a)   30,112 
253  Ultimate Software Group, Inc.(a)   60,700 
2,600  Varonis Systems, Inc.(a)   169,910 
       3,138,925 
         
Utilities: 1.57%     
15,121  Vonage Holdings Corp.(a)   169,053 
         
   Total Common Stocks     
   (Cost $9,491,727)   10,524,286 
         
MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS: 0.55% 
Financial Services: 0.55%     
1,086  Lazard, Ltd., Class A   59,100 
         
   Total Master Limited Partnerships     
   (Cost $35,382)   59,100 
         
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS: 3.30%     
356,505  Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Class 1.590% (7-Day Yield)   356,505 
         
   Total Short Term Investments     
   (Cost $356,505)   356,505 
         
Total Investments: 101.26%     
(Cost $9,883,614)   10,939,891 
         
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets: (1.26)%   (135,650)
Net Assets: 100.00%  $10,804,241 
(a)Non-income producing security.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.




 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
COMMON STOCKS: 99.52%    
Financial Services: 97.19%     
Banks:  Diversified: 79.71%     
100,000  1st Source Corp.  $5,200,000 
59,178  American Business Bank(a)   2,355,225 
169,900  American Riviera Bank(a)   3,296,060 
206,237  Ameris Bancorp   10,662,453 
424,577  Bank of Commerce Holdings   4,734,033 
238,604  Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   11,321,760 
100,000  Bank of Princeton(a)   3,322,000 
722,896  Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.(a)   9,404,877 
99,440  Business First Bancshares, Inc.(a)   2,585,440 
457,815  Byline Bancorp, Inc.(a)   9,728,569 
298,590  Cadence BanCorp   8,727,786 
145,214  Carolina Financial Corp.   5,693,841 
344,000  Carolina Trust Bancshares, Inc.(a)   2,786,400 
358,750  CBTX, Inc.   10,403,750 
370,213  CenterState Bank Corp.   10,728,773 
118,810  Civista Bancshares, Inc.   2,725,501 
150,002  CNB Financial Corp.   4,254,057 
26,498  County Bancorp, Inc.   746,184 
228,773  Equity Bancshares, Inc., Class A(a)   8,723,114 
331,830  Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.(a)   7,993,785 
215  Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach   1,702,800 
86,853  Farmers National Banc Corp.   1,281,082 
131,782  FB Financial Corp.   5,248,877 
191,017  FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)   11,040,783 
113,927  First Bancshares, Inc.   3,685,538 
588,963  First Bank   8,274,930 
163,498  First Choice Bancorp   4,349,047 
578,105  First Foundation, Inc.(a)   10,342,298 
190,000  First Internet Bancorp   6,498,000 
41,281  First Merchants Corp.   1,778,385 
125,475  First Resource Bank(a)   1,458,647 
258,714  Freedom Bank of Virginia(a)   3,421,493 
45,000  FS Bancorp, Inc.   2,591,100 
92,837  FVCBankcorp, Inc.(a)   1,609,329 
169,868  Gold Coast Bancorp, Inc.(a)   2,254,998 
177,886  Guaranty Bancorp   5,069,751 
200,000  Guaranty Bancshares, Inc.   6,558,000 
138,670  Heritage Commerce Corp.   2,286,668 
50,000  Independent Bank Corp.   1,195,000 
254,042  Investar Holding Corp.   6,465,369 
121,689  John Marshall Bancorp, Inc.(a)   2,112,521 
65,781  Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.   1,282,729 
46,615  Lakeland Financial Corp.   2,215,145 
197,180  Level One Bancorp, Inc.(a)   5,718,220 
269,682  Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.   7,618,516 
53  Mechanics Bank(a)   1,689,375 
87,881  Mercantile Bank Corp.   3,102,199 
503,773  Merchants Bancorp   10,770,667 
207,881  Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.(a)   9,839,008 
239,209  National Commerce Corp.(a)   10,357,750 
Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Banks: Diversified (continued)    
48,060  Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.(a)  $2,670,694 
203,594  Old Line Bancshares, Inc.   6,932,376 
199,383  OP Bancorp(a)   2,512,226 
158,129  Opus Bank   4,459,238 
599,284  Pacific Mercantile Bancorp(a)   5,603,305 
260,115  Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.(a)   10,339,571 
212,884  People's Utah Bancorp   6,780,355 
240,584  Professional Holding Corp.(a)   4,101,957 
93,253  QCR Holdings, Inc.   4,219,698 
398,258  RBB Bancorp   10,880,409 
254,684  Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings   5,119,148 
246,130  ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.   10,327,615 
200,000  SmartFinancial, Inc.(a)   4,770,000 
71,032  Southern First Bancshares, Inc.(a)   3,256,817 
775,000  Sterling Bancorp, Inc.   9,873,500 
300,000  Stewardship Financial Corp.   3,600,000 
182,747  Sussex Bancorp   5,509,822 
42,656  SVB Financial Group(a)   12,780,164 
712,579  The Bancorp, Inc.(a)   7,375,193 
355,851  TriState Capital Holdings, Inc.(a)   8,896,275 
321,966  Triumph Bancorp, Inc.(a)   12,508,379 
231,891  Union Bankshares Corp.   8,767,799 
168,750  Unity Bancorp, Inc.   3,712,500 
135,517  Veritex Holdings, Inc.(a)   3,892,048 
109,942  West Town Bancorp, Inc.(a)   3,166,330 
76,670  Western Alliance Bancorp(a)   4,521,997 
       433,789,249 
         
Banks: Savings, Thrift & Mortgage Lending: 8.22%
75,100  BofI Holding, Inc.(a)   3,025,028 
230,146  Heritage Financial Corp.   6,835,336 
267,003  Malvern Bancorp, Inc.(a)   6,795,226 
128,396  Meta Financial Group, Inc.   14,271,216 
196,808  OceanFirst Financial Corp.   5,309,880 
169,608  WSFS Financial Corp.   8,497,361 
       44,734,047 
         
Commercial Finance & Mortgage Companies: 0.49% 
96,527  Marlin Business Services, Inc.   2,644,840 
         
Consumer Lending: 2.74% 
62,481  LendingTree, Inc.(a)   14,895,470 
         
Financial Data & Systems: 1.65% 
137,093  Cardlytics, Inc.(a)   1,922,044 
8,930  WEX, Inc.(a)   1,445,946 
68,910  Worldpay, Inc., Class A(a)   5,596,870 
       8,964,860 
         
Insurance: Multi Line: 0.33% 
50,000  James River Group Holdings, Ltd.   1,816,000 
         
Insurance: Property-Casualty: 2.31% 
150,000  Goosehead Insurance, Inc., Class A(a)   2,220,000 



 
30 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Schedule of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

Shares    

Value

(Note 2)

 
Insurance: Property-Casualty (continued) 
185,000  Kingstone Cos., Inc.  $3,163,500 
42,570  Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.   2,194,483 
361,308  NMI Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)   5,004,116 
       12,582,099 
         
Real Estate Services: 1.74% 
462,855  Newmark Group, Inc., Class A(a)   6,989,111 
51,020  Zillow Group, Inc., Class A(a)   2,467,837 
       9,456,948 
         
Technology: 2.33%     
Computer Services Software & Systems: 2.33% 
141,914  Q2 Holdings, Inc.(a)   6,989,264 
106,158  RealPage, Inc.(a)   5,679,453 
       12,668,717 
         
   Total Common Stocks     
   (Cost $396,457,113)   541,552,230 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS: 0.63%
3,437,077  Dreyfus Government Cash Management Fund - Institutional Class 1.590% (7-Day Yield)   3,437,077 
         
   Total Short Term Investments     
   (Cost $3,437,077)   3,437,077 
         
Total Investments: 100.15%     
(Cost $399,894,190)   544,989,307 
         
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets: (0.15)%   (790,253)
Net Assets: 100.00%  $544,199,054 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 



 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

 

Emerald Funds Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

  

Emerald Growth

Fund

  

Emerald Small Cap

Value Fund

  

Emerald Insights

Fund

  

Emerald Banking

and Finance Fund

 
ASSETS:                
Investments, at value  $1,223,180,808   $7,731,402   $10,939,891   $544,989,307 
Receivable for investments sold   2,983,566    27,345        2,977,389 
Receivable for shares sold   1,233,202    82,284        586,468 
Receivable due from advisor       5,652    302     
Interest and dividends receivable   162,461    2,162    1,934    96,445 
Other assets   22,534    6,886    7,859    21,445 
Total Assets   1,227,582,571    7,855,731    10,949,986    548,671,054 
LIABILITIES:                    
Payable for investments purchased   6,226,196    24,643    107,792    3,336,009 
Payable for shares redeemed   993,720        5,572    325,762 
Investment advisory fees payable   576,045            412,646 
Payable to fund accounting and administration   84,426    3,035    2,822    39,392 
Payable for distribution and service fees   323,854    1,303    3,229    241,702 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   13,006    81    119    5,777 
Payable for transfer agency fees   46,278    6,689    7,029    44,751 
Payable for chief compliance officer fee   7,163    44    64    3,183 
Payable for principal financial officer fee   1,142    7    10    507 
Payable for professional fees   25,822    16,266    16,282    22,686 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   67,404    3,215    2,826    39,585 
Total Liabilities   8,365,056    55,283    145,745    4,472,000 
NET ASSETS  $1,219,217,515   $7,800,448   $10,804,241   $544,199,054 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:                    
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $854,172,055   $5,636,971   $8,300,996   $363,009,820 
Accumulated net investment loss   (1,459,831)   (6,508)       (1,277,168)
Accumulated net realized gain   65,598,615    1,111,491    1,446,968    37,371,285 
Net unrealized appreciation   300,906,676    1,058,494    1,056,277    145,095,117 
NET ASSETS  $1,219,217,515   $7,800,448   $10,804,241   $544,199,054 
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $922,274,132   $6,672,908   $9,883,614   $399,894,190 
PRICING OF SHARES                    
Class A: (a)                    
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $25.99   $10.45   $13.09   $46.01 
Net Assets  $239,315,840   $3,959,228   $9,321,214   $172,337,865 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   9,209,189    378,946    712,033    3,745,626 
Maximum offering price per share (NAV/.9525, based on maximum sales charge of 4.75% of the offering price)  $27.29   $10.97   $13.74   $48.30 
Class C: (a)                    
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $22.18   $10.15   $12.75   $40.83 
Net Assets  $33,197,472   $107,758   $128,780   $78,987,775 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   1,497,006    10,619    10,097    1,934,644 
Institutional Class:                    
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $26.94   $10.59   $13.22   $46.95 
Net Assets  $839,075,593   $3,177,435   $1,228,350   $221,637,715 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   31,148,632    299,946    92,902    4,720,609 
Investor Class:                    
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $25.88   $10.46   $13.05   $44.05 
Net Assets  $107,628,610   $556,027   $125,897   $71,235,699 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   4,158,249    53,149    9,650    1,617,226 

 

(a)Redemption price per share may be reduced for any applicable contingent deferred sales charge. For a description of a possible sales charge, please see the Funds' Prospectus.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

32 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Funds Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

  

Emerald Growth

Fund

  

Emerald Small Cap

Value Fund

  

Emerald Insights

Fund

  

Emerald Banking

and Finance Fund

 
INVESTMENT INCOME:                    
Dividends  $4,433,353   $78,115   $84,928   $3,821,605 
Total Investment Income   4,433,353    78,115    84,928    3,821,605 
                     
EXPENSES:                    
Investment advisory fee (Note 6)   6,657,367    59,393    83,116    4,646,371 
Recoupment of previously waived fees (Note 6)           22     
Administration fee   465,218    8,591    8,607    209,341 
Custodian fee   101,533    5,000    5,000    54,397 
Professional fees   32,640    16,902    16,938    26,259 
Transfer agent fee   234,929    30,526    33,172    197,759 
Delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees                    
Class A   2,843            13,308 
Class C   937            2,625 
Institutional Class   770    810         
Investor Class   3,253    39        18 
Trustee fees and expenses   25,053    165    233    11,189 
Registration/filing fees   74,191    43,422    37,039    80,400 
Reports to shareholder and printing fees   97,952    2,048    2,232    61,170 
Distribution and service fees                    
Class A   944,372    9,548    33,986    605,932 
Class C   348,402    1,178    1,215    767,454 
Institutional Class   318,979        237    59,854 
Investor Class   413,666    1,536    308    228,471 
Chief compliance officer fee   42,410    294    412    18,739 
Principal financial officer fee   6,856    48    67    3,029 
Other   29,768    6,925    6,654    16,208 
Total expenses before waiver   9,801,139    186,425    229,238    7,002,524 
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor (Note 6)       (94,955)   (82,246)    
Total Net Expenses   9,801,139    91,470    146,992    7,002,524 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME/(LOSS):   (5,367,786)   (13,355)   (62,064)   (3,180,919)
                     
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS)                    
Net realized gain   124,517,595    1,207,917    2,535,047    59,497,046 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   72,091,969    (267,114)   (848,799)   6,208,469 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN   196,609,564    940,803    1,686,248    65,705,515 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $191,241,778   $927,448   $1,624,184   $62,524,596 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
OPERATIONS:          
Net investment loss  $(5,367,786)  $(4,274,031)
Net realized gain/(loss)   124,517,595    (12,296,303)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   72,091,969    231,448,346 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   191,241,778    214,878,012 
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sale of shares   37,090,912    49,638,686 
Cost of shares redeemed   (116,095,204)   (171,619,113)
Net decrease from share transactions   (79,004,292)   (121,980,427)
Class C          
Proceeds from sale of shares   725,120    816,759 
Cost of shares redeemed   (8,056,239)   (16,701,281)
Net decrease from share transactions   (7,331,119)   (15,884,522)
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   259,029,418    156,854,187 
Cost of shares redeemed   (135,414,218)   (126,583,340)
Net increase from share transactions   123,615,200    30,270,847 
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   22,305,690    33,837,835 
Cost of shares redeemed   (47,223,965)   (56,901,183)
Net decrease from share transactions   (24,918,275)   (23,063,348)
Net increase in net assets  $203,603,292   $84,220,562 
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   1,015,614,223    931,393,661 
End of period (including accumulated net investment loss of $(1,459,831) and $(1,696,980))  $1,219,217,515   $1,015,614,223 
           
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Class A          
Sold   1,523,709    2,527,651 
Redeemed   (4,700,055)   (8,617,707)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (3,176,346)   (6,090,056)
Class C          
Sold   34,568    47,529 
Redeemed   (385,002)   (978,592)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (350,434)   (931,063)
Institutional Class          
Sold   9,981,574    7,655,150 
Redeemed   (5,275,531)   (6,327,481)
Net increase in shares outstanding   4,706,043    1,327,669 
Investor Class          
Sold   888,563    1,717,976 
Redeemed   (1,972,720)   (2,920,705)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (1,084,157)   (1,202,729)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

34 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

  

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income/(loss)  $(13,355)  $4,504 
Net realized gain   1,207,917    4,115,975 
Net change in unrealized depreciation   (267,114)   (52,528)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   927,448    4,067,951 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3):          
From net realized gains          
Class A   (1,059,065)    
Class C   (47,326)    
Institutional Class   (2,006,350)    
Investor Class   (306,751)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (3,419,492)    
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sale of shares   2,516,038    1,560,733 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   1,059,065     
Cost of shares redeemed   (740,130)   (134,941)
Net increase from share transactions   2,834,973    1,425,792 
Class C          
Proceeds from sale of shares   9,102    45,700 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   47,327     
Cost of shares redeemed   (123,065)   (542,424)
Net decrease from share transactions   (66,636)   (496,724)
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   2,040,666    1,392,366 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   2,006,349     
Cost of shares redeemed   (4,415,382)   (13,535,683)
Net decrease from share transactions   (368,367)   (12,143,317)
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   72,427    208,364 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   306,751     
Cost of shares redeemed   (210,226)   (1,881,505)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   168,952    (1,673,141)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets  $76,878   $(8,819,439)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   7,723,570    16,543,009 
End of period (including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of $(6,508) and $–)  $7,800,448   $7,723,570 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Class A          
Sold   204,655    100,045 
Distributions reinvested   100,671     
Redeemed   (43,758)   (8,816)
Net increase in shares outstanding   261,568    91,229 
Class C          
Sold   565    3,424 
Distributions reinvested   4,622     
Redeemed   (7,663)   (34,059)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (2,476)   (30,635)
Institutional Class          
Sold   131,987    93,538 
Distributions reinvested   188,390     
Redeemed   (325,646)   (839,700)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (5,269)   (746,162)
Investor Class          
Sold   5,844    15,147 
Distributions reinvested   29,131     
Redeemed   (19,594)   (127,290)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   15,381    (112,143)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

36 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment loss  $(62,064)  $(67,028)
Net realized gain   2,535,047    126,174 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (848,799)   1,844,247 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   1,624,184    1,903,393 
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sale of shares   842,288    462,283 
Cost of shares redeemed   (3,072,936)   (3,391,810)
Net decrease from share transactions   (2,230,648)   (2,929,527)
Class C          
Proceeds from sale of shares   614    1,539 
Cost of shares redeemed       (6,433)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   614    (4,894)
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   103,001    155,403 
Cost of shares redeemed   (90,992)   (1,042,010)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   12,009    (886,607)
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   24,500    20,000 
Cost of shares redeemed       (31,991)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   24,500    (11,991)
Net decrease in net assets  $(569,341)  $(1,929,626)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   11,373,582    13,303,208 
End of period (including accumulated net investment loss of $– and $(22,262))  $10,804,241   $11,373,582 
           
Other Information:        
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:        
Class A          
Sold   67,803    44,012 
Redeemed   (249,908)   (325,340)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (182,105)   (281,328)
Class C          
Sold   49    156 
Redeemed       (621)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   49    (465)
Institutional Class          
Sold   8,256    14,591 
Redeemed   (7,228)   (100,431)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   1,028    (85,840)
Investor Class          
Sold   1,890    1,928 
Redeemed       (3,068)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   1,890    (1,140)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment loss  $(3,180,919)  $(1,792,957)
Net realized gain   59,497,046    4,322,806 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   6,208,469    93,673,078 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   62,524,596    96,202,927 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3):   0    0 
From net realized gains          
Class A   (4,810,448)    
Class C   (2,417,291)    
Institutional Class   (5,388,614)    
Investor Class   (1,956,089)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (14,572,442)    
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Class A          
Proceeds from sale of shares   61,794,273    82,950,236 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   4,334,289     
Cost of shares redeemed   (82,932,615)   (54,060,196)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   (16,804,053)   28,890,040 
Class C          
Proceeds from sale of shares   11,650,753    19,290,062 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   2,128,924     
Cost of shares redeemed   (17,500,493)   (12,226,940)
Net increase/(decrease) from share transactions   (3,720,816)   7,063,122 
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   109,407,696    67,765,563 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   3,157,033     
Cost of shares redeemed   (42,560,350)   (15,914,560)
Net increase from share transactions   70,004,379    51,851,003 
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sale of shares   41,406,943    70,741,101 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   1,838,759     
Cost of shares redeemed   (64,240,554)   (92,011,035)
Net decrease from share transactions   (20,994,852)   (21,269,934)
Net increase in net assets  $76,436,812   $162,737,158 
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   467,762,242    305,025,084 
End of period (including accumulated net investment loss of $(1,277,168) and $(877,904))  $544,199,054   $467,762,242 

 

 

38 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Class A          
Sold   1,390,894    2,115,853 
Distributions reinvested   92,023     
Redeemed   (1,873,252)   (1,517,305)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   (390,335)   598,548 
Class C          
Sold   291,776    562,255 
Distributions reinvested   50,822     
Redeemed   (448,025)   (378,982)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   (105,427)   183,273 
Institutional Class          
Sold   2,429,922    1,678,568 
Distributions reinvested   65,771     
Redeemed   (943,291)   (456,066)
Net increase in shares outstanding   1,552,402    1,222,502 
Investor Class          
Sold   976,209    1,995,462 
Distributions reinvested   40,807     
Redeemed   (1,546,423)   (2,533,701)
Net decrease in shares outstanding   (529,407)   (538,239)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   CLASS A   
  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2015

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2014

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $21.83  $17.52  $20.02  $18.11  $15.60 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(a)   (0.16)  (0.11)  (0.15)  (0.18)  (0.21)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   4.32   4.42   (1.88)  3.43   4.33 
Total from Investment Operations   4.16   4.31   (2.03)  3.25   4.12 
                      
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From capital gains         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
Total Distributions         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.16   4.31   (2.50)  1.91   2.51 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $25.99  $21.83  $17.52  $20.02  $18.11 
                      
TOTAL RETURN(b)   19.06%  24.60%  (10.28)%  18.38%  26.01%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $239,316  $270,389  $323,603  $123,828  $77,900 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Net Investment loss   (0.64)%  (0.57)%  (0.81)%  (0.93)%  (1.12)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.03%  1.08%  1.17%  1.29%  1.31%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.03%  1.08%  1.17%  1.29%  1.29%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   66%  54%  45%  68%  70%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 
40 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   CLASS C 
  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2015

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2014

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $18.75  $15.14  $17.48  $16.07  $14.07 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(a)   (0.27)  (0.21)  (0.24)  (0.27)  (0.30)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   3.70   3.82   (1.63)  3.02   3.91 
Total from Investment Operations   3.43   3.61   (1.87)  2.75   3.61 
                      
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From capital gains         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
Total Distributions         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   3.43   3.61   (2.34)  1.41   2.00 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $22.18  $18.75  $15.14  $17.48  $16.07 
                      
TOTAL RETURN(b)   18.29%  23.84%  (10.87)%  17.58%  25.19%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $33,197  $34,642  $42,075  $15,427  $11,645 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Net Investment loss   (1.30)%  (1.22)%  (1.46)%  (1.58)%  (1.77)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.68%  1.73%  1.81%  1.94%  1.96%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.68%  1.73%  1.81%  1.94%  1.94%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   66%  54%  45%  68%  70%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   INSTITUTIONAL CLASS 
  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2015

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2014

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $22.56  $18.04  $20.54  $18.49  $15.86 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(a)   (0.09)  (0.05)  (0.10)  (0.12)  (0.16)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   4.47   4.57   (1.93)  3.51   4.40 
Total from Investment Operations   4.38   4.52   (2.03)  3.39   4.24 
                      
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From capital gains         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
Total Distributions         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.38   4.52   (2.50)  2.05   2.63 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $26.94  $22.56  $18.04  $20.54  $18.49 
                      
TOTAL RETURN   19.41%  25.06%  (9.97)%  18.77%  26.35%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $839,076  $596,550  $453,190  $174,107  $134,440 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Net Investment loss   (0.33)%  (0.26)%  (0.51)%  (0.63)%  (0.82)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   0.72%  0.77%  0.87%  0.99%  1.00%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   0.72%  0.77%  0.87%  0.99%  0.99%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   66%  54%  45%  68%  70%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

42 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Growth Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   INVESTOR CLASS 
  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2015

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2014

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $21.75  $17.46  $19.97  $18.06  $15.57 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                     
Net investment loss(a)   (0.17)  (0.12)  (0.16)  (0.17)  (0.23)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   4.30   4.41   (1.88)  3.42   4.33 
Total from Investment Operations   4.13   4.29   (2.04)  3.25   4.10 
                      
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                     
From capital gains         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
Total Distributions         (0.47)  (1.34)  (1.61)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.13   4.29   (2.51)  1.91   2.49 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $25.88  $21.75  $17.46  $19.97  $18.06 
                      
TOTAL RETURN   18.99%  24.57%  (10.36)%  18.44%  25.93%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                     
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $107,629  $114,033  $112,526  $23,517  $15,870 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                     
Net Investment loss   (0.68)%  (0.61)%  (0.84)%  (0.91)%  (1.18)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.07%  1.12%  1.19%  1.27%  1.34%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.07%  1.12%  1.19%  1.27%  1.34%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   66%  54%  45%  68%  70%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   CLASS A 
  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

 

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

  For the Period October 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016(a)  Period Ended September 30, 2015(b) 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $16.27  $13.00  $12.70  $14.12 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                 
Net investment loss(c)   (0.06)(d)  (0.07)(d)  (0.09)  (0.01)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   2.13   3.34   0.44   (1.03)
Total from Investment Operations   2.07   3.27   0.35   (1.04)
                  
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                 
From investment income         (0.05)   
From capital gains   (7.89)        (0.38)
Total Distributions   (7.89)     (0.05)  (0.38)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (5.82)  3.27   0.30   (1.42)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $10.45  $16.27  $13.00  $12.70 
                  
TOTAL RETURN(e)   12.41%  25.15%  2.77%(f)  (7.49)%(f)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                 
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $3,959  $1,909  $340  $14 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                 
Net Investment loss   (0.42)%  (0.46)%  (1.13)%(g)  (0.24)%(g)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.56%  2.26%  2.69%(g)  2.16%(g)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.35%  1.35%  1.35%(g)  1.35%(g)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   71%  66%  31%(f)  69%(f)(h)

 

(a)Effective March 3, 2015 the Board approved changing the fiscal year-end of the Fund from September 30 to April 30.
(b)Class A commenced operations on June 30, 2015.
(c)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
(d)The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.
(e)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.
(f)Not Annualized.
(g)Annualized.
(h)Portfolio turnover rate is calculated at the Fund level and represents the year ended September 30, 2015.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

44 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    CLASS C 
    

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

    For the Period October 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016(a)    

Period Ended

September 30, 2015(b)

 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $16.10   $12.94   $12.68   $14.12 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                    
Net investment loss(c)   (0.13)(d)   (0.13)(d)   (0.14)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   2.07    3.29    0.43    (1.03)
Total from Investment Operations   1.94    3.16    0.29    (1.06)
                     
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                    
From investment income           (0.03)    
From capital gains   (7.89)           (0.38)
Total Distributions   (7.89)       (0.03)   (0.38)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (5.95)   3.16    0.26    (1.44)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $10.15   $16.10   $12.94   $12.68 
                     
TOTAL RETURN(e)   11.63%   24.42%   2.28%(f)   (7.63)%(f)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                    
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $108   $211   $566   $14 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                    
Net Investment loss   (0.98)%   (0.93)%   (2.06)%(g)   (0.89)%(g)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   3.20%   2.70%   3.37%(g)   2.81%(g)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%(g)   2.00%(g)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   71%   66%   31%(f)   69%(f)(h)

 

(a)Effective March 3, 2015 the Board approved changing the fiscal year-end of the Fund from September 30 to April 30.

(b)Class C commenced operations on June 30, 2015.

(c)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(d)The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.

(e)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

(f)Not Annualized.

(g)Annualized.

(h)Portfolio turnover rate is calculated at the Fund level and represents the year ended September 30, 2015.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 45

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INSTITUTIONAL CLASS 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    For the Period October 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016(a)    Year Ended September 30, 2015(b)    Year Ended September 30, 2014    Period Ended September 30, 2013(c) 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $16.35   $13.02   $12.71   $12.76   $12.56   $10.00 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:                              
Net investment income/(loss)(d)   0.00(e)   0.02    (0.01)   0.06    0.09    0.05 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.13    3.31    0.38    0.33    0.76    2.54 
Total from Investment Operations   2.13    3.33    0.37    0.39    0.85    2.59 
                               
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                              
From investment income           (0.06)   (0.06)   (0.01)   (0.03)
From capital gains   (7.89)           (0.38)   (0.64)    
Total Distributions   (7.89)       (0.06)   (0.44)   (0.65)   (0.03)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (5.76)   3.33    0.31    (0.05)   0.20    2.56 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $10.59   $16.35   $13.02   $12.71   $12.76   $12.56 
                               
TOTAL RETURN   12.76%   25.58%   2.94%(f)   2.93%   6.64%   25.99%(f)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                              
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $3,177   $4,989   $13,691   $16,507   $24,343   $8,442 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                              
Net Investment income/(loss)   0.02%   0.13%   (0.07)%(g)   0.45%   0.65%   0.48%(g)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.20%   1.56%   1.75%(g)   1.43%   1.29%   1.95%(g)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.00%   1.00%   1.00%(g)   1.00%   1.00%   1.00%(g)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   71%   66%   31%(f)   69%   49%   67%(f)

 

(a)Effective March 3, 2015 the Board approved changing the fiscal year-end of the Fund from September 30 to April 30.

(b)Prior to its June 26, 2015 reorganization with and into the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, the Fund was known as the Elessar Small Cap Value Fund.

(c)For the period October 15, 2012 (commencement of investment operations) through September 30, 2013.

(d)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(e)Less than $0.005 per share.
(f)Not Annualized.
(g)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

46 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INVESTOR CLASS 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    For the Period October 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016(a)    Year Ended September 30, 2015(b)    Year Ended September 30, 2014    Period Ended September 30, 2013(c) 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $16.26   $12.98   $12.68   $12.73   $12.54   $10.00 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:                              
Net investment income/(loss)(d)   (0.04)(e)   (0.02)(e)   (0.02)   0.03    0.07    0.02 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.13    3.30    0.37    0.35    0.76    2.54 
Total from Investment Operations   2.09    3.28    0.35    0.38    0.83    2.56 
                               
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                              
From investment income           (0.05)   (0.05)       (0.02)
From capital gains   (7.89)           (0.38)   (0.64)    
Total Distributions   (7.89)       (0.05)   (0.43)   (0.64)   (0.02)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (5.80)   3.28    0.30    (0.05)   0.19    2.54 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $10.46   $16.26   $12.98   $12.68   $12.73   $12.54 
                               
TOTAL RETURN   12.54%   25.27%   2.80%(f)   2.82%   6.46%   25.69%(f)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                              
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $556   $614   $1,946   $399   $474   $271 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                              
Net Investment income/(loss)   (0.25)%   (0.11)%   (0.25)%(g)   0.22%   0.52%   0.16%(g)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.44%   1.83%   2.14%(g)   1.67%   1.56%   2.49%(g)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%(g)   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%(g)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   71%   66%   31%(f)   69%   49%   67%(f)

 

(a)Effective March 3, 2015 the Board approved changing the fiscal year-end of the Fund from September 30 to April 30.
(b)Prior to its June 26, 2015 reorganization with and into the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, the Fund was known as the Elessar Small Cap Value Fund.
(c)For the period October 15, 2012 (commencement of investment operations) through September 30, 2013.
(d)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
(e)The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period may not correlate with the Statement of Operations for the period due to the timing of sales and redemptions of Fund shares in relation to income earned and/or fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.
(f)Not Annualized.
(g)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 47

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    CLASS A 
    

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

    For the Period August 1, 2014 (Inception) to April 30, 2015 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.33   $9.69   $10.98   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                    
Net investment loss(a)   (0.07)   (0.06)   (0.05)   (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.83    1.70    (1.24)   1.03 
Total from Investment Operations   1.76    1.64    (1.29)   0.98 
                     
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.76    1.64    (1.29)   0.98 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.09   $11.33   $9.69   $10.98 
                     
TOTAL RETURN(b)   15.53%   16.92%   (11.75%)   9.80%(c)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                    
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $9,321   $10,127   $11,388   $6,493 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                    
Net Investment loss   (0.58%)   (0.57%)   (0.54%)   (0.66%)(d)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.10%   2.10%   2.01%   2.57%(d)(e)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%(d)(e)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   75%   99%   88%(c)

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

(c)Not Annualized.

(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios before reductions for startup costs may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

48 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    CLASS C 
    

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

    For the Period August 1, 2014 (Inception) to April 30, 2015 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.11   $9.56   $10.92   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                    
Net investment loss(a)   (0.15)   (0.13)   (0.11)   (0.10)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.79    1.68    (1.25)   1.02 
Total from Investment Operations   1.64    1.55    (1.36)   0.92 
                     
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.64    1.55    (1.36)   0.92 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $12.75   $11.11   $9.56   $10.92 
                     
TOTAL RETURN(b)   14.76%   16.21%   (12.45%)   9.20%(c)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                    
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $129   $112   $101   $27 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                    
Net Investment loss   (1.24%)   (1.22%)   (1.17%)   (1.34%)(d)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.75%   2.76%   2.70%   7.25%(d)(e)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%(d)(e)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   75%   99%   88%(c)

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

(c)Not Annualized.

(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios before reductions for startup costs may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 49

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INSTITUTIONAL CLASS 
    

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

    For the Period August 1, 2014 (Inception) to April 30, 2015 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.41   $9.73   $10.99   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                    
Net investment loss(a)   (0.04)   (0.03)   (0.00)(b)   (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.85    1.71    (1.26)   1.02 
Total from Investment Operations   1.81    1.68    (1.26)   0.99 
                     
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.81    1.68    (1.26)   0.99 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.22   $11.41   $9.73   $10.99 
                     
TOTAL RETURN   15.86%   17.27%   (11.46%)   9.90%(c)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                    
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $1,228   $1,048   $1,729   $279 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                    
Net Investment loss   (0.29%)   (0.28%)   (0.05%)   (0.34%)(d)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.77%   1.78%   1.90%   4.66%(d)(e)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.05%   1.05%   1.05%   1.05%(d)(e)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   75%   99%   88%(c)

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Less than $0.005 per share.

(c)Not Annualized.

(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios before reductions for startup costs may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

50 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Insights Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INVESTOR CLASS 
    

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2017

    

Year Ended

April 30, 2016

    For the Period August 1, 2014 (Inception) to April 30, 2015 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.29   $9.67   $10.96   $10.00 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                    
Net investment loss(a)   (0.08)   (0.07)   (0.08)   (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.84    1.69    (1.21)   1.01 
Total from Investment Operations   1.76    1.62    (1.29)   0.96 
                     
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.76    1.62    (1.29)   0.96 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.05   $11.29   $9.67   $10.96 
                     
TOTAL RETURN   15.59%   16.75%   (11.77%)   9.60%(b)
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                    
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $126   $88   $86   $448 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                    
Net Investment loss   (0.65%)   (0.63%)   (0.72%)   (0.67%)(c)
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.07%   2.09%   1.91%   2.96%(c)(d)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.40%   1.40%   1.40%   1.40%(c)(d)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   138%   75%   99%   88%(b)

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Not Annualized.

(c)Annualized.

(d)Expense ratios before reductions for startup costs may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 51

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    CLASS A 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    Year Ended April 30, 2016    Year Ended April 30, 2015    Year Ended April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $41.61   $31.27   $28.85   $26.11   $20.08 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment loss(a)   (0.29)   (0.17)   (0.06)   (0.16)   (0.13)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   5.98    10.51    2.48    2.90    6.16 
Total from Investment Operations   5.69    10.34    2.42    2.74    6.03 
                          
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
From capital gains   (1.29)                
Total Distributions   (1.29)                
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.40    10.34    2.42    2.74    6.03 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $46.01   $41.61   $31.27   $28.85   $26.11 
                          
TOTAL RETURN(b)   13.59%   33.07%   8.39%   10.49%   30.03%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $172,338   $172,106   $110,601   $48,575   $48,622 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net Investment loss   (0.65)%   (0.46)%   (0.21)%   (0.58)%   (0.53)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.41%   1.43%   1.48%   1.60%   1.72%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.41%   1.43%   1.48%   1.60%   1.72%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   62%   36%   30%   33%   34%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

52 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    CLASS C 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    Year Ended April 30, 2016    Year Ended April 30, 2015    Year Ended April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $37.29   $28.20   $26.19   $23.86   $18.46 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment loss(a)   (0.51)   (0.36)   (0.24)   (0.30)   (0.26)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   5.34    9.45    2.25    2.63    5.66 
Total from Investment Operations   4.83    9.09    2.01    2.33    5.40 
                          
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
From capital gains   (1.29)                
Total Distributions   (1.29)                
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   3.54    9.09    2.01    2.33    5.40 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $40.83   $37.29   $28.20   $26.19   $23.86 
                          
TOTAL RETURN(b)   12.85%   32.23%   7.67%   9.77%   29.25%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $78,988   $76,072   $52,366   $31,862   $28,222 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net Investment loss   (1.30)%   (1.11)%   (0.87)%   (1.23)%   (1.18)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   2.06%   2.08%   2.13%   2.25%   2.38%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   2.06%   2.08%   2.13%   2.25%   2.38%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   62%   36%   30%   33%   34%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.
(b)Total return does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 53

 

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INSTITUTIONAL CLASS 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    Year Ended April 30, 2016    Year Ended April 30, 2015    Year Ended April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $42.30   $31.69   $29.15   $26.29   $20.15 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   (0.15)   (0.05)   0.03    (0.07)   (0.06)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   6.09    10.66    2.51    2.93    6.20 
Total from Investment Operations   5.94    10.61    2.54    2.86    6.14 
                          
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
From capital gains   (1.29)                
Total Distributions   (1.29)                
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.65    10.61    2.54    2.86    6.14 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $46.95   $42.30   $31.69   $29.15   $26.29 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   13.97%   33.48%   8.71%   10.88%   30.47%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $221,638   $134,027   $61,654   $23,730   $22,062 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net Investment income/(loss)   (0.34)%   (0.14)%   0.11%   (0.25)%   (0.23)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.09%   1.11%   1.15%   1.27%   1.37%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.09%   1.11%   1.15%   1.27%   1.37%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   62%   36%   30%   33%   34%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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Emerald Banking and Finance Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

    INVESTOR CLASS 
    Year Ended April 30, 2018    Year Ended April 30, 2017    Year Ended April 30, 2016    Year Ended April 30, 2015    Year Ended April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $39.86   $29.95   $27.64   $25.01   $19.23 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:                         
Net investment loss(a)   (0.25)   (0.16)   (0.07)   (0.15)   (0.12)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   5.73    10.07    2.38    2.78    5.90 
Total from Investment Operations   5.48    9.91    2.31    2.63    5.78 
                          
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:                         
From capital gains   (1.29)                
Total Distributions   (1.29)                
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   4.19    9.91    2.31    2.63    5.78 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $44.05   $39.86   $29.95   $27.64   $25.01 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   13.67%   33.09%   8.36%   10.52%   30.06%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:                         
Net Assets, End of Period (000s)  $71,236   $85,557   $80,404   $27,440   $19,235 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Net Investment loss   (0.60)%   (0.46)%   (0.23)%   (0.56)%   (0.53)%
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.37%   1.43%   1.48%   1.58%   1.69%
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.37%   1.43%   1.48%   1.58%   1.69%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   62%   36%   30%   33%   34%

 

(a)Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 55

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Emerald Growth Fund, Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, Emerald Insights Fund, and Emerald Banking and Finance Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund is a successor to a previously operational fund which was a series of Elessar Funds Investment Trust, a Delaware statutory trust, and was organized into a series of the Trust effective as of the close of business on June 26, 2015. Effective March 3, 2015, the Board approved changing the fiscal year end of the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund from September 30 to April 30.

 

The Emerald Growth Fund and Emerald Insights Fund seek to achieve long-term growth through capital appreciation. The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Emerald Banking and Finance Fund seeks to achieve long term growth through capital appreciation with income as a secondary objective.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, on each business day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more brokers–dealers that make a market in the security.

 

Equity securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges, except when an occurrence subsequent to the time a value was so established is likely to have changed such value. In such an event, the fair values of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust, (the “Adviser”), believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: A three-tier hierarchy has been established to classify fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available. Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments as of the reporting period end. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments.

 

 

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Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of each input used to value the Funds as of April 30, 2018:

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Level 1 -

Quoted Prices

  

Level 2 -

Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Level 3 -

Significant Unobservable Inputs

   Total 
Emerald Growth Fund                
Common Stocks(a)  $1,205,494,785   $   $   $1,205,494,785 
Short Term Investments   17,686,023            17,686,023 
TOTAL  $1,223,180,808   $   $   $1,223,180,808 

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Level 1 -

Quoted Prices

  

Level 2 -

Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Level 3 -

Significant Unobservable Inputs

   Total 
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund                
Common Stocks                    
Financial Services  $3,556,838   $64,710   $   $3,621,548 
Other(a)   3,870,714            3,870,714 
Short Term Investments   239,140            239,140 
TOTAL  $7,666,692   $64,710   $   $7,731,402 

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Level 1 -

Quoted Prices

  

Level 2 -

Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Level 3 -

Significant Unobservable Inputs

   Total 
Emerald Insights Fund                
Common Stocks(a)  $10,524,286   $   $   $10,524,286 
Master Limited Partnerships(a)   59,100            59,100 
Short Term Investments   356,505            356,505 
TOTAL  $10,939,891   $   $   $10,939,891 

 

Investments in Securities at Value 

Level 1 -

Quoted Prices

  

Level 2 -

Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Level 3 -

Significant Unobservable Inputs

   Total 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
Banks: Diversified  $419,253,450   $14,535,799   $   $433,789,249 
Other(a)   107,762,981            107,762,981 
Short Term Investments   3,437,077            3,437,077 
TOTAL  $530,453,508   $14,535,799   $   $544,989,307 

 

(a)For detailed descriptions of sector and industry, see the accompanying Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 57

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities.

 

   Level 1   Level 2 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund  Transfer In   Transfers (Out)   Transfer In   Transfers (Out) 
Common Stocks  $7,231,669   $(8,744,467)  $8,744,467   $(7,231,669)
Total  $7,231,669   $(8,744,467)  $8,744,467   $(7,231,669)

 

The above transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 were due to the ability to obtain a closing market price within an active market for a security that previously had no market to trade. Additionally, the above transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 were due to the inability to obtain a closing market price due to an inactive market to trade. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Emerald Growth Fund, the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund and Emerald Insights Fund did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities.

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis the Funds use for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”): The Funds may invest a portion of their assets in REITs and are subject to certain risks associated with direct investment in REITs. REITs may be affected by changes in the value of their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareowners, and certain REITs have self-liquidation provisions by which mortgages held may be paid in full and distributions of capital returns may be made at any time. In addition, the performance of a 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 (the “Code”), or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. A Fund’s investments in REITs may result in such Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REITs’ earnings. If the Fund receives such distributions all or a portion of these distributions will constitute a return of capital to such Fund. Receiving a return of capital distribution from REITs will reduce the amount of income available to be distributed to Fund shareholders. Income from REITs generally will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. As the final character of the distributions is not known until reported by the REITs on their 1099s, the Funds utilize an average of the prior year’s reallocation information as an estimate for the current year character of distributions.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Funds are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund and Class Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a Fund or class of shares of a Fund, including distribution fees (Rule 12b-1 fees) and shareholder servicing fees, are charged directly to that Fund or share class. All expenses of a Fund, other than class specific expenses, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets. Expenses that are common to the Funds generally are allocated among the Funds in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Federal Income Taxes: Each Fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that the Funds will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

 

58 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund normally pays dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income each Fund receives from its investments, including short-term capital gains. Long term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when each Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. Each Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for each Fund to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

3. TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences on book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and were primarily attributed to treatment of partnerships and net investment losses. These reclassifications were as follows:

 

  

Undistributed Net

Investment

Income/(Loss)

  

Accumulated

Net Realized

Gain/(Loss) on

Investments

   Paid-in Capital 
Emerald Growth Fund  $5,604,935   $   $(5,604,935)
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund   6,847    (1)   (6,846)
Emerald Insights Fund   84,326    (84,326)    
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund   2,781,655    34,593    (2,816,248)

 

Included in those amounts reclassified was a net operating loss offset to Paid-in capital for the Emerald Growth Fund, the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, and the Emerald Banking and Finance Fund in the amount of $5,604,935, $6,846, and $2,816,248 respectively.

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

  

Gross

Appreciation

(excess of value

over tax cost)

  

Gross

Depreciation

(excess of tax

cost over value)

  

Net

Unrealized Appreciation/

(Depreciation)

  

Cost of

Investments for

Income Tax

Purposes

 
Emerald Growth Fund  $338,994,341   $(40,989,862)  $298,004,479   $925,176,329 
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund   1,325,614    (270,426)   1,055,188    6,676,214 
Emerald Insights Fund   1,427,319    (445,358)   981,961    9,957,930 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund   147,130,084    (2,214,436)   144,915,648    400,073,659 

 

Components of Distributable Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

  

Emerald Growth

Fund

  

Emerald Small Cap

Value Fund

  

Emerald Insights

Fund

  

Emerald Banking

and Finance Fund

 
Undistributed ordinary income  $   $   $22,553   $ 
Accumulated capital gains   68,500,812    1,114,797    1,498,731    37,550,754 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   298,004,479    1,055,188    981,961    144,915,648 
Other cumulative effect of timing differences   (1,459,831)   (6,508)       (1,277,168)
Total  $365,045,460   $2,163,477   $2,503,245   $181,189,234 

 

During the year ended April 30, 2018, $55,659,946, $710,274, and $5,913,786 of capital loss carryforwards were utilized by the Emerald Growth Fund, Emerald Insights Fund, and Emerald Banking and Finance Fund.

 

Ordinary Losses: As of April 30, 2018, Emerald Growth Fund, Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, and Emerald Banking and Finance Fund elected to defer to the period ending April 30, 2019, late year ordinary losses in the amount of $1,459,831, $6,508 and $1,277,168, respectively.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 59

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain were recorded by each Fund.

 

The tax characters of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

  

Ordinary

Income

  

Long-Term

Capital Gain

 
Emerald Growth Fund  $   $ 
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund   506,928    2,912,564 
Emerald Insights Fund        
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund       14,572,442 

 

For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, the Funds did not pay any distributions.

 

4. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) during the year ended April 30, 2018 was as follows: 

 

Funds 

Cost of

Investments

Purchased

  

Proceeds from

Investments Sold

 
Emerald Growth Fund  $755,001,524   $745,482,307 
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund   5,437,356    6,508,802 
Emerald Insights Fund   15,023,514    17,427,798 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund   323,622,767    307,515,283 

 

5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors (other than the purchase price for the shares) or make contributions to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchaser’s ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

 

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Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

6. MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds’ investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Trustees. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Funds pay the Adviser fees for the services and facilities it provides payable on a monthly basis at the annual rate set forth below of the Funds’ average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

Emerald Growth Fund  
Average Total Net Assets Contractual Fee
Up to and including $250M 0.75%
Over $250M and including $500M 0.65%
Over $500M and including $750M 0.55%
Over $750M 0.45%

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund  
Average Total Net Assets Contractual Fee
Up to and including $250M 0.75%
Over $250M and including $500M 0.65%
Over $500M and including $750M 0.55%
Over $750M 0.45%

 

Emerald Insights Fund  
Average Total Net Assets Contractual Fee
Up to and including $250M 0.75%
Over $250M and including $500M 0.65%
Over $500M and including $750M 0.55%
Over $750M 0.45%

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund  
Average Total Net Assets Contractual Fee
Up to and including $100M 1.00%
Over $100M 0.90%

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit each Fund’s total annual operating expenses (exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expense) set forth in the following table for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class, and Investor Class shares to the annual rates (as percentages of a Fund’s average daily net assets). This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect from September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. The prior Expense Agreement was in effect from September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017 for all Funds except the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund. The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund’s prior agreement was in effect from June 26, 2015 through August 31, 2017. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the expense agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds will not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver, prior to August 31, 2018, without the approval by the Fund’s Board. Fees waived/reimbursed by the Adviser for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 61

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Emerald Growth Fund
Class A Class C Institutional Class Investor Class
1.29% 1.94% 0.99% 1.34%

 

Emerald Small Cap Value Fund
Class A Class C Institutional Class Investor Class
1.35% 2.00% 1.00% 1.25%

 

Emerald Insights Fund
Class A Class C Institutional Class Investor Class
1.35% 2.00% 1.05% 1.40%

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund
Class A Class C Institutional Class Investor Class
1.84% 2.49% 1.54% 1.89%

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers/reimbursements and recoupments of past waived fees were as follows:

 

Fund 

Fees Waived/

Reimbursed By

Adviser

  

Recoupment

of Past Waived

Fees By Adviser

 
Emerald Growth Fund        
Class A  $   $ 
Class C        
Institutional Class        
Investor Class        
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund          
Class A  $32,984   $ 
Class C   1,410     
Institutional Class   53,258     
Investor Class   7,303     
Emerald Insights Fund          
Class A  $72,407   $ 
Class C   908     
Institutional Class   8,238     
Investor Class   693    22 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund          
Class A  $   $ 
Class C        
Institutional Class        
Investor Class        

 

 

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Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

As of April 30, 2018, the balances of recoupable expenses for each Fund were as follows:

 

Fund  Expires 2019   Expires 2020   Expires 2021   Total 
Emerald Growth Fund                
Class A  $   $   $   $ 
Class C                
Institutional Class                
Investor Class                
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund                    
Class A  $286   $6,552   $32,984   $39,822 
Class C   647    4,441    1,410    6,498 
Institutional Class   101,745    67,420    53,258    222,423 
Investor Class   6,582    8,254    7,303    22,139 
Emerald Insights Fund                    
Class A  $67,047   $80,509   $72,407   $219,963 
Class C   467    793    908    2,168 
Institutional Class   5,690    9,736    8,238    23,664 
Investor Class   3,372    615    693    4,680 
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund                    
Class A  $   $   $   $ 
Class C                
Institutional Class                
Investor Class                

 

Fund Administrator Fees and Expenses: ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds and the Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with their administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assist in the Funds’ operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Funds’ administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

The Administrator is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent: ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services: ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Funds. Compliance service fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer: ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Funds. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services Inc. (“ALPS”)) acts as the distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of Funds’ shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Each Fund has adopted a separate Distribution and Services Plan (each a “Plan” and collectively, the “Plans”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act. The Plans allow each Fund, as applicable, to use each Fund’s assets to pay fees in connection with the distribution and marketing of the Funds’ shares and/or the provision of shareholder services to the Funds’ shareholders. The Plan permits payment for services in connection with the administration of plans or programs that use shares of each Fund as their funding medium and for related expenses. The recipients of such payments may include other affiliates of the Adviser, broker-dealers, financial institutions, plan sponsors and administrators and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase shares of the Fund. The Plans permit each Fund to make total payments at an annual rate of up to 0.35%, 0.75% and 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of Class A, Class C and Investor Class, respectively. Because these fees are paid

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 63

 

 

Emerald Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

out of the Funds’ assets on an ongoing basis, over time they will increase the cost of an investment in the Funds, and Plan fees may cost an investor more than other types of sales charges.

 

Each Fund, except the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (a “Shareholder Services Plan”) with respect to its Class C, Institutional Class and Investor Class shares. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, a Fund is authorized to compensate certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers and Fund affiliates which may include the Distributor, Adviser and/or the transfer agent (the “Participating Organizations”), an aggregate fee in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis 0.25%, 0.05% and 0.15% of the average daily net asset value of Class C, Institutional Class and Investor Class, respectively, of the Funds attributable to or held in the name of the Participating Organizations pursuant to an agreement with such Participating Organizations (the “Agreement”). Each Agreement will set forth the non-distribution related shareholder services to be performed by the Participating Organizations for the benefit of a Fund’s shareholders who have elected to have such Participating Organizations service their accounts. Any amount of such payment not paid to Participating Organizations during a Fund’s fiscal year for such service activities shall be reimbursed to the Fund as soon as practicable. Shareholder Services Plan fees are included with distribution and service fees in the Statements of Operations. Fees recaptured pursuant to the Shareholder Services Plan for the year ended April 30, 2018 are included as an offset to distribution and service fees as disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

The Emerald Small Cap Value Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the “Plan”) with respect to its Class C shares. Under the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay banks and its affiliates and other institutions, including broker-dealers and Fund affiliates which may include the Distributor, Adviser and/or the transfer agent (“Class C Participating Organizations”), an aggregate fee in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of Class C shares of the Fund attributable to or held in the name of the Participating Organizations for its clients as compensation for providing shareholder service activities, which do not include distribution services pursuant to an agreement with Participating Organizations. Any amount of such payment not paid to the Participating Organizations during the Fund’s fiscal year for such service activities shall be reimbursed to the Fund as soon as practicable. Plan fees are included with distribution and service fees in the Statements of Operations. Fees recaptured pursuant to the Plan for the year ended April 30, 2018 are included as an offset to distribution and service fees as disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

7. INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

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Emerald Funds Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the schedules of investments, of Emerald Growth Fund, Emerald Small Cap Value Fund, Emerald Insights Fund, and Emerald Banking and Finance Fund (the "Funds"), four of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018; the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended for Emerald Growth Fund and Emerald Banking and Finance Fund; the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods indicated in the table below for the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund and Emerald Insights Fund; and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the funds listed above constituting the Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (or for the period listed in the table below) in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

  

Individual Fund Comprising the Financial Investors Trust

Statement of

Operations

Statements of Changes

in Net Assets

Financial Highlights
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2018, the period from October 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016, and for the year ended September 30, 2015*
Emerald Insights Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the three years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period August 1, 2014 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2015

 

*The financial highlights for the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund for the year ended September 30, 2014 and for the period from October 15, 2012 (commencement of investment operations), to September 30, 2013 were audited by other auditors whose report, dated November 24, 2014, expressed an unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Denver, Colorado
June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust since 2012.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 65

 

 

Emerald Funds Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Emerald Banking and Finance Fund
Emerald Growth Fund
Emerald Insights Fund
Emerald Small Cap Value Fund

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. In renewing and approving the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Emerald Funds:

 

Investment Advisory Fee Rate: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee paid by the Trust, on behalf of the Emerald Funds, to Emerald of 1.00% of the Emerald Banking and Finance Fund’s daily average net asset up to and including $100 million and 0.90% in excess of $100 million and 0.75% of each of the other Emerald Fund’s daily average net assets up to and including $250 million, 0.65% in excess of $250 million and up to and including $500 million, 0.55% in excess of $500 million and up to and including $750 million, 0.45% in excess of $750 million, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Emerald to the Emerald Funds.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of each of the Emerald Fund’s contractual advisory fees and total expenses (net of waivers) with those of funds in the expense groups and universes of funds provided by an independent provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the Banking and Finance Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate, for each share class, was above its Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rate. The Trustees further noted that each of the other Emerald Fund’s contractual advisory fee rates, for each share class, were at or below their respective Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rates.

 

Total Expense Ratios: Based on such information, the Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratios (after waivers) of 1.43% for Class A, 2.08% for Class C, 1.14% for Institutional Class, and 1.48% for Investor Class of the Emerald Banking and Finance Fund; 1.08% for Class A, 1.73% for Class C, 0.77% for Institutional Class, and 1.13% for Investor Class of the Emerald Growth Fund; 1.35% for Class A, 2.00% for Class C, 1.05% for Institutional Class, and 1.40% for Investor Class of the Emerald Insights Fund; and 1.35% for Class A, 2.00% for Class C, 1.00% for Institutional Class, and 1.25% for Investor Class of the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund.

 

The Trustees noted that the total expense ratios (after waivers) for all classes of the Emerald Growth Fund and the Emerald Small Cap Fund were below the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers). The Trustees also noted that the total expense ratios (after waivers) for Emerald Banking and Finance Fund for Class A, Class C and Investor Class were similar to the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers) and for Institutional Class were above. The Trustees also noted that the total expense ratios (after waivers) for Emerald Insights Fund for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class were below the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers) and for Investor Class were above.

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Advisory Agreement: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the Emerald Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by Emerald in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Emerald’s investment advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager, and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Emerald and its affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Emerald, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Emerald Funds.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Emerald’s management in connection with the Emerald Funds, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Emerald Funds and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Emerald’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

Performance: The Trustees reviewed performance information for each of the Emerald Funds for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017, as applicable. That review included a comparison of each Emerald Fund’s performance to the performance of the group of comparable funds selected by the Data Provider. The Trustees noted that the performance of all of the share classes of the Emerald Insights Fund for the available time periods were below their respective Data Provider universe median, and the performance of all of the share classes of the other Emerald Funds for the available time periods were above their respective Data Provider universe median.

 

 

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Emerald Funds Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

The Trustees also considered Emerald’s discussion of each Emerald Fund’s underlying portfolio diversification categories, its top contributors and top detractors, as well as Emerald’s performance and reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted certain information provided by Emerald regarding fees charged to its other clients utilizing a strategy similar to that employed by an Emerald Fund.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered a retrospective and projected profitability analysis prepared by Emerald based on the fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Emerald Fund. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Emerald in connection with the operation of each Emerald Fund. The Board then reviewed Emerald’s audited financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Emerald.

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Emerald Funds are or will be passed along to the shareholders under the proposed agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Emerald from its relationship with the Emerald Funds, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In renewing Emerald as the Emerald Funds’ investment adviser and renewing the Investment Advisory Agreement and the fees charged under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the Banking and Finance Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate, for each share class, was above its Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rate, and each of the other Emerald Fund’s contractual advisory fee rates, for each share class, were at or below their respective Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rates;

 

the total expense ratios (after waivers) for all classes of the Emerald Growth Fund and the Emerald Small Cap Fund were below the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers); the total expense ratios (after waivers) for Emerald Banking and Finance Fund for Class A, Class C and Investor Class were similar to the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers) and for Institutional Class were above; and the total expense ratios (after waivers) for Emerald Insights Fund for Class A, Class C and Institutional Class were below the applicable Data Provider median total expense ratios (after waivers) and for Investor Class were above;

 

the nature, extent, and quality of services rendered by Emerald under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Emerald Funds were adequate;

 

performance of all of the share classes of the Emerald Insights Fund for the available time periods ended September 30, 2017 were below their respective Data Provider universe median, and the performance of all of the share classes of the other Emerald Funds for the available time periods ended September 30, 2017 were above their respective Data Provider universe median;

 

bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable to Emerald’s other clients employing a comparable strategy to one or more of the Emerald Funds were not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory fees proposed to be payable by the Funds;

 

the profit, if any, realized by Emerald in connection with the operation of the Emerald Funds is not unreasonable to the Funds; and

 

there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Emerald in connection with its relationship with the Emerald Funds.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Emerald’s compensation for investment advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the Emerald Funds and their shareholders.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 67

 

 

Emerald Funds Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. FUND HOLDINGS

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

Each Fund’s policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) (855) 828-9909 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

 

The Funds designate the following for federal income tax purposes for distributions made during the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

  QDI DRD
Emerald Banking and Finance Fund N/A N/A
Emerald Growth Fund N/A N/A
Emerald Insights Fund N/A N/A
Emerald Small-Cap Value Fund 9.47% 9.60%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distribution paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Emerald Banking and Finance Fund and the Emerald Small Cap Value Fund designated $14,752,442 and $2,912,564, respectively, as long-term capital gain dividends.

 

 

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Emerald Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-828-9909.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES        
Name, Address* & Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office** and Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee****

Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Mary K. Anstine,
1940
Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems,
1976
Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 69

 

 

Emerald Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Name, Address* & Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office** and Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee****

Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Jerry G. Rutledge,
1944
Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell,
1970
Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 
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Emerald Funds Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE
Name, Address* & Year of Birth Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office** and Length of Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee****

Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Edmund J. Burke,
1961
Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 
Annual Report  |  April 30, 2018 71

 

 

Emerald Funds Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS
Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held

with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms,
1972
Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen,
1970
Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl,
1974
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella,
1974
Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.
Alan Gattis,
1980
Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

 

 
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Emerald Funds Trustees and Officers
 
  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS
Name, Address* & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held

with Fund

Term of Office** and

Length of Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Sharon Akselrod,
1974
Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Income Fund.
Jennifer Craig
1973
Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon,
1980
Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.
**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.
****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 73

 

 

Emerald Funds Privacy Policy
 

 

Who We Are  
Who is providing this notice? Emerald Banking and Finance Fund, Emerald Growth Fund, Emerald Insights Fund and Emerald Small Cap Value Fund
What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●     open an account

●     provide account information or give us your contact information

●     make a wire transfer or deposit money 

Why can’t I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

 

●     sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

●     affiliates from using your information to market to you

●     sharing for non-affiliates to market to you

 

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

Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates

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

 

●     The Funds do not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

 

●     The Funds do not jointly market.

Other Important Information  
California residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 
74 www.emeraldmutualfunds.com

 

 

Emerald Funds Privacy Policy
 

 

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

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

 

●     Social Security number and account transactions

●     Account balances and transaction history

●     Wire transfer instructions

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Do the funds share: Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes –

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes –

to offer our products and services to you

No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your transactions and experiences

Yes No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

No We do not share.
For non-affiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 75

 

 

(BACK COVER) 

 

 

 

(FRONT COVER)

 

 

(Grandeur Peak Funds Logo) 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Shareholder Letter 1
Performance Update 5
Disclosure of Fund Expenses 26
Portfolio of Investments  
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund 28
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund 32
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund 36
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 41
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund 47
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund 50
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 54
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 57
Statements of Operations 59
Statements of Changes in Net Assets  
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund 61
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund 62
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund 63
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 64
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund 65
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund 66
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 67
Financial Highlights  
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund 68
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund 70
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund 71
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 73
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund 75
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund 77
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 79
Notes to Financial Statements 81
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 94
Additional Information 96
Trustees and Officers 98
Privacy Policy 103

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

We continue to be pleased with both the sustained maturation of our research team and the process improvements we’re making, which allow us to better screen and analyze the large investible universe, and connect global dots. We are super passionate about global dot connecting. Global dot connecting is the deep comprehension that helps give us a fuller understanding of a company’s sustainable competitive advantage + business model + headroom to grow. We gain that comprehension by comparing, contrasting, and seeking to understand the companies with which it competes, or even resembles, globally, as well as its often global customer base and global supply chain.

 

When we think of the power and beauty of global dot connecting, we are reminded of a favorite story by the famed physicist, Richard Feynman:

 

I have a friend who’s an artist and has sometimes taken a view which I don’t agree with very well. He’ll hold up a flower and say ‘look how beautiful it is,’ and I’ll agree. Then he says ‘I as an artist can see how beautiful this is but you as a scientist take this all apart and it becomes a dull thing,’ and I think that he’s kind of nutty. First of all, the beauty that he sees is available to other people and to me too, I believe, although I might not be quite as refined aesthetically as he is, I can appreciate the beauty of a flower.

 

At the same time, I see much more about the flower than he sees. I could imagine the cells in there, the complicated actions inside, which also have a beauty. I mean it’s not just beauty at this dimension, at one centimeter; there’s also beauty at smaller dimensions, the inner structure, also the processes. The fact that the colors in the flower evolved in order to attract insects to pollinate it is interesting; it means that insects can see the color. It adds a question: does this aesthetic sense also exist in the lower forms? Why is it aesthetic? All kinds of interesting questions which a science knowledge only adds to the excitement, the mystery and the awe of a flower. It only adds. I don’t understand how it subtracts.” (BBC Documentary “The Pleasure of Finding Things Out”. 1981, Christopher Sykes)

 

There are many parallels between this story and investing, not the least of which is our belief that investing is half art and half science. We are striving to take the best of both of those worlds at Grandeur Peak and find a happy medium between the two such that the limitations of each can be overcome and the benefits of each obtained. We believe we’re better investors by combining both, as we see so much more than what is perhaps on the surface using just one medium, be it art (common-sense investing) or science (quantitative).

 

But the bigger analogy has to do with how country-specific managers (whom we most often compete against for ideas in a given market) view the world. Blake recently spoke with two such PMs running country funds, one in the US and the other in China, who echoed the artist in the story above—they asked Blake why he would bother picking apart a given idea through a global lens instead of simply appreciating the beauty of the investment opportunity in its immediate landscape? To both, it felt like we were doing too much work. They believed they could grasp the general investing thesis without having to put forth such an effort, and to undertake such work would be lifestyle altering—this literally came up as a point in the conversation. We can’t understand that attitude, or how a PM could get comfortable enough with an idea to make it a meaningful positon in their portfolio without fully understanding the global landscape in which the company operates. It is this depth of knowledge that also gives us confidence to take advantage of volatility and buy up in what we believe are great companies when other investors may be panicking.

 

The really exciting part of global investing—of connecting global dots—is the clearer vision you get to be able see things as they really are. It’s being able to discern the investment reality of a given idea on a deeper level than you could have ever before imagined. You can see the beauty of a company and its competitive advantage at smaller (yet meaningful and material) dimensions, which increases your confidence in the idea and the potential, realistic return. This process only adds to, and subtracts nothing, from an investor. It may be cliché to talk about putting together the global mosaic on a very grassroots level by connecting one company-specific dot after another, and then diligently maintaining all of those dots via a database and watch lists, but this is what we seek to do at Grandeur Peak.

 

Fund Performance & Attribution

For more in-depth analysis of each Fund, please see the latest quarterly letter and/or individual Fund pages on our website at www.grandeurpeakglobal.com. After healthy absolute returns a year ago, the global markets continued to provide strong returns over the past twelve months, despite a cooling off so far in 2018.

 

Emerging Markets Opportunities: For the year, the Institutional share class returned 13.24% vs 17.55% for the benchmark. Sectors of strength in the Fund were Financials and Consumer Staples, while the largest detractors were Consumer Discretionary, Real Estate, and Industrials. The Fund was most notably hurt by less liquid holdings in Asia. On average the Fund held about 4% cash, which was a drag on performance in the continuing bull market. As we announced last quarter, we’ve decided to improve the liquidity profile of the Emerging Markets portfolio, and with the recent jump in market volatility we were able to make some shifts in the composition of the portfolio.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Global Micro Cap: For the year, the Fund returned 17.68% vs 15.28% for the benchmark. Sectors of particular strength in the Fund were Technology, Consumer, and Financials, while the largest portfolio detractor was Real Estate. The Fund outperformed in the major regions, but lagged in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Global economic growth feels moderate and we continue to find great ideas outside of the US, leading to an overweight in Emerging Markets that is likely to continue. We feel challenged in finding reasonably priced companies in the US micro-cap space, but we continue to look. Meanwhile, we are seeing strong and improving fundamentals in our holdings in other developed markets, especially Japan, United Kingdom, France and Sweden. We are also benefiting from volatility returning to the markets, making our Watch-A names more attractive. Maintaining a long Watch-A list is a team-based effort—we work together to vet high quality names that we would like to own, but which are simply too expensive at the moment.

 

Global Opportunities/International Opportunities: For the year, the Global Opportunities Institutional share class returned 18.62% vs 15.28% for the benchmark, and the International Opportunities Institutional share class returned 19.38% vs 17.95% for the benchmark. With respect to both Funds, the big contributing sectors were Technology and Financials, with the largest negative contribution coming from Materials. Both Funds outperformed in every region except Africa/Middle East. On the margin, we believe we used the recent market volatility to our advantage in rounding up in high quality names that were previously too expensive. We also exited names which were not as compelling at inflated prices. High quality names generally feel fully priced to us. Looking forward, we see so many ways we can continue to improve: better using our assessments of quality/value/momentum, listening to multiple minds and saluting the negative voice, weighting our portfolios to get more from our winners and better managing risk through controlled position size. We know we are often hard on ourselves, but we hold ourselves to a very high standard and are committed to continuous improvement.

 

Global Reach: For the year, the Institutional share class returned 18.69% vs 15.28% for the benchmark. Sectors of particular strength in the Fund were Financials and Technology. Our underperformance in Materials was a detractor. The Fund did well across geographies, with the only negative contribution coming from Asia. As of January 1st, we merged our Energy & Materials team with our Industrials team, so now the Fund is managed by five industry teams instead of six. These five teams still cover all stocks in the investable universe. The E&M and Industrials teams had found themselves working very closely together, and as you likely know, we are almost systemically underweight E&M given our investment approach. As such, it made sense to collapse these teams. The combined team will continue to screen all E&M names.

 

Global Stalwarts/International Stalwarts: For the year, the Global Stalwarts Institutional share class returned 20.05% vs 14.80% for the benchmark, and the International Stalwarts Institutional share class returned 20.79% vs 17.09% for the benchmark. With respect to both Funds, the big contributing sectors were Industrials and Financials, with the largest negative contribution coming from Materials. Both Funds did well across regions, with the only negative contribution coming from Africa/Middle East. As you know, we maintain a long list of Watch-A names and the recent market volatility gave us the chance to buy some high quality names. We also rounded up on some of our favorite owned names. It’s hard to say how much runway is left for stocks in the near term, but our strategy remains the same: to opportunistically add quality and defensiveness to the portfolio while incrementally selling our lower conviction holdings. Taking profits in big winners is also prudent to both controlling position size and managing risk. We’ve incrementally raised our positions in banking and energy as the opportunities from a rising interest rate and improving energy outlook has made some of our companies look more attractive on a fundamental basis.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

Notes from the Road

Our team continues to travel throughout the world visiting companies, but last month we also had an incredible opportunity to travel to Ecuador with our spouses for a humanitarian project. Grandeur Peak Global Advisors partnered with Choice Humanitarian, an organization working to end global poverty. We joined with villagers in Cotacachi County, Ecuador in building a vocational school to provide access to technical training for the 1,500 students in the region. The work site is situated in the Intacara Valley and is susceptible to generous rainfall. Our teams worked to install a drainage canal around the school site by digging trenches, moving rocks, mixing, hauling and pouring cement and bending rebar for the forms. The school is scheduled to be completed in June 2019. We invited Bree Nielson and Riley Babbitt, both spouses of Grandeur Peak employees, to share their experiences.

 

By Bree Nielson, married to Dane Nielson, a research intern. Bree and Dane were part of Week 1 of our expedition.

 

While at home in Utah, I juggle multiple jobs, none of which demand the caliber of manual labor quite like our week in Ecuador. On weekdays, I teach 9th grade Biology to students whom I adore, yet want to lock up in a juvenile detention sometimes. On the weekends, I unwind as a respiratory therapist with all ages, but my favorite is being with the NICU babies. Dane and I have been married for a whopping 10 months now and going to Ecuador was our first big trip together. What could be better than a sharing a belated honeymoon/humanitarian trip down in the dirt and grime with your husband’s coworkers? To be honest, this trip was exactly the kind of fulfilling vacation Dane and I have dreamt about.

 

Ecuador was anything but relaxing as we worked side by side with the Indigenous people of Ecuador to build up a vocational school for their rising generation. The invitation to join my spouse in his company’s humanitarian trip was a pleasant surprise. As a newcomer to the Grandeur Peak family,

 

 

2 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

I’m glad that I got to meet everyone in our group at the Salt Lake City airport, having had a fresh morning shower – which was more pleasant than our group appeared at the end of the trip. Unfortunately, I went the “pack light” route and could have used a few more sets of clean clothes. But, there’s nothing quite like getting to know your spouse’s co-workers better than being sweaty and stinky together!

 

It wasn’t the sun being closer to the earth that made our welcome to the village of Pucará so warm, but the wonderful villagers who delightfully greeted us with their beautiful music, flowers and smiles. Our Ecuador Mamá took us into her home, which she graciously shared with us for the week. She spoke no English, and we spoke no Spanish. Problema? ¡No! I discovered that communication was not easy verbally, but there was no barrier to the love we shared with our new Ecuadorian friends and family. We got to know our sweet hostess throughout the week and discovered how self-sustaining she is. To start, she took in 4 nephews to raise up as her own when their mother left them. Her home is also situated on a sugar cane farm. She and her brothers are essential in the process of making sugar, an occupation that helps to sustain the family. What an exceptional woman she is, full of love, dedication, and certainly not afraid to get down and dirty with the boys.

 

Being a part of the building of a new vocational school was more than just pouring concrete and digging holes. It was a way to share laughter, hard work, and cultural experiences with one another. Turns out, we are not so different after all. We left behind a group of admirable Ecuadorian people, but went home with a work family bonded together in ways the walls of an office cannot do.

 

From Riley Babbitt, wife of Keefer Babbitt, a research analyst. Riley and Keefer were part of Week 2 of our expedition.

 

Though our welcome into the village of Pucará was a rainy one, our host family’s warmth made us feel right at home. Our mom, Alicia, and her daughter, Jessica, were incredibly thoughtful, kind, and patient as my husband and I navigated talking with little to no Spanish vocabulary. One of my favorite moments with Alicia was sitting out on her doorstep enjoying freshly-made empanadas and overlooking the misty mountains as I pet her dog, Thomas. The way of life in the village of Pucará is humble, yet beautiful and interconnected to the world and people who reside there.

 

The locals amazed me in many ways. For one, they were all incredibly willing to help their neighbor or community. Some who helped us at the vocational center, traveled over an hour just so they could help out! Another point of amazement was the widespread warmth of welcoming that I had felt immediately with our host family. All of the Ecuadorians at the work site were just as patient, if not more, with my attempts at Spanish conversations as Alicia, our host. However, I was most amazed at the Ecuadorians’ work ethic: they could race us up a hill with a full wheelbarrow and they would be at the top smiling at us as we were still wallowing with our own wheelbarrow in the mud. Turns out, a bunch of office-dwelling workers and their spouses aren’t as acclimated to the work of building a rural vocational center as the local Ecuadorians!

 

It’s difficult to summarize and explain the feelings I encountered on our trip to Ecuador, but the experiences we shared there have impacted my life at home immensely. Seeing the villagers so interconnected with not just their families, but also their friends and neighbors has encouraged me to reach out to my own friends and family more often. I also relished our group’s mealtimes and activities because everyone was openly conversing with each other and I was able to learn about the lives of many of my husband’s coworkers. Without the distractions of work, cellphones, and other obligations, this trip was the perfect opportunity to tune into what life should truly feel like: light, enjoyable, and filled with genuine connections to the people that surround you.

 

Business Update

This July will mark our 7th anniversary as a firm. We are very grateful to you for your trust and confidence in our team. Every day – whether it be in the office in Salt Lake City, or in some other part of the world where we are researching companies, expanding our global network, or visiting clients – we are mindful of the responsibility that we have to you and your financial goals.

 

Tomorrow, May 1st, also marks the first anniversary of the debut product launch from our joint venture with Laura Geritz and Rondure Global Advisors. We began this partnership with high hopes for what a collaboration with Laura and her team could bring to our research efforts, and we have not been disappointed. The collaboration has been impactful and we’re very grateful for the experience and skills the Rondure team adds to the mix. As we announced a few months ago, Zach Larkin has moved from Grandeur Peak to the Rondure team (although he is still sitting in the very same desk he has been for the past few years), which gives Rondure additional depth, but also allows for a more concentrated focus on frontier markets to benefit both firms.

 

We continue to see inflows into our two open Stalwarts strategies, which are now up to just over $1.2 million in AUM. As a firm we are managing roughly $4.1 billion in assets.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As always, please feel free to reach out any time with any questions, requests or comments. We appreciate and enjoy our relationship with you and continue to work hard on your behalf.

 

Sincerely,

 

Robert Gardiner, CFA

Chairman & Portfolio Manager

 

Blake Walker

CEO & Portfolio Manager

 

Randy Pearce, CFA, MBA

CIO & Portfolio Manager

 

RISKS: Mutual fund investing involves risks and loss of principal is possible. Investing in small and micro-cap funds will be more volatile and loss of principal could be greater than investing in large cap or more diversified funds. Investing in foreign securities entails special risks, such as currency fluctuations and political uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the prospectus. Investments in emerging markets are subject to the same risks as other foreign securities and may be subject to greater risks than investments in foreign countries with more established economies and securities markets.

 

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a Grandeur Peak Funds prospectus, containing this and other information, visit www.grandeurpeakglobal.com or call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325). Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The views and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer’s current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Funds or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. The Funds do not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the Distributor for the Grandeur Peak Funds.

 

 

4 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

  6 Months 1 Year 3 Year Since Inception(a) Expense Ratio(b)
Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund – Investor (GPEOX) 5.84% 12.99% 5.65% 7.85% 1.80% 1.80%
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund – Institutional (GPEIX) 6.02% 13.24% 5.90% 8.09% 1.50% 1.50%
Russell Emerging Markets Small Cap Index(d) 6.22% 17.55% 4.65% 6.07%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of December 16, 2013.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.95% and 1.70% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class- by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(d)The Russell Emerging Markets Small Cap Index seeks to measure the performance of the small-cap equity universe of emerging countries. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 

6 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Asia ex Japan 64.5%
Africa/Middle East 9.0%
Latin America 8.7%
Europe 7.6%
North America 4.5%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 5.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Consumer 25.7%
Financials 21.4%
Technology 19.6%
Health Care 12.4%
Industrials 9.6%
Energy & Materials 5.6%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 5.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 2.9%
FirstCash, Inc. 2.0%
Value Partners Group, Ltd. 1.8%
WNS Holdings, Ltd. 1.6%
Silergy Corp. 1.6%
Dino Polska SA 1.4%
Security Bank Corp. 1.4%
Parex Resources, Inc. 1.3%
Cyient, Ltd. 1.3%
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd. 1.2%
Total 16.5%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

  6 Months 1 Year Since Inception(a) Expense Ratio(b)
Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak Global MicroCap – Institutional (GPMCX) 4.12% 17.68% 15.09% 2.08% 2.00%
Russell Global Small Cap Index(d) 4.50% 15.28% 13.46%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of October 20, 2015.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 2.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover expenses it has borne through this agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred . This agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(d)The Russell Global Small Cap Index seeks to measure the performance of the small-cap segment of the global equity universe. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

8 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

 (LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Asia ex Japan 29.8%
Europe 27.4%
North America 15.3%
Japan 13.9%
Australia/New Zealand 7.7%
Africa/Middle East 2.5%
Latin America 1.2%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 2.2%
Total 100.0%

 

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Financials 24.9%
Consumer 20.2%
Technology 19.9%
Industrials 15.7%
Health Care 11.9%
Energy & Materials 5.2%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 2.2%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd. 2.4%
Heska Corp. 2.0%
Fiducian Group, Ltd. 1.9%
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc. 1.9%
BBI Life Sciences Corp. 1.5%
Plover Bay Technologies, Ltd. 1.4%
Byke Hospitality, Ltd. 1.3%
Hingham Institution for Savings 1.3%
LoopUp Group PLC 1.3%
Pryce Corp. 1.3%
Total 16.3%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

10 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

  6 Months 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Since Inception(a) Expense Ratio(b)
Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund – Investor (GPGOX) 4.46% 18.41% 9.61% 12.70% 15.53% 1.62% 1.62%
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund – Institutional (GPGIX) 4.78% 18.62% 9.86% 12.95% 15.87% 1.37% 1.37%
Russell Global Small Cap Index(d) 4.50% 15.28% 8.89% 9.31% 11.45%    
Russell Global Index(e) 3.92% 14.78% 8.20% 9.60% 11.63%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of October 17, 2011.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.75% and 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class- by-class basis, expenses it has borne the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(d)The Russell Global Small Cap Index seeks to measure the performance of the small-cap segment of the global equity universe. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

(e)The Russell Global Index is an additional index, and seeks to measure the performance of the global equity universe. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
12 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
North America 33.7%
Europe 28.3%
Asia ex Japan 23.7%
Japan 8.1%
Latin America 2.9%
Africa/Middle East 2.1%
Australia/New Zealand 2.0%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets -0.8%
Total 100.0%

  

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Financials 27.5%
Industrials 22.3%
Technology 18.1%
Consumer 18.1%
Health Care 10.9%
Energy & Materials 3.9%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets -0.8%
Total 100.0%

  

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. 2.2%
FirstCash, Inc. 2.0%
Power Integrations, Inc. 1.8%
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd. 1.3%
Home BancShares, Inc. 1.2%
First Republic Bank 1.1%
EPAM Systems, Inc. 1.1%
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 1.1%
Palfinger AG 1.0%
SVB Financial Group 1.0%
Total 13.8%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

          Expense Ratio(b)
  6 Months 1 Year 3 Years Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund – Investor (GPROX) 6.61% 18.44% 9.38% 13.13% 1.54% 1.54%
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund – Institutional (GPRIX) 6.73% 18.69% 9.64% 13.38% 1.29% 1.29%
Russell Global Small Cap Index(d) 4.50% 15.28% 8.89% 9.72%    
Russell Global Index(e) 3.92% 14.78% 8.20% 9.98%    

  

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).  

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of June 19, 2013.
(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1. 60% and 1.35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class- by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(d)The Russell Global Small Cap Index seeks to measure the performance of the small-cap segment of the global equity universe. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.
(e)The Russell Global Index is an additional index, and seeks to measure the performance of the global equity universe. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 
14 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited) 

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions. 

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. 

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Europe 30.1%
North America 26.7%
Asia ex Japan 25.3%
Japan 6.5%
Africa/Middle East 5.0%
Latin America 3.7%
Australia/New Zealand 3.2%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets -0.5%
Total 100.0%

 

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Financials 25.6%
Consumer 20.6%
Technology 19.4%
Industrials 18.0%
Health Care 12.0%
Energy & Materials 4.9%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets -0.5%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 1.3%
Wix.com, Ltd. 1.3%
Dino Polska SA 1.1%
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd. 1.1%
WNS Holdings, Ltd. 1.0%
SVB Financial Group 1.0%
Wirecard AG 0.9%
BBI Life Sciences Corp. 0.8%
EPAM Systems, Inc. 0.8%
Hamilton Lane, Inc. 0.8%
Total 10.1%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
16 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

        Expense Ratio(b)
  6 Months 1 Year Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts – Investor (GGSOX) 7.34% 19.79% 17.33% 1.39% 1.35%
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts – Institutional (GGSYX) 7.45% 20.05%(d) 17.63% 1.14% 1.10%
Russell Global SMID Cap Index(e) 4.34% 14.80% 13.85%    
Russell Global Index(f) 3.92% 14.78% 13.91%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of September 1, 2015.
(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.35% and 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through this agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred. This agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(d)Excludes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and as such, the net asset value and total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the net asset value for financial reporting purposes.
(e)The Russell Global SMid Cap Index is designed to measure the performance of small- and mid-cap (SMid) securities and all capitalization securities respectively of issuers located in countries throughout the world representing developed and emerging markets. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.
(f)The Russell Global Index is an additional index, and seeks to measure the performance of the global equity universe. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited) 

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The graphs shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
18 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
North America 36.1%
Europe 26.1%
Asia ex Japan 21.7%
Japan 6.8%
Latin America 4.4%
Africa/Middle East 1.3%
Australia/New Zealand 0.9%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 2.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Financials 26.3%
Consumer 22.5%
Industrials 20.5%
Technology 14.5%
Health Care 10.3%
Energy & Materials 3.2%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 2.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc. 2.2%
Stantec, Inc. 2.0%
Nihon M&A Center, Inc. 1.8%
B&M European Value Retail SA 1.7%
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. 1.7%
Power Integrations, Inc. 1.6%
FirstCash, Inc. 1.6%
HealthEquity, Inc. 1.6%
First Republic Bank 1.6%
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 1.5%
Total 17.3%

  

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

  

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

            Expense Ratio(b)
  6 Months 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund – Investor (GPIOX) 4.83% 19.30% 9.82% 12.09% 15.22% 1.62% 1.62%
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund – Institutional (GPIIX) 4.97% 19.38% 10.06% 12.30% 15.45% 1.37% 1.37%
Russell Global ex-U.S. Small Cap Index(d) 5.33% 17.95% 8.37% 7.78% 9.54%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of October 17, 2011.
(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursements (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.75% and 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class- by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(d)The Russell Global ex-U.S. Small Cap Index seeks to measure the performance of the small-cap segment of the global equity universe, excluding companies assigned to the United States. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 
20 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Europe 35.6%
Asia ex Japan 31.4%
Japan 11.4%
North America 10.3%
Africa/Middle East 3.7%
Latin America 3.6%
Australia/New Zealand 2.6%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 1.4%
Total 100.0%

 

Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Financials 24.8%
Consumer 20.3%
Industrials 20.1%
Technology 17.6%
Health Care 11.1%
Energy & Materials 4.7%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 1.4%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
FirstCash, Inc. 2.0%
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 1.5%
Wirecard AG 1.2%
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd. 1.2%
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd. 1.1%
Silergy Corp. 1.1%
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC 1.1%
EPAM Systems, Inc. 1.1%
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd. 1.0%
WNS Holdings, Ltd. 1.0%
Total 12.3%

  

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
22 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

        Expense Ratio(b)
  6 Months 1 Year Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts – Investor 7.03% 20.50% 18.62% 1.27% 1.27%
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts – Institutional 7.17% 20.79% 18.89% 1.02% 1.02%
Russell Global ex-U.S. SMID Cap Index(d) 4.84% 17.09% 14.32%    
Russell Global ex-U.S. Small Cap Index(e) 5.33% 17.95% 14.84%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-377-PEAK (7325).

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of September 1, 2015.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursements (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.35% and 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through this agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below annual rates set forth in the Expense Agreement; provided, however, that such recapture payments do not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expenses was deferred This agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018 except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(d)The Russell Global ex-US SMid Cap Index is constructed to provide a comprehensive and unbiased barometer for the small- and mid-cap (SMid) segments excluding companies assigned to the United States. The Russell Global ex-US SMid Cap Index is reconstituted annually to accurately reflect the changes in the market over time. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

(e)The Russell Global ex-U.S. Small Cap Index is designed to measure the performance of small capitalization securities outside of the U.S. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

  

(LINE GRAPH)

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
24 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Europe 35.9%
Asia ex Japan 27.9%
North America 13.5%
Japan 8.7%
Latin America 5.9%
Africa/Middle East 1.7%
Australia/New Zealand 1.0%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 5.4%
Total 100.0%
   
Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Consumer 24.9%
Financials 24.0%
Industrials 18.8%
Technology 13.7%
Health Care 9.6%
Energy & Materials 3.6%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 5.4%
Total 100.0%
   
Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Stantec, Inc. 2.4%
Nihon M&A Center, Inc. 2.2%
B&M European Value Retail SA 2.2%
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. 2.1%
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd. 1.9%
FirstCash, Inc. 1.9%
Value Partners Group, Ltd. 1.7%
MISUMI Group, Inc. 1.6%
Brembo SpA 1.6%
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd. 1.6%
Total 19.2%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period of November 1, 2017 through of April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 
26 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

  Beginning
Account Value
November 1,
2017
Ending
Account Value
April 30,
2018
Expense Ratio(a) Expenses Paid
During period
November 1,
2017 - April 30,
2018(b)
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,058.40 1.77% $9.03
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,016.02 1.77% $8.85
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,060.20 1.54% $7.87
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.16 1.54% $7.70
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund        
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,041.20 2.00% $10.12
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,014.88 2.00% $9.99
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,044.60 1.55% $7.86
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.11 1.55% $7.75
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,047.80 1.31% $6.65
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.30 1.31% $6.56
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,066.10 1.52% $7.79
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.26 1.52% $7.60
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,067.30 1.28% $6.56
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.45 1.28% $6.41
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,073.40 1.35% $6.94
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.10 1.35% $6.76
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,074.50 1.10% $5.66
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.34 1.10% $5.51
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,048.30 1.55% $7.87
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,017.11 1.55% $7.75
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,049.70 1.30% $6.61
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.35 1.30% $6.51
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,070.30 1.20% $6.16
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.84 1.20% $6.01
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,071.70 0.95% $4.88
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.08 0.95% $4.76

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year 181/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (94.12%)          
Argentina (1.17%)          
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   110,900   $3,256,024 
Globant SA(a)   55,137    2,481,716 
         5,737,740 
           
Bangladesh (1.11%)          
Olympic Industries, Ltd.   272,639    866,928 
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   1,237,947    4,576,043 
         5,442,971 
           
Brazil (3.21%)          
Fleury SA   376,500    2,806,124 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   53,600    423,053 
Hypermarcas SA   221,300    1,985,459 
M Dias Branco SA   199,200    2,500,804 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   133,000    772,214 
Pagseguro Digital, Ltd., Class A(a)   96,125    3,194,234 
Raia Drogasil SA   161,900    3,175,887 
Valid Solucoes e Servicos de Seguranca em Meios de Pagamento e Identificacao SA   164,200    871,809 
         15,729,584 
           
China (15.23%)          
58.com, Inc., ADR(a)   38,250    3,342,667 
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., Sponsored ADR(a)   14,450    2,579,903 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   644,000    3,704,663 
BBI Life Sciences Corp.(c)   9,968,500    4,140,497 
BrightKing Holdings, Ltd.   833,721    2,040,167 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   5,664,000    13,971,198 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   1,027,000    2,643,181 
Ctrip.com International, Ltd., ADR(a)   75,175    3,074,657 
Essex Bio-technology, Ltd.   4,001,000    3,578,580 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   95,000    3,468,450 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   8,146,400    6,061,549 
O2Micro International, Ltd., ADR(a)   462,244    637,897 
On-Bright Electronics, Inc.   549,941    4,488,897 
Shanghai Haohai Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Class H(b)(c)   567,800    3,725,698 
Silergy Corp.   368,422    7,745,373 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd.   47,900    2,386,257 
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   2,366,500    4,082,538 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
China (continued)          
Yum China Holdings, Inc.   68,600   $2,933,336 
         74,605,508 
           
Colombia (2.31%)          
Amerisur Resources PLC(a)   6,100,400    1,459,646 
Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.(a)   1,124,500    3,722,095 
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   356,831    6,139,177 
         11,320,918 
           
Egypt (1.92%)          
African Export-Import Bank, GDR(a)   500,000    1,987,500 
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE   374,454    1,990,513 
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings PLC(b)(c)   371,100    1,762,725 
Juhayna Food Industries   1,422,650    1,095,896 
Obour Land For Food Industries   2,116,943    2,577,982 
         9,414,616 
           
Georgia (2.62%)          
BGEO Group PLC   122,812    5,883,821 
Georgia Healthcare Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   319,225    1,217,352 
TBC Bank Group PLC   225,706    5,711,208 
         12,812,381 
           
Greece (1.00%)          
Sarantis SA   285,485    4,912,713 
           
Hong Kong (5.57%)          
International Housewares Retail Co., Ltd.   8,126,000    1,646,186 
Jacobson Pharma Corp., Ltd.(c)   5,020,000    1,208,845 
Plover Bay Technologies, Ltd.(c)   8,892,000    1,824,023 
Samsonite International SA   1,026,900    4,657,825 
TK Group Holdings, Ltd.   5,467,000    4,067,869 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   9,436,800    9,017,602 
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   1,837,900    4,882,396 
         27,304,746 
           
India (12.53%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   142,085    4,207,517 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   169,000    4,830,706 
Byke Hospitality, Ltd.   981,000    2,805,272 
City Union Bank, Ltd.   1,198,250    3,300,843 
Control Print, Ltd.   255,504    1,757,403 
Cyient, Ltd.   537,595    6,129,098 
Essel Propack, Ltd.   144,761    583,143 
Indiabulls Housing Finance, Ltd.   179,500    3,515,231 
Kellton Tech Solutions, Ltd.(a)   1,152,350    1,136,983 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
India (continued)          
Kovai Medical Center and Hospital   75,083   $1,385,053 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   1,057,500    2,744,366 
L&T Technology Services, Ltd.(b)(c)   171,540    3,417,435 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   32,443    361,229 
Somany Ceramics, Ltd.   96,303    802,284 
Thyrocare Technologies, Ltd.   248,644    2,492,215 
Time Technoplast, Ltd.   2,390,721    5,751,128 
Vaibhav Global, Ltd.(a)   200,319    2,168,272 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   838,000    1,254,991 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   160,186    7,837,901 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   905,500    4,911,462 
         61,392,532 
           
Indonesia (4.30%)          
Ace Hardware Indonesia Tbk PT   12,870,000    1,202,588 
Arwana Citramulia Tbk PT   58,293,000    1,458,111 
Bekasi Fajar Industrial Estate Tbk PT   56,350,600    1,077,395 
Delfi, Ltd.   866,400    947,421 
Hexindo Adiperkasa Tbk PT   3,557,100    859,073 
Indonesia Pondasi Raya Tbk PT   14,757,300    891,007 
Link Net Tbk PT   7,350,500    2,853,024 
Lippo Cikarang Tbk PT(a)   3,005,000    498,943 
Panin Sekuritas Tbk PT   7,155,500    853,774 
Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk PT   9,443,000    2,131,250 
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT   38,912,900    4,055,612 
Tempo Scan Pacific Tbk PT   17,950,700    2,051,509 
Ultrajaya Milk Industry & Trading Co., Tbk PT   20,171,600    2,160,337 
         21,040,044 
           
Kenya (0.69%)          
Safaricom, Ltd.   11,916,300    3,356,286 
           
Malaysia (2.21%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd   1,224,400    4,081,853 
CB Industrial Product Holding Bhd   2,761,800    1,034,751 
My EG Services Bhd   4,339,900    2,898,060 
Mynews Holdings Bhd   2,292,100    882,139 
Scicom MSC Bhd   3,685,500    1,944,434 
         10,841,237 
           
Mexico (2.47%)          
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER(a)   2,044,271    2,977,531 
Grupo Herdez SAB de CV   1,081,600    2,591,507 
Regional SAB de CV   649,900    4,136,664 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Mexico (continued)          
Unifin Financiera SAB de CV SOFOM ENR   663,600   $2,377,344 
         12,083,046 
           
Oman (0.88%)          
Tethys Oil AB   480,023    4,303,222 
           
Pakistan (0.81%)          
Abbott Laboratories Pakistan, Ltd.   132,850    829,953 
Akzo Nobel Pakistan, Ltd.   852,800    1,500,093 
Meezan Bank, Ltd.   2,408,320    1,646,251 
         3,976,297 
           
Peru (2.04%)          
Alicorp SAA   1,439,086    5,286,529 
Credicorp, Ltd.   20,325    4,725,359 
         10,011,888 
           
Philippines (4.31%)          
Concepcion Industrial Corp.   2,912,792    3,377,183 
Holcim Philippines, Inc.   3,694,500    663,232 
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.   23,627,000    1,196,200 
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   3,372,100    3,088,678 
Robinsons Land Corp.   8,093,762    2,799,608 
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.   1,675,000    2,945,439 
Security Bank Corp.   1,746,600    7,053,969 
         21,124,309 
           
Poland (2.84%)          
AmRest Holdings SE(a)   9,628    1,264,586 
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   261,600    7,080,645 
LiveChat Software SA   239,800    3,040,329 
Medicalgorithmics SA   27,700    1,175,919 
PGS Software SA   426,467    1,360,865 
         13,922,344 
           
Russia (0.60%)          
MD Medical Group Investments PLC, GDR(c)   117,400    1,074,210 
TCS Group Holding PLC, GDR(c)   91,200    1,878,720 
         2,952,930 
           
South Africa (4.40%)          
ARB Holdings, Ltd.   1,134,108    518,605 
Blue Label Telecoms, Ltd.   1,363,023    1,359,196 
Capitec Bank Holdings, Ltd.   23,200    1,654,840 
Cartrack Holdings, Ltd.   1,526,449    2,314,472 
Cashbuild, Ltd.   47,300    1,650,662 
City Lodge Hotels, Ltd.   41,992    552,482 
Clicks Group, Ltd.   113,000    1,937,091 
EOH Holdings, Ltd.   396,824    1,207,822 
Interwaste Holdings, Ltd.   15,918,682    1,085,510 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29
 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
South Africa (continued)          
Italtile, Ltd.   2,339,672   $2,691,608 
Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.   57,700    1,152,611 
Transaction Capital, Ltd.   3,877,628    5,450,144 
         21,575,043 
           
South Korea (7.58%)          
BGF Retail Co., Ltd.   17,674    3,160,652 
Daebongls Co., Ltd.   26,500    281,611 
Hanssem Co., Ltd.   17,500    1,908,852 
Hy-Lok Corp.   55,300    1,429,034 
ISC Co., Ltd.   165,732    2,405,174 
Kakao M Corp.   42,500    3,561,397 
Koh Young Technology, Inc.   30,244    2,882,673 
LEENO Industrial, Inc.   68,200    3,658,874 
LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.   4,625    5,932,541 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   7,000    4,572,071 
NAVER Corp.   5,512    3,695,138 
Vitzrocell Co., Ltd.(a)(d)   444,769    3,657,929 
         37,145,946 
           
Sri Lanka (0.89%)          
Hemas Holdings PLC   2,946,326    2,335,388 
Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC   2,965,133    2,011,853 
         4,347,241 
           
Switzerland (0.58%)          
Wizz Air Holdings PLC(a)(b)(c)   64,800    2,849,373 
           
Taiwan (5.71%)          
ASPEED Technology, Inc.   69,929    2,009,012 
I Yuan Precision Ind Co., Ltd.   430,000    872,019 
Materials Analysis Technology, Inc.   501,000    1,198,885 
Rafael Microelectronics, Inc.   262,000    1,270,748 
Sinmag Equipment Corp.   1,039,133    5,426,328 
Sitronix Technology Corp.   942,000    2,712,670 
Sporton International, Inc.   1,044,317    5,806,369 
Tehmag Foods Corp.   145,200    1,079,682 
Test Research, Inc.   1,626,000    3,006,175 
TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.   208,000    1,645,075 
TTFB Co., Ltd.   179,000    1,406,638 
Voltronic Power Technology Corp.   86,000    1,534,754 
         27,968,355 
           
Thailand (1.77%)          
Muangthai Leasing PCL   1,963,000    2,270,263 
Srisawad Corp., PCL   2,086,240    3,437,404 
TOA Paint Thailand PCL(a)   2,428,000    2,942,681 
         8,650,348 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Turkey (0.84%)        
Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS   144,900   $898,914 
DP Eurasia NV(a)(b)(c)   1,236,100    3,233,305 
         4,132,219 
           
United Arab Emirates (0.25%)          
Aramex PJSC   1,123,419    1,238,677 
           
United States (2.02%)          
FirstCash, Inc.   114,195    9,900,706 
           
Vietnam (2.26%)          
FPT Corp.   713,527    1,786,678 
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   1,583,953    2,978,153 
Lix Detergent JSC   437,310    864,496 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   666,076    5,413,230 
         11,042,557 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $372,027,690)        461,135,777 

 

   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (0.14%)          
Malaysia (0.14%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd 3.50%, 09/15/2020  $2,260,800   $674,177 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $537,071)        674,177 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (94.26%)          
(Cost $372,564,761)       $461,809,954 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (5.74%)      28,118,064 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $489,928,018 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements. 

 

30 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $28,153,353 representing 5.75% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $38,279,646, representing 7.81% of net assets.

(d)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (97.31%)          
Australia (7.12%)          
Australian Ethical Investment, Ltd.   415   $42,178 
Beacon Lighting Group, Ltd.   39,349    43,843 
Blue Sky Alternative Investments, Ltd.   78,844    182,822 
Class, Ltd.   72,133    124,902 
Fiducian Group, Ltd.   241,628    782,212 
Hub24, Ltd.(a)   25,700    214,572 
Kogan.com, Ltd.   31,500    184,264 
Lycopodium, Ltd.   89,026    313,669 
Mainstream Group Holdings, Ltd.   974,669    469,619 
Mitula Group, Ltd.(a)   387,052    131,127 
National Storage REIT   196,847    237,114 
National Veterinary Care, Ltd.   67,400    122,288 
Reject Shop, Ltd.   21,835    121,152 
         2,969,762 
           
Britain (10.84%)          
AB Dynamics PLC   12,432    165,161 
Arrow Global Group PLC   31,219    159,668 
City of London Investment Group PLC   37,697    228,089 
Curtis Banks Group PLC   46,300    192,498 
dotdigital group PLC   152,400    185,681 
Horizon Discovery Group PLC(a)   42,400    84,056 
Impax Asset Management Group PLC   144,325    325,855 
JTC PLC(a)(b)(c)   104,200    439,681 
K3 Capital Group PLC   48,679    205,740 
LoopUp Group PLC(a)   89,733    532,438 
Morses Club PLC   78,838    158,192 
Motorpoint group PLC(c)   36,982    132,374 
On the Beach Group PLC(b)(c)   51,200    431,381 
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC(a)   22,794    292,447 
Premier Asset Management Group PLC   121,300    412,475 
Premier Technical Services Group PLC   62,313    158,705 
River & Mercantile Group PLC   61,300    258,239 
Tracsis PLC   19,300    160,219 
         4,522,899 
           
Canada (0.92%)          
Biosyent, Inc.(a)   37,893    295,128 
Cipher Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   31,300    88,248 
         383,376 
           
China (4.64%)          
BBI Life Sciences Corp.(c)   1,555,000    645,882 
BrightKing Holdings, Ltd.   74,332    181,895 
Essex Bio-technology, Ltd.   329,000    294,265 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
China (continued)          
Hop Hing Group Holdings, Ltd.   6,984,000   $163,730 
O2Micro International, Ltd., ADR(a)   122,075    168,463 
On-Bright Electronics, Inc.   42,572    347,494 
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   78,500    135,423 
         1,937,152 
           
Colombia (1.24%)          
Amerisur Resources PLC(a)   1,326,900    317,488 
Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.(a)   59,850    198,104 
         515,592 
           
Egypt (0.54%)          
Obour Land For Food Industries   186,387    226,979 
           
France (1.79%)          
Esker SA   3,500    234,153 
Neurones   3,900    120,567 
Thermador Groupe   2,721    392,663 
         747,383 
           
Georgia (1.10%)          
Georgia Healthcare Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   34,700    132,327 
TBC Bank Group PLC   12,822    324,445 
         456,772 
           
Germany (0.76%)          
Nexus AG   6,200    207,393 
publity AG   6,900    109,988 
         317,381 
           
Greece (1.10%)          
Sarantis SA   26,700    459,462 
           
Hong Kong (3.21%)          
International Housewares Retail Co., Ltd.   1,063,000    215,345 
Jacobson Pharma Corp., Ltd.(c)   775,000    186,625 
Plover Bay Technologies, Ltd.(c)   2,912,000    597,341 
TK Group Holdings, Ltd.   457,000    340,043 
         1,339,354 
           
India (5.36%)          
Byke Hospitality, Ltd.   196,779    562,710 
Control Print, Ltd.   18,500    127,247 
Cyient, Ltd.   23,640    269,519 
Essel Propack, Ltd.   13,034    52,505 
Kellton Tech Solutions, Ltd.(a)   98,464    97,151 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

32 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
India (continued)          
Kovai Medical Center and Hospital   21,967   $405,224 
Somany Ceramics, Ltd.   9,033    75,253 
Thyrocare Technologies, Ltd.   30,800    308,715 
Time Technoplast, Ltd.   141,015    339,226 
         2,237,550 
           
Indonesia (2.80%)          
Arwana Citramulia Tbk PT   7,920,100    198,109 
Astra Graphia Tbk PT   1,109,700    115,656 
BFI Finance Indonesia Tbk PT   5,268,300    306,726 
Hexindo Adiperkasa Tbk PT   634,500    153,238 
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT   3,764,900    392,388 
         1,166,117 
           
Ireland (1.67%)          
Hostelworld Group PLC(b)(c)   43,487    242,468 
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC   275,700    453,458 
         695,926 
           
Japan (13.88%)          
Abist Co., Ltd.   4,400    192,792 
AIT Corp.   19,600    215,148 
Amiyaki Tei Co., Ltd.   2,200    108,068 
Anshin Guarantor Service Co., Ltd.   19,200    50,230 
Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.   8,000    171,387 
Atrae, Inc.(a)   6,900    198,504 
Central Automotive Products, Ltd.   16,500    257,341 
eGuarantee, Inc.   11,000    220,563 
Future Corp.   19,600    226,443 
Hard Off Corp. Co., Ltd.   20,000    208,013 
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.(a)   13,900    1,005,754 
Marklines Co, Ltd.   22,100    310,112 
MKSystem Corp.   12,400    148,705 
Naigai Trans Line, Ltd.   10,800    181,383 
Open Door, Inc.(a)   10,200    190,620 
Qol Co., Ltd.   15,400    316,678 
Quick Co., Ltd.   10,400    171,431 
Silver Life Co., Ltd.(a)   9,000    370,060 
Synchro Food Co., Ltd.(a)   29,400    294,753 
Syuppin Co., Ltd.   25,500    287,843 
Trancom Co., Ltd.   2,700    204,994 
Vega Corp Co., Ltd.(a)   20,800    295,295 
Yakuodo Co., Ltd.   4,700    163,159 
         5,789,276 
           
Malaysia (2.11%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd   64,950    216,527 
Foundpac Group Bhd   1,634,000    91,622 
Mynews Holdings Bhd   1,142,000    439,511 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Malaysia (continued)          
Scicom MSC Bhd   251,600   $132,742 
         880,402 
           
Mexico (0.33%)          
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER(a)   95,430    138,996 
           
Netherlands (0.73%)          
Shop Apotheke Europe NV(a)(b)   6,475    303,385 
           
New Zealand (0.55%)          
CBL Corp., Ltd.(d)   159,993    25,891 
Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.   40,364    203,913 
         229,804 
           
Norway (5.03%)          
Infront ASA   105,800    369,271 
Komplett Bank ASA(a)   75,000    160,054 
Medistim ASA   25,862    255,967 
Multiconsult ASA(b)(c)   22,900    194,109 
Sbanken ASA(b)(c)   57,900    523,260 
Self Storage Group ASA(a)   82,800    163,075 
Webstep ASA(b)(c)   133,000    431,048 
         2,096,784 
           
Oman (0.74%)          
Tethys Oil AB   34,600    310,176 
           
Pakistan (0.30%)          
Akzo Nobel Pakistan, Ltd.   71,300    125,418 
           
Philippines (1.64%)          
Concepcion Industrial Corp.   129,770    150,460 
Pryce Corp.   4,586,500    531,773 
         682,233 
           
Poland (1.22%)          
LiveChat Software SA   18,500    234,554 
Medicalgorithmics SA   2,600    110,375 
PGS Software SA   51,047    162,892 
         507,821 
           
Singapore (0.80%)          
Riverstone Holdings, Ltd.   419,800    332,421 
           
South Africa (0.95%)          
ARB Holdings, Ltd.   400,143    182,978 
Cartrack Holdings, Ltd.   43,100    65,350 
Trellidor Holdings, Ltd.   344,300    149,155 
         397,483 
           
South Korea (1.70%)          
Daebongls Co., Ltd.   898    9,543 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
South Korea (continued)          
Hy-Lok Corp.   6,412   $165,696 
ISC Co., Ltd.   12,695    184,235 
LEENO Industrial, Inc.   4,800    257,516 
Vitzrocell Co., Ltd.(a)(d)   11,180    91,948 
         708,938 
           
Sri Lanka (0.37%)          
Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC   224,570    152,372 
           
Sweden (2.81%)          
Absolent Group AB   11,329    157,839 
Bufab AB   14,221    192,609 
HIQ International AB   26,600    215,676 
Swedencare AB(a)   44,878    173,738 
TF Bank AB(c)   11,400    101,546 
Vitec Software Group AB, Class B   35,500    332,433 
         1,173,841 
           
Taiwan (4.79%)          
I Yuan Precision Ind Co., Ltd.   3,000    6,084 
Materials Analysis Technology, Inc.   48,045    114,971 
Rafael Microelectronics, Inc.   32,000    155,206 
RiTdisplay Corp.   77,000    309,702 
Sinmag Equipment Corp.   34,000    177,547 
Sitronix Technology Corp.   66,000    190,060 
Sporton International, Inc.   24,481    136,114 
Tai Shing Electronics Components Corp.   135,000    319,402 
Tehmag Foods Corp.   25,300    188,126 
TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.   27,000    213,543 
TTFB Co., Ltd.   24,000    188,600 
         1,999,355 
           
Turkey (0.86%)          
DP Eurasia NV(a)(b)(c)   137,500    359,663 
           
United States (14.10%)          
Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   31,500    162,225 
DXP Enterprises, Inc.(a)   11,075    402,022 
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.(a)   32,060    772,325 
First of Long Island Corp.   13,150    348,475 
GBGI, Ltd.   192,500    234,538 
Hackett Group, Inc.   18,175    294,617 
Heska Corp.(a)   10,000    816,200 
Hingham Institution for Savings   2,715    553,860 
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.   2,725    140,474 
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.   3,192    100,388 
LGI Homes, Inc.(a)   2,900    200,680 
Malibu Boats, Inc., Class A(a)   4,686    157,918 
NV5 Global, Inc.(a)   2,375    139,769 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
People's Utah Bancorp   4,700   $149,695 
Reis, Inc.   7,450    156,450 
Resources Connection, Inc.   9,450    147,892 
Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings   15,325    308,033 
Smart Sand, Inc.(a)   36,199    264,977 
STAAR Surgical Co.(a)   11,050    179,563 
Transcat, Inc.(a)   15,166    250,239 
Veracyte, Inc.(a)   16,258    98,523 
         5,878,863 
           
Vietnam (1.31%)          
Lix Detergent JSC   152,700    301,865 
Taisun Int'l Holding Corp.   50,000    243,354 
         545,219 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $32,860,834)        40,588,155 

 

   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (0.45%)          
Germany (0.36%)          
publity AG 3.50%, 11/17/2020  $150,000   $150,165 
           
Malaysia (0.09%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd 3.50%, 09/15/2020   129,900    38,737 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $195,634)        188,902 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (97.76%)          
(Cost $33,056,468)       $40,777,057 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (2.24%)      932,293 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $41,709,350 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

34 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $3,192,745 representing 7.65% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $4,553,127, representing 10.92% of net assets.

(d)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

 



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (100.70%)          
Argentina (0.39%)          
Globant SA(a)   67,375   $3,032,549 
           
Australia (1.37%)          
Blue Sky Alternative Investments, Ltd.   663,700    1,538,973 
Class, Ltd.   797,195    1,380,387 
Greencross, Ltd.   242,916    971,089 
IPH, Ltd.   499,167    1,375,421 
Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.   151,464    2,663,734 
National Storage REIT   1,661,347    2,001,193 
National Veterinary Care, Ltd.   397,700    721,575 
         10,652,372 
           
Austria (1.02%)          
Palfinger AG   212,735    7,989,555 
           
Bangladesh (0.32%)          
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   668,185    2,469,930 
           
Belgium (0.72%)          
Melexis NV   59,193    5,650,612 
           
Bermuda (0.34%)          
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   56,600    2,685,670 
           
Brazil (0.50%)          
Fleury SA   312,100    2,326,139 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   43,300    341,758 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   215,400    1,250,638 
         3,918,535 
           
Britain (10.71%)          
Arrow Global Group PLC   607,739    3,108,246 
Ascential PLC   601,800    3,491,292 
B&M European Value Retail SA   1,065,300    5,944,125 
boohoo.com PLC(a)   1,140,400    2,877,790 
Clinigen Group PLC   605,876    7,319,312 
Close Brothers Group PLC   132,522    2,802,326 
Diploma PLC   175,800    2,918,808 
Domino's Pizza Group PLC   624,200    3,121,969 
EMIS Group PLC   241,917    2,837,562 
Intertek Group PLC   39,800    2,685,389 
JTC PLC(a)(b)(c)   1,012,700    4,273,175 
Metro Bank PLC(a)   75,800    3,445,765 
On the Beach Group PLC(b)(c)   608,300    5,125,174 
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC(a)   281,879    3,616,508 
Premier Asset Management Group PLC   420,400    1,429,549 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Britain (continued)          
River & Mercantile Group PLC   477,200   $2,010,302 
RPS Group PLC   1,508,839    5,369,612 
Sabre Insurance Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   859,300    3,028,476 
Sanne Group PLC   644,314    5,508,440 
Secure Trust Bank PLC   87,000    2,485,288 
St James's Place PLC   266,400    4,168,147 
Ted Baker PLC   77,525    2,843,252 
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC   160,050    3,102,400 
         83,512,907 
           
Canada (2.80%)          
Biosyent, Inc.(a)   233,500    1,818,607 
Cipher Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   588,400    1,658,949 
Richelieu Hardware, Ltd.   258,165    5,571,675 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   124,825    4,085,522 
Spartan Energy Corp.(a)   370,934    1,837,408 
Stantec, Inc.   268,212    6,824,632 
         21,796,793 
           
China (5.91%)          
BBI Life Sciences Corp.(c)   13,832,000    5,745,233 
BrightKing Holdings, Ltd.   191,000    467,389 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   3,504,000    8,643,198 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   871,000    2,241,685 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   13,153,200    9,786,994 
O2Micro International, Ltd., ADR(a)   870,186    1,200,857 
On-Bright Electronics, Inc.   724,181    5,911,132 
Silergy Corp.   353,852    7,439,066 
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   2,700,000    4,657,871 
         46,093,425 
           
Colombia (1.06%)          
Amerisur Resources PLC(a)   3,109,700    744,060 
Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.(a)   775,950    2,568,394 
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   288,300    4,960,121 
         8,272,575 
           
Egypt (0.08%)          
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings PLC(b)(c)   131,600    625,100 
           
Finland (0.37%)          
Metso OYJ   81,000    2,894,365 
           
France (1.94%)          
Alten SA   17,853    1,774,330 
BioMerieux   39,200    3,105,369 
Bureau Veritas SA   93,100    2,434,057 
Esker SA   30,047    2,010,176 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
36 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
France (continued)        
Infotel SA   12,620   $815,336 
Medicrea International(a)   91,851    332,758 
Neurones   39,608    1,224,464 
Thermador Groupe   23,869    3,444,493 
         15,140,983 
           
Georgia (1.06%)          
BGEO Group PLC   111,900    5,361,036 
TBC Bank Group PLC   114,900    2,907,401 
         8,268,437 
           
Germany (4.03%)          
Aroundtown SA   734,200    5,869,426 
Dermapharm Holding SE(a)   75,700    2,513,922 
GRENKE AG   20,700    2,445,989 
Nexus AG   125,024    4,182,119 
Norma Group SE   76,768    5,650,374 
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG(a)   187,213    3,748,381 
publity AG   83,400    1,329,423 
Wirecard AG   41,885    5,720,637 
         31,460,271 
           
Hong Kong (2.13%)          
International Housewares Retail Co., Ltd.   12,296,000    2,490,956 
Samsonite International SA   845,000    3,832,761 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   7,593,000    7,255,706 
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   1,135,483    3,016,420 
         16,595,843 
           
India (6.13%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   209,631    6,207,735 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   196,250    5,609,621 
Byke Hospitality, Ltd.   869,500    2,486,426 
City Union Bank, Ltd.   503,593    1,387,258 
Cyient, Ltd.   532,616    6,072,333 
Genpact, Ltd.   52,450    1,672,631 
Indiabulls Housing Finance, Ltd.   82,000    1,605,844 
Kellton Tech Solutions, Ltd.(a)   1,186,000    1,170,184 
Kovai Medical Center and Hospital   25,501    470,416 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   1,114,000    2,890,992 
L&T Technology Services, Ltd.(b)(c)   29,848    594,634 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   73,797    821,674 
Thyrocare Technologies, Ltd.   75,500    756,753 
Time Technoplast, Ltd.   1,450,205    3,488,619 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   1,189,000    1,780,650 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   158,125    7,737,056 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   561,000    3,042,883 
         47,795,709 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Indonesia (1.97%)          
Arwana Citramulia Tbk PT   59,516,800   $1,488,722 
Astra Graphia Tbk PT   7,527,400    784,527 
Delfi, Ltd.   1,572,400    1,719,442 
Link Net Tbk PT   3,945,800    1,531,523 
Panin Sekuritas Tbk PT   4,960,800    591,909 
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT   59,713,000    6,223,457 
Tempo Scan Pacific Tbk PT   15,553,000    1,777,486 
Ultrajaya Milk Industry & Trading Co., Tbk PT   11,829,000    1,266,861 
         15,383,927 
           
Ireland (0.33%)          
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC   1,553,046    2,554,375 
           
Israel (0.67%)          
Wix.com, Ltd.(a)   63,409    5,215,390 
           
Italy (0.62%)          
Brembo SpA   182,700    2,702,700 
DiaSorin SpA   22,591    2,137,459 
         4,840,159 
           
Japan (8.15%)          
AIT Corp.   365,500    4,012,075 
Amiyaki Tei Co., Ltd.   51,900    2,549,424 
Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.   144,100    3,087,104 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   236,700    6,863,694 
Dip Corp.   95,000    2,309,824 
Future Corp.   220,300    2,545,178 
Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.   104,800    3,096,451 
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.(a)   78,400    5,672,741 
Macromill, Inc.   47,300    1,277,688 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   169,100    4,686,910 
Naigai Trans Line, Ltd.   55,300    928,749 
Nihon M&A Center, Inc.   178,000    5,226,674 
Nippon Valqua Industries, Ltd.   70,900    1,958,635 
Prestige International, Inc.   64,400    742,850 
Qol Co., Ltd.   114,100    2,346,293 
Seria Co., Ltd.   37,000    1,814,124 
Synchro Food Co., Ltd.(a)   299,700    3,004,676 
Syuppin Co., Ltd.   250,300    2,825,377 
Tokyo Century Corp.   42,100    2,634,138 
Trancom Co., Ltd.   78,270    5,942,563 
         63,525,168 
           
Luxembourg (0.77%)          
Grand City Properties SA   116,300    2,808,878 
L'Occitane International SA   1,696,753    3,160,611 
         5,969,489 
           
Malaysia (0.72%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd   880,220    2,934,441 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Malaysia (continued)          
My EG Services Bhd   4,027,600   $2,689,515 
         5,623,956 
           
Mexico (0.63%)          
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER(a)   1,688,349    2,459,122 
Regional SAB de CV   383,034    2,438,041 
         4,897,163 
           
Netherlands (0.56%)          
Aalberts Industries NV   87,822    4,331,241 
           
New Zealand (0.65%)          
CBL Corp., Ltd.(d)   1,107,672    179,252 
Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.   961,802    4,858,878 
         5,038,130 
           
Norway (1.89%)          
Medistim ASA   152,700    1,511,335 
Multiconsult ASA(b)(c)   156,000    1,322,314 
Norwegian Finans Holding ASA(a)   127,567    1,555,171 
Sbanken ASA(b)(c)   761,300    6,880,103 
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co., ASA   109,400    3,466,522 
         14,735,445 
           
Oman (0.30%)          
Tethys Oil AB   257,300    2,306,596 
           
Peru (0.97%)          
Alicorp SAA   1,359,162    4,992,925 
Credicorp, Ltd.   11,050    2,569,015 
         7,561,940 
           
Philippines (1.75%)          
Concepcion Industrial Corp.   1,227,152    1,422,799 
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.   25,184,900    1,275,074 
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   5,230,000    4,790,423 
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.   1,096,000    1,927,284 
Security Bank Corp.   1,051,640    4,247,244 
         13,662,824 
           
Poland (0.82%)          
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   146,023    3,952,358 
LiveChat Software SA   76,200    966,110 
PGS Software SA   120,487    384,476 
Wawel SA   3,656    1,083,306 
         6,386,250 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Singapore (0.40%)          
Riverstone Holdings, Ltd.   3,984,200   $3,154,909 
           
South Africa (0.87%)          
Cartrack Holdings, Ltd.   1,715,256    2,600,749 
Cashbuild, Ltd.   53,100    1,853,069 
EOH Holdings, Ltd.   167,000    508,302 
Italtile, Ltd.   1,595,243    1,835,201 
         6,797,321 
           
South Korea (1.95%)          
Hy-Lok Corp.   159,212    4,114,275 
ISC Co., Ltd.   141,074    2,047,326 
Kakao M Corp.   26,500    2,220,636 
Koh Young Technology, Inc.   26,081    2,485,881 
LEENO Industrial, Inc.   46,500    2,494,687 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   2,870    1,874,549 
         15,237,354 
           
Sweden (2.71%)          
AddTech AB, Class B   182,127    3,797,844 
Beijer Alma AB   85,931    2,477,840 
Bufab AB   215,908    2,924,256 
HIQ International AB   144,392    1,170,748 
Hoist Finance AB(b)(c)   247,700    2,197,905 
Indutrade AB   180,100    4,265,643 
Moberg Pharma AB(a)   114,016    352,856 
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B   308,400    3,155,618 
TF Bank AB(c)   86,200    767,828 
         21,110,538 
           
Switzerland (0.66%)          
Luxoft Holding, Inc.(a)   52,975    2,137,541 
VZ Holding AG   10,796    3,044,886 
         5,182,427 
           
Taiwan (1.19%)          
ASPEED Technology, Inc.   42,237    1,213,440 
Sinmag Equipment Corp.   330,842    1,727,649 
Sporton International, Inc.   773,249    4,299,240 
Test Research, Inc.   665,000    1,229,463 
TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.   104,000    822,537 
         9,292,329 
           
Thailand (0.32%)          
Srisawad Corp., PCL   1,532,000    2,524,208 
           
United Arab Emirates (0.19%)          
Aramex PJSC   1,364,364    1,504,342 
           
United States (29.87%)          
Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   282,375    1,454,231 
Bank of the Ozarks   123,250    5,768,100 


 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
38 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.(a)   407,328   $814,656 
Blackline, Inc.(a)   29,150    1,206,810 
CoBiz Financial, Inc.   40,750    821,112 
Core Laboratories NV   45,100    5,522,495 
Diamond Hill Investment Group, Inc.   13,575    2,652,826 
Docusign, Inc.(a)   100    3,863 
DXP Enterprises, Inc.(a)   102,725    3,728,917 
EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   75,850    8,673,447 
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.(a)   13,051    314,399 
ExlService Holdings, Inc.(a)   52,700    3,046,587 
Fastenal Co.   114,850    5,741,351 
First of Long Island Corp.   25,425    673,762 
First Republic Bank   96,400    8,952,668 
FirstCash, Inc.   183,888    15,943,090 
Gentex Corp.   137,475    3,126,182 
Grand Canyon Education, Inc.(a)   21,225    2,207,188 
Hackett Group, Inc.   149,500    2,423,395 
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A   155,468    6,506,336 
Heska Corp.(a)   47,150    3,848,383 
Hingham Institution for Savings   20,620    4,206,480 
Home BancShares, Inc.   387,875    9,014,215 
IDEX Corp.   40,600    5,426,596 
Inphi Corp.(a)   135,000    3,858,300 
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.   70,550    3,636,853 
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.   439,970    17,163,230 
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.   63,473    1,996,226 
LGI Homes, Inc.(a)   59,501    4,117,469 
Littelfuse, Inc.   8,075    1,509,379 
LKQ Corp.(a)   79,900    2,478,498 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   52,125    5,202,075 
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.   39,575    7,860,782 
MEDNAX, Inc.(a)   100,975    4,635,762 
Microchip Technology, Inc.   55,545    4,646,895 
Monro, Inc.   102,700    5,746,065 
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A   86,350    7,464,094 
NOW, Inc.(a)   227,010    2,753,631 
NV5 Global, Inc.(a)   50,875    2,993,994 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   40,675    4,645,492 
Power Integrations, Inc.   208,475    14,134,605 
PRA Group, Inc.(a)   146,475    5,214,510 
Resources Connection, Inc.   225,454    3,528,355 
Signature Bank(a)   21,600    2,746,440 
Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(a)   71,515    6,643,744 
Smart Sand, Inc.(a)   475,699    3,482,117 
STAAR Surgical Co.(a)   103,397    1,680,201 
SVB Financial Group(a)   26,425    7,917,194 
TriMas Corp.(a)   145,225    3,935,598 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
Veracyte, Inc.(a)   147,402   $893,256 
         232,961,854 
           
Vietnam (0.86%)          
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   2,005,870    3,771,443 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   358,800    2,915,984 
         6,687,427 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $557,832,948)        785,340,393 

 

   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (0.07%)          
Malaysia (0.07%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd 3.50%, 09/15/2020  $1,678,440   $500,516 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Cost $398,727)        500,516 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.77%)          
(Cost $558,231,675)       $785,840,909 
           
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets (-0.77%)    (5,991,732)
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $779,849,177 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $33,820,542 representing 4.34% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $40,333,605, representing 5.17% of net assets.
(d)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments
 

April 30, 2018

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
40 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (100.03%)          
Argentina (0.70%)          
Banco Macro SA, ADR   3,350   $324,682 
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   18,900    554,904 
Globant SA(a)   22,463    1,011,060 
Grupo Financiero Galicia SA, ADR   5,650    361,148 
Grupo Supervielle SA, ADR   12,050    336,677 
         2,588,471 
           
Australia (2.85%)          
Appen, Ltd.   23,342    169,404 
Australian Ethical Investment, Ltd.   4,878    495,774 
Beacon Lighting Group, Ltd.   359,880    400,985 
Blue Sky Alternative Investments, Ltd.   579,002    1,342,578 
Class, Ltd.   436,300    755,478 
Fiducian Group, Ltd.   61,644    199,557 
Hub24, Ltd.(a)   97,900    817,378 
IPH, Ltd.   400,697    1,104,093 
Kogan.com, Ltd.   191,956    1,122,875 
Mainstream Group Holdings, Ltd.   1,860,800    896,578 
Mitula Group, Ltd.(a)   1,381,173    467,917 
National Storage REIT   447,698    539,279 
National Veterinary Care, Ltd.   249,500    452,685 
Netwealth Group, Ltd.(a)   315,714    1,711,335 
         10,475,916 
           
Austria (0.39%)          
Palfinger AG   38,148    1,432,701 
           
Bangladesh (0.34%)          
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   335,766    1,241,151 
           
Belgium (0.25%)          
Melexis NV   9,497    906,591 
           
Bermuda (0.74%)          
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   57,450    2,726,003 
           
Brazil (0.96%)          
Fleury SA   122,300    911,525 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   44,200    348,861 
M Dias Branco SA   59,200    743,211 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   101,400    588,740 
Pagseguro Digital, Ltd., Class A(a)   28,600    950,378 
         3,542,715 
           
Britain (11.55%)          
AB Dynamics PLC   95,393    1,267,311 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Britain (continued)          
Abcam PLC   21,489   $361,220 
Arrow Global Group PLC   145,051    741,855 
Ascential PLC   323,900    1,879,078 
B&M European Value Retail SA   241,600    1,348,072 
boohoo.com PLC(a)   510,600    1,288,495 
Clinigen Group PLC   177,730    2,147,075 
Close Brothers Group PLC   44,180    934,235 
Curtis Banks Group PLC   214,200    890,565 
Diploma PLC   81,700    1,356,466 
Domino’s Pizza Group PLC   278,400    1,392,432 
dotdigital group PLC   946,956    1,153,752 
EMIS Group PLC   53,596    628,654 
Horizon Discovery Group PLC(a)   282,600    560,240 
IDOX PLC   550,000    262,743 
Impax Asset Management Group PLC   390,442    881,535 
Intertek Group PLC   11,400    769,182 
JTC PLC(a)(b)(c)   470,542    1,985,493 
LoopUp Group PLC(a)   218,949    1,299,151 
Metro Bank PLC(a)   52,800    2,400,216 
Morses Club PLC   475,200    953,508 
Mortgage Advice Bureau Holdings, Ltd.   112,200    962,322 
On the Beach Group PLC(b)(c)   275,700    2,322,884 
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC(a)   68,850    883,345 
Premier Asset Management Group PLC   314,200    1,068,421 
Premier Technical Services Group PLC   232,587    592,375 
Purplebricks Group PLC(a)   160,000    762,141 
RPS Group PLC   287,699    1,023,855 
Sabre Insurance Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   666,400    2,348,629 
Sanne Group PLC   259,273    2,216,605 
Softcat PLC   58,399    553,138 
St James’s Place PLC   144,000    2,253,053 
Ted Baker PLC   33,300    1,221,287 
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC   47,250    915,891 
WANdisco PLC(a)   66,045    882,874 
         42,508,098 
           
Canada (2.50%)          
Biosyent, Inc.(a)   111,100    865,298 
Birchcliff Energy, Ltd.   111,300    403,088 
Cipher Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   160,200    451,672 
DIRTT Environmental Solutions(a)   178,900    784,460 
NCS Multistage Holdings, Inc.(a)   20,175    367,589 
Richelieu Hardware, Ltd.   42,500    917,228 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   53,000    1,734,690 
Spartan Energy Corp.(a)   252,400    1,250,254 
Stantec, Inc.   62,520    1,590,816 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Canada (continued)          
TFI International, Inc.   29,396   $851,006 
         9,216,101 
           
China (6.42%)          
58.com, Inc., ADR(a)   4,750    415,102 
BBI Life Sciences Corp.(c)   7,001,500    2,908,129 
BrightKing Holdings, Ltd.   424,312    1,038,318 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   1,907,000    4,703,932 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   399,000    1,026,903 
Essex Bio-technology, Ltd.   1,248,000    1,116,238 
Hop Hing Group Holdings, Ltd.   43,436,000    1,018,293 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   9,425    344,107 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   5,256,600    3,911,315 
O2Micro International, Ltd., ADR(a)   292,039    403,014 
On-Bright Electronics, Inc.   210,528    1,718,436 
Shanghai Haohai Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Class H(b)(c)   217,700    1,428,469 
Silergy Corp.   120,925    2,542,219 
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   619,000    1,067,860 
         23,642,335 
           
Colombia (1.34%)          
Amerisur Resources PLC(a)   5,262,400    1,259,137 
Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.(a)   386,195    1,278,305 
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   139,061    2,392,506 
         4,929,948 
           
Egypt (0.69%)          
African Export-Import Bank, GDR(a)   200,000    795,000 
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE   147,762    785,470 
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings PLC(b)(c)   201,400    956,650 
         2,537,120 
           
Finland (0.72%)          
Ferratum OYJ(c)   23,000    740,199 
Metso OYJ   24,600    879,029 
Terveystalo Oyj(b)(c)   43,700    501,863 
Tikkurila Oyj   29,600    535,460 
         2,656,551 
           
France (1.67%)          
Alten SA   10,400    1,033,609 
BioMerieux   9,200    728,811 
Esker SA   23,409    1,566,087 
Infotel SA   14,560    940,672 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
France (continued)          
Neurones   17,282   $534,266 
Thermador Groupe   9,404    1,357,075 
         6,160,520 
           
Georgia (0.85%)          
BGEO Group PLC   27,900    1,336,666 
Georgia Healthcare Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   102,948    392,588 
TBC Bank Group PLC   55,990    1,416,757 
         3,146,011 
           
Germany (3.89%)          
Aroundtown SA   139,677    1,116,622 
CANCOM SE   7,200    849,474 
Dermapharm Holding SE(a)   15,000    498,135 
FinTech Group AG(a)   24,700    929,134 
GRENKE AG   16,000    1,890,619 
Hypoport AG(a)   4,270    825,033 
Nexus AG   32,485    1,086,640 
Norma Group SE   32,960    2,425,963 
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG(a)   49,904    999,179 
publity AG   15,300    243,887 
Wirecard AG   25,296    3,454,918 
         14,319,604 
           
Greece (0.56%)          
Sarantis SA   119,670    2,059,318 
           
Hong Kong (2.41%)          
International Housewares Retail Co., Ltd.   7,038,000    1,425,776 
Jacobson Pharma Corp., Ltd.(c)   3,295,000    793,455 
Plover Bay Technologies, Ltd.(c)   2,569,000    526,981 
Samsonite International SA   361,800    1,641,057 
TK Group Holdings, Ltd.   2,210,000    1,644,410 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   622,000    594,370 
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   847,000    2,250,062 
         8,876,111 
           
India (5.23%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   45,482    1,346,844 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   28,000    800,354 
Byke Hospitality, Ltd.   756,500    2,163,291 
Control Print, Ltd.   130,000    894,164 
Cyient, Ltd.   181,100    2,064,714 
Essel Propack, Ltd.   46,355    186,733 
Genpact, Ltd.   12,100    385,869 
Kellton Tech Solutions, Ltd.(a)   539,024    531,836 
Kovai Medical Center and Hospital   18,322    337,985 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   220,000    570,932 
L&T Technology Services, Ltd.(b)(c)   49,185    979,868 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

42 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
India (continued)          
Poly Medicure, Ltd.   190,208   $743,134 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   48,754    542,839 
Somany Ceramics, Ltd.   52,078    433,853 
Thyrocare Technologies, Ltd.   72,000    721,672 
Time Technoplast, Ltd.   385,256    926,773 
Vaibhav Global, Ltd.(a)   83,939    908,563 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   218,500    327,226 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   77,225    3,778,619 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   112,000    607,492 
         19,252,761 
           
Indonesia (1.85%)          
Arwana Citramulia Tbk PT   26,137,200    653,782 
Delfi, Ltd.   804,500    879,732 
Hexindo Adiperkasa Tbk PT   1,636,900    395,327 
Indonesia Pondasi Raya Tbk PT   4,155,400    250,892 
Link Net Tbk PT   1,814,400    704,242 
Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk PT   2,740,000    618,408 
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT   20,026,300    2,087,197 
Tempo Scan Pacific Tbk PT   5,634,800    643,977 
Ultrajaya Milk Industry & Trading Co., Tbk PT   5,474,800    586,340 
         6,819,897 
           
Ireland (1.01%)          
Hostelworld Group PLC(b)(c)   371,708    2,072,509 
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC   997,777    1,641,095 
         3,713,604 
           
Israel (1.63%)          
IDI Insurance Co., Ltd.   13,409    809,619 
Kornit Digital, Ltd.(a)   38,560    561,048 
Wix.com, Ltd.(a)   56,425    4,640,956 
         6,011,623 
           
Italy (0.70%)          
Brembo SpA   108,750    1,608,750 
DiaSorin SpA   10,428    986,651 
         2,595,401 
           
Japan (6.50%)          
Abist Co., Ltd.   12,500    547,704 
Aeon Delight Co., Ltd.   10,400    364,837 
AIT Corp.   84,700    929,748 
Amiyaki Tei Co., Ltd.   14,800    727,003 
Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.   45,600    976,905 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   47,300    1,371,579 
Dip Corp.   14,800    359,846 
Encourage Technologies Co., Ltd.   46,800    432,810 
Future Corp.   77,800    898,842 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Japan (continued)          
Hard Off Corp. Co., Ltd.   86,300   $897,577 
Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.   23,100    682,519 
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.(a)   20,000    1,447,128 
Macromill, Inc.   24,600    664,506 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   54,800    1,518,880 
MonotaRO Co., Ltd.   31,500    1,102,154 
Nihon M&A Center, Inc.   56,400    1,656,092 
Open Door, Inc.(a)   65,300    1,220,343 
Qol Co., Ltd.   99,600    2,048,123 
Quick Co., Ltd.   39,000    642,865 
Synchro Food Co., Ltd.(a)   113,400    1,136,905 
Syuppin Co., Ltd.   116,400    1,313,919 
Trancom Co., Ltd.   10,900    827,570 
Trust Tech, Inc.   12,000    385,291 
Vega Corp Co., Ltd.(a)   125,100    1,776,026 
         23,929,172 
           
Kenya (0.26%)          
Safaricom, Ltd.   3,427,700    965,429 
           
Luxembourg (0.21%)          
Grand City Properties SA   31,300    755,958 
           
Malaysia (0.61%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd   222,900    743,095 
CB Industrial Product Holding Bhd   795,633    298,096 
Mynews Holdings Bhd   1,818,000    699,676 
Scicom MSC Bhd   934,000    492,769 
         2,233,636 
           
Mexico (0.51%)          
Regional SAB de CV   180,957    1,151,805 
Unifin Financiera SAB de CV SOFOM ENR   202,450    725,276 
         1,877,081 
           
Netherlands (0.80%)          
Aalberts Industries NV   28,682    1,414,550 
Shop Apotheke Europe NV(a)(b)   33,000    1,546,212 
         2,960,762 
           
New Zealand (0.37%)          
CBL Corp., Ltd.(d)   819,006    132,538 
Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.   241,685    1,220,956 
         1,353,494 
           
Norway (1.79%)          
Infront ASA   156,700    546,926 
Medistim ASA   75,150    743,790 
Multiconsult ASA(b)(c)   63,000    534,012 
Sbanken ASA(b)(c)   184,000    1,662,865 
Self Storage Group ASA(a)   481,500    948,319 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  
 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Norway (continued)          
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co., ASA   38,100   $1,207,262 
Webstep ASA(b)(c)   288,000    933,398 
         6,576,572 
           
Oman (0.46%)          
Tethys Oil AB   186,900    1,675,487 
           
Pakistan (0.09%)          
Meezan Bank, Ltd.   493,960    337,655 
           
Peru (0.77%)          
Alicorp SAA   541,947    1,990,860 
Credicorp, Ltd.   3,700    860,213 
         2,851,073 
           
Philippines (0.98%)          
Concepcion Industrial Corp.   878,920    1,019,048 
Holcim Philippines, Inc.   2,549,400    457,665 
Pryce Corp.   5,447,000    631,542 
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   860,700    788,359 
Security Bank Corp.   178,700    721,713 
         3,618,327 
           
Poland (1.59%)          
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   145,618    3,941,397 
LiveChat Software SA   115,250    1,461,209 
PGS Software SA   138,887    443,191 
         5,845,797 
           
Russia (0.30%)          
MD Medical Group          
Investments PLC, GDR(c)   14,755    135,008 
TCS Group Holding PLC, GDR(c)   46,700    962,020 
         1,097,028 
           
Singapore (0.33%)          
Riverstone Holdings, Ltd.   1,534,800    1,215,339 
           
South Africa (1.70%)          
ARB Holdings, Ltd.   2,093,266    957,209 
Blue Label Telecoms, Ltd.   564,502    562,917 
Cartrack Holdings, Ltd.   826,600    1,253,329 
Cashbuild, Ltd.   24,500    854,994 
Clicks Group, Ltd.   81,600    1,398,820 
EOH Holdings, Ltd.   68,600    208,799 
Interwaste Holdings, Ltd.   5,043,434    343,916 
Transaction Capital, Ltd.   488,600    686,745 
         6,266,729 
           
South Korea (1.91%)          
Daebongls Co., Ltd.   4,368    46,418 
Hanssem Co., Ltd.   3,300    359,955 
Hy-Lok Corp.   36,240    936,495 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
South Korea (continued)          
ISC Co., Ltd.   59,496   $863,431 
Kakao M Corp.   10,000    837,976 
Koh Young Technology, Inc.   10,143    966,769 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   3,486    2,276,891 
Vitzrocell Co., Ltd.(a)(d)   88,536    728,150 
         7,016,085 
           
Spain (0.00%)(e)          
Let’s GOWEX SA(a)(d)   10,700    1 
           
Sri Lanka (0.36%)          
Hemas Holdings PLC   921,961    730,787 
Royal Ceramics Lanka PLC   893,948    606,547 
         1,337,334 
           
Sweden (2.18%)          
Bufab AB   74,698    1,011,709 
HIQ International AB   45,263    366,998 
Hoist Finance AB(b)(c)   81,100    719,621 
Indutrade AB   36,300    859,760 
KNOW IT AB   14,484    295,746 
Moberg Pharma AB(a)   111,100    343,831 
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B   93,000    951,597 
Sweco AB, Class B   69,700    1,423,188 
Swedencare AB(a)   172,900    669,355 
TF Bank AB(c)   85,800    764,265 
Vitec Software Group AB, Class B   67,500    632,091 
         8,038,161 
           
Switzerland (1.12%)          
Luxoft Holding, Inc.(a)   33,350    1,345,673 
Partners Group Holding AG   1,985    1,455,199 
Wizz Air Holdings PLC(a)(b)(c)   29,900    1,314,757 
         4,115,629 
           
Taiwan (2.02%)          
ASPEED Technology, Inc.   32,771    941,489 
Bioteque Corp.   134,000    543,491 
Sinmag Equipment Corp.   169,371    884,451 
Sitronix Technology Corp.   267,000    768,878 
Sporton International, Inc.   277,089    1,540,606 
Test Research, Inc.   409,440    756,979 
TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.   64,600    510,922 
TTFB Co., Ltd.   148,000    1,163,030 
Voltronic Power Technology Corp.   19,000    339,074 
         7,448,920 
           
Thailand (0.71%)          
Muangthai Leasing PCL   686,000    793,378 
Srisawad Corp., PCL   421,960    695,244 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

44 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Thailand (continued)          
TOA Paint Thailand PCL(a)   916,000   $1,110,171 
         2,598,793 
           
Turkey (0.42%)          
DP Eurasia NV(a)(b)(c)   596,800    1,561,068 
           
United Arab Emirates (0.19%)          
Aramex PJSC   643,565    709,592 
           
United States (22.90%)          
Acacia Communications, Inc.(a)   8,475    238,571 
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   950    1,487,823 
Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.(a)   134,150    690,872 
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)   31,375    969,488 
Bank of Hawaii Corp.   13,600    1,145,256 
Bank of the Ozarks   38,025    1,779,570 
BG Staffing, Inc.   38,025    725,137 
BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.(a)   256,925    513,850 
Blackline, Inc.(a)   18,925    783,495 
BofI Holding, Inc.(a)   32,175    1,296,009 
Burford Capital, Ltd.   97,500    1,932,887 
CoBiz Financial, Inc.   60,687    1,222,843 
Core Laboratories NV   8,475    1,037,764 
DexCom, Inc.(a)   6,400    468,352 
Docusign, Inc.(a)   50    1,931 
Dollar Tree, Inc.(a)   10,425    999,653 
DXP Enterprises, Inc.(a)   64,300    2,334,090 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)   6,825    869,232 
EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   24,650    2,818,727 
ePlus, Inc.(a)   6,542    522,379 
Esquire Financial Holdings, Inc.(a)   114,787    2,765,219 
Evolent Health, Inc., Class A(a)   30,000    495,000 
ExlService Holdings, Inc.(a)   17,325    1,001,558 
Fastenal Co.   40,475    2,023,345 
FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)   31,325    1,810,585 
First Republic Bank   23,725    2,203,341 
FirstCash, Inc.   29,050    2,518,635 
GBGI, Ltd.   692,460    843,679 
Hackett Group, Inc.   43,575    706,351 
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A   67,350    2,818,597 
HealthEquity, Inc.(a)   13,525    888,187 
Heska Corp.(a)   11,150    910,063 
Hingham Institution for Savings   4,575    933,300 
Home BancShares, Inc.   31,450    730,898 
Innospec, Inc.   5,350    388,945 
Inphi Corp.(a)   67,675    1,934,151 
K2M Group Holdings, Inc.(a)   21,800    416,380 
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.   40,775    2,101,951 
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.   24,375    950,869 
LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.   16,925    532,291 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
LGI Homes, Inc.(a)   19,500   $1,349,400 
Littelfuse, Inc.   3,475    649,547 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   14,200    1,417,160 
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.   8,655    1,719,143 
MaxLinear, Inc., Class A(a)   7,150    159,659 
MEDNAX, Inc.(a)   32,700    1,501,257 
Microchip Technology, Inc.   13,400    1,121,044 
Monro, Inc.   27,600    1,544,220 
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A   22,300    1,927,612 
NOW, Inc.(a)   109,050    1,322,776 
NV5 Global, Inc.(a)   15,000    882,750 
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)   3,950    760,415 
Patrick Industries, Inc.(a)   11,437    650,765 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   15,950    1,821,650 
People’s Utah Bancorp   11,775    375,034 
Power Integrations, Inc.   34,590    2,345,202 
Proto Labs, Inc.(a)   5,988    713,470 
Qualys, Inc.(a)   18,150    1,396,643 
Seacoast Commerce Banc Holdings   44,700    898,470 
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.   22,800    956,688 
Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(a)   17,750    1,648,975 
Smart Sand, Inc.(a)   158,800    1,162,416 
STAAR Surgical Co.(a)   42,154    685,003 
SVB Financial Group(a)   11,725    3,512,927 
Transcat, Inc.(a)   82,377    1,359,221 
TriMas Corp.(a)   50,425    1,366,518 
Veracyte, Inc.(a)   104,979    636,173 
Webster Financial Corp.   26,625    1,602,559 
         84,297,971 
           
Vietnam (1.70%)          
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   1,044,211    1,963,329 
Lix Detergent JSC   577,800    1,142,223 
Taisun Int’l Holding Corp.   274,000    1,333,581 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   222,291    1,806,569 
         6,245,702 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $276,353,008)        368,287,346 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.25%)          
Germany (0.25%)          
FUCHS PETROLUB SE   17,100    919,749 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $898,389)        919,749 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 45

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (0.25%)          
Germany (0.22%)          
publity AG          
3.50%, 11/17/2020  $800,000   $800,881 
           
Malaysia (0.03%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd          
3.50%, 09/15/2020   445,800    132,939 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS      
(Cost $984,703)    933,820 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.53%)      
(Cost $278,236,100)   $370,140,915 
           
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets (-0.53%)    (1,948,492)
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $368,192,423 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $27,161,843 representing 7.38% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $32,445,686, representing 8.81% of net assets.

(d)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.

(e)Less than 0.005%.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 



See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

46 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (96.88%)          
Argentina (0.74%)          
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   27,075   $794,922 
Globant SA(a)   13,275    597,508 
         1,392,430 
           
Australia (0.88%)          
carsales.com, Ltd.   85,451    922,518 
Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.   41,985    738,373 
         1,660,891 
           
Bangladesh (0.46%)          
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   233,118    861,715 
           
Belgium (0.65%)          
Melexis NV   12,732    1,215,407 
           
Bermuda (0.65%)          
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   25,910    1,229,429 
           
Brazil (1.72%)          
Fleury SA   98,200    731,903 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   25,300    199,688 
M Dias Branco SA   50,800    637,755 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   50,500    293,209 
Pagseguro Digital, Ltd., Class A(a)   17,575    584,017 
Raia Drogasil SA   40,600    796,424 
         3,242,996 
           
Britain (9.45%)          
Abcam PLC   40,125    674,482 
Ascential PLC   208,806    1,211,370 
B&M European Value Retail SA   582,000    3,247,424 
boohoo.com PLC(a)   230,700    582,170 
Clinigen Group PLC   57,644    696,371 
Close Brothers Group PLC   41,834    884,627 
Diploma PLC   119,350    1,981,569 
Domino's Pizza Group PLC   147,200    736,228 
Intertek Group PLC   16,900    1,140,278 
Metro Bank PLC(a)   34,075    1,549,003 
Sanne Group PLC   230,020    1,966,512 
St James's Place PLC   133,800    2,093,461 
Ted Baker PLC   6,500    238,389 
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC   39,675    769,058 
         17,770,942 
           
Canada (4.50%)          
Gildan Activewear, Inc.   48,067    1,400,137 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   97,475    3,190,357 
Spartan Energy Corp.(a)   37,366    185,091 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Canada (continued)          
Stantec, Inc.   145,142   $3,693,126 
         8,468,711 
           
China (6.68%)          
58.com, Inc., ADR(a)   6,175    539,633 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   107,000    615,526 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   1,163,000    2,868,733 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   358,000    921,381 
Ctrip.com International, Ltd., ADR(a)   26,625    1,088,962 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   19,275    703,730 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   2,215,800    1,648,726 
Silergy Corp.   104,000    2,186,403 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd.   12,100    602,792 
Yum China Holdings, Inc.   32,600    1,393,976 
         12,569,862 
           
Colombia (0.83%)          
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   90,795    1,562,103 
           
Denmark (0.28%)          
Ambu A/S   22,511    523,944 
           
Egypt (0.29%)          
Commercial International  Bank Egypt SAE   103,662    551,044 
           
France (2.01%)          
Alten SA   18,582    1,846,782 
BioMerieux   15,575    1,233,829 
Bureau Veritas SA   26,550    694,138 
         3,774,749 
           
Georgia (0.70%)          
BGEO Group PLC   27,500    1,317,502 
           
Germany (5.22%)          
Aroundtown SA   159,308    1,273,558 
CTS Eventim AG & Co., KGaA   10,500    492,484 
Dermapharm Holding SE(a)   21,500    713,994 
GRENKE AG   15,800    1,866,986 
Norma Group SE   30,390    2,236,803 
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG(a)   82,015    1,642,106 
Wirecard AG   11,650    1,591,152 
         9,817,083 
           
Hong Kong (3.91%)          
Samsonite International SA   415,200    1,883,269 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   2,908,900    2,779,682 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 47

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Hong Kong (continued)          
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   1,014,500   $2,695,027 
         7,357,978 
           
India (4.16%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   39,524    1,170,411 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   51,700    1,477,796 
Indiabulls Housing Finance, Ltd.   24,700    483,711 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   332,500    862,886 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   57,818    643,760 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   204,000    305,511 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   35,875    1,755,364 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   207,500    1,125,487 
         7,824,926 
           
Israel (0.72%)          
Wix.com, Ltd.(a)   16,400    1,348,900 
           
Italy (1.89%)          
Brembo SpA   156,149    2,309,928 
DiaSorin SpA   13,230    1,251,763 
         3,561,691 
           
Japan (6.85%)          
Aeon Delight Co., Ltd.   19,900    698,102 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   52,800    1,531,065 
Dip Corp.   41,100    999,303 
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.   21,000    1,135,291 
Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.   12,300    363,419 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   88,200    2,444,621 
MonotaRO Co., Ltd.   38,000    1,329,583 
Nihon M&A Center, Inc.   117,600    3,453,128 
Seria Co., Ltd.   18,800    921,771 
         12,876,283 
           
Kenya (0.33%)          
Safaricom, Ltd.   2,203,600    620,655 
           
Luxembourg (0.47%)          
Grand City Properties SA   36,300    876,718 
           
Malaysia (0.20%)          
My EG Services Bhd   574,000    383,301 
           
Mexico (0.64%)          
Regional SAB de CV   188,600    1,200,454 
           
Netherlands (1.11%)          
Aalberts Industries NV   42,463    2,094,207 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Norway (0.45%)          
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co., ASA   26,900   $852,372 
           
Peru (1.11%)          
Alicorp SAA   313,645    1,152,185 
Credicorp, Ltd.   4,000    929,960 
         2,082,145 
           
Philippines (2.00%)          
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   1,035,000    948,009 
Robinsons Land Corp.   803,083    277,784 
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.   423,900    745,416 
Security Bank Corp.   441,300    1,782,272 
         3,753,481 
           
Poland (1.02%)          
AmRest Holdings SE(a)   6,800    893,143 
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   37,634    1,018,628 
         1,911,771 
           
South Korea (1.91%)          
BGF Retail Co., Ltd.   2,233    399,329 
LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.   1,225    1,571,321 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   2,470    1,613,288 
         3,583,938 
           
Sweden (1.26%)          
Indutrade AB   34,825    824,825 
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B   61,408    628,341 
Sweco AB, Class B   45,300    924,970 
         2,378,136 
           
Switzerland (1.21%)          
Luxoft Holding, Inc.(a)   11,675    471,086 
Partners Group Holding AG   1,200    879,718 
Wizz Air Holdings PLC(a)(b)(c)   21,200    932,202 
         2,283,006 
           
Thailand (0.97%)          
Muangthai Leasing PCL   389,000    449,889 
Srisawad Corp., PCL   413,320    681,009 
TOA Paint Thailand PCL(a)   570,000    690,827 
         1,821,725 
           
United States (30.23%)          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   500    783,065 
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)   27,425    847,433 
Bank of Hawaii Corp.   5,750    484,207 
Bank of the Ozarks   26,100    1,221,480 
Blackline, Inc.(a)   9,206    381,128 
BofI Holding, Inc.(a)   12,125    488,395 
Burford Capital, Ltd.   52,500    1,040,785 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
48 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
Core Laboratories NV   10,025   $1,227,561 
Docusign, Inc.(a)   25    966 
Dollar Tree, Inc.(a)   16,075    1,541,432 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)   8,525    1,085,744 
EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   18,600    2,126,910 
Fastenal Co.   28,750    1,437,212 
FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., Class A(a)   15,850    916,130 
First Republic Bank   32,475    3,015,953 
FirstCash, Inc.   35,553    3,082,445 
Hamilton Lane, Inc., Class A   31,800    1,330,830 
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.   42,650    1,647,569 
HealthEquity, Inc.(a)   46,800    3,073,356 
Home BancShares, Inc.   88,737    2,062,248 
IDEX Corp.   6,325    845,399 
Inphi Corp.(a)   19,450    555,881 
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, Inc.   105,350    4,109,704 
LGI Homes, Inc.(a)   13,725    949,770 
Littelfuse, Inc.   4,175    780,391 
LKQ Corp.(a)   32,350    1,003,497 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   15,700    1,566,860 
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.   11,650    2,314,040 
MEDNAX, Inc.(a)   22,650    1,039,862 
Microchip Technology, Inc.   14,750    1,233,985 
Monro, Inc.   36,775    2,057,561 
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A   17,725    1,532,149 
NOW, Inc.(a)   90,300    1,095,339 
Palo Alto Networks, Inc.(a)   4,675    899,984 
Paycom Software, Inc.(a)   8,150    930,812 
Power Integrations, Inc.   45,725    3,100,155 
PRA Group, Inc.(a)   28,700    1,021,720 
Proto Labs, Inc.(a)   7,850    935,328 
Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(a)   13,875    1,288,988 
SVB Financial Group(a)   6,025    1,805,150 
         56,861,424 
           
Vietnam (1.38%)          
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   551,466    1,036,868 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   191,174    1,553,680 
         2,590,548 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $147,601,834)        182,222,467 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.40%)          
Germany (0.40%)          
FUCHS PETROLUB SE   13,800   $742,254 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $721,657)        742,254 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (97.28%)          
(Cost $148,323,491)       $182,964,721 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (2.72%)    5,119,981 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $188,084,702 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.
(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $2,794,278 representing 1.49% of net assets.
(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $2,794,278, representing 1.49% of net assets.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 49

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (98.56%)          
Argentina (0.42%)          
Globant SA(a)   83,800   $3,771,838 
           
Australia (1.88%)          
Blue Sky Alternative Investments, Ltd.   996,639    2,310,985 
Class, Ltd.   934,118    1,617,477 
Greencross, Ltd.   371,731    1,486,045 
IPH, Ltd.   783,978    2,160,198 
Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.   172,600    3,035,444 
National Storage REIT   3,722,452    4,483,918 
National Veterinary Care, Ltd.   450,500    817,373 
Reject Shop, Ltd.   159,931    887,378 
         16,798,818 
           
Austria (0.92%)          
Palfinger AG   218,040    8,188,791 
           
Bangladesh (0.53%)          
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   1,283,994    4,746,254 
           
Belgium (0.76%)          
Melexis NV   70,792    6,757,862 
           
Bermuda (0.46%)          
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   86,084    4,084,686 
           
Brazil (0.67%)          
Fleury SA   411,800    3,069,222 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   48,700    384,379 
M Dias Branco SA   92,400    1,160,011 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   242,400    1,407,403 
         6,021,015 
           
Britain (13.64%)          
Alliance Pharma PLC   2,321,634    2,588,917 
Arrow Global Group PLC   1,052,741    5,384,183 
Ascential PLC   957,200    5,553,115 
B&M European Value Retail SA   1,374,500    7,669,389 
boohoo.com PLC(a)   1,818,100    4,587,960 
Clinigen Group PLC   725,073    8,759,277 
Close Brothers Group PLC   213,022    4,504,588 
Diploma PLC   224,500    3,727,375 
Domino's Pizza Group PLC   699,900    3,500,586 
EMIS Group PLC   274,600    3,220,917 
Impax Asset Management Group PLC   400,171    903,502 
Intertek Group PLC   59,600    4,021,336 
JTC PLC(a)(b)(c)   1,133,800    4,784,167 
LoopUp Group PLC(a)   332,200    1,971,135 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Britain (continued)          
Metro Bank PLC(a)   108,800   $4,945,901 
Motorpoint group PLC(c)   594,495    2,127,948 
On the Beach Group PLC(b)(c)   958,750    8,077,858 
Oxford Immunotec Global PLC(a)   314,130    4,030,288 
Premier Asset Management Group PLC   782,400    2,660,512 
Purplebricks Group PLC(a)   575,900    2,743,232 
River & Mercantile Group PLC   625,400    2,634,624 
RPS Group PLC   1,681,911    5,985,535 
Sabre Insurance Group PLC(a)(b)(c)   961,000    3,386,903 
Sanne Group PLC   786,206    6,721,518 
Secure Trust Bank PLC   98,500    2,813,803 
St James's Place PLC   392,200    6,136,439 
Ted Baker PLC   87,228    3,199,113 
Tracsis PLC   190,900    1,584,757 
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC   180,000    3,489,109 
         121,713,987 
           
Canada (3.74%)          
Biosyent, Inc.(a)   345,600    2,691,694 
Cipher Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)   742,300    2,092,859 
Gildan Activewear, Inc.   77,200    2,248,748 
Richelieu Hardware, Ltd.   291,450    6,290,026 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   183,750    6,014,138 
Spartan Energy Corp.(a)   422,934    2,094,988 
Stantec, Inc.   302,210    7,689,708 
TFI International, Inc.   145,200    4,203,500 
         33,325,661 
           
China (7.06%)          
BBI Life Sciences Corp.(c)   15,551,500    6,459,441 
BrightKing Holdings, Ltd.   723,291    1,769,938 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   5,542,000    13,670,264 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   1,374,000    3,536,251 
Hop Hing Group Holdings, Ltd.   33,160,000    777,387 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   55,000    2,008,050 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   14,795,000    11,008,619 
O2Micro International, Ltd., ADR(a)   950,233    1,311,322 
On-Bright Electronics, Inc.   813,780    6,642,485 
Silergy Corp.   463,199    9,737,880 
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management China Holdings Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   3,493,000    6,025,905 
         62,947,542 
           
Colombia (1.27%)          
Gran Tierra Energy, Inc.(a)   1,178,037    3,899,302 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

50 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Colombia (continued)          
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   429,375   $7,387,277 
         11,286,579 
           
Egypt (0.08%)          
Integrated Diagnostics Holdings PLC(b)(c)   154,200    732,450 
           
Finland (0.57%)          
Ferratum OYJ(c)   56,200    1,808,659 
Metso OYJ   91,400    3,265,987 
         5,074,646 
           
France (2.94%)          
Alten SA   51,300    5,098,477 
BioMerieux   44,243    3,504,868 
Bureau Veritas SA   140,600    3,675,924 
Esker SA   97,543    6,525,730 
Infotel SA   16,113    1,041,006 
Medicrea International(a)   106,331    385,216 
Neurones   50,872    1,572,686 
Thermador Groupe   30,729    4,434,448 
         26,238,355 
           
Georgia (1.17%)          
BGEO Group PLC   149,511    7,162,948 
TBC Bank Group PLC   128,200    3,243,941 
         10,406,889 
           
Germany (5.34%)          
Aroundtown SA   805,600    6,440,220 
CANCOM SE   32,900    3,881,626 
Dermapharm Holding SE(a)   85,500    2,839,370 
GRENKE AG   28,800    3,403,115 
Nexus AG   225,106    7,529,915 
Norma Group SE   93,303    6,867,404 
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG(a)   186,894    3,741,994 
publity AG   115,200    1,836,326 
Wirecard AG   81,111    11,078,108 
         47,618,078 
           
Greece (0.10%)          
Sarantis SA   50,300    865,578 
           
Hong Kong (2.84%)          
International Housewares  Retail Co., Ltd.   13,906,000    2,817,114 
Samsonite International SA   1,179,500    5,349,990 
TK Group Holdings, Ltd.   4,923,000    3,663,091 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   9,103,000    8,698,630 
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   1,797,338    4,774,642 
         25,303,467 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
India (6.92%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   251,198   $7,438,645 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   219,760    6,281,633 
Byke Hospitality, Ltd.   959,500    2,743,791 
City Union Bank, Ltd.   940,821    2,591,698 
Cyient, Ltd.   598,912    6,828,171 
Essel Propack, Ltd.   229,189    923,246 
Indiabulls Housing Finance, Ltd.   115,500    2,261,889 
Kellton Tech Solutions, Ltd.(a)   1,337,558    1,319,721 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   1,782,000    4,624,549 
L&T Technology Services, Ltd.(b)(c)   38,311    763,235 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   83,885    933,997 
Thyrocare Technologies, Ltd.   215,500    2,160,005 
Time Technoplast, Ltd.   2,884,734    6,939,527 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   1,534,000    2,297,323 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   188,200    9,208,626 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   813,000    4,409,739 
         61,725,795 
           
Indonesia (2.67%)          
Arwana Citramulia Tbk PT   75,956,500    1,899,936 
Astra Graphia Tbk PT   10,610,800    1,105,888 
Bekasi Fajar Industrial Estate Tbk PT   68,518,500    1,310,039 
Delfi, Ltd.   1,445,600    1,580,784 
Indonesia Pondasi Raya Tbk PT   19,134,800    1,155,309 
Link Net Tbk PT   8,897,400    3,453,438 
Lippo Cikarang Tbk PT(a)   2,189,000    363,457 
Panin Sekuritas Tbk PT   8,494,000    1,013,480 
Selamat Sempurna Tbk PT   69,686,300    7,262,903 
Tempo Scan Pacific Tbk PT   19,383,500    2,215,257 
Ultrajaya Milk Industry & Trading Co., Tbk PT   22,958,000    2,458,754 
         23,819,245 
           
Ireland (1.08%)          
Irish Residential Properties REIT PLC   5,867,176    9,650,048 
           
Israel (1.10%)          
Sarine Technologies, Ltd.   1,358,600    1,075,814 
Wix.com, Ltd.(a)   106,683    8,774,677 
         9,850,491 
           
Italy (0.66%)          
Brembo SpA   235,810    3,488,362 
DiaSorin SpA   25,533    2,415,817 
         5,904,179 
           
Japan (11.38%)          
Aeon Delight Co., Ltd.   52,300    1,834,710 
AIT Corp.   500,200    5,490,670 
Amiyaki Tei Co., Ltd.   67,000    3,291,163 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 51

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Japan (continued)          
Anshin Guarantor Service Co., Ltd.   375,000   $981,065 
Arcland Service Holdings Co., Ltd.   143,200    3,067,823 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   318,300    9,229,885 
Dip Corp.   147,900    3,596,032 
Future Corp.   389,600    4,501,142 
Hard Off Corp. Co., Ltd.   206,700    2,149,816 
Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.   118,800    3,510,099 
M&A Capital Partners Co., Ltd.(a)   135,800    9,825,997 
Macromill, Inc.   52,800    1,426,257 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   253,800    7,034,522 
Nihon M&A Center, Inc.   214,200    6,289,627 
Nippon Valqua Industries, Ltd.   112,500    3,107,848 
Prestige International, Inc.   135,500    1,562,985 
Qol Co., Ltd.   172,500    3,547,201 
Quick Co., Ltd.   209,400    3,451,690 
Seria Co., Ltd.   83,500    4,094,036 
Synchro Food Co., Ltd.(a)   337,500    3,383,644 
Syuppin Co., Ltd.   314,800    3,553,450 
Tokyo Century Corp.   104,500    6,538,419 
Trancom Co., Ltd.   87,790    6,665,359 
Trust Tech, Inc.   105,700    3,393,771 
         101,527,211 
           
Luxembourg (0.91%)          
Grand City Properties SA   187,800    4,535,747 
L'Occitane International SA   1,908,712    3,555,436 
         8,091,183 
           
Malaysia (1.23%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd   1,130,560    3,769,014 
CB Industrial Product Holding Bhd   2,484,400    930,819 
My EG Services Bhd   6,480,400    4,327,424 
Scicom MSC Bhd   3,754,500    1,980,837 
         11,008,094 
           
Mexico (1.16%)          
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER(a)   3,075,340    4,479,309 
Regional SAB de CV   560,065    3,564,857 
Unifin Financiera SAB de CV SOFOM ENR   650,400    2,330,055 
         10,374,221 
           
Netherlands (0.69%)          
Aalberts Industries NV   125,297    6,179,448 
           
New Zealand (0.74%)          
CBL Corp., Ltd.(d)   1,542,256    249,580 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
New Zealand (continued)          
Restaurant Brands New Zealand, Ltd.   1,253,817   $6,334,094 
         6,583,674 
           
Norway (2.54%)          
Medistim ASA   420,559    4,162,445 
Multiconsult ASA(b)(c)   176,700    1,497,775 
Norwegian Finans Holding ASA(a)   215,600    2,628,383 
Sbanken ASA(b)(c)   945,100    8,541,160 
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co., ASA   182,600    5,785,987 
         22,615,750 
           
Oman (0.52%)          
Tethys Oil AB   517,908    4,642,846 
           
Peru (1.24%)          
Alicorp SAA   1,952,297    7,171,826 
Credicorp, Ltd.   16,850    3,917,456 
         11,089,282 
           
Philippines (2.45%)          
Concepcion Industrial Corp.   2,933,800    3,401,540 
Holcim Philippines, Inc.   2,303,300    413,485 
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.   28,245,500    1,430,028 
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   6,696,000    6,133,207 
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.   1,696,000    2,982,367 
Security Bank Corp.   1,847,760    7,462,523 
         21,823,150 
           
Poland (0.84%)          
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   221,200    5,987,151 
LiveChat Software SA   85,000    1,077,681 
PGS Software SA   130,778    417,315 
         7,482,147 
           
Singapore (0.50%)          
Riverstone Holdings, Ltd.   5,677,000    4,495,362 
           
South Africa (1.68%)          
Blue Label Telecoms, Ltd.   1,526,900    1,522,613 
Cartrack Holdings, Ltd.   1,921,110    2,912,874 
Cashbuild, Ltd.   84,092    2,934,619 
EOH Holdings, Ltd.   349,156    1,062,734 
Italtile, Ltd.   4,209,423    4,842,609 
Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.   84,200    1,681,974 
         14,957,423 
           
South Korea (3.08%)          
Hy-Lok Corp.   180,152    4,655,395 
ISC Co., Ltd.   265,147    3,847,927 


See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

52 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
South Korea (continued)          
Kakao M Corp.   41,909   $3,511,873 
Koh Young Technology, Inc.   36,383    3,467,805 
LEENO Industrial, Inc.   79,500    4,265,109 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   6,905    4,510,021 
Vitzrocell Co., Ltd.(a)(d)   390,884    3,214,761 
         27,472,891 
           
Sweden (2.79%)          
AddTech AB, Class B   343,608    7,165,163 
Bufab AB   386,694    5,237,381 
HIQ International AB   162,196    1,315,105 
Hoist Finance AB(b)(c)   414,200    3,675,303 
Indutrade AB   186,250    4,411,304 
KNOW IT AB   30,535    623,487 
Moberg Pharma AB(a)   133,908    414,417 
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B   82,700    846,205 
TF Bank AB(c)   132,700    1,182,027 
         24,870,392 
           
Switzerland (0.69%)          
Luxoft Holding, Inc.(a)   59,075    2,383,676 
VZ Holding AG   13,480    3,801,877 
         6,185,553 
           
Taiwan (2.76%)          
ASPEED Technology, Inc.   78,958    2,268,410 
Materials Analysis Technology, Inc.   748,000    1,789,951 
Sinmag Equipment Corp.   952,810    4,975,551 
Sitronix Technology Corp.   841,000    2,421,821 
Sporton International, Inc.   1,424,756    7,921,598 
Test Research, Inc.   2,238,252    4,138,116 
TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.   138,000    1,091,444 
         24,606,891 
           
Thailand (0.32%)          
Srisawad Corp., PCL   1,722,000    2,837,262 
           
United Arab Emirates (0.28%)          
Aramex PJSC   2,294,125    2,529,493 
           
United States (4.94%)          
Core Laboratories NV   55,701    6,820,587 
Docusign, Inc.(a)   125    4,829 
EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   84,075    9,613,976 
FirstCash, Inc.   209,798    18,189,487 
GBGI, Ltd.   1,426,215    1,737,672 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   77,250    7,709,550 
         44,076,101 
           
Vietnam (1.00%)          
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   2,161,861    4,064,737 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Vietnam (continued)          
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   592,330   $4,813,893 
         8,878,630 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $625,098,005)        879,159,258 
           
   Principal
Amount
   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (0.07%)          
Malaysia (0.07%)          
AEON Credit Service M Bhd          
3.50%, 09/15/2020  $2,235,120   $666,520 
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS      
(Cost $530,970)    666,520 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (98.63%)      
(Cost $625,628,975)   $879,825,778 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (1.37%)    12,182,804 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)   $892,008,582 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $44,790,283 representing 5.02% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $56,368,357, representing 6.32% of net assets.

(d)As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as level 3 assets. See also footnote 2 to the financial statements for additional information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.



See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 53

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (94.09%)          
Argentina (1.05%)          
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   106,600   $3,129,776 
Globant SA(a)   58,500    2,633,085 
         5,762,861 
           
Australia (0.99%)          
carsales.com, Ltd.   254,980    2,752,731 
Magellan Financial Group, Ltd.   151,709    2,668,043 
         5,420,774 
           
Bangladesh (0.60%)          
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   886,742    3,277,821 
           
Belgium (1.00%)          
Melexis NV   57,394    5,478,878 
           
Bermuda (0.93%)          
Bank of NT Butterfield & Son, Ltd.   107,057    5,079,855 
           
Brazil (2.36%)          
Fleury SA   441,500    3,290,582 
Hapvida Participacoes e Investimentos SA(a)(b)(c)   73,000    576,173 
M Dias Branco SA   204,500    2,567,341 
Notre Dame Intermedica Participacoes SA(a)   144,800    840,726 
Pagseguro Digital, Ltd., Class A(a)   67,275    2,235,548 
Raia Drogasil SA   176,300    3,458,363 
         12,968,733 
           
Britain (12.46%)          
Abcam PLC   173,050    2,908,886 
Ascential PLC   706,800    4,100,440 
B&M European Value Retail SA   2,127,800    11,872,627 
boohoo.com PLC(a)   1,111,800    2,805,618 
Clinigen Group PLC   222,300    2,685,505 
Close Brothers Group PLC   158,598    3,353,732 
Diploma PLC   455,217    7,557,970 
Domino's Pizza Group PLC   633,200    3,166,983 
Intertek Group PLC   84,900    5,728,380 
Metro Bank PLC(a)   137,825    6,265,338 
Sanne Group PLC   777,600    6,647,943 
St James's Place PLC   474,200    7,419,427 
Ted Baker PLC   19,300    707,833 
Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC   164,450    3,187,689 
         68,408,371 
           
Canada (5.61%)          
Gildan Activewear, Inc.   189,994    5,534,309 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   344,450    11,273,849 
Spartan Energy Corp.(a)   154,861    767,098 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Canada (continued)          
Stantec, Inc.   518,739   $13,199,270 
         30,774,526 
           
China (8.70%)          
58.com, Inc., ADR(a)   25,450    2,224,075 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   424,000    2,439,095 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   4,296,600    10,598,278 
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Ltd.   1,396,000    3,592,873 
Ctrip.com International, Ltd., ADR(a)   94,950    3,883,455 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   77,850    2,842,303 
Man Wah Holdings, Ltd.   8,170,600    6,079,556 
Silergy Corp.   407,200    8,560,607 
Tencent Holdings, Ltd.   54,000    2,690,144 
Yum China Holdings, Inc.   113,525    4,854,329 
         47,764,715 
           
Colombia (1.03%)          
Parex Resources, Inc.(a)   327,919    5,641,754 
           
Denmark (0.39%)          
Ambu A/S   91,767    2,135,880 
           
Egypt (0.41%)          
Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE   420,752    2,236,623 
           
France (2.73%)          
Alten SA   77,014    7,654,076 
BioMerieux   59,350    4,701,623 
Bureau Veritas SA   100,200    2,619,684 
         14,975,383 
           
Georgia (0.87%)          
BGEO Group PLC   99,500    4,766,962 
           
Germany (7.13%)          
Aroundtown SA   727,564    5,816,376 
CTS Eventim AG & Co., KGaA   45,650    2,141,131 
Dermapharm Holding SE(a)   86,634    2,877,029 
GRENKE AG   52,050    6,150,421 
Norma Group SE   103,850    7,643,697 
PATRIZIA Immobilien AG(a)   295,180    5,910,098 
Wirecard AG   62,750    8,570,370 
         39,109,122 
           
Hong Kong (4.53%)          
Samsonite International SA   1,467,360    6,655,669 
Value Partners Group, Ltd.   9,761,000    9,327,400 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

54 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Hong Kong (continued)          
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   3,347,000   $8,891,332 
         24,874,401 
           
India (5.59%)          
Alkem Laboratories, Ltd.   128,674    3,810,382 
Bajaj Finance, Ltd.   171,250    4,895,020 
Indiabulls Housing Finance, Ltd.   101,000    1,977,929 
L&T Finance Holdings, Ltd.   1,319,500    3,424,294 
SBI Life Insurance Co., Ltd.(b)(c)   243,705    2,713,473 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   882,000    1,320,886 
WNS Holdings, Ltd., ADR(a)   166,895    8,166,172 
Yes Bank, Ltd.   809,250    4,389,399 
         30,697,555 
           
Indonesia (0.18%)          
Delfi, Ltd.   893,700    977,274 
           
Israel (0.93%)          
Wix.com, Ltd.(a)   62,200    5,115,950 
           
Italy (2.44%)          
Brembo SpA   605,057    8,950,671 
DiaSorin SpA   46,837    4,431,506 
         13,382,177 
           
Japan (8.68%)          
Aeon Delight Co., Ltd.   79,400    2,785,392 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   190,900    5,535,611 
Dip Corp.   144,500    3,513,364 
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.   76,000    4,108,672 
Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd.   56,600    1,672,320 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   325,000    9,007,958 
MonotaRO Co., Ltd.   136,100    4,762,006 
Nihon M&A Center, Inc.   419,300    12,312,047 
Seria Co., Ltd.   80,000    3,922,430 
         47,619,800 
           
Kenya (0.37%)          
Safaricom, Ltd.   7,156,700    2,015,721 
           
Luxembourg (0.91%)          
Grand City Properties SA   207,200    5,004,296 
           
Malaysia (0.31%)          
My EG Services Bhd   2,549,000    1,702,149 
           
Mexico (0.96%)          
Regional SAB de CV   831,250    5,290,971 
           
Netherlands (1.58%)          
Aalberts Industries NV   175,671    8,663,813 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Norway (0.55%)        
TGS NOPEC Geophysical Co., ASA   95,600   $3,029,246 
           
Peru (1.47%)          
Alicorp SAA   1,142,439    4,196,787 
Credicorp, Ltd.   16,725    3,888,395 
         8,085,182 
           
Philippines (2.76%)          
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   4,374,200    4,006,552 
Robinsons Land Corp.   3,694,438    1,277,895 
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.   1,927,320    3,389,137 
Security Bank Corp.   1,605,200    6,482,899 
         15,156,483 
           
Poland (1.39%)          
AmRest Holdings SE(a)   28,900    3,795,860 
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   140,672    3,807,525 
         7,603,385 
           
South Korea (2.25%)          
BGF Retail Co., Ltd.   7,814    1,397,382 
LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.   4,350    5,579,795 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   8,250    5,388,512 
         12,365,689 
           
Sweden (2.03%)          
Indutrade AB   183,850    4,354,461 
Nibe Industrier AB, Class B   305,300    3,123,898 
Sweco AB, Class B   178,900    3,652,917 
         11,131,276 
           
Switzerland (1.96%)          
Luxoft Holding, Inc.(a)   47,400    1,912,590 
Partners Group Holding AG   5,090    3,731,468 
VZ Holding AG   6,689    1,886,554 
Wizz Air Holdings PLC(a)(b)(c)   73,500    3,231,928 
         10,762,540 
           
Thailand (1.24%)          
Muangthai Leasing PCL   1,117,000    1,291,841 
Srisawad Corp., PCL   1,595,920    2,629,526 
TOA Paint Thailand PCL(a)   2,396,000    2,903,897 
         6,825,264 
           
United States (5.99%)          
Burford Capital, Ltd.   167,500    3,320,601 
Core Laboratories NV   37,825    4,631,671 
Docusign, Inc.(a)   75    2,897 
EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)   75,400    8,621,990 
FirstCash, Inc.   120,062    10,409,376 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 55

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
United States (continued)          
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   59,175   $5,905,665 
         32,892,200 
           
Vietnam (1.71%)          
Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank   1,888,008    3,549,838 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   717,114    5,828,018 
         9,377,856 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $411,144,719)        516,375,486 
           
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.48%)          
Germany (0.48%)          
FUCHS PETROLUB SE   49,100    2,640,918 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $2,606,055)        2,640,918 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (94.57%)          
(Cost $413,750,774)       $519,016,404 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (5.43%)    29,820,064 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $548,836,468 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

(b)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $10,329,099 representing 1.88% of net assets.

(c)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $10,329,099, representing 1.88% of net assets.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the country sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

56 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 
ASSETS                
Investments, at value (Cost - see below)  $461,809,954   $40,777,057   $785,840,909   $370,140,915 
Cash   30,105,161    714,147    616,707    1,731,498 
Foreign cash, at value (Cost $129,192, $9,174, $300,786 and $338,554, respectively)   129,023    9,161    300,075    338,216 
Dividends and interest receivable   701,986    114,967    2,086,340    790,858 
Receivable for investments sold   601,543    253,955    687,838    1,138,349 
Receivable for fund shares subscribed   38,528    1,240    248,883    146,121 
Prepaid and other assets   13,521    4,750    10,382    2,941 
Total assets   493,399,716    41,875,277    789,791,134    374,288,898 
                     
LIABILITIES                    
Payable for investments purchased   32,446    50,215    1,159,108    1,087,837 
Foreign capital gains tax   243,055    2,247    93,577    49,552 
Payable for fund shares redeemed   2,401,360    600    7,658,589    4,452,741 
Advisory fees payable   538,948    50,468    779,470    337,710 
Administration fees payable   19,874    9,007    27,269    21,841 
Custodian fees payable   180,859    22,201    117,573    83,681 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   5,243    452    8,439    3,934 
Payable for chief compliance officer fee   729    63    1,174    547 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   125    11    201    94 
Distribution and service fees payable   3,863        38,973    13,649 
Payable for transfer agency fees   4,005    3,981    9,907    7,493 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   41,191    26,682    47,677    37,396 
Total liabilities   3,471,698    165,927    9,941,957    6,096,475 
NET ASSETS  $489,928,018   $41,709,350   $779,849,177   $368,192,423 
                     
NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF                    
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $397,553,875   $32,171,671   $518,822,390   $263,629,210 
Accumulated net investment income/(loss)   309,589    (128,821)   607,070    4,867 
Accumulated net realized gain   3,064,579    1,948,582    32,931,109    12,710,195 
Net unrealized appreciation   88,999,975    7,717,918    227,488,608    91,848,151 
NET ASSETS  $489,928,018   $41,709,350   $779,849,177   $368,192,423 
                     
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $372,564,761   $33,056,468   $558,231,675   $278,236,100 
                     
PRICING OF SHARES                    
Investor Class                    
Net Assets  $18,667,850   $   $188,378,940   $65,923,438 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $13.05   $   $3.95   $16.97 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   1,430,574        47,681,581    3,884,289 
Institutional Class                    
Net Assets  $471,260,168   $41,709,350   $591,470,237   $302,268,985 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $13.12   $13.12   $4.00   $17.02 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   35,927,763    3,179,799    147,949,683    17,755,455 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 57

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 
ASSETS            
Investments, at value (Cost - see below)  $182,964,721   $879,825,778   $519,016,404 
Cash   4,048,308    10,147,292    25,015,153 
Foreign cash, at value (Cost $215,136, $334,861 and $753,620, respectively)   215,099    334,298    751,942 
Dividends and interest receivable   303,168    2,930,283    1,131,619 
Receivable for investments sold   2,133,540    1,059,712    7,322,274 
Receivable for fund shares subscribed   48,187    399,668    235,404 
Prepaid and other assets   6,136    10,357    7,917 
Total assets   189,719,159    894,707,388    553,480,713 
                
LIABILITIES               
Payable for investments purchased   1,265,238    594,976    3,774,855 
Foreign capital gains tax   20,847    176,474    64,295 
Payable for fund shares redeemed   118,858    782,791    261,508 
Advisory fees payable   122,038    873,164    353,106 
Administration fees payable   8,771    30,188    17,071 
Custodian fees payable   36,584    162,110    93,022 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   1,918    9,497    5,537 
Payable for chief compliance officer fee   267    1,321    770 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   46    226    132 
Distribution and service fees payable   18,943    16,323    10,540 
Payable for transfer agency fees   7,618    7,324    14,607 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   33,329    44,412    48,802 
Total liabilities   1,634,457    2,698,806    4,644,245 
NET ASSETS  $188,084,702   $892,008,582   $548,836,468 
                
NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF               
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $150,457,803   $600,144,169   $434,541,799 
Accumulated net investment income   56,737    1,101,791    1,152,977 
Accumulated net realized gain   2,945,283    36,780,394    7,927,609 
Net unrealized appreciation   34,624,879    253,982,228    105,214,083 
NET ASSETS  $188,084,702   $892,008,582   $548,836,468 
                
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $148,323,491   $625,628,975   $413,750,774 
                
PRICING OF SHARES               
Investor Class               
Net Assets  $92,551,756   $78,686,219   $52,477,990 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $15.06   $4.10   $15.53 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   6,145,035    19,176,458    3,379,689 
Institutional Class               
Net Assets  $95,532,946   $813,322,363   $496,358,478 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $15.14   $4.12   $15.57 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   6,308,473    197,210,493    31,886,760 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

58 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 
INVESTMENT INCOME                
Dividends  $10,000,644   $877,051   $13,074,086   $5,918,803 
Interest   11,958    6,727    8,878    34,570 
Foreign taxes withheld   (803,559)   (70,012)   (818,065)   (459,736)
Total investment income   9,209,043    813,766    12,264,899    5,493,637 
                     
EXPENSES                    
Investment advisor fees (Note 6)   6,119,337    610,902    9,636,891    3,893,761 
Recoupment of previously waived fees (Note 6)       3,378         
Administrative fees   160,656    32,196    260,168    141,186 
Distribution and service fees - Investor Class   42,932        451,216    160,880 
Transfer agent fees   36,779    37,636    72,768    58,738 
Professional fees   68,671    39,726    63,839    48,380 
Printing fees   18,832    3,105    30,739    23,252 
Registration fees   35,679    19,149    36,102    38,072 
Custodian fees   572,989    89,275    360,038    287,273 
Trustee fees and expenses   10,067    897    16,905    7,778 
Chief compliance officer fees   8,389    754    14,267    6,551 
Principal financial officer fees   1,480    133    2,517    1,155 
Other expenses   13,906    5,177    19,838    11,897 
Total expenses   7,089,717    842,328    10,965,288    4,678,923 
Voluntary waiver of investment advisory fees (Note 6)   (45,876)       (406,427)    
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor (Note 6)       (27,510)        
Total net expenses   7,043,841    814,818    10,558,861    4,678,923 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME/(LOSS)   2,165,202    (1,052)   1,706,038    814,714 
                     
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS                    
Net realized gain on investments   14,200,738    4,077,314    65,466,171    23,748,250 
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions   (183,528)   (2,302)   (159,678)   (63,790)
Net realized gain   14,017,210    4,075,012    65,306,493    23,684,460 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments (net of change in foreign capital gains tax of $(1,642,840), $(37,569), $(434,366) and $(262,184), respectively)   37,634,355    2,334,812    61,160,412    35,212,022 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies   (3,118)   (433)   (17,717)   (7,425)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   37,631,237    2,334,379    61,142,695    35,204,597 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS   51,648,447    6,409,391    126,449,188    58,889,057 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $53,813,649   $6,408,339   $128,155,226   $59,703,771 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 59

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 
INVESTMENT INCOME            
Dividends  $2,074,937   $17,481,091   $6,945,828 
Interest       11,822     
Foreign taxes withheld   (102,555)   (1,432,392)   (404,756)
Total investment income   1,972,382    16,060,521    6,541,072 
                
EXPENSES               
Investment advisor fees (Note 6)   1,188,576    10,860,044    3,455,880 
Recoupment of previously waived fees (Note 6)   118,610         
Administrative fees   56,469    291,947    144,440 
Distribution and service fees - Investor Class   195,432    197,748    105,343 
Transfer agent fees   55,796    56,474    91,591 
Professional fees   41,012    60,029    40,009 
Printing fees   10,335    21,765    18,147 
Registration fees   38,284    32,873    54,754 
Custodian fees   115,311    497,269    249,135 
Trustee fees and expenses   3,535    19,128    10,400 
Chief compliance officer fees   2,729    16,082    7,929 
Principal financial officer fees   481    2,837    1,398 
Other expenses   7,644    21,757    12,445 
Total expenses   1,834,214    12,077,953    4,191,471 
Voluntary waiver of investment advisory fees (Note 6)       (553,205)    
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor (Note 6)   (576)        
Total net expenses   1,833,638    11,524,748    4,191,471 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   138,744    4,535,773    2,349,601 
                
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS               
Net realized gain on investments   4,974,741    65,489,581    13,586,423 
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions   (63,304)   (287,579)   (223,868)
Net realized gain   4,911,437    65,202,002    13,362,555 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments (net of change in foreign capital gains tax of $(88,786), $(933,111) and $(176,713), respectively)   20,019,641    81,861,284    60,823,224 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies   3,861    10,153    11,723 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   20,023,502    81,871,437    60,834,947 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS   24,934,939    147,073,439    74,197,502 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $25,073,683   $151,609,212   $76,547,103 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

60 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $2,165,202   $1,312,958 
Net realized gain   14,017,210    1,045,085 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   37,631,237    63,061,781 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   53,813,649    65,419,824 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class       (66,810)
Institutional Class   (518,950)   (1,961,876)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (518,950)   (2,028,686)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   775,580    490,678 
Distributions reinvested       65,088 
Cost of shares redeemed   (2,386,409)   (6,113,284)
Redemption fees       130 
Net decrease from capital shares transactions   (1,610,829)   (5,557,388)
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   49,952,122    15,112,959 
Distributions reinvested   468,941    1,775,141 
Cost of shares redeemed   (29,142,671)   (27,797,275)
Redemption fees   322    110 
Net increase/(decrease) from capital shares transactions   21,278,714    (10,909,065)
           
Net increase in net assets   72,962,584    46,924,685 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   416,965,434    370,040,749 
End of year*  $489,928,018   $416,965,434 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $309,589   $(861,542)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   60,550    46,050 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions       6,419 
Redeemed   (194,865)   (580,153)
Net decrease in share transactions   (134,315)   (527,684)
           
Institutional Class          
Issued   3,752,939    1,431,423 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   36,017    174,375 
Redeemed   (2,258,217)   (2,673,849)
Net increase/(decrease) in share transactions   1,530,739    (1,068,051)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 61

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS        
Net investment income/(loss)  $(1,052)  $36,054 
Net realized gain   4,075,012    1,195,943 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   2,334,379    3,987,884 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   6,408,339    5,219,881 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Institutional Class   (184,962)   (72,387)
Net realized gains on investments          
Institutional Class   (2,743,887)   (318,826)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (2,928,849)   (391,213)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   1,986,506    2,802,634 
Distributions reinvested   2,815,178    378,056 
Cost of shares redeemed   (3,191,486)   (2,125,169)
Redemption fees   17    2 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   1,610,215    1,055,523 
           
Net increase in net assets   5,089,705    5,884,191 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   36,619,645    30,735,454 
End of year*  $41,709,350   $36,619,645 
*Including accumulated net investment loss of:  $(128,821)  $(2,594)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Institutional Class          
Issued   150,447    257,322 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   212,948    34,940 
Redeemed   (241,118)   (194,608)
Net increase in share transactions   122,277    97,654 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

62 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS          
Net investment income  $1,706,038   $752,205 
Net realized gain   65,306,493    13,115,814 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   61,142,695    91,442,710 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   128,155,226    105,310,729 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class        
Institutional Class   (676,490)   (682,795)
Net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (10,280,542)   (208,741)
Institutional Class   (31,457,520)   (563,234)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (42,414,552)   (1,454,770)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   22,888,443    16,005,788 
Distributions reinvested   9,719,833    199,029 
Cost of shares redeemed   (30,840,920)   (50,076,349)
Redemption fees   1,110    1,088 
Net increase/(decrease) from capital shares transactions   1,768,466    (33,870,444)
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   26,846,472    55,465,734 
Distributions reinvested   30,664,935    1,194,887 
Cost of shares redeemed   (64,400,921)   (52,607,866)
Redemption fees   274    4,876 
Net increase/(decrease) from capital shares transactions   (6,889,240)   4,057,631 
           
Net increase in net assets   80,619,900    74,043,146 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   699,229,277    625,186,131 
End of year*  $779,849,177   $699,229,277 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $607,070   $(725,823)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   5,933,663    4,969,762 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   2,460,717    62,984 
Redeemed   (7,896,305)   (15,424,679)
Net increase/(decrease) in share transactions   498,075    (10,391,933)
           
Institutional Class          
Issued   6,845,193    16,979,178 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   7,666,235    374,573 
Redeemed   (16,296,273)   (16,596,520)
Net increase/(decrease) in share transactions   (1,784,845)   757,231 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 63

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS          
Net investment income  $814,714   $697,491 
Net realized gain   23,684,460    7,092,527 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   35,204,597    42,795,408 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   59,703,771    50,585,426 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class       (84,133)
Institutional Class   (374,631)   (681,502)
Net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (871,964)    
Institutional Class   (3,954,777)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (5,201,372)   (765,635)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   4,258,731    4,112,844 
Distributions reinvested   821,348    81,122 
Cost of shares redeemed   (17,054,715)   (14,422,937)
Redemption fees   51    426 
Net decrease from capital shares transactions   (11,974,585)   (10,228,545)
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   18,157,332    24,646,538 
Distributions reinvested   4,111,759    642,714 
Cost of shares redeemed   (22,861,068)   (27,368,439)
Redemption fees   167    1,027 
Net decrease from capital shares transactions   (591,810)   (2,078,160)
           
Net increase in net assets   41,936,004    37,513,086 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   326,256,419    288,743,333 
End of year*  $368,192,423   $326,256,419 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $4,867   $(218,094)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   268,300    318,050 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   49,360    6,264 
Redeemed   (1,087,058)   (1,110,221)
Net decrease in share transactions   (769,398)   (785,907)
           
Institutional Class          
Issued   1,125,868    1,860,022 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   246,656    49,592 
Redeemed   (1,399,288)   (2,115,611)
Net decrease in share transactions   (26,764)   (205,997)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
64 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS          
Net investment income/(loss)  $138,744   $(76,695)
Net realized gain   4,911,437    937,782 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   20,023,502    12,316,556 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   25,073,683    13,177,643 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class       (38,237)
Institutional Class       (70,513)
Net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (1,233,885)    
Institutional Class   (1,137,784)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (2,371,669)   (108,750)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   30,508,717    40,939,429 
Distributions reinvested   1,207,967    37,612 
Cost of shares redeemed   (12,629,686)   (6,232,494)
Redemption fees   2,502    1,969 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   19,089,500    34,746,516 
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   47,116,433    27,023,764 
Distributions reinvested   1,036,423    66,016 
Cost of shares redeemed   (10,882,140)   (2,576,566)
Redemption fees   295    216 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   37,271,011    24,513,430 
           
Net increase in net assets   79,062,525    72,328,839 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   109,022,177    36,693,338 
End of year*  $188,084,702   $109,022,177 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $56,737   $(1,806)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   2,152,925    3,565,906 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   82,511    3,323 
Redeemed   (888,539)   (533,831)
Net increase in share transactions   1,346,897    3,035,398 
Institutional Class          
Issued   3,250,939    2,334,427 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   70,505    5,816 
Redeemed   (749,691)   (218,942)
Net increase in share transactions   2,571,753    2,121,301 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 65

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS          
Net investment income  $4,535,773   $2,817,200 
Net realized gain   65,202,002    15,154,690 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   81,871,437    101,628,897 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   151,609,212    119,600,787 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class   (116,530)   (373,708)
Institutional Class   (2,382,835)   (4,194,578)
Net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (2,657,014)   (1,243,840)
Institutional Class   (25,295,161)   (10,524,647)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (30,451,540)   (16,336,773)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   9,422,538    16,040,116 
Distributions reinvested   2,591,766    1,519,011 
Cost of shares redeemed   (23,474,795)   (73,177,961)
Redemption fees   18    346 
Net decrease from capital shares transactions   (11,460,473)   (55,618,488)
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   34,216,073    82,878,502 
Distributions reinvested   24,999,053    13,246,236 
Cost of shares redeemed   (53,812,908)   (70,160,974)
Redemption fees   1,808    5,235 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   5,404,026    25,968,999 
           
Net increase in net assets   115,101,225    73,614,525 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   776,907,357    703,292,832 
End of year*  $892,008,582   $776,907,357 
           
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $1,101,791   $(614,723)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   2,374,458    5,029,639 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   632,138    494,792 
Redeemed   (5,887,657)   (23,531,613)
Net decrease in share transactions   (2,881,061)   (18,007,182)
           
Institutional Class          
Issued   8,496,775    26,474,706 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   6,067,731    4,300,726 
Redeemed   (13,071,539)   (21,629,721)
Net increase in share transactions   1,492,967    9,145,711 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

66 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS          
Net investment income  $2,349,601   $707,009 
Net realized gain   13,362,555    1,792,829 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   60,834,947    37,615,840 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   76,547,103    40,115,678 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)          
Net investment income          
Investor Class       (73,124)
Institutional Class   (604,680)   (929,880)
Net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (527,381)    
Institutional Class   (5,037,487)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (6,169,548)   (1,003,004)
           
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)          
Investor Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   21,050,455    8,549,781 
Distributions reinvested   485,971    22,941 
Cost of shares redeemed   (6,873,308)   (4,109,607)
Redemption fees   663    308 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   14,663,781    4,463,423 
           
Institutional Class          
Proceeds from sales of shares   225,088,542    143,867,333 
Distributions reinvested   5,267,972    913,917 
Cost of shares redeemed   (63,009,263)   (33,019,442)
Redemption fees   9,004    3,133 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   167,356,255    111,764,941 
           
Net increase in net assets   252,397,591    155,341,038 
           
NET ASSETS          
Beginning of year   296,438,877    141,097,839 
End of year*  $548,836,468   $296,438,877 
*Including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $1,152,977   $(134,092)
           
OTHER INFORMATION          
Shares Transactions          
Investor Class          
Issued   1,425,304    728,649 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   32,141    2,054 
Redeemed   (457,934)   (349,537)
Net increase in share transactions   999,511    381,166 
Institutional Class          
Issued   15,450,477    12,243,757 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   347,951    81,746 
Redeemed   (4,230,944)   (2,803,836)
Net increase in share transactions   11,567,484    9,521,667 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 67

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended April 30, 2018   Year Ended April 30, 2017   Year Ended April 30, 2016   Year Ended April 30, 2015   For the Period December 16, 2013 (Inception) to April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.55   $9.82   $11.51   $10.53   $10.00 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   0.03    0.02    0.07    0.02    (0.05)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.47    1.75    (1.41)   1.22    0.58 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   1.50    1.77    (1.34)   1.24    0.53 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income       (0.04)       (0.01)    
From net realized gain on investments           (0.35)   (0.25)    
Total distributions       (0.04)   (0.35)   (0.26)    
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL       0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.50    1.73    (1.69)   0.98    0.53 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.05   $11.55   $9.82   $11.51   $10.53 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   12.99%   18.08%   (11.62)%   12.06%   5.30%(c)
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $18,668   $18,074   $20,548   $39,896   $27,952 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.79%   1.76%   1.77%   1.82%   2.01%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.78%   1.76%   1.77%   1.82%   1.95%(d)(e)
Net investment income/(loss)   0.26%   0.21%   0.69%   0.22%   (0.55)%(d)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   33%   42%   40%   53%   26%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.
(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
68 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended April 30, 2018   Year Ended April 30, 2017   Year Ended April 30, 2016   Year Ended April 30, 2015   For the Period December 16, 2013 (Inception) to April 30, 2014 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.60   $9.85   $11.52   $10.54   $10.00 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   0.06    0.04    0.08    0.05    (0.03)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   1.48    1.77    (1.40)   1.21    0.57 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   1.54    1.81    (1.32)   1.26    0.54 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income   (0.02)   (0.06)       (0.03)    
From net realized gain on investments           (0.35)   (0.25)    
Total distributions   (0.02)   (0.06)   (0.35)   (0.28)    
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.52    1.75    (1.67)   0.98    0.54 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.12   $11.60   $9.85   $11.52   $10.54 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   13.24%   18.42%   (11.44)%   12.22%   5.40%(c)
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $471,260   $398,891   $349,493   $428,048   $255,819 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.55%   1.55%   1.55%   1.58%   1.76%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.54%   1.55%   1.55%   1.58%   1.70%(d)(e)
Net investment income/(loss)   0.49%   0.35%   0.75%   0.43%   (0.37)%(d)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   33%   42%   40%   53%   26%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.
(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 69

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   For the Period
October 21, 2015
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2016
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.98   $10.38   $10.00 
                
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS               
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   (0.00)(b)    0.01    (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.12    1.72    0.40 
Total income from investment operations   2.12    1.73    0.38 
                
DISTRIBUTIONS               
From net investment income   (0.06)   (0.02)    
From net realized gain on investments   (0.92)   (0.11)    
Total distributions   (0.98)   (0.13)    
                
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.14    1.60    0.38 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $13.12   $11.98   $10.38 
                
TOTAL RETURN   17.68%   16.81%   3.80%(c)
                
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA               
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $41,709   $36,620   $30,735 
                
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS               
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   2.06%   2.17%   2.30%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   2.00%   2.00%   2.00%(d)(e)
Net investment income/(loss)   (0.00)%(f)   0.11%   (0.41)%(d)
                
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   46%   37%   8%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.
(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.
(f)Less than 0.005% of average net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
70 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $3.52   $3.01   $3.43   $3.31   $2.77 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   0.00(b)   (0.00)(b)(c)   0.00(b)   0.00(b)   (0.00)(b)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   0.65    0.51    (0.18)   0.35    0.67 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.65    0.51    (0.18)   0.35    0.67 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income           (0.00)(b)   (0.01)    
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)   (0.00)(b)   (0.24)   (0.22)   (0.13)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.00)(b)   (0.24)   (0.23)   (0.13)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)     0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.43    0.51    (0.42)   0.12    0.54 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $3.95   $3.52   $3.01   $3.43   $3.31 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   18.41%   17.09%   (5.03)%   11.09%   24.31%
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $188,379   $166,284   $173,156   $201,462   $216,247 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.61%   1.61%   1.62%   1.62%   1.68%
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.55%   1.59%   1.62%   1.62%   1.68%
Net investment income/(loss)   0.03%   (0.06)%   0.06%   0.12%   (0.15)%
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   29%   30%   32%   37%   38%

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 71

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights
 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $3.56   $3.03   $3.46   $3.34   $2.79 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income(a)   0.01    0.01    0.01    0.01    0.00(b) 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   0.65    0.52    (0.19)   0.34    0.68 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.66    0.53    (0.18)   0.35    0.68 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income   (0.00)(b)   (0.00)(b)   (0.01)   (0.01)   (0.00)(b)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)   (0.00)(b)   (0.24)   (0.22)   (0.13)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.00)(b)   (0.25)   (0.23)   (0.13)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.44    0.53    (0.43)   0.12    0.55 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $4.00   $3.56   $3.03   $3.46   $3.34 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   18.62%   17.81%   (5.12)%   11.20%   24.67%
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $591,470   $532,946   $452,030   $526,394   $492,869 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.36%   1.37%   1.38%   1.38%   1.44%
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.31%   1.35%   1.38%   1.38%   1.44%
Net investment income   0.28%   0.18%   0.30%   0.35%   0.08%
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   29%   30%   32%   37%   38%

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
72 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   For the Period
June 19, 2013
(Inception) to
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $14.52   $12.31   $13.65   $12.43   $10.00 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   0.01    0.01    0.01    0.00(b)    (0.02)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   2.66    2.22    (0.89)   1.37    2.54 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   2.67    2.23    (0.88)   1.37    2.52 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income       (0.02)   (0.01)   (0.01)   (0.02)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)       (0.45)   (0.14)   (0.08)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.02)   (0.46)   (0.15)   (0.10)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.01 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.45    2.21    (1.34)   1.22    2.43 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $16.97   $14.52   $12.31   $13.65   $12.43 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   18.44%   18.11%   (6.45)%   11.09%   25.31%(c)
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $65,923   $67,574   $66,984   $87,354   $46,163 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.52%   1.52%   1.60%   1.60%   1.91%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.52%   1.52%   1.60%   1.60%   1.60%(d)(e)
Net investment income/(loss)   0.06%   0.07%   0.10%   0.03%   (0.17)%(d)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   43%   42%   46%   46%   39%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

(c)Not Annualized.

(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 73
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   For the Period
June 19, 2013
(Inception) to
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $14.55   $12.33   $13.66   $12.42   $10.00 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income(a)   0.04    0.04    0.04    0.03    0.02 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   2.67    2.22    (0.89)   1.37    2.52 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   2.71    2.26    (0.85)   1.40    2.54 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income   (0.02)   (0.04)   (0.03)   (0.02)   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)       (0.45)   (0.14)   (0.08)
Total distributions   (0.24)   (0.04)   (0.48)   (0.16)   (0.12)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.47    2.22    (1.33)   1.24    2.42 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $17.02   $14.55   $12.33   $13.66   $12.42 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   18.69%   18.36%   (6.18)%   11.41%   25.45%(c)
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $302,269   $258,683   $221,759   $260,239   $88,311 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.28%   1.29%   1.35%   1.35%   1.75%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.28%   1.29%   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%(d)(e)
Net investment income   0.27%   0.28%   0.34%   0.23%   0.21%(d)
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   43%   42%   46%   46%   39%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

(c)Not Annualized.

(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

74 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   For the Period
September 2, 2015
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2016
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $12.76   $10.85   $10.00 
                
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS               
Net investment income/(loss)(a)   (0.00)(b)   (0.03)   0.00(b) 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.52    1.95    0.85 
Total income from investment operations   2.52    1.92    0.85 
                
DISTRIBUTIONS               
From net investment income       (0.01)   (0.00)(b)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)       (0.00)(b)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.01)   (0.00)(b)
                
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.30    1.91    0.85 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $15.06   $12.76   $10.85 
                
TOTAL RETURN   19.79%   17.70%   8.55%(c)
                
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA               
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $92,552   $61,212   $19,131 
                
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS               
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.35%   1.41%   2.06%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.35%   1.35%   1.35%(d)(e)
Net investment loss   (0.03)%   (0.23)%   0.00%(d)(f)
                
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   30%   32%   24%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.

(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.
(f)Less than 0.005% of average net assets.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 75
 

 

Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   For the Period
September 2, 2015
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2016
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $12.79   $10.87   $10.00 
                
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS               
Net investment income(a)   0.03    0.01(b)   0.02 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.54    1.93    0.85 
Total income from investment operations   2.57    1.94    0.87 
                
DISTRIBUTIONS               
From net investment income       (0.02)   (0.00)(c)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.22)       (0.00)(c)
Total distributions   (0.22)   (0.02)   (0.00)(c)
                
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(c)    0.00(c)    0.00(c) 
                
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.35    1.92    0.87 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $15.14   $12.79   $10.87 
                
TOTAL RETURN   20.14%   17.92%   8.76%(d)
                
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA               
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $95,533   $47,811   $17,562 
                
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS               
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.10%   1.17%   1.86%(e)(f)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.10%   1.10%   1.10%(e)(f)
Net investment income   0.24%   0.05%   0.22%(e)
                
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   30%   32%   24%(d)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)The per share amount does not correspond to activity reflected in the Statement of Operations due to class specific expenses during the period.

(c)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

(d)Not Annualized.

(e)Annualized.

(f)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

76 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $3.55   $3.09   $3.42   $3.41   $2.83 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income(a)   0.01    0.01    0.01    0.01    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   0.68    0.52    (0.20)   0.21    0.68 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.69    0.53    (0.19)   0.22    0.69 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income   (0.01)   (0.02)   (0.01)   (0.01)   (0.02)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.13)   (0.05)   (0.13)   (0.20)   (0.09)
Total distributions   (0.14)   (0.07)   (0.14)   (0.21)   (0.11)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.55    0.46    (0.33)   0.01    0.58 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $4.10   $3.55   $3.09   $3.42   $3.41 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   19.30%   17.50%   (5.53)%   7.25%   24.59%
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $78,686   $78,403   $123,922   $173,842   $153,296 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.61%   1.61%   1.62%   1.62%   1.73%
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.55%   1.58%   1.62%   1.62%   1.73%
Net investment income   0.31%   0.16%   0.45%   0.37%   0.20%
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   26%   30%   34%   36%   37%

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 77
 

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $3.57   $3.11   $3.43   $3.42   $2.84 
                          
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income(a)   0.02    0.01    0.02    0.02    0.01 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   0.67    0.52    (0.20)   0.21    0.69 
Total income/(loss) from investment operations   0.69    0.53    (0.18)   0.23    0.70 
                          
DISTRIBUTIONS                         
From net investment income   (0.01)   (0.02)   (0.01)   (0.02)   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.13)   (0.05)   (0.13)   (0.20)   (0.09)
Total distributions   (0.14)   (0.07)   (0.14)   (0.22)   (0.12)
                          
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                          
INCREASE/DECREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.55    0.46    (0.32)   0.01    0.58 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $4.12   $3.57   $3.11   $3.43   $3.42 
                          
TOTAL RETURN   19.38%   17.59%   (5.02)%   7.41%   24.70%
                          
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $813,322   $698,504   $579,371   $682,364   $658,127 
                          
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS                         
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.37%   1.37%   1.38%   1.38%   1.46%
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.30%   1.34%   1.38%   1.38%   1.46%
Net investment income   0.54%   0.42%   0.65%   0.61%   0.42%
                          
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   26%   30%   34%   36%   37%

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

78 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   For the Period
September 2, 2015
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2016
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $13.04   $11.02   $10.00 
                
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS               
Net investment income(a)   0.05    0.02    0.03 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.62    2.03    0.99 
Total income from investment operations   2.67    2.05    1.02 
                
DISTRIBUTIONS               
From net investment income       (0.03)    
From net realized gain on investments   (0.18)        
Total distributions   (0.18)   (0.03)    
                
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.49    2.02    1.02 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $15.53   $13.04   $11.02 
                
TOTAL RETURN   20.50%   18.68%   10.20%(c)
                
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA               
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $52,478   $31,045   $22,028 
                
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS               
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.19%   1.27%   1.45%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.19%   1.27%   1.35%(d)(e)
Net investment income   0.33%   0.19%   0.44%(d)
                
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   24%   37%   59%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.
(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 79
 

 

Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Periods Presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   For the Period
September 2, 2015
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2016
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $13.06   $11.03   $10.00 
                
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS               
Net investment income(a)   0.08    0.04    0.04 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   2.63    2.04    0.99 
Total income from investment operations   2.71    2.08    1.03 
                
DISTRIBUTIONS               
From net investment income   (0.02)   (0.05)   (0.00)(b)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.18)        
Total distributions   (0.20)   (0.05)   (0.00)(b)
                
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
                
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   2.51    2.03    1.03 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $15.57   $13.06   $11.03 
                
TOTAL RETURN   20.79%   18.96%   10.34%(c)
                
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA               
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $496,358   $265,393   $119,070 
                
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS               
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   0.94%   1.02%   1.20%(d)(e)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   0.94%   1.02%   1.10%(d)(e)
Net investment income   0.57%   0.37%   0.60%(d)
                
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   24%   37%   59%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.
(e)Expense ratios during startup periods may not be representative of longer term operating periods.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

80 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

1. ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). As of April 30, 2018, the Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund, Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund, and Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds seek long-term growth of capital. The Funds offer Investor Class (except the Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund) and Institutional Class shares.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

Equity securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the closing values of such securities on their respective foreign exchanges, except when an event occurs subsequent to the close of the foreign exchange and the close of the NYSE that was likely to have changed such value. In such an event, the fair value of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Funds will use a fair valuation model provided by an independent pricing service, which is intended to reflect fair value when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of each Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a valuation event that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is traded and the close of the regular trading day on the NYSE. The Funds’ valuation procedures set forth certain triggers which instruct when to use the fair valuation model.

 

Corporate Bonds are valued using market models that consider trade data, quotations from dealers and active market makers, relevant yield curve and spread data, creditworthiness, trade data or market information on comparable securities, and other relevant security specific information.

 

Forward currency exchange contracts have a fair value determined by the prevailing foreign currency exchange daily rates and current foreign currency exchange forward rates. The foreign currency exchange forward rates are calculated using an automated system that estimates rates on the basis of the current day foreign currency exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Funds disclose the classification of their fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 81

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of each Fund’s investments in the fair value hierarchy as of April 30, 2018:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
Egypt  $7,427,116   $1,987,500   $   $9,414,616 
South Korea   33,488,017        3,657,929    37,145,946 
Other*   414,575,215            414,575,215 
Corporate Bonds*  $   $674,177   $   $674,177 
Total  $455,490,348   $2,661,677   $3,657,929   $461,809,954 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
New Zealand  $203,913   $   $25,891   $229,804 
Norway   1,296,465    800,319        2,096,784 
South Korea   616,990        91,948    708,938 
Other*   37,552,629            37,552,629 
Corporate Bonds*  $   $188,902   $   $188,902 
Total  $39,669,997   $989,221   $117,839   $40,777,057 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
New Zealand  $4,858,878   $   $179,252   $5,038,130 
Other*   780,302,263            780,302,263 
Corporate Bonds*  $   $500,516   $   $500,516 
Total  $785,161,141   $500,516   $179,252   $785,840,909 

 

 
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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
Egypt  $1,742,119   $795,000   $   $2,537,119 
New Zealand   1,220,956        132,538    1,353,494 
Norway   5,096,248    1,480,324        6,576,572 
South Korea   6,287,935        728,150    7,016,085 
Spain           1    1 
Other*   350,804,075            350,804,075 
Preferred Stocks*  $919,749   $   $   $919,749 
Corporate Bonds*       933,820        933,820 
Total  $366,071,082   $3,209,144   $860,689   $370,140,915 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund                    
Common Stocks*  $182,222,467   $   $   $182,222,467 
Preferred Stocks*   742,254            742,254 
Total  $182,964,721   $   $   $182,964,721 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
New Zealand  $6,334,094   $   $249,580   $6,583,674 
South Korea   24,258,130        3,214,761    27,472,891 
Other*   845,102,693            845,102,693 
Corporate Bonds*  $   $666,520   $   $666,520 
Total  $875,694,917   $666,520   $3,464,341   $879,825,778 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund                    
Common Stocks*  $516,375,486   $   $   $516,375,486 
Preferred Stocks*   2,640,918            2,640,918 
Total  $519,016,404   $   $   $519,016,404 

 

*For a detailed country breakdown, see the accompanying Portfolio of Investments.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 83

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the reporting period. The transfer amount disclosed in the tables below represents the value of the securities as of April 30, 2018 transferred in/(out) of Level 1 and Level 2 during the reporting period that were also held as of April 30, 2017. The below transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 were due to the ability to obtain a closing market price within an active market for a security that previously had no market to trade. Securities transferred into Level 3 due to a lack of observable market data.

 

The Funds had the following transfers between levels 1 and 2 during the year ended April 30, 2018:

 

   Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
    Transfers In    Transfers (Out)    Transfers In    Transfers (Out) 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund                    
Common Stocks  $891,007   $   $   $(891,007)
Total  $891,007   $   $   $(891,007)

 

   Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
    Transfers In    Transfers (Out)    Transfers In    Transfers (Out) 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund                    
Common Stocks  $308,033   $   $   $(308,033)
Total  $308,033   $   $   $(308,033)

 

   Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
    Transfers In    Transfers (Out)    Transfers In    Transfers (Out) 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund                    
Common Stocks  $1,149,362   $   $   $(1,149,362)
Total  $1,149,362   $   $   $(1,149,362)

 

   Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
    Transfers In    Transfers (Out)    Transfers In    Transfers (Out) 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund                    
Common Stocks  $1,155,309   $   $   $(1,155,309)
Total  $1,155,309   $   $   $(1,155,309)

 

The following is a reconciliation of the investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  Common Stocks   Total 
Balance as of April 30, 2017  $3,306,095   $3,306,095 
Accrued discount/ premium        
Return of Capital        
Realized Gain/(Loss)        
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)   351,834    351,834 
Purchases        
Sales Proceeds        
Transfer into Level 3        
Transfer out of Level 3        
Balance as of April 30, 2018  $3,657,929   $3,657,929 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at April 30, 2018  $351,835   $351,835 

 

 
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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund  Common Stocks   Total 
Balance as of April 30, 2017  $83,107   $83,107 
Accrued discount/ premium        
Return of Capital        
Realized Gain/(Loss)        
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)   8,841    8,841 
Purchases        
Sales Proceeds        
Transfer into Level 3   25,891    25,891 
Transfer out of Level 3        
Balance as of April 30, 2018  $117,839   $117,839 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at April 30, 2018  $(347,548)  $(347,548)

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund  Common Stocks   Total 
Balance as of April 30, 2017  $   $ 
Accrued discount/ premium        
Return of Capital        
Realized Gain/(Loss)        
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)        
Purchases        
Sales Proceeds        
Transfer into Level 3   179,252    179,252 
Transfer out of Level 3        
Balance as of April 30, 2018  $179,252   $179,252 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at April 30, 2018  $(2,467,384)  $(2,467,384)

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund  Common Stocks   Total 
Balance as of April 30, 2017  $658,125   $658,125 
Accrued discount/ premium        
Return of Capital        
Realized Gain/(Loss)        
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)   70,026    70,026 
Purchases        
Sales Proceeds        
Transfer into Level 3   132,538    132,538 
Transfer out of Level 3        
Balance as of April 30, 2018  $860,689   $860,689 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at April 30, 2018  $(1,733,766)  $(1,733,766)

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund  Common Stocks   Total 
Balance as of April 30, 2017  $2,905,555   $2,905,555 
Accrued discount/ premium        
Return of Capital        
Realized Gain/(Loss)        
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)   309,206    309,206 
Purchases        
Sales Proceeds        
Transfer into Level 3   249,580    249,580 
Transfer out of Level 3        
Balance as of April 30, 2018  $3,464,341   $3,464,341 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statements of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at April 30, 2018  $(3,126,229)  $(3,126,229)

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 85

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on Level 3 securities is included on the Statements of Operations under Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments. Realized gain (loss) on Level 3 securities is included on the Statements of Operations under Net realized gain/(loss) on investments.

 

The table below provided additional information about the Level 3 Fair Value Measurements as of April 30, 2018:

 

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

 

Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

 

Asset Class Fair Value (USD)
at 4/30/18
Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs(a) Value
Foreign Common Stock $3,657,929 Earnings multiple approach Price earnings multiple 9x

 

Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund

 

Asset Class Fair Value (USD)
at 4/30/18
Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs(a) Value
Foreign Common Stock $91,948 Earnings multiple approach Price earnings multiple 9x
Foreign Common Stock 25,891 Expected liquidation value Book value multiple 0.25x

 

Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund

 

Asset Class Fair Value (USD)
at 4/30/18
Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs(a) Value
Foreign Common Stock $179,252 Expected liquidation value Book value multiple 0.25x

 

Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund

 

Asset Class Fair Value (USD)
at 4/30/18
Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs(a) Value
Foreign Common Stock $728,150 Earnings multiple approach Price earnings multiple 9x
Foreign Common Stock 132,538 Expected liquidation value Book value multiple 0.25x

 

Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund

 

Asset Class Fair Value (USD)
at 4/30/18
Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs(a) Value
Foreign Common Stock $3,214,761 Earnings multiple approach Price earnings multiple 9x
Foreign Common Stock 249,580 Expected liquidation value Book value multiple 0.25x

 

(a)A change to the unobservable input may result in a significant change to the value of the investment as follows:

 

Unobservable Input Impact to Value if Input Decreases Impact to Value if Input Increases
Price earnings multiple Decrease Increase
Book value multiple Decrease Increase

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost which is the same basis the Fund uses for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

Cash Management Transactions: The Funds subscribe to the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) Cash Management Service (“CMS”), whereby cash balances are automatically swept into overnight offshore demand deposits with either the BBH Grand Cayman branch or a branch of a pre-approved commercial bank. This fully automated program allows the Funds to earn interest on cash balances. Excess cash with deposit

 

 
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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

institutions domiciled outside of the U.S. are subject to sovereign actions in the jurisdiction of the deposit institution including, but not limited to, freeze, seizure or diminution. Cash balances in the BBH CMS are included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities under Cash and Foreign Cash, at Value. As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following cash balances participating in the BBH CMS:

 

Fund    
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $30,077,722 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   713,681 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   614,736 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   1,729,608 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   4,048,308 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   10,137,151 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   24,996,091 

 

As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following foreign cash balances participating in the BBH CMS (cost and value of foreign cash balances are equal):

 

Fund    
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $ 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   3,977 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund    
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   9,899 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund    
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   1,840 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   95,422 

 

Foreign Securities: The Funds may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed and is included in realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, when applicable.

 

Foreign Currency Spot Contracts: The Funds may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities or to convert foreign currency receipts into U.S. dollars. A foreign currency spot contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell currencies at the current market rate, for settlement generally within two business days. The U.S. dollar value of the contracts is determined using current currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

The contract is marked-to-market daily for settlements beyond one day and any change in market value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded equal to the difference between the value on the open and close date. Losses may arise from changes in the value of the foreign currency, or if the counterparties do not perform under the contract’s terms. The maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Funds are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund and Class Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a Fund or class of shares of a Fund, including distribution fees (Rule 12b-1 fees), are charged directly to that Fund or share class. Expenses that are common to all Funds generally are allocated among the Funds in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Federal Income Taxes: The Funds comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intend to distribute substantially all of their net taxable income and net capital gains, if any,

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 87

 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds had a liability for unrecognized capital gains tax. These amounts are disclosed as Foreign Capital Gains Tax on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund normally pays dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income each Fund receives from their investments, including short term capital gains. Long term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when each Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. Each Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for each Fund to avoid or reduce taxes. The Funds intend to pass through foreign tax credits to shareholders.

 

3. TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and are primarily attributed to the differing book/tax treatment of foreign currency transactions, PFIC investments, equalization, book/tax distribution differences and certain other investments. The reclassifications were as follows:

 

Fund  Paid-in Capital   Accumulated Net
Investment
Income/(Loss)
   Accumulated Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $65,211   $(475,121)  $409,910 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   93,350    59,787    (153,137)
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   2,187,991    303,345    (2,491,336)
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   422,022    (217,122)   (204,900)
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   171,733    (80,201)   (91,532)
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   1,330,386    (319,894)   (1,010,492)
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   750,006    (457,852)   (292,154)

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

Fund  Gross
Appreciation
(excess of value
over tax cost)
   Gross
Depreciation
(excess of tax
cost over value)
   Net
Appreciation/
(Depreciation) of
Foreign Currency
   Net
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
   Cost of
Investments for
Income Tax
Purposes
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $120,888,930   $(32,035,285)  $(245,218)  $88,608,427   $372,956,309 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   9,923,337    (2,328,765)   (2,671)   7,591,901    33,182,485 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   267,284,718    (40,012,937)   (120,626)   227,151,155    558,569,128 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   109,297,799    (17,626,706)   (56,664)   91,614,429    278,469,822 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   38,684,537    (4,118,583)   (16,351)   34,549,603    148,398,767 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   300,949,911    (47,014,021)   (214,575)   253,721,315    625,889,888 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   115,703,873    (10,992,556)   (51,547)   104,659,770    414,305,087 

 

 
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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Components of Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund  Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
   Accumulated
Capital
Gains/
(Losses)
   Other
Accumulated
Gain/
(Loss)
   Net
Unrealized Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
on
Investments
and Foreign
Currency
   Total
Distributable
Earnings
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $310,154   $3,456,127   $(565)  $88,608,427  $92,374,143 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   10,964    1,937,619    (2,805)   7,591,901    9,537,679 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   4,313,679    29,562,083    (130)   227,151,155    261,026,787 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   1,927,199    11,021,582    3    91,614,429    104,563,213 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   55,605    3,020,559    1,132    34,549,603    37,626,899 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   5,169,987    32,971,723    1,388    253,721,315    291,864,413 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   1,148,084    8,481,922    4,893    104,659,770    114,294,669 

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain were recorded by the Funds.

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year and or period ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gain
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $518,950   $ 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   834,856    2,093,993 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   1,359,717    41,054,835 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   374,631    4,826,741 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund       2,371,669 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   3,123,114    27,328,426 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   604,680    5,564,868 

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year or period ended April 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

Fund  Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gain
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $2,028,686   $ 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   380,816    10,397 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   682,795    771,975 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   765,635     
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   108,750     
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   4,568,286    11,768,487 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   1,003,004     

 

The Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunity Fund and the Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund used capital loss carryovers during the period ended April 30, 2018 in the amounts of $6,261,205 and $5,696,933, respectively.

 

The following Funds elects to defer to the period ending April 30, 2019, late year ordinary losses in the amount of:

 

Fund  Ordinary Losses
Recognized
 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund  $2,453 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 89
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

4. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short term securities) during the year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of
Securities
   Proceeds From
Sales of Securities
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $160,188,541   $142,923,128 
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund   18,576,935    19,931,230 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund   215,979,386    253,536,373 
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund   150,003,225    154,531,471 
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund   93,681,101    42,771,698 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund   216,406,056    242,508,742 
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund   252,763,498    100,586,499 

 

5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the share do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. For the year ended April 30, 2018 and the year ended April 30, 2017, the redemption fees charged by the Funds are presented in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

6. MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds’ investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Trustees. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, (the “Advisory Agreement”), each Fund pays the Adviser an annual management fee based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis. The following table reflects the Funds’ advisory fee rates.

 

Fund Advisory Fee
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund 1.35%
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund 1.50%
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund 1.25%
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund 1.10%
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund 0.80%
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund 1.25%
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund 0.80%

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit certain of each Fund’s expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses). The following table reflects the Funds’ expense cap.

 

Fund Expense Cap Term of Expense Limit Agreements
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund    
Investor Class 1.95% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.70% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund    
Institutional Class 2.00% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
    September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund    
Investor Class 1.75% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.50% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund    
Investor Class 1.60% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.35% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund    
Investor Class 1.35% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.10% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund    
Investor Class 1.75% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.50% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund    
Investor Class 1.35% September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 /
Institutional Class 1.10% September 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018

 

Pursuant to these agreements, the Adviser may seek reimbursement from a Fund for any previous fee waivers and expense reimbursements made by the Adviser, provided that any such reimbursements made by the Funds to the Adviser will not cause the Funds’ expense limitation to exceed expense limitations in existence at the time the expense was incurred, or at the time of the reimbursement, whichever is lower, and the reimbursement is made within three years after the expenses were incurred. Fees waived/reimbursed by Adviser for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

In addition to the foregoing contractual arrangements, the Adviser has voluntarily agreed, effective September 1, 2016, to waive, with respect to the Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund and the Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund, annual management fees to the extent such fees exceed 1.10% on assets above $500 million (the annual management fee rate with respect to such funds will remain 1.25% on the first $500 million in assets). The Adviser has also voluntarily agreed, effective January 1, 2018, to waive, with respect to the Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, annual management fees to the extent such fees exceed 1.20% on all assets above $400 million (the annual management fee rate with respect to the Fund will remain 1.35% on the first $400 million in assets). These voluntary arrangements may be terminated at any time by the Adviser. Voluntary waivers are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser. Voluntary fees waive by the Adviser for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 91
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers/reimbursements and/or recoupments were as follows:

 

Fund  Fees
Waived/
Reimbursed By
Adviser
   Recoupment
of Previously
Waived Fees
By Adviser
 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund          
Investor Class  $   $ 
Institutional Class        
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund          
Institutional Class   27,510    3,378 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund          
Investor Class  $   $ 
Institutional Class        
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund          
Investor Class  $   $ 
Institutional Class        
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund          
Investor Class  $73   $63,422 
Institutional Class   503    55,188 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund          
Investor Class  $   $ 
Institutional Class        
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund          
Investor Class  $   $ 
Institutional Class        

 

As of April 30, 2018, the balances of recoupable expenses for each Fund were as follows:

 

Fund  Expires 2019   Expires 2020   Expires 2021   Total 
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $   $   $ 
Institutional Class                
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund                    
Institutional Class  $40,042   $55,827   $27,510   $123,379 
Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $   $   $ 
Institutional Class                
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $   $   $ 
Institutional Class                
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $16,446   $73   $16,519 
Institutional Class       22,391    503    22,894 
Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $   $   $ 
Institutional Class                
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund                    
Investor Class  $   $   $   $ 
Institutional Class                

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Administrator Fees and Expenses

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds and the Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with their administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assists in the Funds’ operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Funds’ administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

ALPS is reimbursed by the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services

ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Funds. Compliance service fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer

ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Funds. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of each Fund’s shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Services (Rule 12b-1) Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “Plan”) for its Investor Class shares. The Plan allows the Funds to use Investor Class assets to pay fees in connection with the distribution and marketing of Investor Class shares and/or the provision of shareholder services to Investor Class shareholders. The Plan permits payment for services in connection with the administration of plans or programs that use Investor Class shares of each Fund as their funding medium and for related expenses. The recipients of such payments may include the Distributor, other affiliates of the Adviser, broker-dealers, financial institutions, plan sponsors and administrators and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase shares of the Fund. The Plan permits the Funds to make total payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to its Investor Class shares. The expenses of the Plan are reflected as distribution and service fees in the Statements of Operations.

 

7. INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 93
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund, Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund, and Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund (the "Funds"), seven of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018; the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended for Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund and Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund; the related statements of operations, changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods indicated in the table below for the Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund, and Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund; and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the funds listed above constituting the Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (or for the period listed in the table below) in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Individual Fund Comprising
the Financial Investors Trust
Statement of
Operations
Statements of Changes
in Net Assets
Financial Highlights
Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the four years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period December 16, 2013 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2014
Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period October 21, 2015 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2016
Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the four years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period June 19, 2013 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2014
Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period September 2, 2015 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2016
Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund For the year ended April 30, 2018 For the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 For each of the two years in the period ended April 30, 2018, and for the period September 2, 2015 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2016

 

Basis for Opinion  

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis,

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Grandeur Peak Global Advisors, LLC since 2012.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 95
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) 855-377-PEAK(7325) and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

 

The Funds designate the following amounts for federal income tax purposes for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018:

 

   Foreign
Taxes Paid
   Foreign
Source Income
 
Global Opportunities Fund  $724,677   $7,587,546 
International Opportunities Fund  $1,327,659   $16,413,401 
Global Reach Fund  $563,079   $5,267,551 
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund  $970,801   $9,645,104 
Global Micro Cap Fund  $77,587   $812,469 
Global Stalwarts Fund  $96,465   $1,593,156 
International Stalwarts Fund  $353,092   $6,132,540 

 

Of the distributions paid by the Funds from ordinary income for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017, the following percentages met the requirements to be treated as qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction and qualified dividend income:

 

  Dividend
Received
Deduction
Qualified
Dividend
Income
Global Opportunities Fund 91.86% 100.00%
International Opportunities Fund 3.77% 100.00%
Global Reach Fund 100.00% 100.00%
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund 15.19% 100.00%
Global Micro Cap Fund 4.58% 63.59%
Global Stalwarts Fund
International Stalwarts Fund 13.22% 100.00%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distributions paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Funds designate the following as long-term capital gain dividends:

 

Global Opportunities Fund  $41,054,835 
International Opportunities Fund  $27,328,426 
Global Reach Fund  $4,826,741 
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund    
Global Micro Cap Fund  $2,093,993 
Global Stalwarts Fund  $2,371,669 
International Stalwarts Fund  $5,564,868 

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the following amounts were utilized as earnings and profits distributed to shareholders on redemptions:

 

Global Opportunities Fund  $1,477,087 
International Opportunities Fund  $275,366 
Global Reach Fund  $190,703 
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund    
Global Micro Cap Fund  $39,324 
Global Stalwarts Fund  $154,836 
International Stalwarts Fund  $516,022 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 97
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-377-7325.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Mary K. Anstine, 1940 Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems, 1976 Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Jerry G. Rutledge, 1944 Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell, 1970 Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 99
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During Past 5 Years***
Edmund J. Burke, 1961 Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 

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Grandeur Peak Funds® Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office**
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms, 1972 Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen, 1970 Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl, 1974 Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella, 1974 Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.
Alan Gattis, 1980 Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 101
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office**
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***
Sharon Akselrod, 1974 Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.
Jennifer Craig 1973 Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon, 1980 Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.
**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee and/or Officer serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.

****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which Grandeur Peak Global Advisors LLC provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

102 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are  
Who is providing this notice? Grandeur Peak Global Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak International Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Reach Fund, Grandeur Peak Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Micro Cap Fund, Grandeur Peak Global Stalwarts Fund, and Grandeur Peak International Stalwarts Fund.
What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information? 

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

 

●   open an account

●   provide account information or give us your contact information

●   make a wire transfer or deposit money

Why can't I limit all sharing?            

Federal law gives you the right to limit only  

 

●   sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

●   affiliates from using your information to market to you

●   sharing for non-affiliates to market to you  

 

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

Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates    

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

 

  The Funds does not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing    

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.  

 

  The Funds does not jointly market.

Other Important Information  
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 103
 

 

Grandeur Peak Funds® Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

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

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

 

  Social Security number and account transactions

  Account balances and transaction history

●   Wire transfer instructions

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Do the Funds share: Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus Yes No
For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences Yes No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness No We do not share.
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

104 1.855.377.7325 | www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com
 

 

 

 

Contact Us
Mail: Grandeur Peak Funds, P.O. Box 13664, Denver, CO 80201 E-Mail: grandeurpeakglobal@alpsinc.com
Phone: 1.855.377.PEAK (7325) Web: www.GrandeurPeakGlobal.com

 

 

 

ANNUAL April 30, 2018

 

Highland Resolute Fund

 

Class I RMRGX

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Table of Contents
 

 

  PAGE
Shareholder Letter 2
Performance Update 7
Consolidated Disclosure of Fund Expenses 9
Consolidated Schedule of Investments 10
Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities 26
Consolidated Statement of Operations 27
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets 28
Consolidated Financial Highlights 29
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 30
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm 41
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements 42
Additional Information 45
Trustees & Officers 46
Privacy Policy 51

 

|  1

 

Highland Resolute Fund Shareholder Letter
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

PERFORMANCE:

 

April 30, 2018

 

The Highland Resolute Fund outperformed the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index(1) by over 250 basis points(2) over the twelve months ending April 30, 2018. The Fund historically has strong up market capture with down market capture in line with the index. Since inception, the Fund has outperformed the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index by over 200 basis points annualized. This is due primarily to a higher level of net equity exposure than the benchmark to be able to keep up with strong equity markets.

 

When compared to the peer group (Morningstar Multi-Alternative Universe)(3), the Fund has outperformed the Universe over all time periods - by about 290 basis points during the past twelve months and 240 basis points annualized since inception. As with the HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index, the Universe is very diverse and contains a number of market-neutral and other low net equity strategies that cause the average net equity exposure for the Universe to be considerably less than our Fund. So, we anticipate outperforming the Universe in up markets and underperforming in down markets - recent performance has been consistent with our expectations.

 

Long/Short Managers - Long/Short equity managers outperformed the HFRX Equity Hedge Index(4) in a period of steady growth and low volatility in global equities, until the most recent quarter where volatility increased materially.

 

Macro - The sole Macro manager has materially outperformed the HFRX Macro Index(5) over the last 12 months. Equity and commodity positions were accretive in 2017, and short positions in fixed income and short-term rates added value during the past quarter. The systematic macro fund strives to take advantage of relative value differentials globally. This sector is a small allocation and is held as a risk-off return contributor.

 

Credit/GTAA - Chatham materially outperformed the HFRX Fixed Income - Credit Index(6) over the past 12 months. Option hedges were accretive during the increased volatility in the quarter.

 

Relative Value - The Relative Value sleeve outperformed the HFRX Relative Value Arbitrage Index(7) over the past 12 months. Material outperformance from WABR was only slightly offset by negative absolute returns from Clinton.

 

Event Driven - The Event Driven sleeve significantly outperformed the HFRX Event Driven Index(8), as it generated positive absolute returns compared to negative for that of the index. PSAM has been the best performer in the sleeve with merger arbitrage and special situations being responsible for most of its gains. AQR struggled during the 1st quarter and offset some of the outperformance.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 
2  

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Shareholder Letter
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

HIGHLAND RESOLUTE FUND

 

Table 1 notes the performance for the Fund as of quarter end under standard reporting (since inception) as well as of April 30th.

 

Table 1 (1)(3)(9)(10)

 

Performance (amounts greater than one year are annualized)

 

  Standardized Performance Data
as of March 31, 2018
Non-Standardized Performance Data
as of April 30, 2018
  YTD 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year Since Inception (12/30/11) YTD 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year Since Inception (12/30/11)
Highland Resolute Fund - Class I NAV 0.09% 5.90% 2.91% 3.49% 4.28% -0.28% 5.51% 2.78% 3.07% 4.16%
Morningstar Multi- Alternative Universe -1.04% 2.84% 0.16% 1.16% 1.74% -0.96% 2.60% 0.22% 1.11% 1.73%
HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index -1.02% 3.20% 0.51% 1.29% 2.09% -0.92% 2.86% 0.47% 1.18% 2.08%
S&P 500® Index -0.76% 13.99% 10.78% 13.31% 15.01% -0.38% 13.27% 10.57% 12.96% 14.86%

 

  Gross Expense
Ratio
Less Expense
Waivers
Net Expense Ratio Net Ratio ex Dividend & Short Expense
Highland Resolute Fund - Class I NAV 2.33% -1.25% 1.08% 1.00%

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data please call 1-855-268-2242.

 

The Fund has a redemption fee of 2.00% for shares redeemed within the first 90 days of purchase. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

The Adviser has agreed to waive the portion of its 1.50% Management Fee in excess of any sub-advisory fees paid by the Adviser to sub-advisors in connection with the Fund (“Sub-Advisory Fees”). This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser may not discontinue this agreement to waive fees prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

Net Ratio ex Dividend & Short Expense is the Net Expense Ratio less any Dividend and Interest Expense on Securities Sold Short.

 

Portfolio Changes:

 

There was one change in the Long/Short Equity bucket. Boston Partners was terminated as a sub-advisor and liquidated at the end of 2017. The three remaining strategies in the bucket were re-weighted to maintain the same target weight for Long/Short Equity in the fund.

 

Closing:

 

We continue to add value both in our allocation and manager selection decisions. The changes outlined above should continue to provide additional value going forward. We appreciate your investment in our Highland Resolute Fund, please feel free to contact us with any questions.

 

Sincerely,

 

(Graphic)

 

R. Scott Graham, CFA & Michael T. Lytle, CFA
Highland Associates, Inc.

Portfolio Managers(11)

 

 
Annual Report  |  April 30, 2018 3

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Shareholder Letter
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Underlying Allocation Weights:

 

Figure 1 lists the long-term target asset allocation for the Fund as well as the allocation as of April 30, 2018.

 

(Piechart)

 

Holdings and allocations subject to change and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
4  

 

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Shareholder Letter
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

IMPORTANT NOTES AND DISCLOSURES

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

Fund prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Fund’s prospectus. Please call 1-855-268-2242 to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

The views of Highland Associates, Inc. and the information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writers’ current views. The views expressed are those of the Fund’s adviser only, and represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Highland Associates, Inc. nor the Fund accepts any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Highland Resolute Fund is distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

RISKS:

 

The Fund’s strategy may expose it to the risks of investments in Swap Contracts and Other Investment Companies. These risks include, but are not limited to higher expenses, allocation risk, underlying fund risk, transparency risk, and underlying fund managed portfolio risk. Investments which focus on alternative strategies are subject to increased risk and loss of principal and are not suitable for all investors. Swap Risk involves swap agreements and are subject to counterparty default risk and may not perform as intended. Derivatives Risk involves the exercise of skill and judgment. Derivatives may expire worthless or not perform as expected. Equity risk may cause the value of the securities held by the Fund to fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of securities held by the Fund participate, or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invest.

 

The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. issuers may be even more volatile and may present more risks than investments in U.S. issuers.

 

Commodity Risk may subject the Funds to greater volatility than traditional investments because of global supply and demand, changes in interest rates, commodity index volatility, and factors affecting a particular industry or commodity. Commodity-linked investments may not move in the same direction and to the same extent as the underlying commodities.

 

(1)The HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index is designed to be representative of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe, and includes convertible arbitrage, distressed securities, equity hedge, equity market neutral, event driven, macro, merger arbitrage, and relative value strategies. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(2)Basis point is a common unit of measure for interest rates and other percentages in finance. One basis point is equal to 1/100th of 1% or 0.01%(.0001).

(3)The Morningstar Multi-Alternative Universe is designed to represent the exposure to alternative investment tactics. Funds in this category have the majority of their assets exposed to alternative strategies. An investor’s exposure to different tactics may change slightly over time in response to market movements. Funds in this category include both funds with static allocations to alternative strategies and funds tactically allocating among alternative strategies and asset classes. The gross short exposure is greater than 20%.

(4)The HFRX Equity Hedge Index is designed to be representative of a subset of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe. Equity Hedge strategies maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index figures do not reflect any fees, expense, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(5)The HFRX Macro Index is designed to be representative of a subset of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe. Macro strategy managers trade a broad range of strategies in which the investment process is predicated on movements in underlying economic variables and the impact these have on equity, fixed income, hard currency and commodity markets. Managers employ a variety of techniques, both discretionary and systematic analysis, combinations of top down and bottom up theses, quantitative and fundamental approaches and long and short-term holding periods. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index figures do not reflect any fees, expense, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(6)The HFRX Fixed Income - Credit Index is designed to be representative of a subset of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe. It includes strategies with exposure to credit across a broad continuum of credit sub-strategies, including Corporate, Sovereign, Distressed,

 

 
Annual Report  |  April 30, 2018 5

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Shareholder Letter
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Convertible, Asset Backed, Capital Structure Arbitrage, Multi-Strategy and other Relative Value and Event Driven sub-strategies. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index figures do not reflect any fees, expense, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(7)The HFRX Relative Value Arbitrage Index is designed to be representative of a subset of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe. Relative Value investment managers who maintain positions in which the investment thesis is predicated on realization of a valuation discrepancy in the relationship between multiple securities. Managers employ a variety of fundamental and quantitative techniques to establish investment theses, and security types range broadly across equity, fixed income, derivative or other security types. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index figures do not reflect any fees, expense, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(8)The HFRX Event Driven Index maintains positions in companies currently or prospectively involved in corporate transactions of a wide variety including but not limited to mergers, restructurings, financial distress, tender offers, shareholder buybacks, debt exchanges, security issuance or other capital structure adjustments. Security types can range from most senior in the capital structure to most junior or subordinated, and frequently involve additional derivative securities. Event Driven exposure includes a combination of sensitivities to equity markets, credit markets and idiosyncratic, company specific developments. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index figures do not reflect any fees, expense, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in an index.

(9)The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market value weighted index. The S&P 500® Index figures do not reflect any fees, expenses, or taxes. Investors cannot invest directly in this index.

(10)Highland Associates, Inc. has agreed to waive the portion of its 1.50% Management Fee in excess of any sub-advisory fees paid by the Adviser to sub-advisors in connection with the Redmont Resolute Fund. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser may not discontinue this agreement to waive fees without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(11)R. Scott Graham and Michael T. Lytle are registered representatives of ALPS Distributors, Inc. CFA Institute Marks are trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.

 

 
6  

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

Highland Resolute Fund

 

Cumulative Total Return            
(for the period ended April 30, 2018) 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Since Inception* Gross Ratio(a) Net Ratio(a)
Highland Resolute Fund - Class I - NAV 5.51% 2.78% 3.07% 4.16% 2.33% 1.08%
S&P 500® Index 13.27% 10.57% 12.96% 14.86%    
Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index 9.09% 11.14% 12.01% 13.70%    
HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index 2.86% 0.47% 1.18% 2.08%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data please call 1-855-268-2242.

 

The Fund has a redemption fee of 2.00% for shares redeemed within the first 90 days of purchase. Performance shown at NAV does not include these sales charges and would have been lower had it been taken into account.

 

The Adviser has agreed to waive the portion of its 1.50% Management Fee in excess of any sub-advisory fees paid by the Adviser to sub-advisors in connection with the Fund (“Sub-Advisory Fees”). This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser may not discontinue this agreement to waive fees prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

*Fund inception date of 12/30/11.
(a)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(b)The S&P 500® Index is the Standard & Poor's composite index of 500 stocks, a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction of fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

(c)The Dow Jones U.S. Select Dividend Index is an additional index, and represents the country’s top stocks by dividend yield, selected annually and subject to screening and buffering criteria. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions of fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

(d)The HFRX Global Hedge Fund Index is an additional index, and is designed to be representative of the overall composition of the hedge fund universe and includes convertible arbitrage, distressed securities, equity hedge, equity market neutral, event driven, macro, merger arbitrage and relative value strategies. The index returns are updated periodically and are subject to change. The returns were accurate as of the date of this publication. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deduction of fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Top Ten Holdings**

(for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

As a percentage of Net Assets  
PIMCO Short-Term Fund, Institutional Class 29.22%
AQR Multi Strategy Alternative Fund, Class I 10.55%
American Media, Inc. 2.84%
Harland Clarke Holdings Corp. 2.43%
Resolute Forest Products, Inc. 2.22%
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. 1.68%
One Call Corp. 1.24%
Mohegan Tribal Gaming 0.98%
McClatchy Co. 0.79%
One Call Corp. 0.76%
Top Ten Holdings  

 

**Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance of $10,000 Initial Investment (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

Comparison of change in value of a $10,000 investment

 

 

 

The chart represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

 

8

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including applicable sales charges (loads), redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, shareholder services fees and other Fund operating expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the six-month period of November 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Highland Resolute Fund BEGINNING
ACCOUNT VALUE
11/01/17
ENDING
ACCOUNT VALUE
04/30/18
EXPENSE
RATIO(a)
EXPENSES PAID,
and DURING
PERIOD
11/01/17-04/30/18(b)
Class I        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,015.00 0.76% $3.80
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,021.03 0.76% $3.81

 

(a)Annualized, based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half year expenses.
(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
CLOSED END FUNDS (0.48%)          
Altaba, Inc.(a)   25,516   $1,788,161 
           
TOTAL CLOSED END FUNDS          
(Cost $1,554,681)        1,788,161 
           
COMMON STOCKS (10.38%)          
BUILDING MATERIALS (1.26%)          
Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.   49,198    2,690,638 
Masco Corp.   53,071    2,009,799 
         4,700,437 
           
CASINO & GAMBLING (0.61%)          
Caesars Entertainment Corp.(a)(b)   200,026    2,270,295 
           
CHEMICALS (0.42%)          
The Sherwin-Williams Co.   4,245    1,560,717 
           
COMMERCIAL SERVICES (0.61%)          
S&P Global, Inc.(b)   11,994    2,262,069 
           
DISTRIBUTION/WHOLESALE (0.62%)          
LKQ Corp.(a)(b)   75,008    2,326,748 
           
DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES (0.82%)          
Cboe Global Markets, Inc.   18,511    1,976,604 
Visa, Inc., Class A   8,586    1,089,392 
         3,065,996 
           
INTERNET (0.69%)          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., Sponsored ADR(a)   2,858    510,267 
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)(b)   2,024    2,061,606 
         2,571,873 
           
MACHINERY-DIVERSIFIED (0.56%)          
The Middleby Corp.(a)(b)   16,779    2,111,469 
           
MEDIA (0.56%)          
Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class C(a)(b)   9,696    403,935 
Liberty Media Corp.-Liberty SiriusXM, Class A(a)(b)   40,831    1,705,511 
         2,109,446 
           
RESTAURANTS (0.49%)          
Restaurant Brands International, Inc.   33,962    1,848,212 
           
RETAIL (0.93%)          
B&M European Value Retail SA   223,664    1,247,993 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 
10  

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
RETAIL (0.93%) (continued)          
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc.(a)   8,639   $2,212,189 
         3,460,182 
           
SOFTWARE (1.63%)          
CDK Global, Inc.   33,230    2,167,925 
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.   16,901    1,605,088 
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.(b)   46,821    2,324,663 
         6,097,676 
           
SPECIALTY FINANCE (0.59%)          
Worldpay, Inc., Class A(a)   27,262    2,214,220 
           
TEXTILES (0.59%)          
Mohawk Industries, Inc.(a)(b)   10,558    2,215,913 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $38,547,222)        38,815,253 
           
OPEN-END MUTUAL FUNDS (39.77%)          
AQR Multi Strategy Alternative Fund, Class I   4,512,890    39,442,662 
PIMCO Short-Term Fund, Institutional Class(b)   11,058,717    109,260,129 
         148,702,791 
           
TOTAL OPEN-END MUTUAL FUNDS          
(Cost $150,011,906)        148,702,791 

 

   Notional Amount   Exercise Date   Exercise Price   Contracts   Value
(Note 2)
 
PURCHASED PUT OPTIONS (0.05%)                       
S&P 500® Index  $28,863,745   05/31/2018   $2,450   109    62,675 
S&P 500® Index   34,159,845   05/31/2018    2,500   129    115,713 
                      178,388 
                        
TOTAL PURCHASED PUT OPTIONS                       
(Cost $251,724)                     178,388 

 

Description    Principal Amount   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (18.87%)       
CASINO & GAMBLING (0.41%)        
Jack Ohio Finance LLC          
10.25%, 11/15/2022(c)  $749,000    822,027 
Rivers Pittsburgh Borrower LP/Rivers Pittsburgh Finance Corp.         
6.13%, 08/15/2021(c)   732,000    708,210 
           1,530,237 
             
COMMERCIAL SERVICES (2.45%)         
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.         
8.00%, 05/15/2022   100,000    102,250 
iPayment, Inc.          
10.75%, 04/15/2024(c)   1,108,000    1,234,645 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description     Principal Amount     Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMERCIAL SERVICES (2.45%) (continued)              
RR Donnelley & Sons Co.                
6.00%, 04/01/2024   $ 600,000     $ 590,250  
6.50%, 11/15/2023     6,206,000       6,294,746  
7.00%, 02/15/2022     122,000       127,642  
8.88%, 04/15/2021     740,000       793,724  
                9,143,257  
                   
COMPUTERS (3.14%)                
Everi Payments, Inc.                
7.50%, 12/15/2025(c)     2,499,000       2,536,485  
Harland Clarke Holdings Corp.                
8.38%, 08/15/2022(c)     134,000       137,685  
9.25%, 03/01/2021(b)(c)     8,758,000       9,075,477  
                11,749,647  
                   
ENTERTAINMENT (0.98%)                
Mohegan Tribal Gaming                
7.88%, 10/15/2024(c)     3,668,000       3,681,755  
                   
                   
EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION (0.04%)              
Endeavor Energy Resources LP / EER Finance, Inc.              
5.50%, 01/30/2026(c)     157,000       158,178  
                   
                   
FOOD (0.54%)                  
Dean Foods Co.                
6.50%, 03/15/2023(c)     2,082,000       2,001,323  
                   
                   
FOREST PRODUCTS & PAPER (2.26%)              
Mercer International, Inc.                
5.50%, 01/15/2026(c)     152,000       149,720  
Resolute Forest Products, Inc.                
5.88%, 05/15/2023(b)     8,102,000       8,294,422  
                8,444,142  
                   
HEALTHCARE-SERVICES (2.00%)              
One Call Corp.                
7.50%, 07/01/2024(c)     4,676,000       4,629,240  
10.00%, 10/01/2024(c)     3,171,000       2,845,972  
                7,475,212  
                   
MACHINERY (0.27%)                
Navistar International Corp.                
6.63%, 11/01/2025(c)     713,000       743,303  
Titan International, Inc.                
6.50%, 11/30/2023(c)     276,000       280,747  
                1,024,050  
                   
MEDIA (1.23%)                  
Cequel Communications Holdings LLC / Ceque Capital Corp.              
7.50%, 04/01/2028(c)     225,000       229,219  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description     Principal Amount       Value
(Note 2)
 
MEDIA (1.23%) (continued)                
Lee Enterprises, Inc.                
9.50%,   03/15/2022(c)   $ 1,676,000     $ 1,745,135  
Meredith Corp.                
6.88%,   02/01/2026(c)     2,597,000       2,635,955  
                  4,610,309  
                     
OIL & GAS (0.19%)              
Jonah Energy LLC / Jonah Energy Finance Corp.              
7.25%,   10/15/2025(c)     581,000       467,705  
Par Petroleum LLC / Petroleum Finance Corp.                
7.75%,   12/15/2025(c)     241,000       245,820  
                  713,525  
                     
OIL & GAS SERVICES (0.06%)                
USA Compression Partners LP / USA Compression Finance Corp.                
6.88%,   04/01/2026(c)     206,000       210,892  
                     
                     
PIPELINES (0.05%)                
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC                
5.13%,   06/30/2027     198,000       193,793  
                     
                     
PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING (3.85%)                
American Media, Inc.                
0.00%,   03/01/2022(c)(d)     12,310,000       10,601,988  
McClatchy Co.                
6.88%,   03/15/2029     2,318,000       2,958,347  
7.15%,   11/01/2027     346,000       397,035  
9.00%,   12/15/2022     402,000       423,105  
                  14,380,475  
                     
REAL ESTATE (0.33%)                
Hunt Cos., Inc.                
6.25%,   02/15/2026(c)     1,284,000       1,226,220  
                     
REFINING & MARKETING (0.43%)                
Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP / Calumet Finance Corp.                
6.50%,   04/15/2021     1,471,000       1,459,968  
7.75%,   04/15/2023     151,000       149,490  
                  1,609,458  
                     
RETAIL (0.64%)                
Golden Nugget, Inc.                
6.75%,   10/15/2024(c)     834,000       848,595  
8.75%,   10/01/2025(c)     1,487,000       1,557,632  
                  2,406,227  
                     
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS                
(Cost $67,221,125)             70,558,700  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Principal Amount/Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (7.11%)          
MONEY MARKET FUNDS (7.11%)          
Dreyfus Treasury Cash Management Fund, Institutional Class, 7-day yield, 1.537% (b)   26,575,772   $26,575,772 
           
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS          
(Cost $26,575,772)        26,575,772 
          
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (76.66%)          
(Cost $284,162,430)       $286,619,065 
           
SEGREGATED CASH WITH BROKERS (28.76%)(e)        107,519,007 
           
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT (-5.23%)          
(Proceeds $19,667,238)       $(19,539,515)
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (-0.19%)        (733,638)
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $373,864,919 

 

SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT

 

Description  Principal   Value
(Note 2)
 
CORPORATE BONDS (-2.86%)          
CASINO & GAMBLING (-0.22%)          
CRC Escrow Issuer LLC / CRC Finco, Inc.          
5.25%, 10/15/2025(c)  $(874,000)  $(836,855)
           
CHEMICALS (-0.49%)          
CVR Partners LP / CVR Nitrogen Finance Corp.          
9.25%, 6/15/2023(c)   (1,758,000)   (1,815,135)
           
COMPUTERS (-0.44%)          
West Corp.          
8.50%, 10/15/2025(c)   (1,708,000)   (1,656,760)
           
HEALTHCARE-SERVICES (-0.09%)          
West Street Merger Sub, Inc.          
6.38%, 9/1/2025(c)   (331,000)   (326,863)
           
OIL & GAS (-0.12%)          
Precision Drilling Corp.          
7.13%, 1/15/2026(c)   (455,000)   (460,688)
           
PHARMACEUTICALS (-1.11%)          
Mylan NV          
3.95%, 6/15/2026   (608,000)   (578,072)
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV          
6.75%, 3/1/2028(c)   (2,836,000)   (2,803,405)
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV          
3.15%, 10/1/2026   (945,000)   (753,791)
         (4,135,268)

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Principal   Value
(Note 2)
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (-0.39%)        
GTT Communications, Inc.          
7.88%, 12/31/2024(c)  $(1,147,000)  $(1,175,675)
Plantronics, Inc.          
5.50%, 5/31/2023(c)   (288,000)   (288,720)
         (1,464,395)
           
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS          
(Proceeds $10,875,668)        (10,695,964)
           
Description   Shares    Value
(Note 2)
 
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (-2.37%)          
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR® Fund   (4,941)   (249,273)
Health Care Select Sector SPDR® Fund   (15,389)   (1,265,899)
iShares® 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF   (14,433)   (1,718,970)
iShares® 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF   (8,659)   (880,620)
iShares® Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF   (989)   (102,510)
SPDR® S&P Biotech ETF   (1,173)   (102,028)
SPDR® S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF   (12,680)   (510,624)
SPDR® S&P Retail ETF   (22,646)   (1,023,146)
Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund   (9,519)   (490,800)
Vaneck Vectors Pharmaceutical ETF   (9,322)   (528,184)
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF   (36,108)   (1,971,497)
         (8,843,551)
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS (-2.37%)          
(Proceeds $8,791,570)        (8,843,551)
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT          
(Proceeds $19,667,238)       $(19,539,515)

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

(b)Security position either entirely or partially held in a segregated account as collateral for securities sold short and total return swaps. Aggregate total fair value of $138,419,361.

(c)Security exempt from registration under rule 144A of the securities act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At period end, the fair value of those securities held in long positions was $48,773,928 and the value of the securities held in short positions was $(9,364,101). This totals $39,409,827, which represents 10.54% of the Fund's net assets.

(d)Issued with a zero coupon. Income is recognized through the accretion of discount.

(e)Includes cash which is being held as collateral for securities sold short and total return swap contracts.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS*

 

Counterparty  Reference Obligation  Notional Amount   Value   Rate Paid by
the Fund
  Termination
Date
  Unrealized Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
Morgan Stanley  BHDG Systematic Trading Segregated Portfolio(a)  $18,315,069   $18,265,650   1-Month LIBOR BBA  09/13/2018  $(49,419)
Morgan Stanley  Clinton Segregated Portfolio(b)   19,438,073    19,223,352   1-Month LIBOR BBA  09/13/2018   (214,721)
Morgan Stanley  iBoxx USD Liquid IG   (1,870,000)   (1,853,704)  3-Month LIBOR BBA  06/20/2018   16,296 
Morgan Stanley  iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index   (6,000,000)   (5,995,286)  3-Month LIBOR BBA  06/20/2018   4,714 
Morgan Stanley  iBoxx USD Liquid IG   (560,000)   (560,548)  3-Month LIBOR BBA  06/20/2018   (548)
Morgan Stanley  iBoxx USD Liquid IG   (2,745,000)   (2,750,748)  3-Month LIBOR BBA  06/20/2018   (5,748)
Morgan Stanley  iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index   (1,420,000)   (1,416,087)  3-Month LIBOR BBA  06/20/2018   3,913 
Morgan Stanley  Long/Short Segregated Portfolio(c)   44,055,822    43,926,147   1-Month LIBOR BBA  03/20/2019   (129,675)
Morgan Stanley  Melchior Segregated Portfolio(d)   44,604,786    44,757,707   1-Month LIBOR BBA  03/20/2019   152,921 
Morgan Stanley  PSAM Highland(e)   54,696,257    54,638,205   1-Month EURIBOR  06/03/2021   (58,052)
Morgan Stanley  WABR(f)   37,332,696    37,436,446   1-Month LIBOR BBA  09/01/2020   103,750 
      $205,847,703   $205,671,134         $(176,569)

 

*For the long positions, the Fund receives payments based on any positive return of the Reference Obligation less the rate paid by the Fund. The Fund makes payments on any negative return of such Reference Obligation plus the rate paid by the Fund. For short positions, the Fund receives payments based on any negative return of the Reference Obligation less the rate received by the fund. The Fund makes payments on any positive return of such Reference obligation plus the rate received by the Fund. Payments are made weekly.

(a)BHDG Systematic Trading Segregated Portfolio is a quantitative trend following strategy that uses futures and forward foreign currency contracts. BHDG will employ some short, medium, and long term signals. Interest rate, commodity, equity, and sovereign debt futures will be used. Any asset class may have net long or short exposure, and exposures in aggregate may be net long or short.

(b)Clinton Segregated Portfolio is a global, quantitative equity market neutral strategy. The Portfolio will invest in large, mid, and small cap stocks in developed and some emerging markets. The strategy will also attempt to minimize net exposure to any given country or sector. The strategy attempts to generate returns primarily through trading value, momentum, and mean reversion models.

(c)Long/Short Segregated Portfolio is a European equity long/short strategy that employs a flexible, low-net strategy (0% to 50%), and long exposure will vary between 60% and 100%. The portfolio is primarily comprised of large and mid-cap stocks listed on European exchanges.

(d)Melchior Segregated Portfolio is a global equity long/short strategy that uses a long-biased strategy that is focused on cyclical sectors. The strategy has a net exposure that ranges between 50% and 80%, and long exposure varies between 80% and 100%. The strategy is comprised of large cap stocks listed on exchanges of developed and emerging market countries.

(e)PSAM Highland employs an event driven strategy. The fund will primarily make investments in equity special situations and merger arbitrage. The strategy will also opportunistically allocate to liquid high yield credit positions when trading at stressed levels. The strategy will employ gross long exposure of up to 120%, and net exposure will typically vary from 40% to 80%.

(f)WABR incorporates an absolute return oriented approach within a risk parity framework. Active absolute return strategies include fundamental long/short equity, credit relative value, discretionary macro, and equity market neutral strategies. The strategy also maintains a passive risk weighted allocation to equities and fixed income, but each of the three allocations is equally risk weighted subject to a 40% limit on the absolute return allocation. Gross equity long exposure will typically be 140% or less, and net equity exposure will vary between 5% and 35%.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

BHDG SYSTEMATIC TRADING SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO

 

Description  Contracts   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
AUD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,933,607   $2,209,170    12.09%
EUR TO PLN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,445,005    2,963,457    16.22%
EUR TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   6,946,611    8,419,606    46.10%
GBP TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,971,012    4,099,337    22.44%
INR TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   127,694,734    1,912,336    10.47%
JPY TO AUD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   270,087,739    2,479,056    13.57%
JPY TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   459,951,122    4,221,757    23.11%
KRW TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,923,155,137    2,733,222    14.96%
MXN TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   43,480,439    2,308,392    12.64%
NOK TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   17,729,888    2,214,073    12.12%
NZD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   3,024,447    2,127,712    11.65%
PLN TO EUR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   10,318,389    2,942,175    16.11%
SGD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   6,599,280    4,982,382    27.28%
USD TO AUD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   3,453,893    3,453,893    18.91%
USD TO CAD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,222,247    2,222,247    12.17%
USD TO EUR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   8,595,296    8,595,296    47.06%
USD TO GBP FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   3,018,125    3,018,125    16.52%
USD TO INR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   3,286,042    3,286,042    17.99%
USD TO JPY FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   4,394,673    4,394,673    24.06%
USD TO KRW FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,434,248    2,434,248    13.33%
USD TO MXN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,025,604    2,025,604    11.09%
USD TO NOK FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,127,569    2,127,569    11.65%
USD TO NZD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   2,224,298    2,224,298    12.18%
USD TO PLN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   1,883,457    1,883,457    10.31%
USD TO SGD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   4,616,279    4,616,278    25.27%
         83,894,405    459.30%
TOTAL LONG       $83,894,405    459.30%
                
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT               
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
AUD TO JPY FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (3,275,594)   (2,466,706)   -13.50%
AUD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (4,493,923)   (3,384,175)   -18.53%
CAD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,858,797)   (2,229,634)   -12.20%
EUR TO PLN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,449,120)   (2,968,444)   -16.25%
EUR TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (6,973,328)   (8,451,990)   -46.27%
GBP TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,158,793)   (2,978,655)   -16.31%
INR TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (217,236,546)   (3,253,300)   -17.81%
JPY TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (471,621,428)   (4,328,875)   -23.70%
KRW TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,611,081,325)   (2,441,425)   -13.37%
MXN TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (38,243,763)   (2,030,375)   -11.11%
NOK TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (16,730,645)   (2,089,289)   -11.44%
NZD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (3,099,257)   (2,180,341)   -11.94%
PLN TO EUR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (10,355,793)   (2,952,840)   -16.17%
SGD TO USD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (6,096,987)   (4,603,156)   -25.20%
USD TO AUD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,282,857)   (2,282,857)   -12.50%
USD TO EUR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (8,628,687)   (8,628,687)   -47.24%
USD TO GBP FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (4,161,036)   (4,161,036)   -22.78%
USD TO INR FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (1,943,201)   (1,943,201)   -10.64%
USD TO JPY FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (4,348,508)   (4,348,508)   -23.81%
USD TO KRW FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,752,196)   (2,752,196)   -15.07%
USD TO MXN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,331,383)   (2,331,383)   -12.76%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Contracts   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS (CONTINUED)               
USD TO NOK FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,290,840)   (2,290,840)   -12.54%
USD TO NZD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (2,208,082)   (2,208,082)   -12.09%
USD TO SGD FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (5,032,673)   (5,032,673)   -27.55%
USD TO PLN FORWARD SD : 20-Jun-2018   (1,907,871)   (1,907,871)   -10.45%
         (84,246,539)   -461.23%
TOTAL SHORT       $(84,246,539)   -461.23%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $18,617,784    101.93%
TOTAL VALUE       $18,265,650      

 

CLINTON SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO

 

Description   Notional    Value    Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
EQUITY SWAPS               
AGL Energy Ltd.   12,843   $(23,216)   -0.12%
Anhui Conch Cement Co Ltd-H   17,837    14,763    0.08%
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.   12,243    43,287    0.22%
B3 SA - Brasil Bolsa Balcao   43,149    (25,606)   -0.13%
Clicks Group Ltd   4,453    15,177    0.08%
Country Garden Holdings Co.   69,221    16,587    0.09%
Covestro AG   2,181    (22,524)   -0.12%
Deutsche Lufthansa   7,009    16,727    0.09%
Ence Energia Y Celulosa SA   14,503    17,275    0.09%
Gol Linhas Aereas Int.   33,644    (24,040)   -0.13%
Hiwin Technologies Corp.   5,417    16,855    0.09%
LG Display Co Ltd.   6,291    (28,248)   -0.15%
Localiza Rent-A-Car   33,698    (17,754)   -0.09%
Mixi Inc.   1,281    (15,220)   -0.08%
Mondi Ltd.   5,336    15,586    0.08%
Phison Electronics Corp.   8,069    (21,032)   -0.11%
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB   2,528    14,721    0.08%
Western Digital Corp.   1,789    (18,272)   -0.10%
Zhongsheng Group Holdings   22,995    14,558    0.08%
         (10,376)   -0.05%
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
HKD TO USD FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   428,379    54,580    0.28%
USD TO NOK FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   41,773    41,773    0.22%
USD TO SEK FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   52,009    52,009    0.27%
USD TO EUR FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   26,273    26,273    0.14%
         174,635    0.91%
TOTAL LONG       $164,259    0.86%
                
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT               
EQUITY SWAPS               
Baic Motor Corp Ltd. - Class H   (36,119)   14,830    0.08%
Boskalis Westminster   (5,842)   21,116    0.11%
BRF SA   (55,644)   29,847    0.16%
Brilliance China Automotive   (34,892)   14,928    0.08%
CCR SA   (123,786)   26,641    0.14%
China Jinmao Holdings Group   (209,887)   (14,957)   -0.08%
China Longyuan Power Group - Class H   (117,800)   (26,263)   -0.14%
China Resources Land Ltd.   (33,957)   (23,309)   -0.12%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Notional   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
EQUITY SWAPS (CONTINUED)               
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc   (347)   (19,351)   -0.10%
Delta Electronics Inc.   (39,569)   42,978    0.22%
Dish Network Corp - Class A   (3,944)   17,644    0.09%
Ericsson LM - B Shares   (15,731)   (19,613)   -0.10%
First Data Corp- Class A   (5,107)   (14,464)   -0.08%
Henry Schein Inc.   (3,313)   (27,141)   -0.14%
Hon Hai Precision Industry   (105,917)   31,449    0.16%
Intrum AB   (2,126)   15,443    0.08%
Lojas Americanas SA - Preferred Stock   (65,054)   (34,144)   -0.18%
Match Group Inc.   (1,670)   (19,865)   -0.10%
Sartorius Ag-Vorzug   (350)   (18,830)   -0.10%
Telefonica Brasil   (22,267)   22,544    0.12%
Telstra Corp. Ltd.   (104,798)   31,045    0.16%
Winbond Electronics Corp.   (94,054)   25,890    0.13%
Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings   (29,846)   21,496    0.11%
         97,914    0.50%
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
NOK TO USD FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   (333,625)   (41,636)   -0.22%
SEK TO USD FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   (452,366)   (51,715)   -0.27%
USD TO HKD FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   (54,610)   (54,610)   -0.28%
EUR TO USD FORWARD SD : 02-MAY-2018   (21,745)   (26,262)   -0.14%
         (174,223)   -0.91%
TOTAL SHORT       $(76,309)   -0.41%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $19,135,402    99.55%
TOTAL VALUE       $19,223,352      

 

LONG/SHORT SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO

 

Description   Notional/Shares    Value    Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
COMMON STOCKS               
American Airlines Group Inc.   8,304   $356,491    0.81%
Apple Inc.   2,713    448,350    1.02%
Boeing Co.   698    232,825    0.53%
Booking Holdings Inc.   153    333,234    0.76%
Brunswick Corp.   27,594    1,652,329    3.76%
Buzzi Unicem SPA   12,494    316,894    0.72%
Canfor Corp.   61,656    1,418,059    3.23%
Constellation Brands Inc. - Class A   3,174    739,955    1.69%
Dr Horton Inc.   12,854    567,376    1.29%
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.   104,419    1,506,591    3.43%
Hess Corp.   28,513    1,624,956    3.70%
Hudson Ltd. - Class A   14,442    214,175    0.49%
Kansas City Southern   8,995    959,137    2.18%
Marinemax Inc.   37,613    812,441    1.85%
Marriott International - Class A   6,649    908,785    2.07%
Microsoft Corp.   9,320    871,606    1.98%
Mosaic Co.   12,749    343,585    0.78%
Navistar International Corp.   30,299    1,054,708    2.40%
Newfield Exploration Co.   16,794    500,461    1.14%
Nintendo Co. Ltd.   1,104    467,094    1.06%
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings   30,981    1,656,554    3.77%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Notional/Shares   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)               
Rpc Inc.   12,284    221,235    0.50%
Seaworld Entertainment Inc.   44,328    668,910    1.52%
Sherwin-Williams Co.   589    216,552    0.49%
Smith (A.O.) Corp.   3,637    223,130    0.51%
Southwest Airlines Co.   25,495    1,346,901    3.07%
Summit Materials Inc. - Class A   19,763    556,131    1.27%
Swatch Group AG   542    262,126    0.60%
Teck Resources Ltd. - Class B   117,229    2,945,965    6.71%
Union Pacific Corp.   4,024    537,727    1.22%
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.   11,693    793,121    1.81%
         24,757,404    56.36%
EQUITY SWAPS               
NVR ORD (NYS)   721    885,044    2.01%
RIO TINTO ADR REP ONE ORD (NYS)   32,054    283,809    0.65%
         1,168,853    2.66%
TOTAL LONG       $25,926,257    59.02%
                
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT               
COMMON STOCKS               
Ana Holdings Inc.   (7,782)   (309,497)   -0.70%
Domtar Corp.   (5,144)   (225,822)   -0.51%
Eaton Corp PLC   (3,047)   (228,616)   -0.52%
Ferrari NV   (2,002)   (245,605)   -0.56%
Ishares Stoxx Europe 600   (11,688)   (540,995)   -1.23%
Kaiser Aluminum Corp.   (2,592)   (255,416)   -0.58%
Kirby Corp.   (3,286)   (280,296)   -0.64%
Louisiana-Pacific Corp.   (9,541)   (270,297)   -0.62%
Meritage Homes Corp.   (6,392)   (284,444)   -0.65%
Penske Automotive Group Inc.   (6,007)   (270,916)   -0.62%
Regal Beloit Corp.   (7,452)   (530,582)   -1.21%
Ryman Hospitality Properties   (3,249)   (254,657)   -0.58%
Terex Corp.   (7,865)   (287,230)   -0.65%
Tesla Inc.   (777)   (228,360)   -0.52%
Timken   (4,811)   (205,670)   -0.47%
Vail Resorts Inc.   (2,704)   (620,054)   -1.41%
Valmont Industries   (2,689)   (382,107)   -0.87%
         (5,420,563)   -12.34%
TOTAL SHORT       $(5,420,563)   -12.34%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $23,420,453    53.32%
TOTAL VALUE       $43,926,147      

 

MELCHIOR SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO

 

Description   Notional/Contracts    Value    Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCE               
Alten SA   9,064   $73,447    0.16%
Altran Technologies SA   55,808    67,387    0.15%
Ascential Plc   86,211    69,259    0.16%
Asr Nederland NV   32,842    228,379    0.51%
Befesa SA   27,512    67,474    0.15%
Erste Group Bank AG   26,211    79,758    0.18%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

  April 30, 2018

 

Description  Notional/Contracts   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCE (CONTINUED)               
Ferguson PLC   20,350    61,710    0.14%
Finecobank SPA   90,303    149,949    0.33%
Fluidra SA   58,402    58,700    0.13%
Orange   34,063    44,239    0.10%
Howden Joinery Group PLC   194,087    87,048    0.19%
Ing Groep NV   64,850    (50,037)   -0.11%
Inmobiliaria Colonial Socimi   92,434    200,778    0.45%
Jd Sports Fashion PLC   200,233    99,133    0.22%
Jungheinrich - Preferred Stock   23,101    (38,174)   -0.09%
Lonza Group AG   2,761    44,889    0.10%
Moncler SPA   11,555    172,902    0.39%
Ovs SPA   74,193    (189,243)   -0.42%
Prosegur Cash SA   1,021,653    (163,033)   -0.36%
Prudential PLC   73,266    63,392    0.14%
Sbanken ASA   71,106    (50,581)   -0.11%
Shire PLC   15,149    44,814    0.10%
Total SA   18,308    134,687    0.30%
Unicredit SPA   35,411    39,537    0.09%
Compass Group PLC   75,688    35,700    0.08%
Gima TT SPA   39,403    (28,750)   -0.06%
MTU Aero Engines AG   4,989    35,463    0.08%
Ryanair Holdings PLC   55,090    (29,244)   -0.07%
Bayer AG   4,977    26,729    0.06%
         1,336,312    2.99%
INDEX OPTIONS               
DJ Euro STOXX 50 Euro Price Put @ 3300.0, June 18   219    46,239    0.10%
         46,239    0.10%
COMMON STOCKS               
Grifols SA   76,371    1,551,856    3.47%
         1,551,856    3.47%
TOTAL LONG       $2,934,407    6.56%
                
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT               
CONTRACTS FOR DIFFERENCE               
Babcock International Group PLC   (112,732)   (92,223)   -0.20%
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG   (6,787)   (53,549)   -0.12%
Bca Marketplace PLC   (154,871)   (51,223)   -0.11%
FTSE MID 250 INDEX   (87)   (39,271)   -0.09%
Marine Harvest   (25,435)   (43,861)   -0.10%
Nmc Health PLC   (12,983)   (48,119)   -0.11%
Norwegian Air Shuttle AS   (18,176)   (62,192)   -0.14%
Orpea   (3,630)   (43,306)   -0.10%
Pandora A/S   (10,551)   (56,974)   -0.13%
Pearson PLC   (62,332)   (58,985)   -0.13%
Pets At Home Group PLC   (285,468)   67,688    0.15%
Publicis Groupe   (12,041)   (59,114)   -0.13%
Signify NV   (31,620)   150,486    0.33%
Wirecard AG   (6,771)   (105,248)   -0.24%
Arcadis NV   (37,019)   (33,766)   -0.08%
Banco de Sabadell SA   (312,223)   25,278    0.07%
         (504,379)   -1.13%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Notional/Contracts   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
EQUITY FUTURES               
DAX Mini Future Jun18   (48)   (99,391)   -0.22%
EURO STOXX 50 Jun18   (122)   (91,377)   -0.20%
FTSE 100 IDX FUT Jun18   (35)   (204,475)   -0.46%
         (395,243)   -0.88%
TOTAL SHORTS       $(899,621)   -2.01%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $42,722,921    95.45%
TOTAL VALUE       $44,757,707      

 

PSAM HIGHLAND

 

Description  Principal/ Shares/Notional   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
COMMON STOCKS               
ABLYNX   10,063   $544,175    1.00%
Aetna Inc.   15,436    2,763,685    5.06%
Alpine Electronics   19,261    368,034    0.67%
Altaba Inc.   5,576    390,740    0.72%
Calpine Corp.   58,049    885,212    1.62%
Conduent Inc.   44,824    872,241    1.60%
Dell Technologies Inc. - Class V   15,558    1,116,566    2.04%
Grupo Televisa SA   47,942    859,086    1.57%
Hain Celestial Group Inc.   17,659    514,393    0.94%
Kapstone Paper And Packaging   29,061    1,000,241    1.83%
Linn Energy Inc.   44,551    1,746,323    3.20%
McKesson Europe AG   56,188    1,791,309    3.28%
Microsemi Corp.   16,647    1,076,868    1.97%
Monsanto Co.   15,982    2,003,558    3.67%
Nxp Semiconductors NV   34,341    3,602,219    6.59%
Ocean Outdoor Ltd   29,314    280,671    0.51%
Qurate Retail Inc.   42,601    997,246    1.83%
Schulman (A.) Inc.   28,633    1,234,187    2.26%
TDC A/S   184,204    1,500,265    2.75%
Telecom Italia   1,937,716    1,914,578    3.50%
Time Warner Inc.   36,388    3,464,069    6.34%
Trinity Industries Inc.   28,644    912,858    1.67%
Twenty-First Century Fox - Class A   14,842    542,619    0.99%
VIVENDI   23,383    618,107    1.13%
Xl Group Ltd.   31,665    1,760,193    3.22%
         32,759,443    59.96%
CORPORATE BONDS               
Bruce Mansfield, 6.85%, 06-01-2034   1,902,333    598,100    1.09%
Genon Energy Inc, 9.50%, 10-15-2018   758,465    619,072    1.13%
Genon Energy Inc, 9.875%, 10-15-2020   1,151,154    941,390    1.72%
Genon Energy Inc., 7.875%, 06-15-2018   509,336    425,278    0.78%
Hexion Inc., 10.375%, 02-01-2022   585,539    584,600    1.07%
Hexion Inc., 9.00%, 11-15-2020   713,709    589,857    1.08%
Mariposa Borrower Inc., 8.00%, 10-15-2021   1,094,652    748,225    1.37%
Monitronics International Inc., 9.125%, 04-01-2020   541,750    387,392    0.71%
Telecom Italia SPA, 5.303%, 05-30-2024   739,358    769,451    1.41%
         5,663,365    10.36%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Principal/ Shares/Notional   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
EQUITY SWAPS               
Altaba Inc.   23,131    727,821    1.33%
Melrose Industries PLC   176,705    554,573    1.01%
Sky PLC   233,105    1,321,935    2.42%
         2,604,329    4.76%
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
USD TO MXN FORWARD SD : 31-May-2018   842,276    840,568    1.54%
         840,568    1.54%
TOTAL LONG       $41,867,705    76.62%
                
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT               
COMMON STOCKS               
Alibaba Group Holding   (2,243)   (400,406)   -0.73%
At&T Inc.   (46,523)   (1,544,488)   -2.83%
Cvs Health Corp.   (8,286)   (583,374)   -1.07%
Unitedhealth Group Inc   (1,332)   (314,827)   -0.58%
Vmware Inc. - Class A   (4,694)   (625,563)   -1.14%
Walt Disney Co.   (8,552)   (857,960)   -1.57%
         (4,326,618)   -7.92%
CORPORATE BONDS               
Mattell Inc, 6.75%, 12-31-2025   (370,831)   (371,793)   -0.68%
Pacific Gas & Electric, 3.5%, 10-01-2020   (496,920)   (500,313)   -0.92%
Pacific Gas & Electric, 6.05%, 03-01-2034   (592,453)   (700,013)   -1.28%
Vistra Energy Corp., 7.625%, 11-01-2024   (243,553)   (271,094)   -0.50%
         (1,843,213)   -3.38%
EQUITY SWAPS               
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.   (5,885)   (278,151)   -0.51%
         (278,151)   -0.51%
OUTSTANDING FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY CONTRACTS               
MXN TO USD FORWARD SD : 31-May-2018   (15,780,112)   (838,705)   -1.54%
         (838,705)   -1.54%
TOTAL SHORT       $(7,286,687)   -13.35%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $20,057,187    36.73%
TOTAL VALUE       $54,638,205      

 

WABR CAYMAN COMPANY LIMITED

 

Description  Principal/Shares   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
LONG SECURITIES               
COMMON STOCKS               
American Campus Communities   12,960   $506,866    1.35%
American Homes 4 Rent Class A REIT   16,313    329,523    0.88%
Apartment Invt & Mgmt Co. - Class A   10,203    414,242    1.11%
Avalonbay Communities Inc.   4,557    742,791    1.98%
Boston Properties Inc.   4,489    545,009    1.45%
Corporate Office Properties   16,319    448,936    1.20%
Eastgroup Properties Inc.   4,492    403,292    1.08%
Equity Lifestyle Properties   4,548    405,500    1.08%
Hudson Pacific Properties Inc.   13,680    449,662    1.20%
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF   39,612    4,028,540    10.76%
iShares Iboxx Investment Grade   34,915    4,022,906    10.75%
iShares Iboxx USD High Yield Corporate Bond Fund ETF   48,079    4,120,370    11.01%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Principal/Shares   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
COMMON STOCKS (CONTINUED)               
Kilroy Realty Corp.   5,256    376,698    1.01%
Liberty Property Trust   13,287    555,662    1.48%
Paramount Group Inc.   31,481    451,752    1.21%
Pwr S&P 500 Eqqual Weight   20,060    2,002,991    5.35%
Vici Properties Inc.   43,200    785,376    2.10%
         20,590,116    55.00%
CORPORATE BONDS               
Aleris International Inc., 7.8750%, 11-01-2020   1,480,000    1,465,200    3.91%
Citgo Holding Inc., 10.75% , 02-15-2020   600,000    638,250    1.71%
Citgo Petroleum Corp., 6.25%, 08-15-2022   370,000    371,850    0.99%
Cvs Health Corp., 5.05%, 03-25-2048   340,000    348,426    0.93%
Djo Finance LLC/DJO Finance Corp., 8.125%, 06-15-2021   340,000    342,975    0.92%
General Mills Inc., 4.20%, 04-17-2028   345,000    341,637    0.91%
Global A&T Electronics, 8.50%, 01-12-2023   400,000    402,000    1.07%
Hexion Inc., 10.375%, 02-01-2022   370,000    359,825    0.96%
HSBC 3H, Floating Rate, 04-27-2049   510,000    448,392    1.20%
K Hovnanian Enterprises, 10.50%, 07-15-2024   560,000    575,400    1.54%
Natural Resource Partners LP, 10.50%, 03-15-2022   545,000    585,875    1.57%
Teekay Offshore Partners, 6.00%, 07-30-2019   866,000    869,248    2.32%
Vertiv Group Corp., 9.25%, 10-15-2024   370,000    375,550    1.00%
         7,124,628    19.03%
GOVERNMENT BONDS               
US TREASURY BOND, 2.75%, 11-15-2047   1,058,000    987,325    2.64%
US TREASURY NOTE, 2.125%, 09-30-2024   346,000    330,803    0.88%
         1,318,128    3.52%
TOTAL LONG       $29,032,872    77.55%
                
SHORT SECURITIES               
COMMON STOCKS               
Alexandria Real Estate Equity   (3,096)   (385,669)   -1.03%
Brandywine Realty Trust   (23,054)   (371,400)   -0.99%
Douglas Emmett Inc.   (11,376)   (423,983)   -1.13%
Duke Realty Corp.   (15,183)   (411,459)   -1.10%
Education Realty Trust Inc.   (15,480)   (509,447)   -1.36%
Equity Residential   (8,261)   (509,786)   -1.36%
Essex Property Trust Inc.   (1,384)   (331,731)   -0.89%
Ishares 20+ Year Treasury Bond   (2,880)   (343,008)   -0.92%
Mid-America Apartment Communities   (4,208)   (384,864)   -1.03%
Sl Green Realty Corp.   (5,875)   (574,223)   -1.53%
SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF   (32,928)   (1,181,127)   -3.15%
Vanguard Real Estate ETF   (6,768)   (514,977)   -1.38%
Vornado Realty Trust   (6,942)   (472,264)   -1.26%
         (6,413,938)   -17.13%
CORPORATE BONDS               
Gamestop Corp., 6.75%, 03-15-2021   (403,000)   (410,052)   -1.10%
GE Capital International Funding, 4.4180%, 11-15-2035   (1,075,000)   (1,034,126)   -2.76%
Standard Chartered PLC, 4.30%, 02-19-2027   (365,000)   (356,322)   -0.95%
         (1,800,500)   -4.81%

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.  

 

24

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Schedule of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

Description  Principal/Shares   Value   Percentage
of Value
 
GOVERNMENT BONDS               
Republic of Turkey, 7.3750%, 02-05-2025   (330,000)   (363,413)   -0.97%
US Treasury Note, 2.7500%, 02-15-2028   (865,000)   (851,531)   -2.28%
         (1,214,943)   -3.25%
TOTAL SHORT       $(9,429,382)   -25.19%
                
REMAINING SECURITIES, CASH AND OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES       $17,832,956    47.64%
TOTAL VALUE       $37,436,446      

 

Common Abbreviations:

 

AQR - AQR Capital Management LLC.

BBA - British Bankers Association.

EURIBOR - Euro Interbank Offered Rate.

LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate.  

PIMCO - Pacific Investment Management Company.

S&P - Standard & Poor's.

SPDR - Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipt.

 

Currency Abbreviations:

 

AUD - Australian Dollar

EUR - Euro

GBP - Great British Pound

HKD - Hong Kong Dollar

INR - India Rupee

JPY - Japan Yen

KRW - South Korea Won

MXN - Mexico Peso

NOK - Norwegian Krone

NZD - New Zealand Dollar

PLN - Poland Zloty

SEK - Swedish Krona

SGD - Singapore Dollar

USD - United States Dollar

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Highland Resolute Fund 
ASSETS    
Investments, at value  $286,619,065 
Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts   281,594 
Deposits with brokers for securities sold short   18,934,809 
Deposits with brokers for total return swap contracts   88,584,198 
Cash   776 
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $695)   676 
Receivable for investments sold   451,753 
Receivable for shares sold   84,000 
Dividends receivable   212,927 
Interest receivable   1,073,894 
Other assets   45,084 
Total assets   396,288,776 
LIABILITIES     
Securities sold short (Proceeds $19,667,238)   19,539,515 
Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts   458,163 
Investment advisory fees payable   104,110 
Distributions and service fees payable   82,044 
Payable for interest expense on securities sold short   162,574 
Payable for interest expense on total return swap contracts   37,359 
Payable for total return swap reset   1,204,430 
Payable for investments purchased   627,381 
Trustee fees and expenses payable   3,723 
Chief compliance officer fee payable   7,437 
Principal financial officer fees payable   1,667 
Administration fees payable   61,019 
Transfer agent fees payable   18,288 
Professional fees payable   57,222 
Custody fees payable   18,273 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   40,652 
Total liabilities   22,423,857 
NET ASSETS  $373,864,919 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF     
Paid-in capital (Note 6)  $356,278,826 
Accumulated net income   5,245,979 
Accumulated net realized gain   9,932,865 
Net unrealized appreciation   2,407,249 
NET ASSETS  $373,864,919 
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $284,162,430 
PRICING OF SHARES     
Class I:     
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $10.81 
Net Assets  $373,864,919 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares, no par value common stock authorized)   34,589,249 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Highland Resolute Fund(a) 
INVESTMENT INCOME    
Dividends  $6,636,312 
Interest   5,846,515 
Foreign taxes withheld   (6,028)
Total investment income   12,476,799 
      
EXPENSES     
Investment advisory fees (Note 7)   6,121,602 
Investment advisory fee-subsidiary   291,085 
Broker fees and charges on securities sold short   45,274 
Administration fees   275,265 
Transfer agency fees   61,157 
Distribution and service fees     
Class I   82,044 
Professional fees   87,736 
Custody fees   66,374 
Reports to shareholders and printing fees   7,434 
Trustee fees and expenses   12,664 
Registration/filing fees   6,983 
Chief compliance officer fees   53,870 
Principal financial officer fees   10,000 
Offering costs   14,866 
Dividend expense on securities sold short   378,580 
Interest expense on securities sold short   660,959 
Other   23,862 
Total expenses before waivers   8,199,755 
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment adviser (Note 7)     
Class I   (4,582,706)
Waiver of investment advisory fees - subsidiary (Note 7)   (291,085)
Total net expenses   3,325,964 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   9,150,835 
Net realized gain on investments   15,997,511 
Net realized loss on securities sold short   (4,123,967)
Net realized gain on total return swap contracts   10,884,941 
Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions   234,814 
Total net realized gain   22,993,299 
      
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments   (10,547,625)
Net change in unrealized appreciation on securities sold short   1,708,592 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts   427,533 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currency transactions   (3,124)
Total net change in unrealized depreciation   (8,414,624)
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS   14,578,675 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $23,729,510 

 

(a)Prior to August 31, 2017 the Highland Resolute Fund was known as the Redmont Resolute Fund.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   Highland Resolute Fund 
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
(a)
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
(b)
 
OPERATIONS        
Net investment income  $9,150,835   $5,052,253 
Net realized gain   22,993,299    16,865,746 
Net realized gain distributions from other investment companies       2,574,206 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (8,414,624)   4,159,454 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   23,729,510    28,651,659 
DISTRIBUTIONS (NOTE 4)          
Net investment income          
Class I   (25,692,479)   (6,470,084)
Net realized gains on investments          
Class I   (6,351,925)   (778,253)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (32,044,404)   (7,248,337)
BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 6)          
Shares sold          
Class I   101,112,642    139,235,368 
Dividends reinvested          
Class I   32,044,404    7,248,336 
Shares redeemed, net of redemption fees          
Class I   (242,788,583)   (362,734,552)
Net decrease in net assets derived from beneficial interest transactions   (109,631,537)   (216,250,848)
Net decrease in Net Assets   (117,946,431)   (194,847,526)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period   491,811,350    686,658,876 
End of period*  $373,864,919   $491,811,350 
* Includes accumulated net investment income of:  $5,245,979   $10,952,159 

 

(a) Prior to August 31, 2017 the Highland Resolute Fund was known as the Redmont Resolute Fund.

(b) Prior to August 31, 2016 the Highland Resolute Fund was known as the Redmont Resolute Fund II.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Consolidated Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented

 

   Class I 
   For the
Year Ended
April 30,
2018
(a)
   For the
Year Ended
April 30,
2017
(b)
   For the
Year Ended
April 30,
2016
   For the
Year Ended
April 30,
2015
   For the
Year Ended
April 30,
2014
 
                     
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.14   $10.75   $11.32   $11.18   $11.05 
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS                         
Net investment income(c)   0.25    0.09    0.16    0.20    0.13 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments   0.38    0.45    (0.39)   0.26    0.19 
Total from Investment Operations   0.63    0.54    (0.23)   0.46    0.32 
                          
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS                         
Net investment income   (0.77)   (0.13)   (0.18)   (0.24)   (0.11)
Net realized gain on investments   (0.19)   (0.02)   (0.16)   (0.08)   (0.08)
Total Distributions   (0.96)   (0.15)   (0.34)   (0.32)   (0.19)
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE   (0.33)   0.39    (0.57)   0.14    0.13 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $10.81   $11.14   $10.75   $11.32   $11.18 
TOTAL RETURN(d)   5.51%   5.04%   (2.02)%   4.16%   2.85%
                          
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                         
Net assets, End of Period (000s)  $373,865   $491,811   $686,659   $689,266   $604,949 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:                         
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver(e)   1.94%(f)(g)   1.77%(f)(g)   1.69%(f)   1.68%(f)   1.69%(f)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver(e)   0.82%(f)   0.52%(f)   0.35%(f)   0.33%(f)   0.29%(f)
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver(e)   2.24%   0.86%   1.49%   1.79%   1.19%
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   79%   94%   27%   54%   114%
                          

 

(a)Prior to August 31, 2017 the Highland Resolute Fund was known as the Redmont Resolute Fund.
(b)Prior to August 31, 2016 the Highland Resolute Fund was known as the Redmont Resolute Fund II.
(c)Calculated using the average shares method.
(d)Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase of a common share at the opening of the first day and a sale at closing on the last day of each period reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions, if any, and are not annualized.
(e)The ratios exclude the impact of expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests as represented in the Schedule of Investments.
(f)Dividend and interest expense on securities sold short totaled 0.25%, 0.10%, 0.08%, 0.10%, and 0.08% of average net assets for the years ended April 30, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.
(g)The ratio of operating expenses excluding fee waiver/reimbursements to average net assets is calculated excluding the waived Subsidiary management fee (See Note 7 for additional detail). The ratio inclusive of that fee would be 2.01% and 1.81% for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Highland Resolute Fund (the “Fund”). Effective August 31, 2017, the Fund changed its name from Redmont Resolute Fund. The Fund seeks to provide long-term total return with reduced volatility and reduced correlation to the conventional stock and bond markets. The Fund offers Class I shares.

 

Basis of Consolidation: Highland Resolute Cayman (the “Subsidiary”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Fund. The Subsidiary’s investment objective is designed to enhance the ability of the Fund to obtain exposure to equities, financial, currency and commodities markets consistent with the limits of the U.S. federal tax law requirements applicable to registered investment companies. The Subsidiary is subject to substantially the same investment policies and investment restrictions as the Fund. The Subsidiary acts as an investment vehicle for the Fund in order to effect certain commodity-related investments on behalf of the Fund. Investments in the Subsidiary are expected to provide the Fund with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and recent IRS revenue rulings, as discussed below under “Federal Income Taxes”. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary pursuant to a subscription agreement, and it is intended that the Fund will remain the sole shareholder and will continue to control the Subsidiary. Under the Articles of Association of the Subsidiary, shares issued by the Subsidiary confer upon a shareholder the right to wholly own and vote at general meetings of the Subsidiary and certain rights in connection with any winding-up or repayment of capital, as well as the right to participate in the profits or assets of the Subsidiary. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in shares of the Subsidiary. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Fund, all assets and liabilities, income and expenses of the Subsidiary are consolidated in the financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund. All investments held by the Subsidiary are disclosed in the accounts of the Fund. As of April 30, 2018, net assets of the Fund were $373,864,919, of which $18,136,197 or 4.85%, represented the Fund’s ownership of all issued shares and voting rights of the Subsidiary.

 

2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and Subsidiary in preparation of the financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more brokers-dealers that make a market in the security. Municipal securities having a remaining maturity of greater than 60 days, are typically valued at the evaluated bid price formulated by an independent pricing service. Corporate Bonds, U.S. Government & Agency, and U.S. Treasury Bonds & Notes are valued using market models that consider trade data, quotations from dealers and active market makers, relevant yield curve and spread data, creditworthiness, trade data or market information on comparable securities, and other relevant security specific information. Mortgage-related and asset-backed securities are valued based on models that consider trade data, prepayment and default projections, benchmark yield and spread data and estimated cash flows of each tranche of the issuer. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as of the close of business of that market.

 

 

30

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Futures contracts that are listed or traded on a national securities exchange, commodities exchange, contract market or comparable over the counter market, and that are freely transferrable, are valued at their closing settlement price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded or based upon the current settlement price for a like instrument acquired on the day on which the instrument is being valued. A settlement price may not be used if the market makes a limit move with respect to a particular commodity. Over-the-counter swap contracts for which market quotations are readily available are valued based on quotes received from independent pricing services or one or more dealers that make markets in such securities. Options contracts listed for trading on a securities exchange or board of trade are valued at the last quoted sales price or, in the absence of a sale at the mean of the last bid and asked price.

 

Forward currency exchange contracts have a fair value determined by the current foreign currency exchange forward rates. The foreign currency exchange forward rates are calculated using an automated system that estimates rates on the basis of the current day foreign currency exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service. Foreign exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Highland Associates, Inc. (the “Adviser”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Fund discloses the classification of its fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of April 30, 2018:

 

Highland Resolute Fund

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Closed End Funds  $1,788,161   $   $   $1,788,161 
Common Stocks(*)   38,815,253            38,815,253 
Open-End Mutual Funds   148,702,791            148,702,791 
Purchased Put Options   178,388            178,388 
Corporate Bonds(*)       70,558,700        70,558,700 
Short Term Investments                    
Money Market Funds   26,575,772            26,575,772 
Total  $216,060,365   $70,558,700   $   $286,619,065 
                     
Other Financial Instruments**                    
Assets:                    
Total Return Swap Contracts  $   $281,594   $   $281,594 
Liabilities:                    
Corporate Bonds - Sold Short      $(10,695,964)      $(10,695,964)
Exchange Traded Funds Sold Short   (8,843,551)           (8,843,551)
Total Return Swap Contracts  $   $(458,163)  $   $(458,163)
Total   (8,843,551)  $(10,872,533)      $(19,716,084)

 

*For detailed descriptions, see the accompanying Schedule of Investments.

**Other financial instruments are derivative instruments reflected in the Schedule of Investments. The derivatives shown in the table are reported at their unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) at measurement date, which represents the change in the contract’s value from trade date.

 

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities. The following is a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Balance as of 4/30/2017   Return of Capital   Realized gain/(loss)   Change in unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation)   Purchases   Sales Proceeds   Transfer in and/or (out) of Level 3   4/30/2018   Net change in unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) attributable to Level 3 investments held at 4/30/2018 
Common Stock  $107,200   $   $(60,947)  $(130,306)  $   $84,053   $   $   $ 
Total  $107,200   $   $(60,947)  $(130,306)  $   $84,053   $   $   $ 

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Fund. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Fund are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of the Fund.

 

Offering Costs: Offering costs, including costs of printing initial prospectuses, legal and registration fees, are being amortized over twelve months from the date the Subsidiary was established. Amounts amortized during the year ended April 30, 2018 for the Fund are shown on the Statements of Operations. As of April 30, 2018, the offering costs of the Fund have been fully amortized.

 

 

32

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Federal Income Taxes: The Fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intend to distribute substantially all of their net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that the Fund will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Fund is not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year ended April 30, 2018, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund files U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Fund’s tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date basis). Net realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Fund. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion its average daily net assets.

 

Short Sales: The Fund may make short sales of securities consistent with its strategies. A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

 

When a Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is often obligated to pay over any accrued interest and dividends on such borrowed securities.

 

If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time that a Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

 

To the extent that a Fund engages in short sales, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures established by the Board and that is equal to the current market value of the securities sold short, or will ensure that such positions are covered by “offsetting” positions, until the Fund replaces the borrowed security. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. The Fund may engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent a Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Fund normally pays dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from interest and dividends and other income the Fund receives from their investments, including distributions of short term capital gains. Capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when the Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. The Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if its portfolio manager or managers believe doing so may be necessary for the Fund to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

3.  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

 

Swap Contracts: The Fund may enter into swap transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return. At the present time, the Fund primarily enters into swap transactions for the purpose of increasing total return. Risks may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to the swap contract to comply with the terms of the swap contract. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net payment to be received by the Fund and/or the termination value at the end of the contract.

 

Therefore, the Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a contract in evaluating potential credit risk. Additionally, risks may arise from unanticipated movements in interest rates or in the value of the underlying reference asset or index. Entering into these agreements involves, to varying degrees, market risk, liquidity risk and elements of credit, legal and documentation risk that are not directly reflected in the amounts recognized in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The Fund invests in total return swaps to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which there is an exchange of cash flows whereby one party commits to make payments based on the total return (coupons plus capital gains/losses) of an underlying instrument in exchange for fixed or floating rate interest payments. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. The Fund may pay or receive cash as collateral on these contracts which may be recorded as an asset and/or liability. The Fund must set aside liquid assets, or engage in other appropriate measures, to cover its obligations under these contracts. Swaps are marked to market daily using either pricing vendor quotations, counterparty prices or model prices and the change in value, if any, is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Upfront payments made and/or received by the Fund are recorded as an asset and/or liability and realized gains or losses are recognized ratably over the contract’s term/event, with the exception of forward starting interest rate swaps, whose realized gains or losses are recognized ratably from the effective start date. Periodic payments received or made on swap contracts are recorded as realized gains or losses. Gains or losses are realized upon termination of a swap contract and are recorded on the Statement of Operations. Swap agreements held at April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

 

International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements (“ISDA Master Agreements”) govern OTC financial derivative transactions entered into by the Fund and those counterparties. The ISDA Master Agreements maintain provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral and events of default or termination. Events of termination include conditions that may entitle counterparties to elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all outstanding transactions under the applicable ISDA Master Agreement. Any election to early terminate could be material to the financial statements.

 

Option Contracts: The Fund may enter into options transactions for hedging purposes and for non-hedging purposes such as seeking to enhance return. The Fund may write covered put and call options on any stocks or stock indices, currencies traded on domestic and foreign securities exchanges, or futures contracts on stock indices, interest rates and currencies traded on domestic and, to the extent permitted by the CFTC, foreign exchanges. A call option on an asset written by the Fund obligates the Fund to sell the specified asset to the holder (purchaser) at a stated price (the exercise price) if the option is exercised before a specified date (the expiration date). A put option on an asset written by a Fund obligates the Fund to buy the specified asset from the purchaser at the exercise price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. Premiums received when writing options are recorded as liabilities and are subsequently adjusted to the current value of the options written. Premiums received from writing options that expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options, which are either exercised or closed, are offset against the proceeds received or amount paid on the transaction to determine realized gains or losses which are recorded on the Statement of Operations.

 

Futures: The Fund may enter into futures contracts for hedging purposes. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit an initial margin with the broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. The Fund receives from or pays to the broker, on a daily basis, an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in value of the contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin,” and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. When the futures contract is closed, the Fund records a gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

The Fund’s potential losses from the use of futures extend beyond its initial investment in such contracts. The use of futures contracts involves, to varying degrees, elements of market risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The predominant risk is that the movement of a futures contract’s price may result in a loss, which could render the Fund’s hedging strategy unsuccessful. There is minimal counterparty credit risk since futures contracts are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default.

 

 

34

 

 

 

Highland Resolute FundNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Risk Exposure: The following tables disclose the amounts related to the Fund’s use of derivative instruments.

 

The effect of derivatives instruments on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2018 was as follows: 

 

Risk Exposure  Asset Derivatives Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location  Fair Value   Liability Derivatives Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location  Fair Value 
Highland Resolute Fund              
Equity Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts)  Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts  $256,671   Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts  $451,867 
Interest Rate Contracts (Total Return Swap Contracts)  Unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts   24,923   Unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts   6,296 
Equity Contracts (Purchased Options)  Investments, at value   178,388   N/A   N/A 
Total     $459,982      $458,163 

 

The effect of derivatives instruments on the Statements of Operations for the year ended April 30, 2018 was as follows: 

 

Risk Exposure  Statement of Operations Location  Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income   Change in Unrealized Appreciation/
(Depreciation) on Derivatives Recognized in Income
 
Highland Resolute Fund             
Equity Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)
  Net realized gain on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized appreciation on total return swap contracts  $11,378,442   $408,906 
Interest Rate Contracts
(Total Return Swap Contracts)
  Net realized gain on total return swap contracts/Net change in unrealized depreciation on total return swap contracts  $(493,501)  $18,627 
Equity Contracts
(Purchased Options)
  Net realized loss on investments/Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments   (1,773,365)   5,644 
Total     $9,111,576   $433,177 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 201835

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

  

Volume of Derivative Instruments for the Fund during the year ended April 30, 2018 was as follows:

 

Derivative Type Unit of Measurement Monthly Average
Highland Resolute Fund    
Total Return Swap Contracts Notional Quantity 188,547,956
Purchased Options Contracts Contracts 527

 

Certain derivative contracts and repurchase agreements are executed under either standardized netting agreements or, for exchange-traded derivatives, the relevant contracts for a particular exchange which contain enforceable netting provisions. A derivative netting arrangement creates an enforceable right of set-off that becomes effective, and affects the realization of settlement on individual assets, liabilities and collateral amounts, only following a specified event of default or early termination. Default events may include the failure to make payments or deliver securities timely, material adverse changes in financial condition or insolvency, the breach of minimum regulatory capital requirements, or loss of license, charter or other legal authorization necessary to perform under the contract.

 

The following table presents financial instruments that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements or other similar agreements as of April 30, 2018:

 

Highland Resolute Fund

 

Offsetting of Derivatives Assets

               Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
    Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets    Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities    Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities    Financial Instruments Available for Offset(a)    Cash Collateral Received(a)    Net Receivable Amount 
Total Return Swap Contracts  $281,594   $   $281,594   $(281,594)  $   $ 
Total  $281,594   $   $281,594   $(281,594)  $   $ 

 

Highland Resolute Fund

Offsetting of Derivatives Liabilities

 

                         
               Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities
    Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities    Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position    Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Financial Position    Financial Instruments Available for Offset(a)    Cash Collateral Pledged(a)    Net Payable Amount 
Total Return Swap Contracts  $458,163   $   $458,163   $(281,594)  $(176,569)  $ 
Total  $458,163   $   $458,163   $(281,594)  $(176,569)  $ 

 

(a)These amounts are limited to the derivative asset/liability balance and, accordingly, do not include excess collateral received/pledged.

 

 

36

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

4.  TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and were primarily attributed to differing book and tax treatment of investments in swaps, partnerships, and foreign currency. The reclassifications were as follows:

 

      Undistributed Net Investment Income/(Loss)   Accumulated Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Investments   Paid-in Capital  
Highland Resolute Fund   $ 10,835,464   $ (10,926,876 ) $ 91,412  

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for Federal tax purposes were as follows:

 

    Gross Appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)    Gross Depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)  Net Depreciation of Foreign Currency   Net Unrealized Appreciation   Cost of Investments for Income Tax Purposes 
Highland Resolute Fund $ 238,120,806  $ (236,529,479)  $(540)  $1,590,787   $285,399,786 

 

Components of Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

    Accumulated Capital Gains   Undistributed Ordinary Income   Net Unrealized Appreciation   Other Cumulative Effect of Timing Differences 
Highland Resolute Fund   $10,768,336   $5,226,970   $1,590,787   $ 

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain were recorded by the Fund.

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, were as follows:

 

   Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gains
 
Highland Resolute Fund  $25,692,479   $6,351,925 

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, were as follows:

 

   Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gains
 
Highland Resolute Fund  $6,470,084   $778,253 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 April 30, 2018

 

5.  SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

Purchases and sales of securities, excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government Obligations during the year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of
Securities
   Proceeds From
Sales of Securities
 
Highland Resolute Fund  $227,099,590   $293,385,329 

 

6.  BENEFICIAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Fund of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Transactions in common shares were as follows:

 

Highland Resolute Fund

 

   For the   For the 
   Year Ended   Year Ended 
Class I:  April 30, 2018   April 30, 2017 
Common Shares Outstanding - Beginning of Period   44,145,034    63,881,394 
Common Shares Sold   9,179,527    12,752,236 
Common Shares Issued as Reinvestment of Dividends   2,958,854    666,208 
Common Shares Redeemed   (21,694,166)   (33,154,804)
Common Shares Outstanding - End of Period   34,589,249    44,145,034 

 

Shares redeemed within 30 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. Redemption fees are reflected in the “Shares redeemed, net of redemption fees” in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. For the year ended April 30, 2018 and the year ended April 30, 2017, the Fund retained fees as follows:

 

     For the
Year Ended
    For the
Year Ended
 
Fund    April 30, 2018    April 30, 2017 
Highland Resolute Fund   $   $ 

 

7.  MANAGEMENT AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

Investment Advisory

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fund’s business affairs. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, computed daily and payable monthly of 1.50% of the average daily net assets for the Fund. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

The Subsidiary has entered into a separate advisory agreement (the “Subsidiary Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser for the management of the Subsidiary’s portfolio pursuant to which the Subsidiary is obligated to pay the Adviser a management fee at the same rate that the Fund pays the Adviser for investment advisory services provided to the Fund. The Adviser has agreed to waive the advisory fee it receives from the Fund in an amount equal to the management fee paid by the Subsidiary. This waiver may not be terminated or modified without the consent of the Board. This agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to this date except with the approval of the Board. For the period ended April 30, 2018, this amount equaled $291,085 and is disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

 

38 

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 April 30, 2018

 

The Adviser entered into an Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Boston Partners, Pinebridge Investments LLC (“Pinebridge”), Incline Global Management, LLC. (“Incline”), and Chatham Asset Management, LLC (“Chatham”). The Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements are in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Board. The Adviser determines the allocation of the Fund’s assets among Boston Partners, Pinebridge, and Incline (collectively the “Sub-Advisers”) and other open-end investment companies. The Fund is not required to invest with any minimum number of sub-advisers or open-end investment companies, and does not have minimum or maximum limitations with respect to allocations of assets to the Sub-Advisers, investment strategy or market sector. Highland may change the allocation of the Fund’s assets among the available investment options, and may add or remove sub-advisers, at any time. Each Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of its allocated portion of Fund assets. Highland has ultimate responsibility, subject to the oversight of the Board of the Fund, to oversee the Sub-Advisers, and to recommend their hiring, termination and replacement.

 

Pursuant to each Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays the Sub-Advisers an annual sub-advisory management fee which is based on the Fund’s average quarterly market value of the assets managed by the Sub-Advisers. The Adviser is required to pay all fees due to Sub-Advisers out of the management fee the Adviser receives from the Fund. The following table reflects the Fund’s contractual sub-advisory fee rates.

 

Sub-Advisers Average Daily Market Value of the Fund Contractual Sub-Advisory Fee
  First $50 Million 1.25%
Boston Partners Over $50 Million 1.00%
Incline Global Management, LLC   1.25%
Chatham Asset Management, LLC   1.00%
  First $50 Million 0.55%
Pinebridge Investments LLC Over $50 Million 0.50%

 

The Adviser has agreed, with respect to the Fund’s Class I shares, to waive the portion of its 1.50% management fee in excess of any sub-advisory fees paid by the Adviser to Sub-Adviser in connection with the Fund. This agreement is in effect September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. The prior agreement was in effect from August 31, 2013 through August 31, 2017. The Adviser may not discontinue this agreement to waive fees prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser is not permitted to recoup any amounts waived or reimbursed to the extent actual fees and expenses for a fiscal period are less than the expense limitation cap. Fees waived/reimbursed by adviser for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers and/or reimbursements were as follows:

 

   Fees Waived/ Reimbursed By Adviser 
Highland Resolute Fund - Class I  $(4,582,706)

 

Administrator Fees and Expenses 

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Fund, and the Fund has agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with its administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Fund including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assists in the Fund’s operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Fund’s administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

ALPS is reimbursed by the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent 

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts and is also reimbursed by the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Compliance Services 

ALPS provides services that assist the Fund’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Fund in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Fund. Compliance service fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer  

ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Fund. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

Distributor  

ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Fund. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Fund, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of Fund’s shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Shareholder Services Plan  

Effective December 12, 2017, the Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (the “Plan”) with respect to its Class I shares. Under the Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay banks and its affiliates and other institutions, including broker-dealers and Fund affiliates which may include the Distributor, Adviser and/or the transfer agent (“Participating Organizations”), an aggregate fee in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis 0.10% of the average daily net asset value of Class I shares of the Fund attributable to or held in the name of the Participating Organizations for its clients as compensation for providing shareholder service activities, which do not include distribution services pursuant to an agreement with Participating Organizations. Any amount of such payment not paid to the Participating Organizations during the Fund’s fiscal year for such service activities shall be reimbursed to the Fund as soon as practicable. Plan fees are included with distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations. Fees recaptured pursuant to the Plan for the year ended April 30, 2018 are included as an offset to distribution and service fees as disclosed in the Statement of Operations.

 

8.  INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

40

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm

 

April 30, 2018

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of Highland Resolute Fund and subsidiary (formerly, Redmont Resolute Fund) (the "Fund"), one of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Highland Resolute Fund of Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion  

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Highland Associates, Inc. since 2012.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Trust, the Adviser, and Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc. (“Boston Partners”), and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Trust, the Adviser, and Incline Global Management, LLC (“Incline”), in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. In renewing and approving the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Highland Fund:

 

Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Fee Rates: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee paid by the Trust, on behalf of the Highland Fund, to Highland of 1.50% of the Highland Fund’s daily average net assets, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Highland to the Highland Fund. The Trustees also reviewed and considered the contractual sub-advisory fee rates paid by Highland to Boston Partners of 1.25% of the Highland Fund’s daily average net assets allocated to Boston Partners for the first $50 million, and 1.00% of the Highland Fund’s daily average net assets allocated to Boston Partners above $50 million, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Boston Partners to the Highland Fund. The Trustees also reviewed and considered the contractual annual sub-advisory fee paid by Highland to Incline of 1.25% of the Highland Fund’s daily average net assets allocated to Incline.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of the Highland Fund’s contractual and actual advisory fees and overall expenses with those of funds in the peer group and universe of funds provided by an independent third party provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the Highland Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate was above its Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rate.

 

Total Expense Ratios: Based on such information, the Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratio (after waivers) of 0.73% for the Highland Fund. The Trustees noted that the total expense ratio (after waivers) for the Highland Fund was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers).

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the Highland Fund under the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline in their presentations, including their Forms ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s investment advisory personnel, their history as asset managers and their performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline and their affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Highland Fund.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s management in connection with the Highland Fund, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Highland Fund and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s insider trading policies and procedures and their Codes of Ethics.

 

Performance: The Trustees reviewed performance information for the Highland Fund for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017. That review included a comparison of the Highland Fund’s performance to the performance of a group of comparable funds selected by the Data Provider. The Trustees noted that the performance of the Highland Fund was above its Data Provider universe median for each period. The Trustees also considered Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s discussion of the Highland Fund’s underlying portfolio diversification categories, its top contributors and top detractors, as well as Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s performance and reputation generally and their investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted certain information provided by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline regarding fees charged to its other clients utilizing a strategy similar to that employed by the Highland Fund.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered retrospective and projected profitability analyses prepared by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline based on the fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement with Highland and the Sub-Advisory Agreements with each of Boston Partners and Incline, with respect to the Highland Fund. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline in connection with the operation of the Highland Fund. The Board then reviewed Highland’s unaudited balance sheet as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 and Profit and Loss for October 2016 through September 2017 and for October 2015 through September 2016 in

 

 

42

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Highland. The Board also reviewed the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 of Boston Partners parent company, and Incline’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Boston Partners and Incline.

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Highland Fund will be passed along to the shareholders under the agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Highland from its relationship with the Highland Fund, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In renewing Highland as the investment adviser of the Highland Fund, Boston Partners and Incline as sub-advisers of the Highland Fund, and the fees charged under the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to renew the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the contractual advisory fee rate was above the Data Provider peer group median for the Highland Fund;
Boston Partners’ and Incline’s fees under their respective sub-advisory agreements are paid directly by Highland;

the total expense ratio (after waivers) for the Highland Fund was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers);
the nature, extent, and quality of services rendered by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline under the Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements, respectively, with respect to the Highland Fund were adequate;
the performance of the Highland Fund was above its Data Provider universe median for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017;
bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable to Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s other clients employing a comparable strategy to the Highland Fund were not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory and sub-advisory fees payable by the Highland Fund;
the profit, if any, realized by Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline in connection with the operation of the Highland Fund is not unreasonable to the Fund; and
there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Highland, Boston Partners, and Incline in connection with their relationship with the Highland Fund.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Highland’s, Boston Partners’, and Incline’s compensation for investment advisory and sub-advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the Highland Fund and its shareholders.

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Trust, the Adviser, and Logan Circle Partners L.P. (“Logan Circle”), in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. In renewing and approving the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Highland Fund:

 

Investment Sub-Advisory Fee Rate: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual sub-advisory fee to be paid by Highland, on behalf of the Highland Fund, to Logan Circle of 0.75% of the Highland Fund’s daily average net assets allocated to Logan Circle, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services to be provided by Logan to the Highland Fund. The Board also received and considered information provided by Logan Circle with respect its operating expense structure.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of the Highland Fund’s contractual and actual advisory fees and overall expenses with those of funds in the peer group and universe of funds provided by the Data Provider. The Trustees noted that the contractual advisory fee rate for the Highland Fund was above the Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee.

 

Total Expense Ratios: Based on such information, the Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratio (after waivers) of 0.73% for the Highland Fund. The Trustees noted that the Highland Fund’s total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers).

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the Highland Fund under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with Logan Circle. The Trustees also reviewed certain background materials supplied by Logan Circle in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Logan Circle’s investment sub-advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Logan Circle and its affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Logan Circle, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Highland Fund.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Logan Circle’s management in connection with the Highland Fund, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Highland Fund and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Logan Circle’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

Performance: The Trustees noted that since Logan Circle had not yet begun to manage its portion of the Highland Fund, there is no fund performance to be reviewed or analyzed at this time. The Trustees also considered Logan Circle’s discussion of its reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted that Logan Circle reported no comparable clients managed in accordance with the guidelines for the Highland Fund.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered Logan Circle’s statements regarding projected profitability based on the fees payable under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Logan Circle with respect to the Highland Fund. The Board then reviewed certain financial statements of Logan Circle’s parent company.

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Highland Fund will be passed along to the shareholders under the proposed agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Sub-Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Logan Circle from its relationship with the Highland Fund, including whether soft dollar arrangements would be used.

 

In approving Logan Circle as an investment sub-adviser for the Highland Fund and approving the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement and the fees paid to Logan Circle by Highland under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to approve the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the investment sub-advisory fee to be paid to Logan Circle by Highland was fair and competitive when considered in light of particular services to be provided by Logan Circle to the Highland Fund;
the nature, extent, and quality of services to be rendered by Logan Circle under the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement with respect to the Highland Fund were adequate;
since Logan Circle had not yet begun to manage its portion of the Highland Fund, there is no fund performance to be reviewed or analyzed at this time;
Logan Circle had no clients with investment mandates directly comparable to that of the Highland Fund;
the profit, if any, anticipated to be realized by Logan Circle in connection with the operation of its portion of the Highland Fund is not unreasonable to the Highland Fund; and
there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Logan Circle in connection with its relationship with the Highland Fund.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Logan Circle’s compensation for investment sub-advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the Highland Fund and its shareholders.

 

 

44 

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1.  FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Fund’s Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http:// www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2.  FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

Fund policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how each of the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) (866) 759-5679 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

TAX INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

 

 

The Fund designates the following for federal income tax purposes for distributions made during the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

  QDI DRD
Highland Resolute Fund 6.99 % 5.40 %

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distribution paid to them by the Fund during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Fund will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Highland Resolute Fund designates $6,351,925 as long-term capital gain distributions.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 45

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Trustees & Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-268-2242.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee****
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Mary K.
Anstine,
1940
Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W.
Deems,
1976
Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 

46

 

 

 
 
Highland Resolute Fund Trustees & Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee****
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Jerry G.
Rutledge,
1944
Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael
“Ross” Shell,
1970
Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 47

 

 
 
Highland Resolute Fund Trustees & Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE 

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Edmund J.
Burke,
1961
Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 

48

 

 
 
Highland Resolute Fund Trustees & Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held
with Fund
Term of Office** and
Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms,
1972
Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen,
1970
Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl,
1974
Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella,
1974
Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.
Alan Gattis,
1980
Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 49

 

 
 
Highland Resolute Fund Trustees & Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held
with Fund
Term of Office** and
Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Sharon Akselrod,
1974
Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant - Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.
Jennifer Craig
1973
Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon,
1980
Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 - 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.

**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.
****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Highland Associates, Inc., Robeco Investment Management, Inc., Pinebridge Investment LLC, Incline Global Management, LLC and/or Chatham Asset Management LLC provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

50

 

 

 

Highland Resolute Fund Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are  
Who is providing this notice? Redmont Resolute Fund
What We Do  
How does the Fund protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.
How does the Fund collect my personal information?        

We collect your personal information, for example, when you  

 

  open an account

  provide account information or give us your contact information

  make a wire transfer or deposit money

Why can't I limit all sharing?            

Federal law gives you the right to limit only  

 

  sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

  affiliates from using your information to market to you

  sharing for non-affiliates to market to you  

 

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

Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates    

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

 

  The Fund does not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing    

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.  

 

  The Fund does not jointly market.

Other Important Information
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 51

 

 
 
Highland Resolute Fund Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

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

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

 

●   Social Security number and account transactions

●   Account balances and transaction history

●   Wire transfer instructions

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Fund share: Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes — such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus Yes No
For our marketing purposes — to offer our products and services to you No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your transactions and experiences Yes No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes — information about your creditworthiness No We do not share.
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

52

 

 

 

(cover page) 

 

 

 

 (rondure funds) logo TABLE OF CONTENTS

  

Shareholder Letter 1
Performance Update 3
Disclosure of Fund Expenses 9
Portfolio of Investments  
Rondure New World Fund 10
Rondure Overseas Fund 13
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 16
Statements of Operations 17
Statement of Changes in Net Assets  
Rondure New World Fund 18
Rondure Overseas Fund 19
Financial Highlights  
Rondure New World Fund 20
Rondure Overseas Fund 22
Notes to Financial Statements 24
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 31
Additional Information 32
Trustees and Officers 33
Privacy Policy 38

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Shareholder Letter

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

It was a tale of two markets our first year. We launched the Rondure Funds on May 1, 2017—conservative investors in a strong market year. We stuck to a disciplined process that is very simple: We look for high-quality companies that we believe have a durable competitive advantage for the long term. This January opened on a frenetic pace. We lagged the torrid moves that month, and Rondure Overseas was impacted by a short-term factor I will detail later. As volatility—the wind—returned to the markets in February, however, we outperformed in both strategies. I will briefly elaborate on what we believe is creating the bumps in the market, and then turn to the specifics on each strategy.

 

The first driver of volatility is the threat of higher interest rates and the impact that should have on stock prices—Price/Earnings(1) multiples are typically inversely correlated to interest rates. This is a real risk to the aggregate market, and the reason the S&P 500® Index(2) appears to be range bound at present. When the market hits the bottom of the range, stocks look like the better investment, and when the market hits the top of the range, expected stock returns look less appealing than just simply holding cash. This is especially evident to me when we build our five-year models—we should be in a lower return world after years of such strong stock markets. The corollary is that stocks still look like a better deal in the long-run if interest rates don’t increase by much.

 

The other driver of volatility is all the political theater at present. Last year it was Brazil. Then we moved to North Korea. Then China, and now Russia. There’s no wind like political wind. We are agnostic to all of this, of course, as years of focusing on emerging and frontier markets has taught me that most of it is just noise, and it passes. Political bark is usually bigger than its bite. We simply focus on picking great companies for the long haul and run diversified portfolios.

 

I think the real canary in the coal mine is rising interest rates in a world with a lot of debt and complacency due to Quantitative Easing(3). US personal savings as a percent of disposable income is back down to pre-2009 levels, and the yield curve(4) is flattening. All of these things signal a possible peak in the recovery (i.e. there is a lot less dry powder left to push nominal growth) and trade war banter might simply give investors a nudge to move more cash to their bank accounts, ending the market’s long rally. I have no ability to predict any of this, however I think it is important for our clients to be aware of the potential issues. I personally keep dry powder on the sidelines to be able to dollar cost average into our strategies (agnostic of the market’s cycles), and our process of investing doesn’t change in this environment. In fact, volatility—the wind—simply enables us to buy businesses we love at better prices for the long term.

 

Many people ask me about my personal portfolio or are embarrassed to do so. Hence for total transparency, I will just put it in writing for all. I have always followed Benjamin Graham’s advice and run a defensive investment portfolio. It means I always have 50% in stocks and 50% in bonds and cash (all short-term cash at present). Whichever asset class goes down, I reallocate to the beaten up asset class to return to the 50/50 balance. This means I have rainy day funds available to support the Rondure business for many years and also add to the funds themselves. It also means I will never capture all of the upside in the markets, but I will also likely avoid a good deal of the downside as well. The method enables me to deploy capital (buy) into fear and sell into greed. That is my simple allocation strategy. This should not be construed as investment advice—as everyone’s situation and financial goals are different. I share this detail simply because I am often asked.

 

Rondure Overseas

As of April 30th, the Fund was up +15.88% since our inception a year ago (ROSIX). Full returns can be viewed on page 6. We slightly outperformed the benchmark which returned 14.75% for the year despite expecting it to be tough for our investment style to keep up in strong bull markets. Our steady, quality companies are likely to lag in such an environment.

 

I think we did a nice job with our stock picking across most sectors and geographies this year. The strongest contribution to the Fund came from being overweight consumer discretionary. We lagged a bit in the materials sector, and our more conservative sector tilt hurt us. An overweight in consumer staples and the cash drag of launching into a strong bull market also worked against us for the year. Another negative impact came from not owning any energy stocks in the Fund. We simply didn’t find the balance sheet quality we wanted, and perhaps we were too punitive in waiting on entry prices for quality companies. 

 

Rondure New World

The Fund was up +12.78% since our inception a year ago (RNWIX). Full returns can be viewed on page 3. We underperformed the benchmark’s 21.92% return for the year, which doesn’t surprise us in a strong bull market. We remain active, bottom up investors, and we are focused on margins of safety(5) given our belief that we need to be cautious at this point in the cycle.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Shareholder Letter

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

I feel pretty good about our stock picking in the Fund this year. We've had very solid picks in the consumer spaces—both staples and discretionary stocks. Our relative performance was weaker in the Industrials and Technology sectors. The Tech sector was on a tear this year, and we were underweight Tech. Cash was a significant drag as we took in flows during a bull run in the market, and our overweight to more conservative spaces hurt as well.

 

Conclusion

We continue to focus on companies with great balance sheets and high returns on capital that we believe we can hold for the long run—regardless of the macro landscape. We call them “compounding innovators.” We like companies that do the heavy lifting for us, so we can minimize trading and taxes. Remember, I’m in this with you as a fellow investor and I manage the portfolio accordingly. We do not believe we have a competitive advantage in trading, but we do have a culture of “skin in the game” and no bureaucratic pressure that allows us to focus on what we believe are the best companies for the long term. We can go where we believe the market is truly inefficient (how many sell side estimates actually go beyond 3 years)? This is how we are building the New World and Overseas strategies—brick by brick with a long-term view and high tracking error to be expected.

 

Rondure Business Update

The Rondure Funds reached their 1-year mark on May 1st 2018 and Zach Larkin joined Rondure Global Advisors on January 1st from our partner firm, Grandeur Peak, to co-lead efforts in frontier markets and complement our efforts in developing nations generally.

 

Thank you for investing with us. Thank you for your trust.

 

Sincerely,

 

Laura Geritz, CFA

CEO, Founder, and Portfolio Manager

Rondure Global Advisors LLC

 

1Price/Earning is the stock’s current Price divided by its Earnings (usually the earnings over the last twelve months).

2The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

3Quantitative easing is an unconventional monetary policy in which a central bank purchases government securities or other securities from the market in order to lower interest rates and increase the money supply.

4A yield curve is a line that plots the interest rates, at a set point in time, of bonds having equal credit quality but differing maturity dates. The most frequently reported yield curve compares the three-month, two-year, five-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury debt.

5Margin of safety refers to any conservative allowance used by value investors in effort to protect their capital and portfolios from downside risk.

 

The objective of all Rondure Funds is long-term growth of capital.

 

RISKS: Mutual fund investing involves risks and loss of principal is possible. Investing in small and micro-cap funds will be more volatile and loss of principal could be greater than investing in large cap or more diversified funds. Investing in foreign securities entails special risks, such as currency fluctuations and political uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the prospectus. Investments in emerging markets are subject to the same risks as other foreign securities and may be subject to greater risks than investments in foreign countries with more established economies and securities markets.

 

An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a Rondure Funds prospectus, containing this and other information, visit www.rondureglobal.com or call 1-855-775-3337. Please read it carefully before investing.

 

The views and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer's current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Funds or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. The Funds do not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

CFA® is trademark owned by CFA Institute.

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the Distributor for the Rondure Funds.

 

 

21.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Performance Update

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

  

      Expense Ratio(b)
  6 Months Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Rondure New World Fund – Institutional (RNWIX) 4.53% 12.78% 2.38% 1.10%
Rondure New World Fund – Investor (RNWOX) 4.48% 12.53% 2.63% 1.35%
MSCI EM (Emerging Markets) TR USD Index(d) 4.93% 21.92%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-775-3337.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of May 1, 2017.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Rondure Global Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.35% and 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Advisor will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. However, such recapture payments may not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Advisor prior to August 31, 2018, except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(d)The MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return USD Index is an unmanaged total return index, reported in U.S. Dollars, based on share prices and reinvested dividends of approximately 800 companies from 24 emerging market countries. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Performance Update

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(line graph) 

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 

41.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Performance Update

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*
Asia ex Japan 56.6%
North America 12.7%
Africa/Middle East 10.0%
Europe 9.6%
Latin America 8.9%
Japan 0.7%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 1.5%
Total 100.0%
   
Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Consumer 58.9%
Industrials 13.6%
Technology 12.5%
Energy & Materials 6.7%
Health Care 3.9%
Financials 2.9%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 1.5%
Total 100.0%
   
Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Yum China Holdings, Inc. 2.5%
Sinotrans, Ltd. 2.4%
TOA Paint Thailand PCL 2.4%
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. 2.4%
Philippine Seven Corp. 2.3%
TravelSky Technology, Ltd. 2.2%
China Machinery Engineering Corp. 2.2%
Carnival Corp. 2.2%
Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd. 2.2%
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC 2.2%
Total 23.0%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annualized Total Return Performance for the periods ended April 30, 2018

 

    Expense Ratio(b)
6 Months Since Inception(a) Gross Net(c)
Rondure Overseas Fund – Institutional (ROSIX) 3.83% 15.88% 2.25% 0.85%
Rondure Overseas Fund – Investor (ROSOX) 3.70% 15.63% 2.50% 1.10%
MSCI EAFE TR USD Index(d) 3.67% 14.75%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 60 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-855-775-3337.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

(a)Fund inception date of May 1, 2017.

(b)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.

(c)Rondure Global Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), has agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/ Expense Reimbursement (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.10% and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Advisor will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. However, such recapture payments may not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after recapture) to exceed the lesser of (i) the expense cap in effect at the time of the waiver and (ii) the expense cap in effect at the time of the recapture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Expense Agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Advisor prior to August 31, 2018, except with the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

(d)The MSCI EAFE Total Return USD Index is an unmanaged total return index, reported in U.S. dollars, based on share prices and reinvested net dividends of approximately 1,100 companies from 22 developed market countries excluding the US and Canada. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense, or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.

 

 

61.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Growth of $10,000 for the period ended April 30, 2018

 

(line graph) 

 

The chart shown above represent a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the graphs above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown in the graphs above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

 
Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Performance Update

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Regional Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*
Europe 40.3%
Japan 30.6%
North America 11.6%
Australia/New Zealand 8.3%
Asia ex Japan 4.9%
Africa/Middle East 0.2%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 4.1%
Total 100.0%
   
Industry Sector Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*  
Consumer 56.9%
Industrials 19.6%
Technology 7.8%
Energy & Materials 5.0%
Health Care 3.5%
Financials 3.1%
Cash, Cash Equivalents, & Other Net Assets 4.1%
Total 100.0%
   
Top 10 Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*  
WH Smith PLC 2.6%
Deutsche Post AG 2.5%
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd. 2.5%
Suzuki Motor Corp. 2.3%
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. 2.2%
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. 2.1%
J D Wetherspoon PLC 2.1%
Yaskawa Electric Corp. 2.0%
Amadeus IT Group SA 2.0%
Lintec Corp. 1.9%
Total 22.2%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

81.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

 

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire six-month period of November 1, 2017 through of April 30, 2018. 

 

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

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes The second line of the table provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

  Beginning
Account Value
November 1, 2017
Ending
Account Value
April 30, 2018
Expense
Ratio(a)
Expenses Paid
During Period
November 1, 2017 -
April 30, 2018(b)
Rondure New World Fund        
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,045.30 1.10% $5.58
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.34 1.10% $5.51
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,043.80 1.35% $6.84
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.10 1.35% $6.76
Rondure Overseas Fund        
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,037.40 0.85% $4.29
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.58 0.85% $4.26
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,037.00 1.10% $5.56
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.34 1.10% $5.51

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.

(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year 181/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

 April 30, 2018

 

    Shares    Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (98.51%)          
Argentina (2.58%)          
Banco Macro SA, ADR   15,950   $1,545,874 
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   39,975    1,173,666 
MercadoLibre, Inc.   1,500    509,415 
         3,228,955 
           
Bangladesh (0.54%)          
GrameenPhone, Ltd.   21,919    123,977 
Square Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.   147,843    546,498 
         670,475 
           
Brazil (3.69%)          
Ambev SA   71,600    476,625 
Hypermarcas SA   228,200    2,047,364 
M Dias Branco SA   114,700    1,439,971 
Raia Drogasil SA   33,300    653,224 
         4,617,184 
           
China (24.59%)          
Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd., Sponsored ADR(a)   16,650    2,972,691 
ANTA Sports Products, Ltd.   291,000    1,674,001 
Baidu, Inc., Sponsored ADR(a)   9,375    2,352,188 
China Machinery Engineering Corp., Class H   4,677,000    2,729,216 
China Medical System Holdings, Ltd.   299,000    737,533 
China Resources Beer Holdings Co., Ltd.   560,000    2,422,327 
Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd.   778,000    2,706,122 
Haitian International Holdings, Ltd.   531,000    1,413,988 
Hengan International Group Co., Ltd.   194,000    1,730,234 
JD.com, Inc., ADR(a)   38,500    1,405,635 
Sinotrans, Ltd., Class H   5,301,000    3,059,575 
TravelSky Technology, Ltd., Class H   938,000    2,760,704 
Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., Class H   211,000    1,096,851 
Want Want China Holdings, Ltd.   590,000    523,950 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
China (continued)          
Yum China Holdings, Inc.   73,700   $3,151,412 
         30,736,427 
           
Colombia (0.05%)          
Grupo Nutresa SA   6,962    66,573 
           
Germany (0.18%)          
KUKA AG   2,100    227,729 
           
Greece (1.69%)          
JUMBO SA   115,656    2,117,340 
           
Hong Kong (1.55%)          
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   729,000    1,936,594 
           
India (5.45%)          
Asian Paints, Ltd.   17,244    310,490 
Bharat Electronics, Ltd.   981,551    1,929,570 
Britannia Industries, Ltd.   7,311    603,941 
Castrol India, Ltd.   200,000    583,908 
Colgate-Palmolive India, Ltd.   4,704    79,166 
Dabur India, Ltd.   117,500    650,352 
Eicher Motors, Ltd.   1,400    654,241 
Godrej Consumer Products, Ltd.   5,302    88,741 
Hindustan Unilever, Ltd.   4,635    104,791 
Marico, Ltd.   14,900    74,243 
Maruti Suzuki India, Ltd.   6,070    801,719 
Nestle India, Ltd.   718    101,090 
Pidilite Industries, Ltd.   6,385    103,916 
Radico Khaitan, Ltd.   110,500    693,481 
Vakrangee, Ltd.   18,980    28,425 
         6,808,074 
           
Indonesia (1.11%)          
Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk PT   2,049,500    1,277,945 
Kalbe Farma Tbk PT   1,014,000    109,691 
         1,387,636 
           
Japan (0.71%)          
Suzuki Motor Corp.   16,400    883,758 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

101.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

 April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Kenya (2.63%)        
East African Breweries, Ltd.   387,200   $965,105 
Safaricom, Ltd.   8,236,600    2,319,880 
         3,284,985 
           
Malaysia (0.39%)          
Heineken Malaysia Bhd   94,000    490,664 
           
Mexico (4.76%)          
Alsea SAB de CV   16,300    60,512 
Arca Continental SAB de CV   16,200    111,638 
Becle SAB de CV(a)   1,564,600    2,661,202 
Corp Moctezuma SAB de CV   90,700    368,580 
Gruma SAB de CV, Class B   118,200    1,445,295 
Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CV   467,300    1,299,301 
         5,946,528 
           
Pakistan (0.40%)          
Nestle Pakistan, Ltd.   4,578    499,116 
           
Peru (2.00%)          
Alicorp SAA   550,225    2,021,269 
InRetail Peru Corp.(b)(c)   20,196    482,685 
         2,503,954 
           
Philippines (4.39%)          
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.   601,000    982,514 
Jollibee Foods Corp.   55,000    302,901 
Philippine Seven Corp.   1,187,057    2,933,837 
Puregold Price Club, Inc.   1,288,000    1,179,745 
Universal Robina Corp.   33,000    89,595 
         5,488,592 
           
Poland (2.01%)          
AmRest Holdings SE(a)   9,400    1,234,640 
Dino Polska SA(a)(b)(c)   47,000    1,272,134 
         2,506,774 
           
Russia (5.68%)          
Alrosa PJSC   1,599,600    2,276,234 
LUKOIL PJSC, Sponsored ADR   25,100    1,676,680 
Mail.Ru Group, Ltd., GDR(a)(c)   18,600    587,760 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Russia (continued)          
Sberbank of Russia PJSC,          
Sponsored ADR   137,600   $2,050,240 
Yandex NV, Class A(a)   15,425    514,578 
         7,105,492 
           
South Africa (4.20%)          
Clicks Group, Ltd.   115,400    1,978,233 
Distell Group, Ltd.   40,100    428,441 
Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.   126,000    2,516,967 
Tiger Brands, Ltd.   10,400    324,557 
         5,248,198 
           
South Korea (4.50%)          
BGF Retail Co., Ltd.   7,632    1,364,835 
LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.   650    833,762 
Medy-Tox, Inc.   2,167    1,415,382 
NAVER Corp.   828    555,075 
S-1 Corp.   4,000    367,399 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   437    1,084,266 
         5,620,719 
           
Sri Lanka (0.57%)          
Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC   204,656    707,277 
           
Taiwan (3.39%)          
President Chain Store Corp.   245,000    2,422,135 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   237,000    1,818,363 
         4,240,498 
           
Tanzania (0.19%)          
Tanzania Breweries, Ltd.   34,234    239,923 
           
Thailand (2.86%)          
CP ALL PCL   129,000    355,608 
Thai Beverage PCL   307,000    197,953 
TOA Paint Thailand PCL(a)   2,494,000    3,022,671 
         3,576,232 
           
Turkey (3.30%)          
Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS   244,800    1,518,662 
BIM Birlesik Magazalar AS   94,000    1,595,554 



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 201811

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Turkey (continued)          
Ulker Biskuvi Sanayi AS   192,800   $1,010,965 
         4,125,181 
           
United Arab Emirates (2.60%)          
Aramex PJSC   2,408,978    2,656,129 
DP World, Ltd.   26,720    594,520 
         3,250,649 
           
United States (7.91%)          
Carnival Corp.   43,250    2,727,345 
Kansas City Southern   8,325    887,694 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(a)   19,300    1,926,140 
PriceSmart, Inc.   5,875    514,650 
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.   18,825    2,036,677 
Starbucks Corp.   31,100    1,790,427 
         9,882,933 
           
Uruguay (0.57%)          
Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc., Class A   77,600    706,160 
           
Vietnam (4.02%)          
Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corp.   249,320    2,332,908 
Vietnam Dairy Products JSC   330,760    2,688,102 
         5,021,010 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $115,064,871)        123,125,630 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (98.51%)          
(Cost $115,064,871)       $123,125,630 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (1.49%)    1,867,431 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $124,993,061 

 

(a) Non-Income Producing Security.
(b) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $1,754,819 representing 1.40% of net assets.
(c) Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $2,342,579, representing 1.87% of net assets.


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

121.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (95.57%)          
Australia (5.18%)          
carsales.com, Ltd.   7,308   $78,896 
Coca-Cola Amatil, Ltd.   23,700    165,757 
Domino's Pizza Enterprises, Ltd.   3,059    97,116 
DuluxGroup, Ltd.   62,708    366,348 
REA Group, Ltd.   2,546    154,989 
SEEK, Ltd.   10,000    146,279 
         1,009,385 
           
Belgium (0.77%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA   865    86,407 
Lotus Bakeries   22    62,433 
         148,840 
           
Britain (14.65%)          
Abcam PLC   12,000    201,714 
Auto Trader Group PLC(a)(b)   8,900    43,252 
B&M European Value Retail SA   48,000    267,829 
BAE Systems PLC   17,900    150,568 
Compass Group PLC   4,696    100,854 
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC   2,100    79,273 
Diploma PLC   8,700    144,446 
Domino's Pizza Group PLC   56,400    282,088 
easyJet PLC   8,500    186,061 
Intertek Group PLC   2,400    161,933 
J D Wetherspoon PLC   24,988    400,427 
Just Eat PLC(c)   8,100    86,289 
Rightmove PLC   700    43,992 
Sanne Group PLC   9,000    76,944 
Unilever NV   1,950    111,736 
WH Smith PLC   19,187    515,352 
         2,852,758 
           
Canada (3.54%)          
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., Class B   10,000    432,338 
Dollarama, Inc.   700    80,579 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc.   5,400    176,474 
         689,391 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
China (1.32%)        
Yum China Holdings, Inc.   6,025   $257,629 
           
Denmark (1.51%)          
Novo Nordisk A/S, Class B   1,301    61,532 
Novozymes A/S, Class B   1,488    70,304 
Royal Unibrew A/S   2,440    162,147 
         293,983 
           
Finland (1.36%)          
Olvi OYJ, Class A   7,905    265,381 
           
France (1.47%)          
Bureau Veritas SA   6,000    156,867 
Laurent-Perrier   550    69,407 
Sodexo SA   600    59,487 
         285,761 
           
Germany (9.52%)          
adidas AG   730    179,748 
CTS Eventim AG & Co., KGaA   3,745    175,653 
Deutsche Lufthansa AG   8,057    235,165 
Deutsche Post AG   11,005    479,756 
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA   544    55,366 
Krones AG   2,645    339,853 
KUKA AG   299    32,424 
Puma SE   540    263,776 
Rational AG   30    18,820 
XING SE   235    73,075 
         1,853,636 
           
Hong Kong (0.98%)          
Vitasoy International Holdings, Ltd.   72,000    191,269 
           
Ireland (0.27%)          
Glanbia PLC   3,075    52,024 
           
Israel (0.24%)          
Elbit Systems, Ltd.   404    46,754 
           
Italy (3.43%)          
Brembo SpA   5,959    88,152 
Davide Campari-Milano SpA   4,498    33,786 
De' Longhi SpA   6,016    180,170 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Italy (continued)          
DiaSorin SpA   383   $36,238 
Moncler SpA   7,304    330,232 
         668,578 
           
Japan (30.63%)          
ABC-Mart, Inc.   3,000    197,860 
Aeon Delight Co., Ltd.   7,000    245,563 
Calbee, Inc.   6,800    229,528 
Cosmos Pharmaceutical Corp.   1,300    292,655 
Create SD Holdings Co., Ltd.   16,500    478,458 
Dip Corp.   3,000    72,942 
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.   5,400    291,932 
Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.   5,100    143,362 
Kusuri no Aoki Holdings Co., Ltd.   2,500    171,744 
Kyushu Railway Co.   6,400    205,488 
Lintec Corp.   12,700    367,687 
Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd.   6,600    294,923 
McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan, Ltd.   1,800    84,303 
MEIJI Holdings Co., Ltd.   800    64,252 
MISUMI Group, Inc.   4,900    135,812 
MonotaRO Co., Ltd.   4,400    153,952 
Morinaga & Co., Ltd.   3,900    190,148 
Pigeon Corp.   1,800    84,468 
Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.   600    206,092 
Seria Co., Ltd.   6,500    318,697 
Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.   5,800    254,930 
SK Kaken Co., Ltd.   870    88,735 
Sundrug Co., Ltd.   2,500    128,750 
Suzuki Motor Corp.   8,400    452,656 
TOTO, Ltd.   1,600    90,889 
Tsuruha Holdings, Inc.   900    129,501 
Unicharm Corp.   6,800    191,273 
Yaskawa Electric Corp.   9,700    396,625 
         5,963,225 
           
Netherlands (1.57%)          
Euronext NV(a)(b)   4,250    304,859 
           
New Zealand (3.11%)          
Air New Zealand, Ltd.   107,302    246,878 
Mainfreight, Ltd.   13,931    242,596 
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
New Zealand (continued)          
Trade Me Group, Ltd.   35,498   $116,140 
         605,614 
           
South Korea (1.21%)          
S-1 Corp.   600    55,110 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   73    181,124 
         236,234 
           
Spain (2.10%)          
Amadeus IT Group SA   5,257    385,345 
Industria de Diseno Textil SA   747    23,256 
         408,601 
           
Sweden (0.94%)          
Axfood AB   4,544    84,558 
Indutrade AB   1,260    29,843 
Loomis AB, Class B   1,882    68,818 
         183,219 
           
Switzerland (2.24%)          
ABB, Ltd.   3,000    70,353 
Nestle SA   1,800    139,822 
UBS Group AG   13,400    226,759 
         436,934 
           
Taiwan (1.42%)          
President Chain Store Corp.   28,000    276,815 
           
United States (8.11%)          
Carnival Corp.   4,450    280,617 
Johnson & Johnson   2,000    252,980 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.(c)   4,175    416,665 
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.   1,700    183,923 
Starbucks Corp.   4,325    248,990 
The Walt Disney Co.   150    15,049 
Yum! Brands, Inc.   2,075    180,733 
         1,578,957 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $17,342,231)        18,609,847 


See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.37%)          
Germany (0.37%)          
FUCHS PETROLUB SE   1,351   $72,666 
           
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS          
(Cost $73,715)        72,666 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (95.94%)          
(Cost $17,415,946)       $18,682,513 
           
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (4.06%)    789,866 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $19,472,379 

 

(a)Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in the ordinary course of business in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of April 30, 2018, these securities had a total aggregate market value of $348,111 representing 1.79% of net assets.

(b)Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts securities offered and sold outside of the United States from registration. Such security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. The security has been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of those securities was $348,111, representing 1.79% of net assets.

(c)Non-Income Producing Security.

 



See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Rondure New World Fund   Rondure Overseas Fund 
ASSETS        
Investments, at value (Cost - see below)  $123,125,630   $18,682,513 
Foreign cash, at value (Cost $141,107 and $18,425, respectively)   140,992    18,357 
Cash   2,048,655    800,626 
Dividends and interest receivable   117,417    45,726 
Receivable for fund shares subscribed   185,897    1,958 
Receivable due from advisor   64,165    23,863 
Prepaid and other assets   16,041    16,348 
Total assets   125,698,797    19,589,391 
           
LIABILITIES          
Payable for investments purchased   366,748    55,046 
Foreign capital gains tax   85,198     
Payable for fund shares redeemed   38,862    2,489 
Advisory fees payable   86,898    10,930 
Administration fees payable   23,892    11,346 
Custodian fees payable   25,746    2,863 
Payable for professional fees   20,359    20,173 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   1,225    185 
Payable for chief compliance officer fee   2,246    339 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   724    109 
Distribution and service fees payable - Investor Class   4,920    982 
Payable for transfer agency fees   29,010    8,995 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   19,908    3,555 
Total liabilities   705,736    117,012 
NET ASSETS  $124,993,061   $19,472,379 
           
NET ASSETS CONSISTS OF          
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $117,089,382   $18,102,527 
Accumulated net investment income   118,506    104,048 
Accumulated net realized loss   (189,219)   (3)
Net unrealized appreciation   7,974,392    1,265,807 
NET ASSETS  $124,993,061   $19,472,379 
           
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $115,064,871   $17,415,946 
           
PRICING OF SHARES          
Institutional Class          
Net Assets  $100,760,126   $14,283,242 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $11.25   $11.46 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   8,952,664    1,246,347 
Investor Class          
Net Assets  $24,232,935   $5,189,137 
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $11.24   $11.48 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   2,155,578    452,037 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Statements of Operations

 

For the Period Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Rondure New World Fund(a)   Rondure Overseas Fund(a) 
INVESTMENT INCOME        
Dividends  $1,425,044   $251,393 
Foreign taxes withheld   (114,799)   (18,463)
Other Income   17,503    6,713 
Total investment income   1,327,748    239,643 
EXPENSES          
Investment advisor fees (Note 6)   728,171    92,969 
Administrative fees   219,633    52,152 
Distribution and service fees - Investor Class   40,071    6,132 
Transfer agent fees   136,302    53,595 
Professional fees   25,702    22,210 
Printing fees   18,445    2,675 
Registration fees   21,928    12,364 
Custodian fees   122,548    21,611 
Trustee fees and expenses   2,033    313 
Chief compliance officer fees   25,940    4,065 
Principal financial officer fees   8,622    1,351 
Offering costs   76,213    63,591 
Other expenses   17,287    6,266 
Total expenses   1,442,895    339,294 
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment advisor (Note 6)   (457,148)   (219,892)
Total net expenses   985,747    119,402 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   342,001    120,241 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS          
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments   (207,148)   115,578 
Net realized gain/(loss) on foreign currency transactions   (73,154)   3,489 
Net realized gain/(loss)   (280,302)   119,067 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments (net of change in foreign capital gains tax of $85,198 and $0, respectively)   7,975,561    1,266,567 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies   (1,169)   (760)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   7,974,392    1,265,807 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS   7,694,090    1,384,874 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $8,036,091   $1,505,115 

 

(a)Represents the period May 2, 2017 (Commencement of Operations) to April 30, 2018.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
OPERATIONS    
Net investment income  $342,001 
Net realized loss   (280,302)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   7,974,392 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   8,036,091 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)     
Net investment income     
Institutional Class   (186,642)
Investor Class   (18,344)
Net realized gains on investments     
Institutional Class   (9,291)
Investor Class   (2,191)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (216,468)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)     
Institutional Class     
Proceeds from sales of shares   98,740,607 
Distributions reinvested   185,431 
Cost of shares redeemed   (4,530,207)
Redemption fees   6,598 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   94,402,429 
Investor Class     
Proceeds from sales of shares   25,295,273 
Distributions reinvested   20,535 
Cost of shares redeemed   (2,546,642)
Redemption fees   1,843 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   22,771,009 
Net increase in net assets   124,993,061 
      
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of period    
End of period*  $124,993,061 
      
*Including accumulated net investment income of:  $118,506 
OTHER INFORMATION     
Shares Transactions     
Institutional Class     
Issued   9,350,867 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   16,542 
Redeemed   (414,745)
Net increase in share transactions   8,952,664 
Investor Class     
Issued   2,383,360 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   1,832 
Redeemed   (229,614)
Net increase in share transactions   2,155,578 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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Rondure Overseas Fund Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
OPERATIONS    
Net investment income  $120,241 
Net realized gain   119,067 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   1,265,807 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   1,505,115 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3)     
Net investment income     
Institutional Class   (49,002)
Investor Class    
Net realized gains on investments     
Institutional Class   (91,952)
Investor Class   (25,519)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (166,473)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)     
Institutional Class     
Proceeds from sales of shares   14,305,962 
Distributions reinvested   139,017 
Cost of shares redeemed   (1,341,389)
Redemption fees   2,060 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   13,105,650 
Investor Class     
Proceeds from sales of shares   5,925,966 
Distributions reinvested   25,519 
Cost of shares redeemed   (924,780)
Redemption fees   1,382 
Net increase from capital shares transactions   5,028,087 
Net increase in net assets   19,472,379 
      
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of period    
End of period*  $19,472,379 
      
*Including accumulated net investment income of:  $104,048 
OTHER INFORMATION     
Shares Transactions     
Institutional Class     
Issued   1,355,282 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   12,162 
Redeemed   (121,097)
Net increase in share transactions   1,246,347 
Investor Class     
Issued   531,797 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   2,227 
Redeemed   (81,987)
Net increase in share transactions   452,037 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

 

 

Rondure New World Fund - Institutional Class Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Presented

 

Institutional Class  For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.00 
      
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS     
Net investment income(a)   0.05 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   1.23 
Total income from investment operations   1.28 
      
DISTRIBUTIONS     
From net investment income   (0.03)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)(b)
Total distributions   (0.03)
      
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b) 
      
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.25 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.25 
      
TOTAL RETURN   12.78%(c)
      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $100,760 
      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS     
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.62%(d)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.10%(d)
Net investment income   0.43%(d)
      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   13%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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Rondure New World Fund – Investor Class Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Presented

 

Investor Class  For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.00 
      
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS     
Net investment income(a)   0.03 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   1.22 
Total income from investment operations   1.25 
      
DISTRIBUTIONS     
From net investment income   (0.01)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.00)(b)
Total distributions   (0.01)
      
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b) 
      
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.24 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.24 
      
TOTAL RETURN   12.53%(c)
      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $24,233 
      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS     
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.91%(d)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.35%(d)
Net investment income   0.24%(d)
      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   13%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

 

 

Rondure Overseas Fund - Institutional Class Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Presented

 

Institutional Class  For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.00 
      
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS     
Net investment income(a)   0.10 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   1.48 
Total income from investment operations   1.58 
      
DISTRIBUTIONS     
From net investment income   (0.04)
From net realized gain on investments   (0.08)
Total distributions   (0.12)
      
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.00(b) 
      
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.46 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.46 
      
TOTAL RETURN   15.88%(c)
      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $14,283 
      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS     
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   2.57%(d)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   0.85%(d)
Net investment income   0.92%(d)
      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   14%(c)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 or ($0.005) per share.
(c)Not Annualized.
(d)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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Rondure Overseas Fund - Investor Class Financial Highlights

 

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period Presented

 

Investor Class  For the Period
May 2, 2017
(Commencement
of Operations) to
April 30, 2018
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $10.00 
      
INCOME FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS     
Net investment income(a)   0.09 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   1.46 
Total income from investment operations   1.55 
      
DISTRIBUTIONS     
From net realized gain on investments   (0.08)
Total distributions   (0.08)
      
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID-IN CAPITAL   0.01 
      
INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   1.48 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.48 
      
TOTAL RETURN   15.63%(b)
      
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA     
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $5,189 
      
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS     
Expenses (excluding fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   2.45%(c)
Expenses (including fees waived/ reimbursed by investment advisor)   1.10%(c)
Net investment income   0.82%(c)
      
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE   14%(b)

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Not Annualized.
(c)Annualized.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). As of April 30, 2018, the Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Rondure New World Fund and the Rondure Overseas Fund (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds seek long-term growth of capital. The Funds offer Investor Class and Institutional Class shares.

 

2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of its financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

Equity securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the closing values of such securities on their respective foreign exchanges, except when an event occurs subsequent to the close of the foreign exchange and the close of the NYSE that was likely to have changed such value. In such an event, the fair value of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Funds will use a fair valuation model provided by an independent pricing service, which is intended to reflect fair value when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of each Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a valuation event that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is traded and the close of the regular trading day on the NYSE. The Funds’ valuation procedures set forth certain triggers which instruct when to use the fair valuation model.

 

Forward currency exchange contracts have a fair value determined by the prevailing foreign currency exchange daily rates and current foreign currency exchange forward rates. The foreign currency exchange forward rates are calculated using an automated system that estimates rates on the basis of the current day foreign currency exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Rondure Global Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Funds disclose the classification of their fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

 

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Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 - Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 - Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of each Fund’s investments in the fair value hierarchy as of April 30, 2018:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Rondure New World Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
Pakistan  $   $499,116   $   $499,116 
South Korea   4,536,453    1,084,266        5,620,719 
Tanzania       239,923        239,923 
Other*   116,765,872            116,765,872 
Total  $121,302,325   $1,823,305   $   $123,125,630 

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Quoted and
Unadjusted
Prices
   Level 2 -
Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Rondure Overseas Fund                
Common Stocks                    
South Korea  $55,110   $181,124   $   $236,234 
Other*   18,373,613            18,373,613 
Preferred Stocks*  $72,666   $   $   $72,666 
Total  $18,501,389   $181,124   $   $18,682,513 

 

*For a detailed country breakdown, see the accompanying Portfolio of Investments.

 

For the period ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any transfers in/(out) of Level 1 and Level 2 securities.

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the period ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost which is the same basis the Fund uses for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

Cash Management Transactions: The Funds subscribe to the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) Cash Management Service (“CMS”), whereby cash balances are automatically swept into overnight offshore demand deposits with either the BBH Grand Cayman branch or a branch of a pre-approved commercial bank. This fully automated program allows the Funds to earn interest on cash balances. Excess cash with deposit institutions domiciled outside of the U.S. are subject to sovereign actions in the jurisdiction of the deposit institution including, but not limited to,

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

freeze, seizure or diminution. Cash balances in the BBH CMS are included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities under Cash and Foreign Cash, at Value. As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following cash balances participating in the BBH CMS:

 

Fund    
Rondure New World Fund  $2,047,218 
Rondure Overseas Fund   800,076 

 

As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following foreign cash balances participating in the BBH CMS (cost and value of foreign cash balances are equal):

 

Fund    
Rondure New World Fund  $10 
Rondure Overseas Fund   18,332 

 

Foreign Securities: The Funds may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are separately disclosed.

 

Foreign Currency Spot Contracts: The Funds may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities or to convert foreign currency receipts into U.S. dollars. A foreign currency spot contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell currencies at the current market rate, for settlement generally within two business days. The U.S. dollar value of the contracts is determined using current currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

The contract is marked-to-market daily for settlements beyond one day and any change in market value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, a realized gain or loss is recorded equal to the difference between the value on the open and close date. Losses may arise from changes in the value of the foreign currency, or if the counterparties do not perform under the contract’s terms. The maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Funds are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund and Class Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a Fund or class of shares of a Fund, including distribution fees (Rule 12b-1 fees), are charged directly to that Fund or share class. Expenses that are common to all Funds generally are allocated among the Funds in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Offering Costs: Offering costs, including costs of printing initial prospectuses, legal and registration fees, are being amortized over twelve months from the inception date of the Funds. Amounts amortized during the period ended April 30, 2018 for Funds are shown on the Statements of Operations.

 

Federal Income Taxes: The Funds comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intend to distribute substantially all of their net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund normally pays dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income each Fund receives from their investments, including short term capital gains. Long term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when each Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. Each Fund may make

 

 

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Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

  April 30, 2018

 

additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for each Fund to avoid or reduce taxes. The Funds intend to pass through foreign tax credits to shareholders.

 

3. TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and are primarily attributed to the differing book/tax treatment of foreign currency transactions, non-deductible expenses, PFIC investments, equalization book/tax distribution differences and certain other investments. The reclassifications were as follows:

 

Fund  Paid-in Capital   Accumulated Net Investment Income/(Loss)   Accumulated Net Realized Gain/(Loss) on Investments 
Rondure New World Fund  $(84,056)  $(18,509)  $102,565 
Rondure Overseas Fund   (31,210)   32,809    (1,599)

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

Fund  Gross Appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)   Gross Depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)   Net Depreciation of Foreign Currency   Net Unrealized Appreciation   Cost of Investments for Income Tax Purposes 
Rondure New World Fund  $12,908,335   $(4,847,577)  $(86,367)  $7,974,391   $115,064,872 
Rondure Overseas Fund   1,832,095    (565,531)   (760)   1,265,804    17,415,949 

 

Components of Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Fund  Undistributed Ordinary Income   Accumulated Capital Losses   Other Accumulated Gain/(Loss)   Net Unrealized Appreciation on Investments and Foreign Currency   Total Distributable Earnings 
Rondure New World Fund  $118,625   $(189,218)  $(119)  $7,974,391   $7,903,679 
Rondure Overseas Fund   104,033        15    1,265,804    1,369,852 

 

Rondure New World Fund elects to defer to the period ending April 30, 2019, capital losses recognized during the period November 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018 in the amount of $189,218.

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the period from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain were recorded by the Funds.

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the period ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Ordinary
Income
   Long-Term
Capital Gain
 
Rondure New World Fund  $216,468   $ 
Rondure Overseas Fund   166,473     

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

  April 30, 2018

 

4. SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short term securities) during the period ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of
Securities
   Proceeds From
Sales of Securities
 
Rondure New World Fund  $125,785,661   $10,529,289 
Rondure Overseas Fund   19,024,022    1,723,486 

 

5. SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the share do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Shares redeemed within 60 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. For the period ended April 30, 2018, the redemption fees charged by the Funds are presented in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

 

6. MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The Advisor, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Advisor manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds’ investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Advisor and the Trustees. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, (the “Advisory Agreement”), each Fund pays the Advisor an annual management fee based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis. The following table reflects the Funds’ advisory fee rates.

 

Fund Advisory Fee
Rondure New World Fund 0.85%
Rondure Overseas Fund 0.70%

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to limit certain of each Fund’s expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and extraordinary expenses). The following table reflects the Funds’ expense cap.

 

Fund Expense Cap Term of Expense Limit Agreements
Rondure New World Fund    
Institutional Class 1.10%  
Investor Class 1.35% March 23, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Rondure Overseas Fund    
Institutional Class 0.85%  
Investor Class 1.10% March 23, 2017 – August 31, 2018

 

Pursuant to these agreements, the Advisor may seek reimbursement from a Fund for any previous fee waivers and expense reimbursements made by the Advisor, provided that any such reimbursements made by the Funds to the Advisor will not cause the Funds’ expense limitation to exceed expense limitations in existence at the time the expense was incurred, or at the time of the reimbursement, whichever is lower, and the reimbursement is made within three years after the expenses were incurred. Fees waived/reimbursed by Advisor for the period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

 

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Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

  April 30, 2018

 

For the period ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers/reimbursements and/or recoupments were as follows:

 

Fund  Fees Waived/
Reimbursed By
Advisor
 
Rondure New World Fund     
Institutional Class  $366,501 
Investor Class   90,647 
Rondure Overseas Fund     
Institutional Class  $186,581 
Investor Class   33,311 

 

Fund  Expires 2021  Total 
Rondure New World Fund         
Institutional Class  $366,501  $366,501 
Investor Class   90,647   90,647 
Rondure Overseas Fund         
Institutional Class  $186,581  $186,581 
Investor Class   33,311   33,311 

 

Administrator Fees and Expenses

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds and the Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with their administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to, fund accounting and fund administration and generally assists in the Funds’ operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Funds’ administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

ALPS is reimbursed by the Fund for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services

ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Funds. Compliance service fees paid by the Funds for the period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer

ALPS receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Funds. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Fund for period ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of each Fund’s shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Each Fund has adopted a Distribution and Services (Rule 12b-1) Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act (the “Plan”) for its Investor Class shares. The Plan allows the Funds to use Investor Class assets to pay fees in connection with the distribution and marketing of Investor Class shares and/or the provision of shareholder services to Investor Class shareholders. The Plan permits payment for services in connection with the administration of plans or programs that use Investor Class shares of each Fund as their funding medium and for related expenses. The recipients of

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

  April 30, 2018

 

such payments may include the Distributor, other affiliates of the Advisor, broker-dealers, financial institutions, plan sponsors and administrators and other financial intermediaries through which investors may purchase shares of the Fund. The Plan permits the Funds to make total payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to its Investor Class shares. The expenses of the Plan are reflected as distribution and service fees in the Statements of Operations.

 

7. INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

30 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of Rondure New World Fund and Rondure Overseas Fund (the "Funds"), two of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018, the related statements of operations, statements of changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the year May 2, 2017 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2018, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the funds listed above constituting the Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, and the results of their operations, changes in their net assets, and the financial highlights for the year May 2, 2017 (commencement of investment operations) to April 30, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Denver, Colorado

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Rondure Global Advisors, LLC since 2018.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Additional Information

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) 1-855-775-3337 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

 

The Funds designate the following amounts for federal income tax purposes for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018:

 

   Foreign Taxes
Paid
   Foreign Source
Income
 
Rondure Overseas Fund  $14,239   $206,228 
Rondure New World Fund  $81,233   $1,238,453 

 

Of the distributions paid by the Funds from ordinary income for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017, the following percentages met the requirements to be treated as qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction and qualified dividend income:

 

  Dividend Received
Deduction
Qualified Dividend
Income
Rondure Overseas Fund 4.77% 43.56%
Rondure New World Fund 34.38% 100.00%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distributions paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

 

32 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Trustees and Officers

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-775-3337.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Mary K. Anstine, 1940 Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems, 1976 Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Trustees and Officers

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Jerry G. Rutledge, 1944 Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell, 1970 Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 

34 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Trustees and Officers

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE
Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with Fund
Term of Office**
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of
Funds in
Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee****
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee During
Past 5 Years***
Edmund J. Burke, 1961 Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Trustees and Officers

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS
Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held
with Fund
Term of Office** and
Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Kimberly R. Storms, 1972 Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.
Karen S. Gilomen, 1970 Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.
Ted Uhl, 1974 Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.
Jennell Panella, 1974 Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.
Alan Gattis, 1980 Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

 

 

36 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Trustees and Officers

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS
Name, Address*
& Year of Birth
Position(s) Held
with Fund
Term of Office** and
Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Sharon Akselrod, 1974 Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.
Jennifer Craig 1973 Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.
Sareena Khwaja-Dixon, 1980 Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.
**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.
****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 34) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Privacy Policy

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are  
Who is providing this notice? Rondure New World Fund, and Rondure Overseas Fund.
What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured  files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information?        

We collect your personal information, for example, when you  

 

  open an account

●   provide account information or give us your contact information

●   make a wire transfer or deposit money

Why can't I limit all sharing?            

Federal law gives you the right to limit only  

 

●   sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

●   affiliates from using your information to market to you

●   sharing for non-affiliates to market to you  

 

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

Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates    

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

 

●   The Funds does not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing    

A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.  

 

  The Funds does not jointly market.

Other Important Information
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

38 1.855.775.3337 | www.rondureglobal.com

 

 

 

Rondure Funds Privacy Policy

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

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

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

 

  Social Security number and account transactions

  Account balances and transaction history

  Wire transfer instructions

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

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Do the Funds share: Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes – such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes No

For our marketing purposes – to offer our products and services to you

No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences

Yes No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

No We do not share.
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

 

 
 

 

(BACK COVER)

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Letter to Shareholders 1
Performance Review  
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund 6
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund 12
Disclosure of Fund Expenses 20
Portfolio of Investments 22
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 31
Statements of Operations 32
Statements of Changes in Net Assets 34
Financial Highlights 38
Notes to Financial Statements 44
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 55
Additional Information 56
Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement 57
Trustees and Officers 60
Privacy Policy 65

 

Seafarer Funds  Letter to Shareholders

 

April 30, 2018

 

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

May 12, 2018

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

I am pleased to address you again on behalf of the Seafarer Funds. This report covers the Funds’ 2017-18 fiscal year (May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018).

 

China: At a Crossroads in the World, and In Your Portfolio

 

The preceding two decades have brought considerable change and progress to the developing world. Economies have expanded, technologies have advanced, incomes have risen, capital has been created, and living standards have improved. Yet throughout such change, one fact has remained constant and essential: within the developing world, China has stood out from all other nations in terms of scale, scope and influence.

 

There was a time when this fact was not obvious. China’s economy was once smaller than some of its peers, and not long ago, its allocation in prevailing equity indices was approximately one fifteenth of the weight accorded Taiwan. Yet thoughtful observers knew even then that China’s scale and potential would eclipse all other countries in the developing world. China’s subsequent growth and development have made it central to the definition of the “emerging market asset class.” Its index allocation eclipses all the rest, and in coming years, its weight will increase further; its rise has re-shaped or influenced the course of events in nearly every other developing country; its success or failure will determine whether the asset class has long-term investment merit. As goes China, so go the emerging markets.

 

While China’s prominence has never been clearer, the country’s political and economic development has grown more complicated, and in some respects, opaquer. Last fall, in the Letter to Shareholders as of October 31, 2017, I offered a personal perspective on China’s evolution.1 The view I expressed was personal and anecdotal – not comprehensive or definitive – but my aim was to convey my concern that the Chinese political system had taken a surprising, worrisome turn.

 

My concern stemmed from a basic idea. I believe that China’s profound development over the past four decades was driven by the de-emphasis of central planning in favor of decentralized decision-making, as well as the opening of the economy to competition and private ownership. I believe that highly centralized economic systems induce instability, corruption, and wasted resources. Decentralized systems lack certain efficiencies; however, given the proper incentives (e.g., the incentives that spring from private ownership), they tend to be more flexible and self-correcting, thereby avoiding gross waste. I think China’s adoption of a decentralized approach was fundamental to its growth, spurring the economic might readily visible today.

 

The October 2017 Letter to Shareholders describes my concern that China’s political system is returning to its centralized, pre-1978 roots.1 President Xi Jinping’s government has launched a “third era” in China’s history, characterized by substantial political and economic re-organization, and emphasizing centralized government control. My colleague Nicholas Borst has recently launched a blog entitled “Prevailing Winds.” The first entry highlights some of the key transitions currently underway in China.2 I believe some aspects of Xi’s new era are welcome and warranted, but it also presents myriad challenges to investors. Chief among them: one cannot rely on China’s past progress to extrapolate its future. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

Some investors may view such change and uncertainty with skepticism, shunning China within their portfolios. Though I share such skepticism, I believe that complete withdrawal would be a mistake. China’s growing economic scale and global prominence mean that it cannot be ignored. Though it might be an uncomfortable prospect for some, Xi has made it clear that China’s ambition is to occupy a status alongside the U.S. as a new global power, a second hegemon. Assuming China attains Xi’s goals peacefully, it will be simply too large, too important and too prosperous for investors to ignore.

 

China’s “Belt and Road” initiative is one visible effort where China’s global ambitions are evident.3 For those unfamiliar with the initiative: my colleague Stephanie Gan has recently written a report on Belt

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 1

 

Seafarer Funds  Letter to Shareholders

 

April 30, 2018

 

and Road that focuses on the initiative’s financial underpinnings.4 Stephanie’s report makes clear that Belt and Road is sweeping in scale and scope; but it also suggests that much of the funding behind it is murky or problematic. My own view is that Belt and Road has the potential to establish China’s hegemony in the East, but it could also overextend the country’s financial resources along the way. China is determined to climb to the top, but it might go broke in the attempt.

 

So, what should investors make of this? On the one hand, China has embarked on a path intended to secure its status as a hegemon, making it far too big to be ignored. On the other hand, internal change means that its future is opaque, and success less assured.

 

My view is that investors must seriously consider a substantial, structural increase in their exposure to China. To enact that increase, I think investors must seek dedicated exposure to a broad array of asset classes.

 

U.S. investors pursue a multitude of strategies, so it is foolish to generalize. However, I suspect that most investors’ portfolios have single-digit exposure to China; for many, the effective exposure will be under 5%. I also suspect that most investors have exposure only to equities via regional funds that invest primarily on the Hong Kong stock exchange. There are many important Chinese companies listed in Hong Kong; but to invest only in Hong Kong is to omit a vast multitude of companies listed exclusively on China’s onshore, domestic markets – the “A Shares.” Lastly, I suspect very few investors have exposure to asset types beyond equities – fixed income, real estate, private equity, venture capital, etc. I believe that portfolios that have limited exposure to China (below 5%), and only via Hong Kong stocks (omitting A Shares, fixed income, real estate, etc.), are not well-positioned for China’s future rise.

 

I imagine that many investors will find it alien to consider a portfolio with dedicated exposure to China across an array of asset types. However, as a brief thought exercise, I encourage you to reverse your frame of reference for a moment. Imagine you reside outside the U.S., a citizen of some other country. How then would you seek to invest in the U.S.? Would you only use one fund, whether active or passive? Would you only seek exposure to equities, or would you consider bonds too? If your capital, risk tolerances and time horizons allowed, would you want exposure to U.S. real estate, U.S. private equity and U.S. venture capital? Surely you would not invest in the U.S. only via a “North America Region Equity Fund,” which by design sought to offer a blended exposure to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean in one package. A regional fund would never give you sufficient exposure to the primary market, the country that you really wanted to feature in your portfolio – the U.S.

 

I expect that most investors would favor dedicated exposure to the U.S., and they would not rely solely on a fund built around a stylized, regionally-driven asset class. Most investors would also seek exposure across an array of assets (stocks, bonds, etc.), and use a mix of funds, highlighting strategies (active, passive) across a range of styles (growth, value, large cap, small cap, etc.) according to their preferences. They would do so because the U.S. economy is broad, deep and dynamic; its financial markets are vast and liquid; and because the U.S. as a hegemon is too big to underweight or ignore.

 

You might feel that China is innately different from the U.S. case, and therefore my argument is invalid. Certainly, China is not yet a global hegemon, and it does not yet enjoy all the structural characteristics that situate the U.S. economy above all others. Still, I would urge you to consider whether China’s ambitions might give it similar status over the next two decades. If so, I would argue that you should treat China no differently than the U.S. within your portfolio.

 

I imagine that some shareholders of the Funds expect that Seafarer will or should offer sufficient exposure to ensure that their portfolios do not “miss out” on the best aspects of China’s rise. While I hope that the Funds offer intriguing exposure to Chinese stocks, I do not think their mandates are designed to offer sufficient, dedicated, well-rounded exposure to China’s rise. At Seafarer, we are “stock pickers,” and eclectic ones at that. We are certainly aware of the changes taking place in and around China – perhaps more so than some others – but our aim is not to build structural, well-diversified exposure to the Chinese market. Rather, the Funds have focused strategies which place emphasis on balancing risk versus reward. For reasons stemming from either risk or valuation, the Funds are unlikely to own all the stocks critical to China’s emergence. Also, while the Funds enjoy a great deal of geographical freedom (and therefore could, in theory, offer elevated exposure to a single country), we

 

2 (855) 732-9220   seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds  Letter to Shareholders

 

April 30, 2018

 

tend to view our strategies as best implemented across an array of countries. Put bluntly: I believe the Seafarer Funds are unlikely to ever offer sufficient exposure to the full breadth of Chinese equities, let alone other Chinese asset types.

 

No one should interpret my view as an urgent call to portfolio re-construction. Instead, I encourage investors to first consider several critical questions: do you believe China’s rise will be peaceful, or mired in martial conflict? (I think the probability of direct conflict is small but cannot be ruled out.) Do you believe China has the political, diplomatic, economic, technological and financial skills to emerge as a hegemon? (For the most part, I think it does, though it might overextend itself financially in pursuit of the Belt and Road initiative.) Do you think that China’s economic rise will go unmarred by a major economic or financial crisis? (I think the country’s extreme indebtedness will eventually hamper economic growth, and it might yet induce a crisis.) Most importantly: do you have the risk tolerance and long-term time horizon to sustain investment in China’s transition? (I think anyone with an investment horizon less than two decades should forgo a dramatic shift toward China.) You must have confidence in your answers before undertaking a major overhaul of your portfolio. Given the complexity that surrounds China’s future, I do not believe any intermediary – including Seafarer – can answer these questions definitively on your behalf.5

 

However, if you determine that your exposure to China should increase, I encourage you to develop a long-term plan to re-build your portfolio. In my view, it should emphasize diversification across asset types and strategies, and it should be suited to your risk tolerances and applicable time horizons. When you are ready to implement the plan, I would suggest you act gradually: right now, I harbor concerns that China might still experience a major economic shock or financial crisis, one that might rival historical events in other nations. Rapidly building outsized exposure to risky asset classes will almost assuredly destroy capital. Yet I do not know whether a shock will occur; postponing indefinitely may prove sub-optimal. Rather, I would suggest a measured pace of implementation – and if a crisis strikes midway, I would consider whether it afforded an opportune time to accelerate implementation, rather than abandon your plan in frustration.

 

China recently passed over a crossroads as a country. President Xi has changed direction, and China has embarked on a new and unfamiliar course. The country’s stated destination is clear, even if the road ahead is not. I believe your portfolio is passing over the same crossroads. Make certain that it does not miss the turn, and that you are well prepared for the next leg of the journey.

 

Expense Ratio Reduction and Economies of Scale

 

As described in the Letter to Shareholders as of April 30, 2017, Seafarer has committed to reduce expenses for the Funds, particularly as time and scale afford greater efficiency.6

 

I am pleased to announce that, consistent with that commitment, the Overseas Growth and Income Fund experienced a reduction in its operating expense ratios during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018. The ratios declined to 0.87% and 0.97% for the Institutional and Investor classes, respectively. For reference, the expense ratios were 0.92% and 1.02% for the respective classes during the preceding fiscal year.7 The expense improvement can be traced to two underlying causes: Seafarer’s ongoing efforts to control costs, and the Growth and Income Fund’s substantial scale.

 

For the past six years, Seafarer Capital Partners (adviser to the Seafarer Funds) has worked with the Funds’ various service providers (chiefly: ALPS Fund Services, the Funds’ administrator, and Brown Brothers Harriman, the Funds’ custodian bank) to keep a careful watch over operating expenses. Seafarer sought to ensure that, if either Fund attained scale, it would realize meaningful efficiencies.

 

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, shareholders of the Growth and Income Fund entrusted it with substantially more capital than the prior year (net assets were $3.0 billion at April 30, 2018, versus $2.4 billion at the end of the prior fiscal year). The increase in assets under management brought new economies of scale, and the Fund’s expense ratio declined in accordance with Seafarer’s long-term goals.

 

As for the Overseas Value Fund: its smaller scale does not yield an equivalent degree of efficiency. However, Seafarer has established the same underlying expense structure for the Value Fund. Should

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 3

 

Seafarer Funds  Letter to Shareholders

 

April 30, 2018

 

the Fund’s assets grow over time, it is expected to achieve similar economies of scale. In the meantime, Seafarer Capital Partners continues to “cap” the Fund’s operating expenses via a contractual commitment, such that its net expense ratios remain 1.05% and 1.15% for the Institutional and Investor classes, respectively.8

 

Expansion of Seafarer’s Team

 

Seafarer continues to invest in its research and operational capacities, particularly through additions to the team. In the past six months, three individuals have joined Seafarer.

 

Nicholas Borst joined the firm as Vice President and Director of China Research. As Vice President, Nicholas is a leader in the management of the firm, with a focus on fund administration, firm-wide technology, and human resources. As Director of China Research, he analyzes financial and economic developments in Greater China. Previously, Nicholas conducted research on China’s economic development at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the World Bank.

 

Brent Clayton joined Seafarer as a research analyst on the investment team. Brent assists Paul Espinosa in the management of the Value strategy. Brent’s experience spans a wide number of overseas markets, with a particular emphasis on investment in “frontier” countries.

 

Meredith Sellers joined the firm as Director of Communications. At Seafarer we are committed to delivering insights to clients directly from the individuals who manage the Funds, and Meredith plays a key role in facilitating this communication. Her career has focused on marketing and client services in the financial services industry.

 

I am pleased to welcome these individuals to Seafarer. I am excited by the depth and breadth of talent they bring to our organization.

 

We appreciate the trust and patience that you have extend to our firm, and we are honored to serve as your investment adviser in the emerging markets.

 

Andrew Foster 

Chief Investment Officer 

Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC

 

Information on the Seafarer website is provided for textual reference only, and is not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

The views and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect Seafarer’s current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Seafarer does not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

1The Letter to Shareholders as of October 31, 2017 is available at:

www.seafarerfunds.com/letters-to-shareholders/2017/10/semi-annual 

2The Prevailing Winds post is available at:

www.seafarerfunds.com/prevailing-winds/2018/04/forty-years-later-china-in-a-new-era 

3The Belt and Road Initiative is an international program to spur investment and trade links between China, central Asia, and Europe. The initiative was announced by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2013. The official name for the initiative is the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.”

  

4 (855) 732-9220   seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds  Letter to Shareholders

 

April 30, 2018

 

4The report titled One Belt, One Road – Many Motives is available at:

 www.seafarerfunds.com/obor-white-paper 

5For shareholders interested in reading another perspective on China, please refer to: Martin Wolf, "How the West Should Judge a Rising China," Financial Times, 15 May 2018.

6The Letter to Shareholders as of April 30, 2017 is available at:

www.seafarerfunds.com/letters-to-shareholders/2017/04/annual 

7The Growth and Income Fund’s Prospectus (dated August 31, 2017) states that the Fund expenses are 0.92% and 1.02% for the Institutional and Investor classes, respectively.

8Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC has agreed contractually to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursements (excluding brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.15% and 1.05% of each Fund’s average daily net assets for the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 5

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

SEAFARER OVERSEAS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND 

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

 

May 15, 2018

 

This report addresses the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund’s 2017-18 fiscal year (May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018).

 

During the fiscal year, the Fund returned 8.08%, while the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, rose 22.14%.1 By way of broader comparison, the S&P 500 Index increased 13.27%.

 

From the Fund’s inception (February 15, 2012) through the end of the fiscal year (April 30, 2018), the Fund generated an annualized rate of return of 7.10%.2 The benchmark index rose at an annualized rate of 4.38% over the same period.

 

The Fund began the fiscal year with a net asset value of $12.54 per share. During the ensuing twelve months, the Fund paid three distributions: $0.107 per share in June 2017 and two distributions totaling $0.303 per share in December 2017. Those payments brought the cumulative distribution per share, as measured from the Fund’s inception to the end of the fiscal year, to $1.781. The Fund finished the fiscal year with a value of $13.14 per share.3

 

* * * * *

 

During the Fund’s fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the benchmark index produced a second consecutive year of robust performance, rising slightly above 22% (for reference, the index gained just shy of 20% during the preceding fiscal year). The Fund’s performance was considerably less strong, rising only 8%, and it again trailed its benchmark, this year by approximately 12% (the gap was about 8% in the preceding year). The absolute returns from the Fund were attractive in my view, and in keeping with the Fund’s objectives of balancing risk with return. However, in relative terms, the performance was unsatisfactory. Though the Fund’s returns since inception still surpass that of the benchmark, the past two years have been lackluster and disappointing.

 

For those deeply interested, I will provide a brief discussion below of what the index did well during the fiscal year, and what the Fund did not do well, thereby creating the gap in performance. Frankly, though, if you want to know the truth of the matter, it is far simpler than any detailed reckoning can reveal: I did not get China right in the Fund. When measured in terms of contribution to performance, the index had a greater China allocation than did the Fund, and that larger allocation also performed better, at least over the short timeframe that the fiscal year affords. The index’s China exposure accounted for 7.9% of its outperformance during the fiscal year – essentially all of the gap. To sum up the year: the index’s allocation to China stocks thrashed the Fund’s exposure; and by comparison, every other aspect of performance was just noise.

 

What’s going on in China, and why has the Fund’s China exposure caused a performance shortfall? For the past twenty years, my research and analysis on China have led me to a nearly unshakable view that it would one day emerge as an economic superpower. This view was challenged many times over the years, often by ill-informed critics. Yet now that China is well on its way to such a status, its economic and political evolution has never concerned me more. I have become cautious – deeply so – about China, even as it seems most investors are “maximum bullish.”

 

I was wrong to be so cautious, at least so far. I write “so far,” but obviously I do not know what the future holds. My cautious stance on China may never prove warranted. For a more complete view of my thoughts on the country, I urge you to re-read the Letter to Shareholders in the Semi-annual Report as of October 31, 2017, and subsequently the Letter to Shareholders in this Annual Report.4

 

In the interest of a bit more granularity, all sectors contributed positively to the benchmark’s performance during the past twelve months. Technology and financial stocks led the way (returns for both sectors were dominated by Chinese stocks). Commodities and real estate made material contributions to performance (the former spurred by China’s short-term cyclical recovery, and the latter

 

6 (855) 732-9220   seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

due to China). Energy stocks also drove the index’s gains – and in this case, Chinese stocks, Russian stocks and Brazilian stocks contributed equally to the sector’s rise.

 

The Fund did not produce gains in every sector in which it invested: its exposure to industrials and consumer stocks (mainly automotive companies) created a small drag on performance. During a fiscal year in which the index rises 22%, a small negative drag becomes a sea anchor of underperformance, because of the opportunity foregone. However, the real story of the Fund’s underperformance lies in what it did not own, as opposed to what it did: it did not invest in China internet stocks, China property developers, China banks, China insurance, energy stocks, and almost no material stocks. These six omissions cost the Fund over ten percentage points of gross performance during the fiscal year. In general, I did not think companies in those sectors represented the best way to invest in the emergence of the developing world; I did not find stocks that fit the Fund’s growth and income strategy to my satisfaction.

 

We appreciate your interest, your patience, and your willingness to entrust your capital with Seafarer for the long-term.

 

Andrew Foster 

Lead Portfolio Manager, Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund
Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, Standard (Large+Mid Cap) Core, Gross (dividends reinvested), USD is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Index code: GDUEEGF.

 

The S&P 500 Total Return Index is a stock market index based on the market capitalizations of 500 large companies with common stock listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ.

 

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss.

 

Information on the Seafarer website is provided for textual reference only, and is not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

The views and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect Seafarer’s current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Seafarer does not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

1References to the “Fund” pertain to the Fund’s Institutional share class (ticker: SIGIX). The Investor share class (ticker: SFGIX) gained 8.03% during the fiscal year. Includes adjustments in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return decreased from 8.12% to 8.03%.

2The Fund’s Investor share class generated an annualized rate of return of 6.98% from the Fund’s inception through the end of the fiscal year.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 7

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

3The Fund’s Investor share class began the fiscal year with a net asset value of $12.51 per share (adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP were applied during the financial statement preparation and increased the net asset value from $12.50 to $12.51). The Fund paid three distributions: $0.105 per share in June 2017 and two distributions totaling $0.296 per share in December 2017. The Fund finished the fiscal year with a value of $13.11 per share.

4The Letter to Shareholders for the period ended October 31, 2017 is available at:
www.seafarerfunds.com/letters-to-shareholders/2017/10/semi-annual

 

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Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Total Returns

 

As of April 30, 2018 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years Since Inception Annualized(1) Gross Expense Ratio(2)
Investor Class (SFGIX) 8.03%(3) 3.25% 4.78% 6.98% 1.02%
Institutional Class (SIGIX) 8.08% 3.34% 4.91% 7.10% 0.92%
MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index(4) 22.14% 6.39% 5.11% 4.38%  

 

All performance is in U.S. dollars with gross (pre-tax) dividends and/or distributions reinvested. The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Future returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Prior to August 31, 2016, shares of the Fund redeemed or exchanged within 90 days of purchase were subject to a 2% redemption fee. Performance does not reflect this fee, which if deducted would reduce an individual's return. To obtain the Fund’s most recent month-end performance, visit seafarerfunds.com or call (855) 732-9220.

 

1Inception Date: February 15, 2012.

2Ratios as of Prospectus dated August 31, 2017. Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC has agreed contractually to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursements (excluding brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.15% and 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018.

3Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return decreased from 8.12% to 8.03%.

4The MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, Standard (Large+Mid Cap) Core, Gross (dividends reinvested), USD is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Index code: GDUEEGF. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

Annual Report - April 30, 2018 9

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Performance of a $10,000 Investment Since Inception

 

 

 

*Inception Date: February 15, 2012.

 

The chart shown above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends and/or distributions, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the chart above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation along with some current income. The Fund seeks to mitigate adverse volatility in returns as a secondary objective.

 

Strategy

 

The Fund invests primarily in the securities of companies located in developing countries. The Fund invests in several asset classes including dividend-paying common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible bonds, and fixed-income securities.

 

The Fund seeks to offer investors a relatively stable means of participating in a portion of developing countries’ growth prospects, while providing some downside protection compared to a portfolio that invests only in the common stocks of those countries.

 

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Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income FundPerformance Review

April 30, 2018

 

Portfolio Composition by Region % Net Assets
East & South Asia 69.6%
Emerging Europe 6.4%
Latin America 11.2%
Middle East & Africa 3.5%
Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities 6.9%
Government Bond, Short-term - USD and Foreign Currency 2.6%
Total 100.0%

 

Portfolio Composition by Sector % Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 22.1%
Consumer Staples 7.6%
Financials 8.7%
Government 1.9%
Health Care 10.4%
Industrials 1.2%
Information Technology 21.7%
Materials 0.8%
Real Estate 3.9%
Telecommunication Services 9.4%
Utilities 2.9%
Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities 6.9%
Government Bond, Short-term - USD and Foreign Currency 2.6%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings % Net Assets
Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. 6.6%
Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd. 4.8%
Infosys, Ltd. 4.7%
Richter Gedeon Nyrt 3.8%
Hang Lung Properties, Ltd. 3.6%
Astra International Tbk PT 3.5%
Orion Corp/Republic Of Korea 3.5%
Sanlam, Ltd. 3.5%
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 3.4%
China Telecom Corp., Ltd. 3.4%
Total 40.6%
   
Total Number of Holdings 491

 

Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

Source: ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

1Excludes short-term government bonds; includes medium- and long-term government bonds.

   

Annual Report – April 30, 201811

 

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

SEAFARER OVERSEAS VALUE FUND 

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

 

May 8, 2018

 

This report addresses the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund’s 2017-18 fiscal year (May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018).

 

During the fiscal year, the Fund gained 9.74%, while the Fund’s benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, rose 22.14%.1 By way of broader comparison, the S&P 500 Index returned 13.27%.

 

From the Fund’s inception (May 31, 2016) through the end of the fiscal year (April 30, 2018), the Fund generated an annualized rate of return of 12.50%.2 The benchmark index rose at an annualized rate of 24.30% over the same period.

 

The Fund began the fiscal year with a net asset value (NAV) of $11.28 per share.3 The Fund paid a distribution of $0.412 per share in December 2017. That payment brought the cumulative distribution per share, as measured from the Fund’s inception to the end of the fiscal year, to $0.537. The Fund finished the fiscal year with a value of $11.96 per share.4

 

I will anchor my review of the Value Fund’s 9.74% total return during its second fiscal year around three axes: (1) the nature of the absolute level of return, (2) the nature of the return relative to the benchmark, and (3) the nature of the fundamental drivers of total return.

 

I consider the Value Fund’s total return of 9.74% during the past fiscal year as reasonable in absolute terms. The December 2017 distribution of $0.412 per share represents 3.65% of the NAV at the beginning of the period. This distribution consisted entirely of ordinary income and accounted for over one-third of the year’s total return, thus highlighting the often-underappreciated contribution of dividends to total return.

 

The Fund’s 9.74% total return meaningfully underperformed the benchmark index’s return of 22.14% over the same period. The stocks that contributed most significantly to the benchmark’s returns for the Fund’s full fiscal year were the same ones that drove the benchmark’s returns for first half of the fiscal year – Tencent, Samsung Electronics, Naspers (owner of one third of Tencent), Alibaba, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) – whereas myriad factors drove the Value Fund’s performance as detailed below.

 

Before discussing the specific stocks that accounted for most of the Fund’s performance, it is worth highlighting a few global developments that took place over the second half of the fiscal year. While the Value Fund’s investment strategy is rooted in fundamental, company-specific research and bottom-up portfolio construction, changes in global geopolitical and economic conditions impact specific portfolio holdings, making a discussion of macro-related issues relevant.

 

The first significant global event during the fiscal year took place in June of 2017 when the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) imposed an embargo on one of its members: Qatar.5 This action by the GCC impacted the Value Fund’s holding in Nakilat (Deleveraging category of value, as defined in the white paper On Value in the Emerging Markets), which owns and operates a fleet of ships that transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) extracted and produced by Qatar.6 I dedicated much of the Fund’s second quarter 2017 portfolio review to explaining my reasoning for adding to the Fund’s holding in the company, namely that energy exports were excluded from the embargo, that the business enjoyed extreme revenue and profit visibility backed by 20 to 25 year contracts, and that the company had a call option on growth as I expected Qatar to increase LNG production as a substitute source of U.S. dollars that GCC banks had withdrawn.7 While the stock proved to be a negative contributor to the portfolio’s total return for the fiscal year, it is important to note that the business operates on a time scale of approximately 20 years, which likely exceeds the market’s average investment time horizon. While the Fund waits for Qatar to increase LNG production and for Nakilat to eventually announce a fleet increase, the portfolio accrues an approximate 6.5% dividend yield in a currency (Qatari riyal) that is hard-pegged to the U.S. dollar.

 

12(855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Interestingly, June 2017 also marked a bottom in the price of Brent crude oil as it increased from $44.82 per barrel on June 21, 2017 to $75.17 per barrel on April 30, 2018. The rise in the price of oil eventually led to a significant swing in the price of another portfolio holding: Petrovietnam Technical Services or PVS (Management Change), which provides services to oil exploration and production companies. The stock price of PVS rose from VND (Vietnamese dong) 14,849.77 on October 27, 2017 to VND 31,262.67 on January 29, 2018. Visibility of the project pipeline for this company, which tends to correlate with changes in the oil price, probably led to the significant stock price appreciation. However, it is important to note that stock-specific factors related to a particular project resulted in the share price of PVS subsequently declining to VND 18,200.00 on April 27, 2018, the last trade date of the Fund’s fiscal year. Fund shareholders should note that I refrained from purchasing additional PVS shares during the stock’s meteoric price rise despite fund inflows, and that I aim to maintain the company’s proportional representation in the portfolio due to Vietnam’s strategic interest in developing its oil and gas fields, which is significantly, though not entirely, independent of the price of oil. Furthermore, 30.5% of PVS’ balance sheet assets consisted of cash and equivalents, which in turn represented 89.6% of the company’s market capitalization (the company has very little debt) as of April 27, 2018. Finally, additional reasons to continue to own the stock despite the decline in price and heightened volatility during the fiscal year include a price to book value ratio of 0.75 and a 5.6% dividend yield.8,9

 

Another significant change in the global economic order that impacted the portfolio is the trade dispute between the U.S. and China that erupted during the first quarter of 2018. China’s 25% tariff imposition on U.S. pork exports directly impacted the Value Fund’s holding in WH Group (Management Change) – a hog processor of Chinese origin that acquired Smithfield Foods of the U.S. in 2013. The company imports pork from the U.S. into China, where hog prices have been consistently higher than those in the U.S. for a long time. I have chosen to maintain the Fund’s position in WH Group based on the information currently available, which suggests the tariff may be temporary. Even if the tariff becomes permanent, the hit to the company’s long-term value creation is more than accounted for in the stock’s low valuation. Furthermore, WH Group can minimize the impact of tariffs on U.S. hog exports through its exposure to both the upstream and downstream segments of the business. Thus, the company can offset a decline in the profitability of raising and sourcing hogs – the upstream side of the business – as a result of the tariff, with the pricing power it enjoys in the manufacturing of consumer-branded products – or the downstream part of the business. Despite a decline in the share price of WH Group from a high of HKD (Hong Kong dollar) 9.74 per share on February 1, 2018 to HKD 8.19 per share as of April 30, 2018, the company still contributed positively to the Fund’s performance for the fiscal year.

 

Finally, it is worth noting that several emerging market currencies depreciated meaningfully during the last three months of the fiscal year under review. Specifically, the Brazilian real and the Russian ruble weakened by more than 10% against the U.S. dollar. The Value Fund has limited exposure to these currencies through its holding of Qualicorp (Structural Shift), a Brazilian health insurance broker; Cherkizovo (Segregated Market), a Russian meat processor; and Global Ports (Asset Productivity), the largest Russian port operator. While the Mexican peso did not depreciate as much as the real and ruble, it is a currency to watch closely given uncertainty related to the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).10 The Fund has limited exposure to the Mexican peso through one holding: Credito Real (Asset Productivity), a non-bank lender to low- and middle-income segments of the population. Lastly, it is important to note that the Value Fund has avoided exposure to the most severely devaluing currencies over the past three months, such as the Argentine peso and the Turkish lira.

 

Given the foregoing discussion of how shifts in geopolitics and global economic relations have impacted specific Value Fund holdings over the past fiscal year, it is pertinent to emphasize that this is one of the reasons the Fund tends to hold a relatively high cash balance of 15% or less under most circumstances. It is in cases such as the ones described above that the Fund can make use of its cash resource to add to specific positions at lower prices if the case for owning the stock remains unchanged.

 

One aspect I value about the portfolio’s performance over the past fiscal year is that the stocks discussed in past shareholder reports did not dominate the Fund’s overall performance, despite the emergence of significant global risks over the period under review. The primary determinants of the Fund’s performance were companies that appreciated or depreciated mainly due to stock-specific drivers.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 201813

 

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Indeed, the common thread among the top five contributors to the Fund’s return for the fiscal year was organic earnings momentum or corporate action, not global, macro-related drivers. While earnings momentum as a driver of stock return is fitting for the growth-driven bull market in emerging market equities since the beginning of 2016, it is important to differentiate between different types of growth. Melco International Development (Breakup Value), a developer, owner, and operator of casinos, was the top contributor to the Fund’s performance. The company’s earnings growth and stock price appreciation had already begun prior to the start of the Fund’s fiscal year, thus making this company an unlikely candidate to be the top contributor to performance during the period. What set Melco International Development apart from other companies was meaningful earnings revisions by sell-side analysts. The 2018 earnings per share (EPS) consensus estimate at the beginning of the 2017 calendar year was $0.61. By the end of April 2018, sell-side analysts had revised that estimate to $1.21. Melco International Development represents a case of sustained earnings momentum coupled with aggressive earnings revisions. This is a powerful combination of return drivers, especially if the stock had been purchased prior to the first acceleration in earnings, which was the case for the Value Fund.

 

Another of the top five contributors to performance for the fiscal year is a case of an inflection point in earnings growth, in contrast to Melco International Development’s sustained and accelerating growth. Xtep International Holdings (Balance Sheet Liquidity), a Chinese sports apparel manufacturer, appreciated from HKD 2.56 per share on October 20, 2017 to HKD 4.58 per share by April 30, 2018, despite a profit warning in December of 2017 and several subsequent rating downgrades by sell-side analysts. My interpretation of this counter-intuitive share price move is that the market largely discounted the company’s negative profit warning, which was driven primarily by the purchase of old inventory from the retail channel, and instead saw the purchase as a sign of Xtep’s operational restructuring potentially coming to an end. It is from this perspective that I see a value strategy delivering returns within an overall market rally driven by growth stocks.

 

The remaining three of the top five contributors to the Value Fund’s performance were cases of stock price appreciation due to corporate action. China Resources Beer (Structural Shift), a Chinese brewer, has long suffered from structurally low profitability relative to brewers globally (as the category of value implies). The company’s stock price reacted strongly to indications that it would raise prices meaningfully, thus beginning to address one of the drivers of its structurally low profit margin.

 

China Foods (Asset Productivity), a Chinese Coke bottler, appreciated after selling two non-core businesses, unifying the territorial integrity of its Coke franchise in the country, and paying a large extraordinary dividend that yielded 22.5% on the declaration date of August 29, 2017.

 

Samsung SDI (Breakup Value), a Korean lithium-ion battery manufacturer, also contributed meaningfully to the portfolio’s return after selling non-core assets and reporting lower losses in its electric vehicle battery division, which may suggest positive and growing profits in the future.

 

The top five detractors to the Value Fund’s performance for the fiscal year had a heterogeneous set of drivers. The largest detractor was First Pacific (Breakup Value), a conglomerate with assets in the Philippines and Indonesia. The company’s share price declined from a peak of HKD 6.30 on September 5, 2017 to HKD 4.04 as of April 30, 2018 due to underwhelming signs of market share stabilization at its Philippine mobile operator, difficulty in raising tariffs for its Philippine water treatment business, and slow progress in expected asset sales. The company traded at a price to book value of approximately 0.7 as of April 30, 2018. I plan to meet management in person in the near future.

 

Another important detractor to performance was Del Monte Pacific (Deleveraging and Management Change), owner of the Del Monte brand of packaged vegetables, fruit, and beverages in the U.S. and Philippines, among other geographies. The reason for the stock’s underperformance was the sharp rise in the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) coupled with the company’s high leverage and slow progress in improving profitability in its U.S. division.11 The company traded at a price to book value of approximately 0.5 as of April 30, 2018. I also plan to meet management in person in the near future.

 

The stock price of Texwinca (Structural Shift), a Hong Kong-based textile company, continued to depreciate over the Fund’s fiscal year after having declined the prior year as well. Even though management has a plan to return earnings to growth, it is taking time to implement it, and in the

 

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Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

meantime it has reduced the dividend despite having net cash on the balance sheet. In my opinion, this is a case of waiting for management’s efforts to bear fruit, while receiving a dividend yield in excess of 10% in the interim, backed by a strong balance sheet.

 

Like Texwinca, I also expect the next two detractors to the Fund’s performance to return to earnings growth and restore the dividend paid to shareholders. The share price of Asia Satellite Holdings (Deleveraging), an owner and operator of commercial satellites, decreased significantly during the year (reducing its price to book value ratio from 1.05 on May 1, 2017 to 0.72 on April 30, 2018), presumably due to yet another year of declining accounting earnings. What the share price and accounting earnings fail to value is that cash flow generation actually grew, that the company continues to reduce its financial leverage, and that dividends started being paid again during calendar year 2017. I expect the market will assign a higher value to the cash flow the company generates and the dividend it pays once its accounting earnings begin to grow again – after the company’s latest satellite launch begins to contribute to earnings.

 

Similarly, the price to book value ratio of Amvig Holdings (Structural Shift), a Chinese tobacco packaging manufacturer, declined from 0.61 on May 2, 2017 to 0.50 on April 30, 2018, presumably due to a modest revenue decline even though accounting earnings, as well as cash flow from operations, both grew meaningfully. Furthermore, the company increased its dividend after reducing it in 2016. In my opinion, the stock continues to reflect difficult tobacco market dynamics in China. Not only do I expect these dynamics to improve going forward, but even if they do not, shareholders can look forward to probable dividend increases as the company has the potential to consolidate the industry and improve efficiency. Even more importantly, this is a company with a historical track record of reducing the book value per share by paying out all excess capital to shareholders.

 

Thank you for entrusting us with your capital. We are honored to serve as your investment adviser in the developing world.

 

Paul Espinosa 

Lead Portfolio Manager, Seafarer Overseas Value Fund

Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC

 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, Standard (Large+Mid Cap) Core, Gross (dividends reinvested), USD is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Index code: GDUEEGF.

 

The S&P 500 Total Return Index is a stock market index based on the market capitalizations of 500 large companies with common stock listed on the NYSE or NASDAQ.

 

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

 

The Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Fund may not achieve its objectives. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss.

 

Information on the Seafarer website is provided for textual reference only, and is not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

The views and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect Seafarer’s current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the portfolios or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The subject matter contained herein has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Seafarer does not accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 201815

 

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

As of April 30, 2018, the Fund had no economic interest in Tencent, Samsung Electronics, Naspers, Alibaba, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), or Smithfield Foods.

  

1 References to the “Fund” pertain to the Fund’s Institutional share class (ticker: SIVLX). Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return for the Institutional share class increased from 9.64% to 9.74%. The Investor share class (ticker: SFVLX) gained 9.55% during the fiscal year.
2 The Fund’s Investor share class generated an annualized rate of return of 12.38% from the Fund’s inception through the end of the fiscal year.
3 Adjustments in accordance with the U.S. GAAP were applied during the financial statement preparation and decreased the net asset value from $11.29 to $11.28.
4 The Fund’s Investor share class began the fiscal year with a net asset value of $11.30 per share; it paid an annual distribution of $0.423 in December 2017; and it finished the fiscal year with a value of $11.95 per share.
5 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf, except Iraq. Established in 1981, the GCC is also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf.
6 The white paper On Value in Emerging Markets is available at: www.seafarerfunds.com/value-white-paper
7 The Value Fund’s second quarter 2017 portfolio review is available at: www.seafarerfunds.com/funds/ovl/portfolio-review/2017/06/Q2
8 Price to book value (P/BV) ratio is the market price of a company’s common shares, divided by the company’s book value per share.
9 Dividend yield is a measure of the sum of the dividends paid per share during the trailing 12 months divided by the current share price.
10 The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a comprehensive trade agreement established among the North American countries of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 1994.
11 London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is the interest rate at which banks offer to lend funds (wholesale money) to one another in the international interbank market.

 

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Seafarer Overseas Value FundPerformance Review

April 30, 2018

 

Total Returns

 

As of April 30, 2018 1 Year Since Inception Annualized(1) Net Expense
Ratio(2)
Investor Class (SFVLX) 9.55% 12.38% 1.15%
Institutional Class (SIVLX)     9.74%(3) 12.50% 1.05%
MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index(4) 22.14% 24.30%  

 

Gross expense ratio: 3.71% for Investor Class; 3.63% for Institutional Class. Ratios as of Prospectus dated August 31, 20172

 

All performance is in U.S. dollars with gross (pre-tax) dividends and/or distributions reinvested. The performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Future returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Prior to August 31, 2016, shares of the Fund redeemed or exchanged within 90 days of purchase were subject to a 2% redemption fee. Performance does not reflect this fee, which if deducted would reduce an individual's return. To obtain the Fund’s most recent month-end performance, visit seafarerfunds.com or call (855) 732-9220.

 

1 Inception Date: May 31, 2016.
2 Ratios as of Prospectus dated August 31, 2017. Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC has agreed contractually to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursements (excluding brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.15% and 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2018.
3 Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return increased from 9.64% to 9.74%.
4 The MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index, Standard (Large+Mid Cap) Core, Gross (dividends reinvested), USD is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. Index code: GDUEEGF. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 201817

 

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Performance of a $10,000 Investment Since Inception

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

* Inception Date: May 31, 2016.

 

The chart shown above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund’s Investor Class shares for the period from inception to April 30, 2018. All returns reflect reinvested dividends and/or distributions, but do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or redemptions.

 

The Fund also offers Institutional Class shares, performance for which is not reflected in the chart above. The performance of Institutional Class shares may be higher or lower than the performance of the Investor Class shares shown above based upon differences in fees paid by shareholders investing in the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

 

Investment Objective

 

The Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

 

Strategy

 

The Fund invests primarily in the securities of companies located in developing countries. The Fund invests in several asset classes including common stocks, preferred stocks, and fixed-income securities.

 

The Fund’s portfolio is comprised of securities identified through a bottom-up security selection process based on fundamental research. The Fund seeks to produce a minimum long-term rate of return by investing in securities priced at a discount to their intrinsic value.

 

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Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Performance Review

 

April 30, 2018

 

Portfolio Composition by Region % Net Assets
East & South Asia 66.3%
Emerging Europe 8.1%
Latin America 4.6%
Middle East & Africa 6.3%
Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities 14.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Portfolio Composition by Sector % Net Assets
Consumer Discretionary 26.1%
Consumer Staples 18.3%
Energy 5.3%
Financials 5.7%
Health Care 2.3%
Industrials 9.2%
Information Technology 3.5%
Materials 6.3%
Real Estate 2.3%
Telecommunication Services 3.3%
Utilities 3.0%
Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities 14.7%
Total 100.0%

 

Top 10 Holdings % Net Assets
Xtep International Holdings, Ltd. 4.4%
Melco International Development, Ltd. 4.0%
China Resources Beer Holdings Co., Ltd. 3.8%
Wilmar International, Ltd. 3.6%
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. 3.5%
China Foods, Ltd. 3.4%
First Pacific Co., Ltd. 3.4%
Genting Singapore Plc 3.3%
WH Group, Ltd. 3.3%
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings, Ltd. 3.3%
Total 36.0%
   
Total Number of Holdings 32

 

Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

Source: ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 19
 
 
Seafarer Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

DISCLOSURE OF FUND EXPENSES

 

As a shareholder of a Fund you will incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including applicable redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in a Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested on November 1, 2017 and held until April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Seafarer Funds Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Beginning
Account Value
11/01/17
Ending
Account Value
04/30/18
Expense
Ratio(a)
Expenses Paid During Period 11/01/17 - 04/30/18(b)
SEAFARER OVERSEAS GROWTH AND INCOME FUND        
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,011.50 0.98% $4.89
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.93 0.98% $4.91
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,012.10 0.87% $4.34
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,020.48 0.87% $4.36
         
SEAFARER OVERSEAS VALUE FUND      
Investor Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,010.50 1.15% $5.73
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.09 1.15% $5.76
Institutional Class        
Actual $1,000.00 $1,011.30 1.05% $5.24
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.59 1.05% $5.26

 

(a)Annualized, based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half year expenses.
(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 21
 
 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (81.9%)               
Brazil (5.1%)               
TOTVS SA   BRL    7,700,000   $70,093,914 
Odontoprev SA   BRL    13,250,000    56,847,311 
Ser Educacional SA   BRL    5,500,000    26,061,887 
                
Total Brazil             153,003,112 
                
China / Hong Kong (19.1%)               
Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.   HKD    46,620,000    110,329,692 
China Telecom Corp., Ltd., Class H   HKD    210,000,000    101,793,725 
China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd., Class A   CNY    35,099,263    88,973,249 
Hengan International Group Co., Ltd.   HKD    9,250,000    82,263,408 
Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., Class H   HKD    17,007,900    58,457,431 
Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Co., Ltd., Class H   HKD    61,250,000    37,640,510 
Texwinca Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    56,500,000    28,407,219 
Greatview Aseptic Packaging Co., Ltd.   HKD    37,500,000    24,892,816 
Xinhua Winshare Publishing and Media Co., Ltd., Class H   HKD    31,500,000    24,582,132 
Pico Far East Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    52,500,000    21,332,874 
                
Total China / Hong Kong             578,673,056 
                
Hungary (3.7%)               
Richter Gedeon Nyrt   HUF    5,625,000    113,583,208 
                
Total Hungary             113,583,208 
                
India (6.9%)               
Infosys, Ltd., Sponsored ADR   USD    6,800,000    120,156,000 
Sun Pharma Advanced Research Co., Ltd.(a)   INR    8,625,000    54,399,098 
Infosys, Ltd.   INR    1,150,000    20,610,648 
Balkrishna Industries, Ltd.   INR    775,000    14,773,613 
                
Total India             209,939,359 
                
Indonesia (3.5%)               
Astra International Tbk PT   IDR    206,611,100    105,749,126 
                
Total Indonesia             105,749,126 

 

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Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
Japan (1.3%)            
Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.   JPY    501,700   $38,995,086 
                
Total Japan             38,995,086 
                
Malaysia (0.4%)               
Hartalega Holdings Bhd   MYR    8,133,400    12,104,902 
                
Total Malaysia             12,104,902 
                
Mexico (1.4%)               
Bolsa Mexicana de Valores SAB de CV   MXN    22,000,000    42,489,460 
                
Total Mexico             42,489,460 
                
Poland (2.6%)               
Bank Pekao SA   PLN    1,400,000    46,461,693 
Asseco Poland SA   PLN    2,636,648    32,920,654 
                
Total Poland             79,382,347 
                
Singapore (8.0%)               
Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.   SGD    54,500,000    144,157,720 
Venture Corp., Ltd.   SGD    4,000,000    62,564,259 
SIA Engineering Co., Ltd.   SGD    14,500,000    35,482,342 
                
Total Singapore             242,204,321 
                
South Africa (3.5%)               
Sanlam, Ltd.   ZAR    16,550,000    104,546,682 
                
Total South Africa             104,546,682 
                
South Korea (15.5%)               
Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.   KRW    860,000    199,161,904 
Orion Corp/Republic Of Korea   KRW    903,672    104,901,783 
Coway Co., Ltd.   KRW    1,240,000    101,333,210 
Dongsuh Cos., Inc.   KRW    1,650,000    42,434,973 
Sindoh Co., Ltd.   KRW    400,000    22,658,115 
                
Total South Korea             470,489,985 
                
Taiwan (10.0%)               
Pou Chen Corp.   TWD    71,810,000    89,803,737 
Delta Electronics, Inc.   TWD    24,350,000    88,281,177 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   TWD    8,150,000    62,081,341 

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 23
 
 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
Taiwan (continued)               
Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp.   TWD    22,250,000   $45,101,028 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Sponsored ADR   USD    476,739    18,330,614 
                
Total Taiwan             303,597,897 
                
Vietnam (0.9%)               
Bao Viet Holdings   VND    4,511,760    18,167,178 
Nam Long Investment Corp.   VND    5,190,000    8,166,328 
                
Total Vietnam             26,333,506 
                
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS               
(Cost $2,356,010,894)             2,481,092,047 
                
PREFERRED STOCKS (5.1%)               
Brazil (1.7%)               
Banco Bradesco SA, ADR   USD    5,250,000    51,450,000 
                
Total Brazil             51,450,000 
                
South Korea (3.4%)               
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.   KRW    52,000    103,372,209 
                
Total South Korea             103,372,209 
                
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS               
(Cost $87,571,513)             154,822,209 

 

   Currency   Rate   Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value 
CORPORATE BOND - FOREIGN CURRENCY (1.3%)              
Mexico (1.3%)                       
America Movil SAB de CV   MXN    6.45%  12/05/22   400,000,000    19,928,297 
America Movil SAB de CV   MXN    7.13%  12/09/24   400,000,000    20,116,939 
                        
Total Mexico                     40,045,236 
                        
TOTAL CORPORATE BOND - FOREIGN CURRENCY              
(Cost $41,791,331)                     40,045,236 

 

24   (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com
 
 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund

Portfolio of Investments 

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Rate  

Maturity

Date

   Principal Amount   Value 
CORPORATE BOND - USD (0.3%)                         
Brazil (0.3%)                         
Cielo SA / Cielo USA, Inc., Series REGS   USD    3.75%   11/16/22    10,000,000   $9,600,000 
                          
Total Brazil                       9,600,000 
                          
TOTAL CORPORATE BOND - USD                         
(Cost $9,520,373)                       9,600,000 
                          
GOVERNMENT BOND, MEDIUM/LONG - TERM - FOREIGN CURRENCY (1.9%)      
Brazil (1.4%)                         
Brazilian Government International Bond   BRL    10.25%   01/10/28    60,000,000    19,689,769 
Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional Serie F, Series NTNF   BRL    10.00%   01/01/25    70,000,000    21,245,596 
                          
Total Brazil                       40,935,365 
                          
Indonesia (0.5%)                         
Indonesia Treasury Bond, Series FR70   IDR    8.38%   03/15/24    200,000,000,000    15,449,200 
                          
Total Indonesia                       15,449,200 
                          
TOTAL GOVERNMENT BOND, MEDIUM/LONG - TERM - FOREIGN CURRENCY         
(Cost $50,569,687)                       56,384,565 
                          
GOVERNMENT BOND, SHORT-TERM - USD AND FOREIGN CURRENCY (2.6%) 
Colombia (0.2%)                         
Colombia Government International Bond   USD    11.75%   02/25/20    5,000,000    5,752,500 
                          
Total Colombia                       5,752,500 
                          
Israel (0.3%)                         
Israel Government International Bond   USD    5.13%   03/26/19    10,000,000    10,228,400 
                          
Total Israel                       10,228,400 

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 25

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Rate   Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value 
Latvia (0.2%)                   
Republic of Lativa                       
Government International Bond, Series REGS   USD    2.75%  01/12/20   5,000,000   $4,975,185 
                        
Total Latvia                     4,975,185 
                        
Lithuania (0.2%)                       
Lithuania Government International Bond, Series REGS   USD    7.38%  02/11/20   5,000,000    5,379,355 
                        
Total Lithuania                     5,379,355 
                        
Poland (0.3%)                       
Republic of Poland                       
Government International Bond   USD    6.38%  07/15/19   10,000,000    10,426,300 
                        
Total Poland                     10,426,300 
                        
Singapore (0.3%)                       
Singapore Government Bond   SGD    4.00%  09/01/18   11,000,000    8,370,519 
                        
Total Singapore                     8,370,519 
                        
South Africa (0.2%)                       
Republic of South Africa                       
Government International Bond   USD    6.88%  05/27/19   5,000,000    5,189,040 
                        
Total South Africa                     5,189,040 
                        
South Korea (0.9%)                       
The Korea Development Bank   USD    2.88%  08/22/18   5,000,000    5,000,250 
Korea Treasury Bond, Series 1806   KRW    1.63%  06/10/18   6,000,000,000    5,618,411 
Korea Treasury Bond, Series 1812   KRW    1.75%  12/10/18   6,000,000,000    5,619,035 
The Korea Development Bank   USD    1.38%  09/12/19   6,000,000    5,850,619 

 

26 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Rate   Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value 
South Korea (continued)                       
Korea International Bond   USD    7.13%  04/16/19   6,000,000   $6,258,000 
                        
Total South Korea                     28,346,315 
                        
TOTAL GOVERNMENT BOND, SHORT-TERM - USD AND FOREIGN CURRENCY

 
(Cost $78,216,988)                     78,667,614 
                        
TOTAL INVESTMENTS                       
(Cost $2,623,680,786) (93.1%)                    $2,820,611,671 
                        
Cash and Other Assets, Less Liabilities (6.9%)    207,679,648 
NET ASSETS (100.0%)                    $3,028,291,319 

 

Principal Amount is stated in local currency unless otherwise noted.

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

Currency Abbreviations
BRL - Brazil Real
CNY - China Yuan
HKD - Hong Kong Dollar
HUF - Hungary Forint
IDR - Indonesia Rupiah
INR - India Rupee
JPY - Japan Yen
KRW - South Korea Won
MXN - Mexico Peso
MYR - Malaysia Ringgit
PLN - Poland Zloty
SGD - Singapore Dollar
TWD - Taiwan New Dollar
USD - United States Dollar
VND - Vietnam Dong
ZAR - South Africa Rand

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 27

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (85.3%)               
Brazil (2.3%)               
Qualicorp SA   BRL    86,000   $595,313 
                
Total Brazil             595,313 
                
China / Hong Kong (45.1%)               
Xtep International Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    1,924,000    1,117,791 
Melco International Development, Ltd.   HKD    274,000    1,014,441 
China Resources Beer Holdings Co., Ltd.   HKD    224,000    964,752 
China Foods, Ltd.   HKD    1,920,000    881,379 
First Pacific Co., Ltd.   HKD    1,692,000    866,422 
WH Group, Ltd.   HKD    825,000    854,102 
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    1,078,000    848,813 
China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd., Class A   CNY    301,990    765,516 
Texwinca Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    1,470,000    739,090 
AMVIG Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    2,854,000    734,532 
Shangri-La Asia, Ltd.   HKD    374,000    727,847 
Giordano International, Ltd.   HKD    958,000    585,410 
Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.   HKD    247,000    584,544 
Greatview Aseptic Packaging Co., Ltd.   HKD    520,000    345,180 
Pacific Basin Shipping, Ltd.(a)   HKD    1,130,000    300,461 
Pico Far East Holdings, Ltd.   HKD    538,000    218,611 
                
Total China / Hong Kong             11,548,891 
                
Czech Republic (4.4%)               
Pegas Nonwovens SA   CZK    19,000    803,225 
Philip Morris CR AS   CZK    430    329,481 
                
Total Czech Republic             1,132,706 
                
Mexico (2.3%)               
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER(a)   MXN    404,609    589,323 
                
Total Mexico             589,323 
                
Philippines (1.4%)               
Del Monte Pacific, Ltd.   SGD    2,350,000    347,818 
                
Total Philippines             347,818 

 

 

28 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
Qatar (3.1%)            
Qatar Gas Transport Co., Ltd.   QAR    194,000   $782,714 
                
Total Qatar             782,714 
                
Russia (3.7%)               
Global Ports Investments PLC, GDR(a)   USD    157,000    540,080 
Cherkizovo Group PJSC   RUB    22,332    398,960 
                
Total Russia             939,040 
                
Singapore (9.5%)               
Wilmar International, Ltd.   SGD    376,000    919,856 
Genting Singapore Plc   SGD    975,000    854,213 
SIA Engineering Co., Ltd.   SGD    273,000    668,047 
                
Total Singapore             2,442,116 
                
South Korea (3.5%)               
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.   KRW    5,300    902,483 
                
Total South Korea             902,483 
                
Taiwan (2.4%)               
Pou Chen Corp.   TWD    498,000    622,786 
                
Total Taiwan             622,786 
                
United Arab Emirates (3.3%)               
National Central Cooling Co. PJSC   AED    1,752,000    835,431 
                
Total United Arab Emirates             835,431 
                
Vietnam (4.3%)               
PetroVietnam Technical Services Corp.   VND    724,000    577,159 
Petrovietnam Fertilizer & Chemicals JSC   VND    622,000    520,969 
                
Total Vietnam             1,098,128 
                
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS               
(Cost $20,637,865)             21,836,749 

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 29

 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Portfolio of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Currency   Shares   Value 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS             
(Cost $20,637,865) (85.3%)         $21,836,749 
               
Cash and Other Assets, Less Liabilities (14.7%)            3,765,332 
NET ASSETS (100.0%)           $25,602,081 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.

 

Currency Abbreviations
AED - United Arab Emirates Dirham
BRL - Brazil Real
CNY - China Yuan
CZK - Czech Koruna
HKD - Hong Kong Dollar
KRW - South Korea Won
MXN - Mexico Peso
QAR - Qatar Riyal
RUB - Russian Ruble
SGD - Singapore Dollar
TWD - Taiwan New Dollar
USD - United States Dollar
VND - Vietnam Dong

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund's geographical classifications refer to any one or more of the sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine sub-classifications for reporting ease. Geographical regions are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Funds Statements of Assets and Liabilities
 

April 30, 2018

 

   Seafarer
Overseas Growth and Income Fund
   Seafarer
Overseas Value Fund
 
ASSETS:        
Investments, at value  $2,820,611,671   $21,836,749 
Cash   210,535,159    3,596,577 
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $376,354 and $210,100)   376,832    210,079 
Receivable for investments sold       204 
Receivable for shares sold   1,464,482    36,328 
Interest and dividends receivable   9,336,207    60,499 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   31,969    837 
Total Assets   3,042,356,320    25,741,273 
LIABILITIES:          
Payable for investments purchased   8,424,326    96,747 
Foreign capital gains tax   985,452     
Administrative fees payable   56,426    3,651 
Shareholder service plan fees payable   443,961    2,931 
Payable for shares redeemed   1,843,247     
Investment advisory fees payable   1,840,061    225 
Payable for chief compliance officer fee   1,847    1,847 
Trustee fees and expenses payable   32,726    255 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   417    417 
Audit and tax fees payable   24,647    20,650 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   411,891    12,469 
Total Liabilities   14,065,001    139,192 
NET ASSETS  $3,028,291,319   $25,602,081 
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:          
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $2,723,700,936   $24,444,530 
Accumulated net investment loss   (19,844,339)   (121,252)
Accumulated net realized gain   128,591,161    80,366 
Net unrealized appreciation   195,843,561    1,198,437 
NET ASSETS  $3,028,291,319   $25,602,081 
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $2,623,680,786   $20,637,865 
PRICING OF SHARES          
Investor Class:          
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $13.11   $11.95 
Net Assets  $894,240,597   $311,432 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   68,227,140    26,055 
Institutional Class:          
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $13.14   $11.96 
Net Assets  $2,134,050,722   $25,290,649 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding   162,354,669    2,114,386 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 31

 

Seafarer Funds Statements of Operations
 

Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Seafarer
Overseas Growth and Income Fund
   Seafarer
Overseas Value Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME:          
Dividends  $81,988,141   $714,957 
Foreign taxes withheld   (7,148,845)   (35,038)
Interest and other income   11,095,465    17,623 
Total investment income   85,934,761    697,542 
           
EXPENSES:          
Investment advisory fees (Note 6)   20,747,919    127,648 
Administrative and transfer agency fees   728,990    44,199 
Trustee fees and expenses   63,668    438 
Registration/filing fees   122,830    37,770 
Shareholder service plan fees          
Investor Class   1,399,374     
Institutional Class   898,331    5,988 
Legal fees   25,134    151 
Audit fees   34,063    16,959 
Reports to shareholders and printing fees   134,517    946 
Custody fees   1,698,899    40,223 
Offering costs (Note 2)       5,362 
Chief compliance officer fees   21,495    21,499 
Principal financial officer fees   5,000    5,000 
Miscellaneous   31,374    4,766 
Total expenses   25,911,594    310,949 
Less fees waived/reimbursed by investment adviser (Note 6)          
Investor Class       (2,019)
Institutional Class       (123,476)
Total net expenses   25,911,594    185,454 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME:   60,023,167    512,088 
Net realized gain on investments   155,821,034    80,370 
Net realized loss on foreign currency transactions   (24,725)   (947)
Net realized gain   155,796,309    79,423 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments (net of foreign capital gains tax of ($985,452) and $–)   (12,888,991)   424,043 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currency transactions   (158,590)   (693)
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (13,047,581)   423,350 

 

32 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Statements of Operations
 

Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Seafarer
Overseas Growth and Income Fund
   Seafarer
Overseas Value Fund
 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATIONS   142,748,728    502,773 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $202,771,895   $1,014,861 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 33

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income FundStatements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income  $60,023,167   $32,247,036 
Net realized gain/(loss)   155,796,309    (10,282,431)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)   (13,047,581)   174,008,053 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   202,771,895    195,972,658 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3):          
From net investment income          
Investor Class  $(26,380,990)  $(11,816,708)
Institutional Class   (54,571,396)   (15,268,463)
From net realized gains on investments          
Investor Class   (2,037,570)    
Institutional Class   (4,296,911)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (87,286,867)   (27,085,171)
BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Shares sold          
Investor Class  $153,357,729   $323,883,071 
Institutional Class   781,843,936    987,397,573 
Dividends reinvested          
Investor Class   27,962,467    11,687,348 
Institutional Class   47,081,170    10,058,555 
Shares Redeemed, net of redemption fees          
Investor Class   (209,017,564)   (141,954,140)
Institutional Class   (266,115,267)   (201,239,879)
Net increase in net assets derived from beneficial interest transactions   535,112,471    989,832,528 
           
Net increase in net assets  $650,597,499   $1,158,720,015 
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period  $2,377,693,820   $1,218,973,805 
End of period (including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of ($19,844,339) and $6,298,920, respectively)  $3,028,291,319   $2,377,693,820 

 

34 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income FundStatements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

   Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Investor Class          
Sold   11,678,351    27,609,055 
Distributions reinvested   2,137,427    1,045,402 
Redeemed   (15,740,189)   (12,161,311)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding   (1,924,411)   16,493,146 
Institutional Class          
Sold   59,053,386    83,448,584 
Distributions reinvested   3,579,963    900,914 
Redeemed   (19,939,574)   (17,485,012)
Net increase in shares outstanding   42,693,775    66,864,486 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 35

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets
 

 

  

Year Ended

April 30, 2018

   May 31, 2016 (Inception) to
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income  $512,088   $68,088 
Net realized gain/(loss)   79,423    (2,768)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   423,350    775,087 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   1,014,861    840,407 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (NOTE 3):          
From net investment income          
Investor Class  $(10,736)  $(2,017)
Institutional Class   (637,490)   (60,374)
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (648,226)   (62,391)
BENEFICIAL INTEREST TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5):          
Shares sold          
Investor Class  $117,980   $253,053 
Institutional Class   16,887,311    11,072,675 
Dividends reinvested          
Investor Class   10,352    2,017 
Institutional Class   624,682    60,374 
Shares Redeemed          
Investor Class   (113,172)    
Institutional Class   (2,417,257)   (2,040,585)
Net increase in net assets derived from beneficial interest transactions   15,109,896    9,347,534 
           
Net increase in net assets  $15,476,531   $10,125,550 
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of period  $10,125,550   $ 
End of period (including accumulated net investment income/(loss) of ($121,252) and $23,419)  $25,602,081   $10,125,550 
           
Other Information:          
SHARE TRANSACTIONS:          
Investor Class          
Sold   9,613    24,578 
Distributions reinvested   878    198 
Redeemed   (9,212)    
Net increase in shares outstanding   1,279    24,776 
Institutional Class          
Sold   1,388,144    1,062,151 
Distributions reinvested   52,984    5,925 
Redeemed   (199,202)   (195,616)
Net increase in shares outstanding   1,241,926    872,460 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

 

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Page Intentionally Left Blank

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding through the periods presented

 

Investor Class
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:
Net investment income(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
From net investment income
From net realized gains on investments
Total distributions
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID IN CAPITAL
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD
TOTAL RETURN(d)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE

 

(a)Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 per share.

(c)In preparing the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management made certain adjustments as required by U.S. GAAP which caused the net asset value for purposes of these financial statements to differ from the net asset value used to process shareholder transactions as of the date of these financial statements. As a result, the net asset value increased by $0.01 from $12.50 to $12.51.

(d)In some periods, total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(e)Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return decreased from 8.12% to 8.03%.

(f)Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return increased from 11.13% to 11.22%.

(g)Effective September 1, 2015, the Adviser agreed to limit expenses to 1.15%. The Adviser agreed to limit expenses to 1.25% for the period September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015. Prior to September 1, 2014, the Adviser agreed to limit expenses to 1.40%. (See Note 6.)

 

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Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund

 

 

Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
$12.51   $11.44   $12.64   $11.58   $11.91 
                       
 0.28    0.22    0.16    0.14    0.19 
 0.72    1.04    (1.23)   1.26    0.02 
 1.00    1.26    (1.07)   1.40    0.21 
                       
 (0.37)   (0.19)   (0.11)   (0.19)   (0.26)
 (0.03)       (0.02)   (0.15)   (0.28)
 (0.40)   (0.19)   (0.13)   (0.34)   (0.54)
     0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
 0.60    1.07    (1.20)   1.06    (0.33)
$13.11   $12.51(c)   $11.44   $12.64   $11.58 
 8.03%(e)   11.22%(f)   (8.39%)   12.55%   1.93%
                       
$894,241   $877,384   $613,795   $53,543   $27,181 
                       
 0.97%   1.02%   1.14%   1.30%   1.78%
 0.97%   1.02%   1.14%(g)   1.30%(g)   1.40%
 2.12%   1.88%   1.50%   1.19%   1.66%
 23%   14%   7%   28%   51%

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 39

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding through the periods presented

 

Institutional Class
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:
Net investment income(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
From net investment income
From net realized gains on investments
Total distributions
REDEMPTION FEES ADDED TO PAID IN CAPITAL
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSET VALUE
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD
TOTAL RETURN(c)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE

 

(a)Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Less than $0.005 per share.

(c)In some periods, total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the period. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(d)Effective September 1, 2014, the Adviser agreed to limit expenses to 1.05%. Prior to September 1, 2014, the Adviser agreed to limit expenses to 1.25%. (See Note 6.)

 

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Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund

 

 

Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   Year Ended
April 30, 2017
   Year Ended
April 30, 2016
   Year Ended
April 30, 2015
   Year Ended
April 30, 2014
 
$12.54   $11.46   $12.66   $11.59   $11.91 
                       
 0.28    0.21    0.19    0.15    0.21 
 0.73    1.07    (1.26)   1.28    0.02 
 1.01    1.28    (1.07)   1.43    0.23 
                       
 (0.38)   (0.20)   (0.12)   (0.21)   (0.27)
 (0.03)       (0.02)   (0.15)   (0.28)
 (0.41)   (0.20)   (0.14)   (0.36)   (0.55)
     0.00(b)    0.01    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
 0.60    1.08    (1.20)   1.07    (0.32)
$13.14   $12.54   $11.46   $12.66   $11.59 
 8.08%   11.37%   (8.32%)   12.76%   2.12%
                       
$2,134,051   $1,500,310   $605,178   $129,714   $46,624 
                       
 0.87%   0.92%   1.03%   1.18%   1.61%
 0.87%   0.92%   1.03%   1.10%(d)   1.25%
 2.09%   1.82%   1.72%   1.30%   1.89%
 23%   14%   7%   28%   51%

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 41

 

 

Financial Highlights Seafarer Overseas Value Fund

 

For a share outstanding through the period presented

 

Investor Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   May 31, 2016 (Inception)
to April 30, 2017
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.30   $10.00 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income(a)   0.35    0.12 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   0.72    1.28 
Total from investment operations   1.07    1.40 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:          
From net investment income   (0.42)   (0.10)
Total distributions   (0.42)   (0.10)
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.65    1.30 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.95   $11.30 
TOTAL RETURN(b)   9.55%   14.15%
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:          
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $311   $280 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:          
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.80%   3.71%(c)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.15%   1.15%(c)
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver   2.91%   1.24%(c)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE(d)   3%   0%

 

(a)Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)Total returns are for the periods indicated and have not been annualized. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the periods. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(c)Annualized.

(d)Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

42

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Financial Highlights Seafarer Overseas Value Fund

 

For a share outstanding through the period presented

 

Institutional Class  Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   May 31, 2016 (Inception)
to April 30, 2017
 
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  $11.28   $10.00 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS:          
Net investment income(a)   0.35    0.13 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments   0.74    1.28 
Total from investment operations   1.09    1.41 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:          
From net investment income   (0.41)   (0.13)
Total distributions   (0.41)   (0.13)
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSET VALUE   0.68    1.28 
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD  $11.96   $11.28(b)
TOTAL RETURN(c)   9.74%(d)   14.18%(e)
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:          
Net assets, end of period (in 000s)  $25,291   $9,846 
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:          
Operating expenses excluding reimbursement/waiver   1.76%   3.63%(f)
Operating expenses including reimbursement/waiver   1.05%   1.05%(f)
Net investment income including reimbursement/waiver   2.90%   1.36%(f)
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATE(g)   3%   0%

 

(a)Calculated using the average shares method.

(b)In preparing the financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, management made certain adjustments as required by U.S. GAAP which caused the net asset value for purposes of these financial statements to differ from the net asset value used to process shareholder transactions as of the date of these financial statements. As a result, the net asset value decreased by $0.01 from $11.29 to $11.28.

(c)Total returns are for the periods indicated and have not been annualized. Total returns would have been lower had certain expenses not been waived during the periods. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(d)Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return increased from 9.64% to 9.74%.

(e)Includes adjustments in accordance with U.S. GAAP and as such, the total return for shareholder transactions reported to the market may differ from the total return for financial reporting purposes. As a result, the total return decreased from 14.29% to 14.18%.
(f)Annualized.

(g)Portfolio turnover rate for periods less than one full year have not been annualized.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 43

 

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Organization

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund and the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund (individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation along with some current income; it also seeks to mitigate adverse volatility in returns as a secondary objective. The Seafarer Overseas Value Fund seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation. The Funds each offer Investor Class and Institutional Class shares.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follow the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946.The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation

 

Each Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and exchange traded funds, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

Equity securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the closing values of such securities on their respective foreign exchanges, except when an event occurs subsequent to the close of the foreign exchange but before the close of the NYSE, such that the securities’ value would likely change. In such an event, the fair values of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Each Fund uses a fair valuation model provided by an independent pricing service, which is intended to reflect fair value when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the Fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a valuation event that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is traded and the close of the regular trading day on the NYSE. The Funds’ valuation procedures set forth certain triggers that inform each Fund when to use the fair valuation model.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board, which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more broker-dealers that make a market in the security. Corporate bonds and convertible bonds are valued using market models that

 

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Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

consider trade data, quotations from dealers and active market makers, relevant yield curve and spread data, creditworthiness, trade data or market information on comparable securities, and other relevant security specific information. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities and foreign corporate bonds are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as of the close of business of that market.

 

Forward currency exchange contracts have a market value determined by the prevailing foreign currency exchange daily rates and current foreign currency exchange forward rates. The foreign currency exchange forward rates are calculated using an automated system that estimates rates on the basis of the current day foreign currency exchange rates and forward foreign currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when the Trust’s Valuation Committee believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Certain foreign countries impose a tax on capital gains which is accrued by each Fund based on unrealized appreciation, if any, on affected securities. The tax is paid when the gain is realized.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Each Fund discloses the classification of its fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Such inputs are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are developed based on the information available and the reporting entity’s best efforts to interpret such information.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 45

 

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value each Fund as of April 30, 2018:

 

Investments in Securities at Value(a)  Level 1 -
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant Observable Inputs
  

Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable

Inputs

   Total 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund                    
Common Stocks                    
China / Hong Kong  $24,892,816   $553,780,240   $   $578,673,056 
Hungary       113,583,208        113,583,208 
India   120,156,000    89,783,359        209,939,359 
Indonesia       105,749,126        105,749,126 
Japan       38,995,086        38,995,086 
Malaysia       12,104,902        12,104,902 
Poland       79,382,347        79,382,347 
Singapore       242,204,321        242,204,321 
South Africa       104,546,682        104,546,682 
South Korea   22,658,115    447,831,870        470,489,985 
Taiwan   18,330,614    285,267,283        303,597,897 
Vietnam       26,333,506        26,333,506 
Other   195,492,572            195,492,572 
Preferred Stocks                    
South Korea       103,372,209        103,372,209 
Other   51,450,000            51,450,000 
Corporate Bond - Foreign Currency  $   $40,045,236   $   $40,045,236 
Corporate Bond - USD       9,600,000        9,600,000 
Government Bond, Medium/Long-term - Foreign Currency       56,384,565        56,384,565 
Government Bond, Short-term - USD and Foreign Currency       78,667,614        78,667,614 
Total  $432,980,117   $2,387,631,554   $   $2,820,611,671 

 

Investments in Securities at Value(a)  Level 1 -
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant Observable Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund                
Common Stocks                    
China / Hong Kong  $1,928,525   $9,620,366   $   $11,548,891 
Philippines       347,818        347,818 
Singapore       2,442,116        2,442,116 
South Korea       902,483        902,483 

 

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Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Taiwan       622,786        622,786 
United Arab Emirates       835,431        835,431 
Vietnam       1,098,128        1,098,128 
Other   4,039,096            4,039,096 
Total  $5,967,621   $15,869,128   $   $21,836,749 

 

(a)For detailed descriptions of securities by country, see the accompanying Portfolio of Investments.

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
  Transfer In   Transfers (Out)   Transfer In   Transfers (Out) 
Common Stocks  $   $(1,717,217,108)  $1,717,217,108   $ 
Total  $   $(1,717,217,108)  $1,717,217,108   $ 

 

Seafarer Overseas Value Fund  Level 1 - Quoted and
Unadjusted Prices
   Level 2 - Other Significant
Observable Inputs
 
  Transfer In   Transfers (Out)   Transfer In   Transfers (Out) 
Common Stocks  $   $(14,987,749)  $14,987,749   $ 
Total  $   $(14,987,749)  $14,987,749   $ 

 

Each Fund utilizes a fair value evaluation service with respect to international securities with an earlier market closing than the Fund’s net asset value computation cutoff. When events trigger the use of the fair value evaluation service on a reporting period date, it results in certain securities transferring from a Level 1 to a Level 2 classification. The transfer amounts disclosed in the table above represent the value of the securities as of April 30, 2018 transferred in/(out) of Level 1 and Level 2 during the reporting year that were also held at April 30, 2017. The above transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 also include securities that were not able to obtain a closing market price due to an inactive market to trade.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

 

Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income are allocated daily to each share class in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

Cash Management Transactions

 

Each of the Funds subscribes to the Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH”) Cash Management Service (“CMS”), whereby cash balances are automatically swept into overnight offshore demand deposits with either the BBH Grand Cayman branch or a branch of a pre-approved commercial bank. This fully automated program allows the Funds to earn interest on cash balances. Excess cash with deposit institutions domiciled outside of the U.S. are subject to sovereign actions in the jurisdiction of the deposit institution including, but not limited to, freeze, seizure or diminution. Cash balances in the BBH CMS are included on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities under Cash and Foreign Currency, at value. As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following cash balances participating in the BBH CMS:

 

Fund    
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $210,380,801 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   3,593,250 

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 47

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

As of April 30, 2018, the Funds had the following foreign cash balances participating in the BBH CMS (cost and value of foreign cash balances are equal):

 

Fund     
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $ 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund    

 

Foreign Securities

 

The Funds may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible revaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies, and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed and is included in realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, when applicable.

 

Foreign Currency Spot Contracts

 

Each Fund may enter into foreign currency spot contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign securities or to convert foreign currency receipts into U.S. dollars. A foreign currency spot contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell currencies at the current market rate, for settlement generally within two business days. The U.S. dollar value of a contract is determined using current currency exchange rates supplied by a pricing service. The contract is marked-to-market daily for settlements beyond one day and any change in market value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value on the open and close date. Losses may arise from changes in the value of the foreign currency, or if the counterparties do not perform under the contract’s terms. The maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

 

Trust Expenses

 

Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed to the Funds are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on the average daily net assets of each fund.

 

Fund and Class Expenses

 

Expenses that are specific to a Fund or class of shares of a Fund, including shareholder servicing fees, are charged directly to that Fund or share class. Expenses that are common to all Funds are generally allocated among the Funds in proportion to their average daily net assets.

 

Offering Costs

 

Offering costs, including costs of printing initial prospectuses, legal and registration fees, are being amortized over twelve months from the inception date of the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund. Amounts amortized during the year ended April 30, 2018 for the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund are shown on the Statements of Operations. As of April 30, 2018, all offering costs have been amortized for the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund.

 

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Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Federal Income Taxes

 

Each Fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Funds’ tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

Distributions to Shareholders

 

In general, the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders substantially all net investment income, paid out via two semi-annual dividends, in June and December. The Seafarer Overseas Value Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders substantially all net investment income via one annual dividend in December. It is also each Fund’s policy to distribute annually all net realized short-term and long-term capital gains, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryovers. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income each Fund receives from its investments, including short-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when a Fund sells a security it has owned for more than one year. Each Fund may make additional distributions if Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC (the “Adviser”) believes doing so may be necessary for the Fund to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

3. Tax Basis Information

 

Reclassifications

 

As of April 30, 2018, permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and were primarily attributed to organizational costs, equalization, PFICs and foreign currency. The reclassifications were as follows:

 

   Paid-in Capital   Accumulated Net Investment Income/(Loss)   Accumulated Net Realized Gain/(Loss) 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $6,375,277   $(5,214,040)  $(1,161,237)
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund  $7,586   $(8,533)  $947 

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 49

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

Tax Basis of Investments

 

As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for Federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

   Cost of Investments   Gross
Unrealized Appreciation
   Gross
Unrealized Depreciation
   Net
Appreciation/ (Depreciation)
on Foreign Currencies
   Net Unrealized Appreciation 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $2,648,534,245   $334,769,669   $(162,692,243)  $(1,087,324)  $170,990,102 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   20,828,984    2,743,760    (1,735,995)   (447)   1,007,318 

 

Components of Distributable Earnings

 

As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund    
Accumulated net investment income  $2,805,167 
Accumulated net realized gain   130,795,114 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   170,990,102 
Total distributable earnings  $304,590,383 
      
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund     
Accumulated net investment income  $87,456 
Accumulated net realized gain   62,777 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   1,007,318 
Total distributable earnings  $1,157,551 

 

Capital Losses

 

Capital Loss carryovers used during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Amount 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $(18,700,308)
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   (4)

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders

 

The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from the ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain is recorded by a Fund.

 

50 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements
 

April 30, 2018

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 was as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income   Long-Term Capital Gain 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $80,952,386   $6,334,481 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   648,226     

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year or period ended April 30, 2017 was as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income   Long-Term Capital Gain 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $27,085,171   $ 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   62,391     

 

4. Securities Transactions

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities excluding short-term securities during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

   Purchases of Securities   Proceeds from Sales of Securities 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund  $995,643,314   $627,703,901 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund   13,543,012    432,870 

 

5. Shares of Beneficial Interest

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of shares of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Prior to August, 31, 2016, shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. The redemption fee is reflected in the “Shares redeemed, net of redemption fees” in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. Effective August 31, 2016, the Funds no longer impose a redemption fee. For the year ended April 30, 2017, the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund retained redemption fees in the amount of $40,363 for the Investor Class and $49,013 for the Institutional Class. For the year ended April 30, 2018 the Funds retained no redemption fees.

 

6. Management and Related Party Transactions

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with the Funds’ investment objectives, policies, limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Trustees. Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, the Funds, in the aggregate, pay the Adviser an annual management fee of 0.75% of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Funds up to $1.5 billion and 0.70% of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Funds over $1.5 billion. Each Fund pays the Adviser a monthly fee at the annual rate using the applicable management fee calculated based on the Fund’s pro rata share of the Funds’ combined average daily net assets. Prior to August 31, 2016, the Funds paid the Adviser an annual management

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 51

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

fee of 0.75% of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Funds. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

Effective September 1, 2014, the Adviser contractually agreed to limit certain Fund expenses (excluding brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% and 1.05% of the Funds’ average daily net assets in the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively, through August 31, 2015. Effective September 1, 2015, the Adviser contractually agreed to waive and/or reimburse fees or expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver / Expense Reimbursements (excluding brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.15% and 1.05% of the Funds’ average daily net assets for the Investor and Institutional share classes respectively. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Funds’ expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. The Funds will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver. This agreement may not be terminated or modified prior to August 31, 2018, except with the approval of the Funds’ Board. During the year ended April 30, 2018, the Adviser agreed that it will only seek to recoup waived management fees and will not recoup any reimbursed expenses. As of April 30, 2018, the Adviser has recouped all available waived management fees from the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund.

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers and/or reimbursements were as follows for the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund:

 

Fund  Fees Waived/ Reimbursed By Adviser 
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund    
Investor Class  $2,019 
Institutional Class   123,476 

 

As of April 30, 2018, the balances of recoupable expenses for each class were as follows for the Funds:

 

Fund  Expires 2020   Expires 2021   Total 
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund               
Investor Class  $   $   $ 
Institutional Class            
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund               
Investor Class  $1,168    1,723   $2,891 
Institutional Class   34,396    108,082    142,478 

 

Fund Administrator

 

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS” and the “Administrator”) (an affiliate of ALPS Distributors, Inc.) provides administrative, fund accounting and other services to the Funds under the Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement with the Trust.

 

The Funds’ administrative fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. The Administrator is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

52 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Transfer Agent

 

ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds (“Transfer Agent”). ALPS is paid an annual base fee per Fund and a fee based on the number of shareholder accounts. The Transfer Agent is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services

 

ALPS provides compliance services to the Funds under the Chief Compliance Officer Services Agreement with the Trust. ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in accordance with the requirements of Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. ALPS is paid an annual base fee and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Compliance service fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Principal Financial Officer

 

ALPS provides principal financial officer services to the Funds under the Principal Financial Officer Services Agreement with the Trust. Under this Agreement, ALPS is paid an annual base fee and is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor

 

ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS) acts as the distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Under a side letter agreement, the Adviser pays ADI an annual base fee of $12,000 per Fund for the distribution services. The Adviser also reimburses ADI for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Funds’ shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Class and Institutional Class Shares

 

Each Fund has adopted a Shareholder Services Plan (a “Services Plan”) for each of its share classes. Under the Services Plan, each Fund is authorized to enter into shareholder service agreements with investment advisers, financial institutions and other service providers (“Participating Organizations”) to maintain and provide certain administrative and servicing functions in relation to the accounts of shareholders. Shareholder service arrangements typically include processing orders for shares, generating account and confirmation statements, sub-accounting, account maintenance, tax reporting, and disbursing cash dividends as well as other investment or administrative services required for the particular Participating Organizations’ products, programs, platform and accounts. The Services Plan will cause each Fund to pay an aggregate fee, not to exceed on an annual basis 0.15% and 0.05% of the average daily net asset value of the Investor and Institutional share classes, respectively. Such payments will be made on assets attributable to or held in the name of a Participating Organization, on behalf of its clients as compensation for providing service activities pursuant to an agreement with the Participating Organization. Any amount of such payment not paid to a Participating Organization during a Fund’s fiscal year for such service activities shall be reimbursed to the Fund as soon as practicable, after the end of the fiscal year. Shareholder service plan fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 53

 

Seafarer Funds Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

7. Indemnifications

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses, which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under the applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

54 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 

April 30, 2018

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust:

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the portfolios of investments, of Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund and Seafarer Overseas Value Fund (the “Funds”), two of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018; the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended for Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund; the related statement of operations for the year ended April 30, 2018, and the statements of changes in net assets and financial highlights for the year ended April 30, 2018, and for the period from May 31, 2016 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2017 for Seafarer Overseas Value Fund; and the related notes.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund as of April 30, 2018, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Seafarer Overseas Value Fund as of April 30, 2018, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, and the changes in its net assets and financial highlights for the year ended April 30, 2018 and for the period from May 31, 2016 (commencement of operations) through April 30, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Denver, Colorado

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC since 2012.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 55

 

Seafarer Funds Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

1. Fund Holdings

 

Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. Fund Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Summaries

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling toll-free (855) 732-9220 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. Tax Designations (Unaudited)

 

The Funds designate the following as a percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions, or up to the maximum amount allowable, for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

  Dividends Received Deduction Qualified Dividend Income
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund 0.00% 42.13%
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund 0.00% 9.52%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distributions paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

The Funds hereby designate the following numbers as long-term capital gain distributions:

 

  Long Term Capital Gain Distributions
Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund $6,334,481
Seafarer Overseas Value Fund $0

 

Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or how to prepare your tax returns.

 

56 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

DISCLOSURE REGARDING APPROVAL OF FUND ADVISORY AGREEMENT

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser (“Seafarer Capital Partners” or “Seafarer”), in accordance with Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. In renewing and approving the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Seafarer Funds:

 

Investment Advisory Fee Rate

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee paid by the Trust, on behalf of the Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund (the “Growth and Income Fund”) and the Seafarer Overseas Value Fund (the “Value Fund”), to Seafarer of 0.75% of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Funds up to $1.5 billion and 0.70% of the aggregate average daily net assets of the Funds over $1.5 billion, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Seafarer to the Funds.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of each Fund’s contractual and actual management fees and overall expenses with those of funds in the expense group and universe of funds provided by an independent provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the contractual and actual management fee rate for the Institutional Class shares of each Seafarer Fund was below the average and median contractual and actual management fee rates of the Data Provider’s peer group median.

 

Total Expense Ratios

 

Based on such information, the Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratio (after waivers) of 0.929% for the Institutional Class of the Growth and Income Fund and 1.050% for the Institutional Class of the Value Fund. The Trustees noted that each Fund’s total expense ratio (after waivers) was below the total expense ratios of the Data Provider’s universe average (after waivers).

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Advisory Agreement

 

The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the Growth and Income Fund and the Value Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by Seafarer in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Seafarer’s investment advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager, and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Seafarer. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Seafarer, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of each Fund.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Seafarer’s management in connection with each Fund, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of each Fund and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Seafarer’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

Performance

 

The Trustees reviewed performance information for the Institutional Classes of the Seafarer Funds for the 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017, as applicable. That review included a comparison of each Fund’s performance to the performance universe average of a group of funds selected by the Data Provider. The Trustees noted the performance of the Growth and Income Fund was below the universe average for the 1-year and 2-year

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 57

 

Seafarer Funds Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

periods ended September 30, 2017 and above the universe average for the 3-year, 4-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017. The Trustees also noted that the performance of the Value Fund was above the universe average for the 1-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017. The Trustees also considered Seafarer’s discussion of each Fund’s underlying portfolio diversification categories, its top contributors and top detractors, as well as Seafarer’s performance and reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts

 

The Trustees noted certain information provided by Seafarer regarding fees charged to other Seafarer clients and considered Seafarer’s statements indicating that there were no clients with investment mandates directly comparable to Seafarer Funds.

 

Profitability

 

The Trustees received and considered a retrospective and projected profitability analysis prepared by Seafarer based on the fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Seafarer Funds. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Seafarer in connection with the operation of the Seafarer Funds. The Board then reviewed Seafarer’s unaudited financial statements, including income statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the 6-month period ended June 30, 2017 and balance sheets for the same periods in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Seafarer.

 

Economies of Scale

 

The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Seafarer Funds will be passed along to the shareholders under the proposed agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Seafarer from its relationship with the Seafarer Funds, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In renewing Seafarer as the investment adviser to the Seafarer Funds and renewing the Investment Advisory Agreement and the fees charged under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

the contractual and actual management fee rate for the Institutional Class shares of each Seafarer Fund was below the average and median contractual and actual management fee rates of the Data Provider’s peer group median;

 

the total expense ratios (after waivers) of 0.929% for the Institutional Class of the Growth and Income Fund and 1.050% for the Institutional Class of the Value Fund were below the total expense ratios of the Data Provider’s universe average (after waivers);

 

the nature, extent, and quality of services rendered by Seafarer under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Seafarer Funds were adequate;

 

the performance of the Institutional Class of the Growth and Income Fund was below the universe average for the 1-year and 2-year periods ended September 30, 2017 and above the universe average for the 3-year, 4-year, 5-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017; and the performance of the Institutional Class of the Value Fund was above the universe average for the 1-year and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017;

 

bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable

 

58 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

Seafarer Funds Approval of Fund Advisory Agreement
 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

to Seafarer’s other clients were not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory fees payable by the Seafarer Funds;

 

the profit, if any, realized by Seafarer in connection with the operation of the Seafarer Funds is not unreasonable to the Funds; and

 

there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Seafarer in connection with its relationship with the Seafarer Funds.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Seafarer’s compensation for investment advisory services is consistent with the best interests of each Seafarer Fund and its shareholders.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 59

 

Seafarer Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 855-732-9220.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of
Office** and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of Funds in
Fund
Complex Overseen by Trustee****
Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past
5 Years***
Mary K. Anstine,
1940
Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).
Jeremy W. Deems,
1976
Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009.

Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co- Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 

32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

60 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES (continued)

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of
Office** and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee**** Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past
5 Years***
Jerry G. Rutledge,
1944
Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).
Michael “Ross” Shell, 1970 Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 61

 

 

Seafarer Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of
Office** and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years***
Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee**** Other Directorships
Held by Trustee
During Past
5 Years***

Edmund J. Burke,

1961

Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All- Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

62 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of Office** and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Kimberly R. Storms,

1972

Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.

Karen S. Gilomen,

1970

Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.

Ted Uhl,

1974

Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.

Jennell Panella,

1974

Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 63

 

 

Seafarer Funds Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS (continued)

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s) Held with Fund Term of Office** and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Alan Gattis,

1980

Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

Sharon Akselrod,

1974

Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008- 2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.

Jennifer Craig,

1973

Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.

Sareena Khwaja- Dixon,

1980

Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja- Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.

**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.

***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.

****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Seafarer Capital Partners, LLC provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

64 (855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com

 

 

Seafarer Funds 

Privacy Policy

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

FACTS WHAT DO THE FUNDS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What? The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
   
  Social Security number and account transactions
  Account balances and transaction history
  Wire transfer instructions
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Funds choose to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Do we share: Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes – such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes No

For our marketing purposes – to offer our products and services to you

No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences

Yes No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness

No We do not share.
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

Annual Report – April 30, 2018 65

 

Seafarer Funds

Privacy Policy

 

  April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are    
Who is providing this notice?

Seafarer Overseas Growth and Income Fund and Seafarer Overseas Value Fund. 

   
What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured  files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information? We collect your personal information, for example, when you
  open an account
  provide account information or give us your contact information
  make a wire transfer or deposit money
Why can't I limit all sharing? Federal law gives you the right to limit only
   
  sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness
  affiliates from using your information to market to you
  sharing for non-affiliates to market to you
     
  State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
   
Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
   
  The Funds do not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.
Joint marketing A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
   
  The Funds do not jointly market.
     
Other Important Information  
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

66

(855) 732-9220 seafarerfunds.com 

 

 

 

 

 

Page Intentionally Left Blank

 

 

 

 

 

(SEAFARER LOGO) 

 

 

 

(FRONT COVER) 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

CONTENTS PAGE
Shareholder Letter 1
Fund Overview  
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 5
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 8
Disclosure of Fund Expenses  
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 7
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 10
Statements of Investments  
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 11
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 14
Statements of Assets and Liabilities 18
Statements of Operations 19
Statements of Changes in Net Assets  
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 20
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 21
Financial Highlights  
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 22
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 24
Notes to Financial Statements 26
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 35
Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements 36
Additional Information 39
Trustees and Officers 40
Privacy Policy 45

 

 

www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Shareholder Letter 

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Annual Shareholder Letter 04.30.2018

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund returned 12.72% versus 7.50% for the Russell 1000 Value and 13.27% for the S&P 500 for the year ended April 30, 2018. The Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund returned 3.08% versus 6.53% for the Russell 2000 Value and 11.54% for the Russell Value 2000 for the year ended April 30, 2018. As we have often said, we place no weight on short-term results, good or bad, and neither should you. In fact, we have made and will continue to make decisions that could negatively impact short-term performance when we think we can improve our long-term returns and mitigate risk. We encourage you to place more weight on our longer-term historical results and a great deal of weight on our long-term prospects.

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

 

The current market environment is giving us few opportunities to deploy capital with an acceptable margin of safety. We do not know how long this environment will last or if it will get worse before it gets better. While we would prefer to always be ahead of the benchmarks, we will not violate our investment discipline in order to do so. Current market conditions creating a difficult environment for us near term include record low volatility, and growth continuing its record outperformance compared to value. However, we are pleased with the solid value growth of the companies in our portfolio and welcome the recent market volatility that allowed us to redeploy capital.

 

We generally define material contributors and detractors as companies having a greater than 1% impact on the portfolio.

 

Vulcan Value Partners Large Cap Fund Review

 

In the discussion that follows, we highlight a few holdings in the Vulcan Value Partners Fund. Material contributors included Mastercard, Visa, Boeing and AmerisourceBergen. There were no material detractors.

 

Visa continues to benefit from its integration of Visa Europe and robust growth in the company’s global transaction volumes and data processing revenues. Global spending is accelerating and Visa is capturing an increased share of consumer’s wallets from cash and checks, a trend that has expanded with the growth of e-commerce. The company is at the nexus of a massive global network, and it continues to work with Mastercard to create a universal QR code-based payment system. Visa is also dominant in fraud security, which enhances the company’s value proposition for both merchants and end consumers.

 

Mastercard’s estimated value continues to compound, along with its stock price. It has grown steadily, and we are pleased with its performance.

 

We purchased Airbus SE during the period. Airbus and Boeing are a global duopoly in commercial aviation. Also, both are leaders in the defense industry. As you know, we have owned Boeing in the fund for quite some time, but we sold it during the third quarter of 2017 as its stock price reached our estimate of fair value. Airbus’ financial results remind us of where Boeing was two years ago. Both companies have approximately seven years of commercial backlog, which will keep their factories in production for years to come. However, Airbus is ramping up production

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 1

 

 

Shareholder Letter 

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

and making progress on bringing its cost curve down with greater economies of scale. As production increases and costs fall, Airbus’ reported earnings, and much more importantly, free cash flow should expand dramatically.

 

Facebook Inc., another new purchase, has been on our MVP list for many years. When it first went public, it did not have nearly the mobile presence it does now. It was unclear if Facebook was going to develop a search engine alternative to compete directly with Google or continue to focus on connections among its users. Since the initial public offering, we have watched Facebook mature into a company focused on connections, avoid direct competition with Google in search, and develop its mobile presence. We believe their network of over two billion users creates data that is a powerful asset and that it will continue to attract a large amount of advertising spending. They have generated an extremely robust free cash flow coupon that has grown significantly over the past five years to a current run-rate of well over $20 billion. Facebook has healthy returns on capital, strong and stable margins, and net cash on the balance sheet. We are pleased that the recent volatility resulting from regulatory and privacy concerns has enabled us to follow our discipline and deploy capital into this quality business at an attractive discount to our estimate of intrinsic value(1).

 

AmerisourceBergen is in the drug distribution and wholesale space, and along with McKesson and Cardinal Health, these companies have an oligopoly with a combined 85% market share. Their business is managing the logistics of distributing pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products to the large pharmacy chains, independent pharmacies, hospitals, physician clinics, and nursing homes. Scale, high regulatory barriers for others to enter the space, and a robust supply chain are strong competitive advantages for these companies. The industry has enjoyed very good growth over the years, largely because of the shift to generic pharmaceuticals. These substitutions came with a higher margin for the distributors, but as the generics trend has matured, top line growth has slowed. During the period, generic deflation was stronger than expected, which drove the stock price down and allowed us to add to our position. Also, the possibility of Amazon entering the pharmacy space has weighed on the industry. We believe, however, that even if Amazon does enter the space, we have valued these companies appropriately, and we also believe that generic deflation will moderate in the future.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2017, CVS Health announced that it was acquiring Aetna. We believe this transaction has the potential to strengthen CVS Health’s already competitive position. The market seems to believe that the transaction is a defensive response to Amazon. While the merger would make entry for Amazon more challenging, it is an offensive move to improve health outcomes. CVS believes that they can “bend the medical cost curve” by lowering hospital readmission rates. Their thesis is that a complete medication review with patients immediately after leaving the hospital and regular follow-up calls from a local pharmacist could lower readmission rates from 20% to 10%. The merger would make them the only company with both the patient data and the pharmacist network necessary to offer this service. In our opinion, the market is penalizing CVS because of short-term earnings disruption from this acquisition and ignoring the benefits that should accrue to long-term investors. We are happy to own CVS at these prices.

 

 

2 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund Review

 

In the discussion that follows, we highlight a few holdings in the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund. Material contributors included Jones Lang LaSalle and Credit Acceptance Corporation. Criteo SA was a material detractor.

 

Jones Lang LaSalle was our top contributor over the period. Our estimated value has compounded nicely since our initial purchase. Jones Lang LaSalle’s push into property management has created more stability in profit and provided a substantial long-term growth opportunity. Slowing acquisition activity, a more rational cost structure implemented by management, and the recent passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act have contributed to Jones Lang LaSalle’s higher stock price and intrinsic value. Sleep Number’s underlying business continues to be strong, free cash flow is at record levels, and management is rapidly buying back shares. Its stock price has been volatile, giving us the ability to follow our process by taking advantage of price fluctuations.

 

Credit Acceptance Corporation has been on our MVP list for some time, and with a recent deep dive into the business, we were excited to purchase it this period. The company provides auto loans to borrowers at the lower end of the credit spectrum distributed through a network of 10,000 dealers in the U.S. Over the past fifteen years, the company has grown earnings per share at a rate of 26% and achieved an average return on equity(2) of 28%, demonstrating its strong economics and competitive advantages. The company’s biggest competitive advantage is the unique way in which it structures loans. The structure aligns incentives with their dealer network by providing the dealers the opportunity to earn back end payments dependent on loan performance. This opportunity for future payments allows Credit Acceptance Corporation to achieve a greater margin of safety as the dealer is only advanced enough of the loan to earn a small profit at the time of sale. Credit Acceptance Corporation’s approach has led to strong underwriting results and stable performance during difficult periods in the cycle.

 

Ibstock, a new purchase during the period, is a U.K.-based company that manufactures clay bricks and concrete products. It mostly serves customers in the U.K. (80%), but also in the U.S. (20%), with Glen-Gery being the brand in the U.S. The three largest brick makers control 90% of the U.K. market, with Ibstock holding about half of that 90%. Moreover, it has been decades since there has been a new entrant into the U.K. market. U.K. building regulations either favor or mandate brick, so substitution risk is low and it takes years to add capacity. We like that the company has rational competition as well as solid growth and pricing. We believe the experienced management team has been disciplined with capital allocation and production, allowing them to prosper while some of their weaker competitors have floundered.

 

Criteo, a company we purchased and exited during the period, was a mistake. We define a potential mistake as a company whose value has not grown or has declined within two years after purchase. Following our discipline, we exited the position. Criteo is a digital marketing company specializing in digital ad placement. Its primary competitor, Conversant, was a great investment for us. At the time of purchase, we quantified the negative impact Apple’s new operating system would have on Criteo’s results, and when compared to the actual impact, it turned out to be more adverse than we or the company anticipated. As a result, Criteo’s value was less stable than we previously thought, so we exited the position.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 3

 

 

Shareholder Letter

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Closing

 

We welcome the recent market volatility that allowed us to improve the margin of safety for our portfolios. We appreciate the confidence you have placed in us. Your stable capital, invested alongside our own stable capital provides a foundation that allows us to make sound, long-term investment decisions that mitigate risk and provide the opportunity to achieve superior long-term results. You, our client-partners, are one of our most important competitive advantages.

 

C.T. Fitzpatrick 

Chief Executive Officer 

Vulcan Value Partners, LLC

 

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Funds’ prices fluctuate as the underlying assets have exposure to market fluctuations and other risks, as described in the Funds’ prospectus. Please call 877.421.5078 to obtain current performance information and for the current prospectus and statement of additional information. This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

The views of the Vulcan Value Partners, LLC and information discussed in this commentary are as of the date of publication, are subject to change, and may not reflect the writer's current views. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of the Funds or any securities or any sectors mentioned in this letter. The subject matter contained in this letter has been derived from several sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation. Neither Vulcan Value Partners, LLC nor the Funds accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

 

The Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

 

The Funds are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested and therefore is not suitable for all investors. The Funds may not achieve their objectives.

 

Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

 

(1)Intrinsic value is the perceived or calculated value of a company, including tangible and intangible factors, using fundamental analysis. Also called the true value, the intrinsic value may or may not be the same as the current market value.

(2)Return on equity (ROE) is the amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders equity. Return on equity measures a corporation's profitability by revealing how much profit a company generates with the money shareholders have invested.

 

 

4 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Fund Overview

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

VULCAN VALUE PARTNERS FUND

 

Annualized Total Returns (as of 4/30/18)

 

          Expense Ratios(1)
  6 Month 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Since Inception* Total Net(2)
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 7.70% 12.72% 6.27% 11.44% 12.70% 1.07% 1.07%
S&P 500® Total Return Index(3) 3.82% 13.27% 10.57% 12.96% 13.14%    
Russell 1000® Value Index(4) 1.94% 7.50% 7.66% 10.52% 11.83%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 90 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-877-421-5078.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

*Fund inception date of 12/30/09.

 

(1)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
(2)Vulcan Value Partners, LLC (“Vulcan” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses more than three years after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were foregone or reimbursed. The Adviser may not discontinue or modify this waiver prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(3)The S&P 500® Total Return Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. It is a market-value weighted index. The Index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in the Index.
(4)The Russell 1000® Value Index is presented here as an additional index, and measures the performance of the large-cap value segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower expected growth values. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 5

 

 

Fund Overview

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance of $10,000 Initial Investment (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Industry Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*

 

(PIE CHART) 

 

Top Ten Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Oracle Corp. 8.45%
National Oilwell Varco, Inc. 6.32%
CVS Health Corp. 5.31%
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. 4.85%
Qorvo, Inc. 4.36%
McKesson Corp. 4.02%
Swiss Re AG 4.00%
Visa, Inc. 3.91%
Mastercard, Inc. 3.84%
State Street Corp. 3.80%
Top Ten Holdings 48.86%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

6 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Vulcan Value Partners Fund (the “Fund”), you will incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including applicable redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund operating expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested on November 1, 2017 and held until April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund

 

  Beginning
Account Value
11/1/17
Ending
Account Value
4/30/18
Expense Ratio(a) Expenses Paid
During period
11/1/17 - 4/30/18(b)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,077.00 1.07% $ 5.51
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,019.49 1.07% $ 5.36

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.
(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 7

 

 

Fund Overview

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

VULCAN VALUE PARTNERS SMALL CAP FUND

 

Annualized Total Returns (as of 4/30/18)

 

            Expense Ratios(1)
  6 Month 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year Since
Inception*
Total Net(2)
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 1.32% 3.08% 6.09% 8.95% 13.53% 1.27% 1.27%
Russell 2000® Value Index(3) 0.94% 6.53% 9.27% 10.36% 11.62%    
Russell 2000® Index(4) 3.27% 11.54% 9.64% 11.74% 12.78%    

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The Fund imposes a 2.00% redemption fee on shares held for less than 90 days. Current performance data may be higher or lower than actual data quoted. For the most current month-end performance data, please call 1-877-421-5078.

 

The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Returns for periods less than 1 year are cumulative.

 

*Fund inception date of 12/30/09.

 

(1)Ratios as of the Prospectus dated August 31, 2017 and may differ from the ratios presented in the Financial Highlights.
(2)Vulcan Value Partners, LLC (“Vulcan” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect through August 31, 2018. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses more than three years after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were foregone or reimbursed. The Adviser may not discontinue or modify this waiver prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(3)The Russell 2000® Value Index is presented here as an additional index, and measures the performance of small-cap value segment of the U.S.equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.
(4)The Russell 2000® Index is presented here as an additional index, and measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The index is not actively managed and does not reflect any deductions for fees, expense or taxes. An investor may not invest directly in an index.

 

 

8 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Fund Overview

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance of $10,000 Initial Investment (for the period ended April 30, 2018)

 

(LINE GRAPH) 

 

The chart above represents historical performance of a hypothetical investment of $10,000 in the Fund since inception. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This chart does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Investing in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested.

 

Industry Allocation (as a % of Net Assets)*

 

(PIE CHART) 

 

Top Ten Holdings (as a % of Net Assets)*

 

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. 6.56%
Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd. 6.10%
Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd. 5.69%
Select Comfort Corp. 4.28%
Navigators Group, Inc. 4.22%
ACI Worldwide, Inc. 4.10%
Ibstock PLC 3.89%
Howden Joinery Group PLC 3.28%
Acuity Brands, Inc. 3.21%
WESCO International, Inc. 3.13%
Top Ten Holdings 44.46%

 

*Holdings are subject to change, and may not reflect the current or future position of the portfolio.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 9

 

 

Disclosure of Fund Expenses

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

As a shareholder of the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”), you will incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including applicable redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund operating expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested on November 1, 2017 and held until April 30, 2018.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

  Beginning
Account Value
11/1/17
Ending
Account Value
4/30/18
Expense Ratio(a) Expenses Paid
During period
11/1/17 - 4/30/18(b)
Actual $1,000.00 $1,013.20 1.23% $ 6.14
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) $1,000.00 $1,018.70 1.23% $ 6.16

 

(a)The Fund's expense ratios have been annualized based on the Fund's most recent fiscal half-year expenses.
(b)Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (181)/365 (to reflect the half-year period).

 

 

10 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund Statement of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (97.49%)          
Basic Materials (0.17%)          
Chemicals (0.17%)          
Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd.(a)   73,727   $2,278,164 
           
TOTAL BASIC MATERIALS        2,278,164 
           
Communications (6.23%)          
Internet (6.23%)          
Alphabet, Inc., Class C(a)   48,656    49,499,209 
Facebook, Inc., Class A(a)   188,312    32,389,664 
         81,888,873 
           
TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS        81,888,873 
           
Consumer, Cyclical (6.96%)          
Lodging (3.08%)          
Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.   513,846    40,511,619 
           
Retail (3.88%)          
AutoZone, Inc.(a)   44,266    27,645,002 
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.(a)   91,051    23,315,430 
         50,960,432 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER, CYCLICAL        91,472,051 
           
Consumer, Non-cyclical (19.02%)          
Commercial Services (3.93%)          
Moody’s Corp.   82,209    13,334,300 
S&P Global, Inc.   136,878    25,815,191 
Sabre Corp.   605,748    12,502,638 
         51,652,129 
           
Healthcare Services (4.53%)          
Aetna, Inc.   234,409    41,970,931 
Anthem, Inc.   74,152    17,499,131 
         59,470,062 
           
Pharmaceuticals (10.56%)          
AmerisourceBergen Corp.   499,312    45,227,681 
Cardinal Health, Inc.   635,212    40,761,554 
McKesson Corp.   338,285    52,843,500 
         138,832,735 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER, NON-CYCLICAL        249,954,926 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 11

 

Statement of Investments Vulcan Value Partners Fund

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Energy (6.32%)        
Oil & Gas Services (6.32%)          
National Oilwell Varco, Inc.   2,149,678   $83,128,048 
           
TOTAL ENERGY        83,128,048 
           
Financial (26.42%)          
Banks (9.24%)          
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.   712,086    38,815,808 
Northern Trust Corp.   306,095    32,675,641 
State Street Corp.   500,235    49,913,448 
         121,404,897 
           
Diversified Financial Services (7.74%)          
Mastercard, Inc., Class A   282,928    50,437,575 
Visa, Inc., Class A   404,776    51,357,979 
         101,795,554 
           
Insurance (8.91%)          
Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.   582,647    34,201,379 
Everest Re Group, Ltd.   130,619    30,391,122 
Swiss Re AG   550,249    52,559,607 
         117,152,108 
           
Real Estate (0.53%)          
CBRE Group, Inc., Class A(a)   153,347    6,948,153 
           
TOTAL FINANCIAL        347,300,712 
           
Industrial (9.40%)          
Aerospace & Defense (3.54%)          
Airbus SE   395,912    46,567,280 
           
Miscellaneous Manufacturing (2.93%)          
Parker-Hannifin Corp.   234,187    38,551,864 
           
Transportation (2.93%)          
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B   338,659    38,437,796 
           
TOTAL INDUSTRIAL        123,556,940 
           
Pharmaceuticals (5.31%)          
Pharmacy Services (5.31%)          
CVS Health Corp.   999,606    69,802,487 
           
TOTAL PHARMACEUTICALS        69,802,487 

 

 

12 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund Statement of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Technology (17.66%)        
Semiconductors (9.21%)        
Qorvo, Inc.(a)   850,124   $57,298,358 
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.   734,744    63,746,389 
         121,044,747 
           
Software (8.45%)          
Oracle Corp.   2,433,194    111,123,970 
           
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY        232,168,717 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $1,050,911,009)        1,281,550,918 

 

   7-Day
Yield
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (1.52%)               
Money Market Fund (1.52%)               
Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares   1.537%    19,922,860    19,922,860 
                
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
(Cost $19,922,860)             19,922,860 
                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.01%)               
(Cost $1,070,833,869)            $1,301,473,778 
                
Other Assets In Excess Of Liabilities (0.99%)             13,044,810 
                
NET ASSETS (100.00%)            $1,314,518,588 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 13

 

Statement of Investments Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCKS (96.36%)          
Basic Materials (0.77%)          
Chemicals (0.77%)          
Versum Materials, Inc.   262,750   $9,243,545 
           
TOTAL BASIC MATERIALS        9,243,545 
           
Communications (2.80%)          
Internet (2.80%)          
Despegar.com Corp.(a)   1,141,406    33,511,680 
           
TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS        33,511,680 
           
Consumer, Cyclical (21.06%)          
Distribution/Wholesale (4.87%)          
Ahlsell AB   3,483,156    20,843,288 
WESCO International, Inc.(a)   627,676    37,378,106 
         58,221,394 
           
Home Furnishings (10.28%)          
Howden Joinery Group PLC   5,979,364    39,240,954 
Select Comfort Corp.(a)   1,806,550    51,197,627 
Tempur Sealy International, Inc.(a)   728,271    32,590,127 
         123,028,708 
           
Housewares (2.61%)          
Tupperware Brands Corp.   700,800    31,227,648 
           
Office Furnishings (1.96%)          
Herman Miller, Inc.   765,099    23,488,539 
           
Retail (1.34%)          
Halfords Group PLC   3,072,283    16,021,774 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER, CYCLICAL        251,988,063 
           
Consumer, Non-cyclical (13.73%)          
Commercial Services (10.75%)          
Sabre Corp.   1,747,231    36,062,848 
Savills PLC   2,638,132    35,683,586 
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc.(a)   476,904    24,131,342 
Sotheby’s(a)   621,074    32,792,707 
         128,670,483 

 

 

14 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund Statement of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Consumer, Non-cyclical (continued)          
Food - Flour & Grain (2.98%)          
Ebro Foods SA, ADR   1,482,378   $35,606,720 
           
TOTAL CONSUMER, NON-CYCLICAL        164,277,203 
           
Financial (30.36%)          
Diversified Financial Services (3.05%)          
Credit Acceptance Corp.(a)   58,064    19,209,894 
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.   149,889    17,289,696 
         36,499,590 
           
Insurance (18.67%)          
Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd.   1,605,154    68,138,787 
Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.   1,242,782    72,951,303 
Everest Re Group, Ltd.   136,405    31,737,351 
Navigators Group, Inc.   894,387    50,532,866 
         223,360,307 
           
Real Estate (6.56%)          
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.   463,060    78,493,301 
           
REITS (2.08%)          
Outfront Media, Inc.   1,324,991    24,843,581 
           
TOTAL FINANCIAL        363,196,779 
           
Industrial (19.38%)          
Building Materials (3.89%)          
Ibstock PLC   11,360,200    46,512,143 
           
Electrical Components & Equipment (3.21%)          
Acuity Brands, Inc.   320,609    38,399,340 
           
Electronics (5.01%)          
Ituran Location and Control, Ltd.   1,159,109    36,338,067 
Woodward, Inc.   328,122    23,605,097 
         59,943,164 
           
Machinery-Diversified (1.35%)          
Concentric AB   760,342    12,451,456 
Lindsay Corp.   42,788    3,759,354 
         16,210,810 
           
Miscellaneous Manufacturing (4.96%)          
Actuant Corp., Class A   440,879    10,382,700 
Carlisle Cos., Inc.   280,602    30,229,253 

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 15

 

Statement of Investments Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
Industrial (continued)          
Miscellaneous Manufacturing (continued)          
Crane Co.   207,930   $17,391,265 
Donaldson Co., Inc.   29,975    1,326,694 
         59,329,912 
           
Transportation (0.96%)          
Forward Air Corp.   212,586    11,477,518 
           
TOTAL INDUSTRIAL        231,872,887 
           
Retail (2.37%)          
Industrial Services (2.37%)          
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A   328,190    28,368,744 
           
TOTAL RETAIL        28,368,744 
           
Technology (5.89%)          
Software (5.89%)          
ACI Worldwide, Inc.(a)   2,109,079    49,036,087 
Lectra   822,650    21,458,141 
         70,494,228 
           
TOTAL TECHNOLOGY        70,494,228 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $980,367,329)        1,152,953,129 

 

   7-Day
Yield
   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (4.70%)               
Money Market Fund (4.70%)               
Dreyfus Treasury Prime Cash Management Fund, Institutional Shares   1.537%    56,265,228    56,265,228 
                
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
(Cost $56,265,228)             56,265,228 
                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (101.06%)               
(Cost $1,036,632,557)            $1,209,218,357 
                
Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets (-1.06%)             (12,660,113)
                
NET ASSETS (100.00%)            $1,196,558,244 

 

(a)Non-Income Producing Security.

 

 

16 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund Statement of Investments

 

April 30, 2018

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of net assets.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 17

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

 

April 30, 2018

 

   Vulcan Value
Partners Fund
   Vulcan Value
Partners Small
Cap Fund
 
ASSETS:        
Investments, at value  $1,301,473,778   $1,209,218,357 
Receivable for investments sold   18,778,691     
Receivable for shares sold   910,548    581,652 
Dividends receivable   3,422,734    1,393,698 
Other assets   16,662    21,677 
Total assets   1,324,602,413    1,211,215,384 
           
LIABILITIES:          
Payable for investments purchased   8,338,416    12,442,047 
Payable for shares redeemed   468,097    851,109 
Payable to adviser   1,069,309    1,156,277 
Payable for administration fees   62,639    58,640 
Payable for transfer agency fees   16,934    15,290 
Payable for delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees   22,938    38,214 
Payable for professional fees   26,202    25,765 
Payable for trustee fees and expenses   14,076    12,964 
Payable for principal financial officer fees   434    400 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   64,780    56,434 
Total liabilities   10,083,825    14,657,140 
NET ASSETS  $1,314,518,588   $1,196,558,244 
           
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:          
           
Paid-in capital (Note 5)  $1,043,428,482   $1,009,065,147 
Accumulated net investment income   3,600,850     
Accumulated net realized gain   36,865,122    14,938,670 
Net unrealized appreciation   230,624,134    172,554,427 
NET ASSETS  $1,314,518,588   $1,196,558,244 
           
INVESTMENTS, AT COST  $1,070,833,869   $1,036,632,557 
           
PRICING OF SHARES:          
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share  $21.39   $19.52 
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (unlimited number of shares, no par value common stock authorized)   61,452,002    61,298,863 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Statements of Operations

 

For the Year Ended April 30, 2018

 

   Vulcan Value
Partners Fund
   Vulcan Value
Partners Small
Cap Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME:          
Dividends  $20,972,184   $16,193,997 
Foreign taxes withheld   (552,340)   (422,948)
Total investment income   20,419,844    15,771,049 
           
EXPENSES:          
Investment advisory fees (Note 6)   13,287,056    13,769,170 
Administrative fees   373,320    337,410 
Transfer agency fees   121,848    105,749 
Delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees   139,770    236,801 
Professional fees   38,701    37,737 
Custodian fees   199,886    174,836 
Principal financial officer fees   5,264    4,736 
Trustee fees and expenses   29,416    26,849 
Recoupment of previously waived fees       59,895 
ReFlow Fees (Note 2)   77,082     
Other   69,899    73,939 
Total net expenses   14,342,242    14,827,122 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME   6,077,602    943,927 
           
Net realized gain on investments   70,410,507(a)    15,781,063 
Net realized gain on foreign currency transactions   28,896    21,979 
Net realized gain   70,439,403    15,803,042 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments   84,057,602    18,428,897 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies   (40,843)   (61,841)
Net change in unrealized appreciation   84,016,759    18,367,056 
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS   154,456,162    34,170,098 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS  $160,533,764   $35,114,025 

 

(a)See Note 2 for gain/(loss) on In-Kind transactions.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 19

 

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Vulcan Value Partners Fund

 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income  $6,077,602   $13,943,068 
Net realized gain   70,439,403    89,567,315 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   84,016,759    69,313,571 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   160,533,764    172,823,954 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 3):          
From net investment income   (7,670,305)   (17,969,116)
From net realized gains on investments   (14,527,436)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (22,197,741)   (17,969,116)
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5):          
Proceeds from sales of shares   160,766,374    162,065,966 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   17,693,956    13,362,586 
Cost of shares redeemed, net of redemption fees   (286,946,421)   (573,695,164)
Net decrease from share transactions   (108,486,091)   (398,266,612)
           
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets   29,849,932    (243,411,774)
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of year   1,284,668,656    1,528,080,430 
End of year*  $1,314,518,588   $1,284,668,656 
           
*Includes accumulated net investment income of:  $3,600,850   $5,164,657 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
OPERATIONS:        
Net investment income  $943,927   $2,130,748 
Net realized gain   15,803,042    114,144,015 
Net change in unrealized appreciation   18,367,056    123,772,371 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations   35,114,025    240,047,134 
           
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 3):          
From net investment income   (2,029,542)   (3,924,578)
From net realized gains on investments   (70,565,783)    
Net decrease in net assets from distributions   (72,595,325)   (3,924,578)
           
SHARE TRANSACTIONS (Note 5):          
Proceeds from sales of shares   245,328,871    274,573,708 
Issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions   58,614,533    2,400,082 
Cost of shares redeemed, net of redemption fees   (325,509,690)   (404,497,434)
Net decrease from share transactions   (21,566,286)   (127,523,644)
           
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets   (59,047,586)   108,598,912 
           
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of year   1,255,605,830    1,147,006,918 
End of year*  $1,196,558,244   $1,255,605,830 
           
*Includes accumulated net investment income/(loss) of:  $   $1,029,011 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 21

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the years presented.

 

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:
Net investment income(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
From net investment income
From net realized gains on investments
Total distributions
 
Redemption fees added to paid-in capital
Increase/(decrease) in net asset value
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR
 
Total return
 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of year (000's)
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without fee waivers/reimbursements
Ratio of expenses to average net assets including fee waivers/reimbursements
Net investment income to average net assets including fee waivers/reimbursements
 
Portfolio turnover rate

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 per share.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund

 

 

For the Year
Ended April 30,
2018
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2017
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2016
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2015
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2014
 
$19.30   $17.17   $19.97   $18.20   $15.28 
                       
 0.09    0.18    0.20    0.22    0.14 
 2.35    2.18    (1.51)   2.77    3.33 
 2.44    2.36    (1.31)   2.99    3.47 
                       
 (0.12)   (0.23)   (0.13)   (0.17)   (0.11)
 (0.23)       (1.36)   (1.05)   (0.44)
 (0.35)   (0.23)   (1.49)   (1.22)   (0.55)
                       
 0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
 2.09    2.13    (2.80)   1.77    2.92 
$21.39   $19.30   $17.17   $19.97   $18.20 
                       
 12.72%   13.85%   (6.49%)   16.61%   22.84%
                       
$1,314,519   $1,284,669   $1,528,080   $1,770,104   $929,829 
                       
 1.08%   1.07%   1.08%   1.08%   1.09%
 1.08%   1.07%   1.08%   1.08%   1.09%
 0.46%   1.01%   1.10%   1.12%   0.80%
                       
 50%   49%   85%   64%   56%

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 23

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

For a share outstanding throughout the years presented.

 

NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:
Net investment income/(loss)(a)
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
Total from investment operations
 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
From net investment income
From net realized gains on investments
Total distributions
 
Redemption fees added to paid-in capital
Increase/(decrease) in net asset value
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF YEAR
 
Total return
 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net assets, end of year (000's)
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets without fee waivers/reimbursements
Ratio of expenses to average net assets including fee waivers/reimbursements
 
Net investment income/(loss) to average net assets including fee waivers/reimbursements
 
Portfolio turnover rate

 

(a)Per share numbers have been calculated using the average shares method.
(b)Less than $0.005 per share.

 

See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

 

For the Year
Ended April 30,
2018
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2017
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2016
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2015
   For the Year
Ended April 30,
2014
 
$20.16   $16.58   $18.61   $18.74   $16.97 
                       
 0.02    0.03    0.10    0.10    (0.01)
 0.59    3.61    (1.05)   1.77    2.76 
 0.61    3.64    (0.95)   1.87    2.75 
                       
 (0.03)   (0.06)   (0.06)   (0.11)    
 (1.22)       (1.02)   (1.89)   (0.98)
 (1.25)   (0.06)   (1.08)   (2.00)   (0.98)
                       
 0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b)    0.00(b) 
 (0.64)   3.58    (2.03)   (0.13)   1.77 
$19.52   $20.16   $16.58   $18.61   $18.74 
                       
 3.08%   21.97%   (5.04%)   10.74%   16.11%
                       
$1,196,558   $1,255,606   $1,147,007   $1,133,122   $1,066,246 
                       
 1.24%   1.25%   1.25%   1.26%   1.30%
 1.24%   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%
                       
 0.08%   0.18%   0.61%   0.56%   (0.05%)
                       
 68%   52%   80%   73%   70%

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 25

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

 

 

Financial Investors Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This annual report describes the Vulcan Value Partners Fund and Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), including policies specific to investment companies. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Funds are considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day. Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value, with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities.

 

The market price for debt obligations is generally the quote supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a quote, or if the quote supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more broker–dealers that make a market in the security.

 

Equity securities that are primarily traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges, except when an occurrence subsequent to the time a value was so established is likely to have changed such value. In such an event, the fair values of those securities are determined in good faith through consideration of other factors in accordance with procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board.

 

 

26 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when Vulcan Value Partners, LLC (the “Adviser”) believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: A three-tier hierarchy has been established to classify fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available. Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments as of the reporting period end. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Funds have the ability to access at the measurement date;
Level 2 – Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 –Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Funds’ own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of each input used to value each Fund’s investments as of April 30, 2018:

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Unadjusted
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Common Stocks(a)  $1,281,550,918   $   $   $1,281,550,918 
Short Term Investments   19,922,860            19,922,860 
TOTAL  $1,301,473,778   $   $   $1,301,473,778 

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Unadjusted
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 -
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Common Stocks(a)  $1,152,953,129   $   $   $1,152,953,129 
Short Term Investments   56,265,228            56,265,228 
TOTAL  $1,209,218,357   $   $   $1,209,218,357 

 

(a)For detailed descriptions, see the accompanying Statements of Investments.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 27

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

The Funds recognize transfers between levels as of the end of period. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2. For the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have any securities that used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis, which is the same basis the Funds use for federal income tax purposes. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to the Funds. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income, are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

ReFlow Liquidity Program: Each Fund may participate in the ReFlow liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source for mutual funds experiencing net redemptions of their shares. Pursuant to the program, ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) provides participating mutual funds with a source of cash to meet net shareholder redemptions by standing ready each business day to purchase fund shares up to the value of the net shares redeemed by other shareholders that are to settle the next business day. ReFlow will purchase shares of the Fund at net asset value and will not be subject to any investment minimums. Following purchases of Fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the Fund experiences net subscriptions, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow (currently 28 days), or at other times as the Fund may request. ReFlow may choose to redeem its position in the Fund with an in-kind transfer of securities, instead of cash, enabling the Fund to avoid a realization of capital gains on the securities it transfers. ReFlow will not be subject to any short-term redemption fees. While ReFlow holds Fund shares, it will have the same rights and privileges with respect to those shares as any other shareholder. For use of the ReFlow service, a Fund pays a fee to ReFlow each time it purchases Fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily auction among participating mutual funds. The current minimum fee rate is 0.20% of the value of the Fund shares purchased by ReFlow although the Fund may submit a bid at a higher fee rate if it determines that doing so is in the best interest of Fund shareholders. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. There is no assurance that ReFlow will have sufficient funds available to meet the Funds’ liquidity needs on a particular day. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds participated in ReFlow. Fees associated with ReFlow are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”): The Funds may invest a portion of their assets in REITs and are subject to certain risks associated with direct investment in REITs. REITs may be affected by changes in the value of their underlying properties and by defaults by borrowers or tenants. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareowners, and certain REITs have self-liquidation provisions by which mortgages held may be paid in full and distributions of capital returns may be made at any time. In addition, the performance of a 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 (the “Code”), or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. A Fund’s investments in REITs may result in such Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REITs’ earnings. If the Fund receives such distributions all or

 

 

28 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

a portion of these distributions will constitute a return of capital to such Fund. Receiving a return of capital distribution from REITs will reduce the amount of income available to be distributed to Fund shareholders. Income from REITs generally will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. As the final character of the distributions is not known until reported by the REITs on their 1099s, the Funds utilize an average of the prior year’s reallocation information as an estimate for the current year character of distributions.

 

Foreign Securities: The Funds may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Funds are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). The portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed and is included in realized and unrealized gains or losses on investments, when applicable.

 

In-Kind Redemptions: On October 30, 2017, the Vulcan Value Partners Fund distributed portfolio securities rather than cash as payment for certain redemptions of fund shares (in-kind redemptions) in the amount of $37,345,537, and represented 2.84% of the Fund’s net assets on October 30, 2017. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund recognized gains on the in-kind redemptions in the amount of $18,903,352. For tax purposes, the gains are not recognized.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to the Funds. Expenses which cannot be directly attributed are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a Fund are charged directly to that Fund.

 

Federal Income Taxes: Each Fund complies with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies and intends to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income and net capital gains, if any, each year so that it will not be subject to excise tax on undistributed income and gains. The Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent such distributions are made.

 

As of and during the year ended April 30, 2018, the Funds did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Funds file U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The Fund’s tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 29

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Distributions to Shareholders: Each Fund normally pays dividends and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from dividends and other income each Fund receives from its investments, including short-term capital gains. Long term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when each Fund sells a security it has owned for more than a year. Each Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if the portfolio manager believes doing so may be necessary for each Fund to avoid or reduce taxes.

 

3.  TAX BASIS INFORMATION

 

 

Reclassifications: As of April 30, 2018 permanent differences in book and tax accounting were reclassified. These differences had no effect on net assets and were primarily attributed to foreign currency transactions, book to tax distribution differences and in-kind redemptions. The reclassifications were as follows:

 

Fund  Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Net Investment
Income/(Loss)
   Accumulated
Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on
Investments
 
Vulcan Value Partners Fund  $18,903,352   $28,896   $(18,932,248)
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund       56,604    (56,604)

 

Tax Basis of Investments: As of April 30, 2018, the aggregate cost of investments, gross unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) and net unrealized appreciation for federal tax purposes was as follows:

 

   Vulcan Value
Partners Fund
   Vulcan Value Partners
Small Cap Fund
 
Gross appreciation (excess of value over tax cost)  $257,490,424   $201,336,622 
Gross depreciation (excess of tax cost over value)   (36,592,834)   (29,376,429)
Net appreciation of foreign currency   (15,775)   (31,373)
Net unrealized appreciation  $220,881,815   $171,928,820 
Cost of investments for income tax purposes  $1,080,576,188   $1,037,258,164 

 

Components of Earnings: As of April 30, 2018, components of distributable earnings were as follows:

 

   Vulcan Value
Partners Fund
   Vulcan Value Partners
Small Cap Fund
 
Undistributed ordinary income  $39,554,855   $6,601,307 
Accumulated capital gains   10,653,436    8,962,970 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments   220,881,815    171,928,820 
Total  $271,090,106   $187,493,097 

 

 

30 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gain were recorded by each Fund.

 

The tax character of distributions paid by the Funds for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017 were as follows:

 

   Ordinary Income   Long-Term
Capital Gain
 
2018        
Vulcan Value Partners Fund  $22,197,741   $ 
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund   59,551,178    13,044,147 

 

   Ordinary Income   Long-Term
Capital Gain
 
2017        
Vulcan Value Partners Fund  $17,969,116   $ 
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund   3,924,578     

 

4.  SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and redemptions In-Kind) during the year ended April 30, 2018 were as follows:

 

Fund  Purchases of
Securities
   Proceeds From
Sales of Securities
 
Vulcan Value Partners Fund  $629,521,821   $710,720,312 
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund   733,038,113    670,197,865 

 

5.  SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

 

The capitalization of the Trust consists of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value per share. Holders of the shares of the Funds of the Trust have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fraction of a vote for each fractional share. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and are transferable and redeemable at the option of the shareholder. Purchasers of the shares do not have any obligation to make payments to the Trust or its creditors solely by reason of the purchasers’ ownership of the shares. Shares have no pre-emptive rights.

 

Shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase may incur a 2% short-term redemption fee deducted from the redemption amount. The Vulcan Value Partners Fund and the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund retained $3,889 and $11,246, respectively, for the year ended April 30, 2018, and $34,938 and $32,740, respectively, for the year ended April 30, 2017, which is reflected in the “Cost of shares redeemed, net of redemption fees” in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 31

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

Transactions in shares of capital stock for the dates listed below were as follows:

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
Shares Sold   7,896,160    9,220,974 
Shares Issued in Reinvestment of Dividends   870,263    737,043 
Less Shares Redeemed   (13,886,874)   (32,359,605)
Net Decrease   (5,120,451)   (22,401,588)

 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2018
   For the
Year Ended
April 30, 2017
 
Shares Sold   12,345,631    15,271,480 
Shares Issued in Reinvestment of Dividends   3,018,064    125,989 
Less Shares Redeemed   (16,352,775)   (22,299,640)
Net Decrease   (989,080)   (6,902,171)

 

6.  MANAGEMENT AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

 

The Adviser, subject to the authority of the Board, is responsible for the overall management and administration of the Funds’ business affairs. The Adviser manages the investments of the Funds in accordance with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and limitations and investment guidelines established jointly by the Adviser and the Board. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Funds pay the Adviser an annual management fee of 1.00% and 1.15% for Vulcan Value Partners Fund and Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund, respectively, based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit each of Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses (exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets. This agreement (the “Expense Agreement”) is in effect from September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. The prior Expense Agreement was in effect from September 1, 2016 through August 31, 2017. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the Expense Agreement to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods fall below the expense cap in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Funds will not be obligated to pay any such fees and expenses more than three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement. The Adviser may not discontinue or modify this waiver prior to August 31, 2018 without the approval by the Funds’ Board.

 

 

32 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

For the year ended April 30, 2018, the fee waivers and/or reimbursements and recoupment amounts were as follows:

 

Fund  Fees
Waived/Reimbursed
By Adviser
   Recoupment of
Previously Waived
Fees by Adviser
 
Vulcan Value Partners Fund  $   $ 
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund       59,895 

 

As of April 30, 2018, there are no recoupable expenses due to the Funds.

 

Fund Administrator Fees and Expenses: ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) serves as administrator to the Funds and the Funds have agreed to pay expenses incurred in connection with their administrative activities. Pursuant to an Administration Agreement, ALPS provides operational services to the Funds including, but not limited to fund accounting and fund administration and generally assist in each Fund’s operations. Officers of the Trust are employees of ALPS. The Funds’ administration fee is accrued on a daily basis and paid monthly. Administration fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

ALPS is reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Transfer Agent: ALPS serves as transfer, dividend paying and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds. ALPS receives an annual minimum fee, a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts, and is also reimbursed by the Funds for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Transfer agent fees paid by the Funds for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Compliance Services: ALPS provides services that assist the Trust’s chief compliance officer in monitoring and testing the policies and procedures of the Trust in conjunction with requirements under Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and receives an annual base fee. ALPS is reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses by the Funds. Vulcan pays this fee on behalf of the Funds.

 

Principal Financial Officer: ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS” and the “Administrator”) (an affiliate of ADI) receives an annual fee for providing principal financial officer services to the Funds. Principal financial officer fees paid by the Fund for the year ended April 30, 2018 are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

 

Distributor: ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) (an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services, Inc.) acts as the distributor of each Fund’s shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Shares are sold on a continuous basis by ADI as agent for the Funds, and ADI has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of each Fund’s shares, although it is not obliged to sell any particular amount of shares. ADI is not entitled to any compensation for its services as Distributor. ADI is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain intermediaries may charge networking, omnibus account or other administrative fees with respect to transactions in shares of the Funds. Transactions may be processed through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) or similar systems or processed on a manual basis. These fees are paid by the Funds to the Distributor, which uses such fees to reimburse intermediaries. In the event an intermediary receiving payments from the Distributor on behalf of

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 33

 

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

April 30, 2018

 

the Funds converts from a networking structure to an omnibus account structure or otherwise experiences increased costs, fees borne by the Funds may increase. Fees are disclosed on the Statements of Operations as “Delegated transfer agent equivalent services fees”.

 

7.  INDEMNIFICATIONS

 

 

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liability arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Trust enters into contracts with service providers that may contain general indemnification clauses which may permit indemnification to the extent permissible under applicable law. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

 

34 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Financial Investors Trust

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities, including the statements of investments, of Vulcan Value Partners Fund and Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund (the "Funds"), two of the funds constituting the Financial Investors Trust, as of April 30, 2018, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vulcan Value Partners Fund and Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund of Financial Investors Trust as of April 30, 2018, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of their internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of April 30, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP 

Denver, Colorado 

June 26, 2018

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies advised by Vulcan Value Partners, LLC since 2010.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 35

 

 

Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Vulcan Value Partners Fund 

Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund

 

On December 12, 2017, the Trustees met in person to discuss, among other things, the approval of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, in accordance with Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act. In renewing and approving the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, considered the following factors with respect to the Vulcan Funds:

 

Investment Advisory Fee Rate: The Trustees reviewed and considered the contractual annual advisory fee paid by the Trust, on behalf of the Vulcan Funds, to Vulcan of 1.00% of the Vulcan Value Partners Fund’s daily average net assets and 1.15% of the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund’s daily average net assets, in light of the extent and quality of the advisory services provided by Vulcan to the Vulcan Funds.

 

The Board received and considered information including a comparison of each of the Vulcan Fund’s contractual and actual advisory fees and overall expenses with those of funds in the peer groups and universes of funds provided by an independent provider of investment company data (the “Data Provider”). The Trustees noted that the contractual advisory fee rates for both Vulcan Funds were above the respective Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rates.

 

Total Expense Ratios: Based on such information, the Trustees further reviewed and considered the total expense ratios (after waivers) of 1.07% for the Vulcan Value Partners Fund and 1.25% for the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund. The Trustees noted that each of the Vulcan Fund’s total expense ratios (after waivers) were above the Data Provider peer group median total expense ratios (after waivers).

 

Nature, Extent, and Quality of the Services under the Investment Advisory Agreement: The Trustees received and considered information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the Vulcan Funds under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Trustees reviewed certain background materials supplied by Vulcan in its presentation, including its Form ADV.

 

The Trustees reviewed and considered Vulcan’s investment advisory personnel, its history as an asset manager, and its performance and the amount of assets currently under management by Vulcan and its affiliated entities. The Trustees also reviewed the research and decision-making processes utilized by Vulcan, including the methods adopted to seek to achieve compliance with the investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Vulcan Funds.

 

The Trustees considered the background and experience of Vulcan’s management in connection with the Vulcan Funds, including reviewing the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Vulcan Funds and the extent of the resources devoted to research and analysis of actual and potential investments.

 

The Trustees also reviewed, among other things, Vulcan’s insider trading policies and procedures and its Code of Ethics.

 

 

36 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Performance: The Trustees reviewed performance information for each of the Vulcan Funds for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017. That review included a comparison of each Vulcan Fund’s performance to the performance of the Data Provider universe median. The Trustees noted that the performance of the Vulcan Value Partners Fund was above its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 1-year, 5-year, and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017, and below its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 3-month and 3-year periods ended September 30, 2017, and the performance of the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund was above its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the since inception period ended September 30, 2017 and below its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year periods ended September 30, 2017. The Trustees also considered Vulcan’s discussion of each Vulcan Fund’s underlying portfolio diversification categories, its top contributors and top detractors, as well as Vulcan’s performance and reputation generally and its investment techniques, risk management controls, and decision-making processes.

 

Comparable Accounts: The Trustees noted certain information provided by Vulcan regarding fees charged to its other clients utilizing a strategy similar to that employed by the Vulcan Funds.

 

Profitability: The Trustees received and considered a retrospective and projected profitability analysis prepared by Vulcan based on the fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to each Vulcan Fund. The Trustees considered the profits, if any, anticipated to be realized by Vulcan in connection with the operation of each Vulcan Fund. The Board then reviewed Vulcan’s audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, provided supplementally, in order to analyze the financial condition and stability and profitability of Vulcan.

 

Economies of Scale: The Trustees considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Vulcan Funds will be passed along to the shareholders under the proposed agreements.

 

Other Benefits to the Adviser: The Trustees reviewed and considered any other incidental benefits derived or to be derived by Vulcan from its relationship with the Vulcan Funds, including whether soft dollar arrangements were used.

 

In renewing Vulcan as the Vulcan Funds’ investment adviser and renewing the Investment Advisory Agreement and the fees charged under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Trustees concluded that no single factor reviewed by the Trustees was identified by the Trustees to be determinative as the principal factor in whether to renew the Investment Advisory Agreement. Further, the Independent Trustees were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that:

 

each Vulcan Fund’s contractual advisory fee rate was above its Data Provider peer group median contractual advisory fee rate;

 

each Vulcan Fund’s total expense ratio (after waivers) was above, but within an acceptable range of, its Data Provider peer group median total expense ratio (after waivers);

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 37

 

 

Disclosure Regarding Approval of Fund Advisory Agreements

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

the nature, extent and quality of services rendered by Vulcan under the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the Vulcan Funds were adequate;

 

the performance of the Vulcan Value Partners Fund was above its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 1-year, 5-year, and since inception periods ended September 30, 2017, and below its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 3-month and 3-year periods ended September 30, 2017, and the performance of the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund was above its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the since inception period ended September 30, 2017 and below its respective Data Provider universe median performance for the 3-month, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year periods ended September 30, 2017;

 

bearing in mind the limitations of comparing different types of managed accounts and the different levels of service typically associated with such accounts, the fee structures applicable to Vulcan’s other clients employing a comparable strategy to one or more of the Vulcan Funds were not indicative of any unreasonableness with respect to the advisory fees proposed to be payable by the Vulcan Funds;

 

the profit, if any, realized by Vulcan in connection with the operation of each Vulcan Fund is not unreasonable to such Vulcan Fund; and

 

there were no material economies of scale or other incidental benefits accruing to Vulcan in connection with its relationship with the Vulcan Funds.

 

Based on the Trustees’ deliberations and their evaluation of the information described above, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, concluded that Vulcan’s compensation for investment advisory services is consistent with the best interests of the Vulcan Funds and their shareholders.

 

 

38 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Additional Information

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

1. FUND HOLDINGS

 

 

The Funds files their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q within 60 days after the end of the period. Copies of the Funds’ Form N-Q are available without charge on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy the Form N-Q at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For more information about the operation of the Public Reference Room, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

2. FUND PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND SUMMARIES

 

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures used in determining how to vote proxies and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ending June 30 are available without charge, (1) upon request, by calling (toll-free) (866)-759-5679 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

3. TAX DESIGNATIONS

 

 

The Funds designate the following for federal income tax purposes for the calendar year ended December 31, 2017:

 

  Qualified
Dividend Income
Dividend
Received Deduction
Vulcan Value Partners Fund 78.90% 56.58%
Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund 16.56% 7.10%

 

In early 2018, if applicable, shareholders of record received this information for the distributions paid to them by the Funds during the calendar year 2017 via Form 1099. The Funds will notify shareholders in early 2019 of amounts paid to them by the Funds, if any, during the calendar year 2018.

 

Pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund designated $13,044,147 as long-term capital gain dividends.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 39

 

 

Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Additional information regarding the Fund’s trustees is included in the Statement of Additional Information, which can be obtained without charge by calling 877-421-5078.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

Name,
Address*
& Year
of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
Fund
Term of
Office** and
Length of
Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in

Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee****

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past 5

Years***

Mary K. Anstine,

1940

Trustee and Chairman Ms. Anstine was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on March 21, 1997 and re-elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Ms. Anstine was appointed Chairman of the Board at the June 6, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Anstine was formerly an Executive Vice President of First Interstate Bank of Denver until 1994, President/Chief Executive Officer of HealthONE Alliance, Denver, Colorado, from 1994 to 2004, and has been retired since 2004. Ms. Anstine is also Trustee/Director of AV Hunter Trust and Colorado Uplift Board. Ms. Anstine was formerly a Director of the Trust Bank of Colorado (later purchased and now known as Northern Trust Bank), HealthONE and Denver Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the American Bankers Association Trust Executive Committee. 32 Ms. Anstine is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund); and Westcore Trust (14 funds).

Jeremy W. Deems,

1976

Trustee Mr. Deems was appointed as a Trustee at the March 11, 2008 meeting of the Board of Trustees and elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Deems is the Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor, and Co-Portfolio Manager of the Shelton Green Alpha Fund. Prior to joining Green Alpha Advisors, Mr. Deems was CFO and Treasurer of Forward Management, LLC, ReFlow Management Co., LLC, ReFlow Fund, LLC, a private investment fund, and Sutton Place Management, LLC, an administrative services company, from 1998 to June 2007. From 2004 to 2005, Mr Deems also served as Treasurer of the Forward Funds and the Sierra Club Funds. 32 Mr. Deems is a Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds); ALPS Variable Investment Trust (9 funds); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); and Reaves Utility Income Fund (1 fund).

 

 

40 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES (continued)

 

Name,

Address*

& Year

of Birth

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

Term of

Office** and

Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in

Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee****

Other

Directorships

Held by Trustee

During Past

5 Years***

Jerry G. Rutledge,

1944

Trustee Mr. Rutledge was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Rutledge is the President and owner of Rutledge’s Inc., a retail clothing business. He served as Director of University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2016. He was from 1994 to 2007 a Regent of the University of Colorado. 32 Mr. Rutledge is a Trustee of Principal Real Estate Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund), Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund) and Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund).

Michael “Ross” Shell,

1970

Trustee Mr. Shell was elected at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Shell is Founder and CEO of Red Idea, LLC, a strategic consulting/early stage venture firm (since June 2008). From 1999 to 2009, he was a part-owner and Director of Tesser, Inc., a brand agency. From December 2005 to May 2008, he was Director, Marketing and Investor Relations, of Woodbourne, a REIT/real estate hedge fund and private equity firm. Prior to this, from May 2004 to November 2005, he worked as a business strategy consultant; from June 2003 to April 2004, he was on the Global Client Services team of IDEO, a product design/innovation firm; and from 1999 to 2003, he was President of Tesser, Inc. Mr. Shell graduated with honors from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. 32 None.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 41

 

 

Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

 

Name,

Address*

& Year of

Birth

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

Term of

Office** and

Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years***

Number of

Funds in

Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee****

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee During

Past 5 Years***

Edmund J. Burke, 1961 Trustee and President Mr. Burke was elected as Trustee at a special meeting of shareholders held on August 7, 2009. Mr. Burke was elected President of the Trust at the December 17, 2002 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Burke is President and a Director of ALPS Holdings, Inc. (“AHI”) and ALPS Advisors, Inc. (“AAI”), and Director of Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“BFDS”), ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI”), ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”) and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. (“APSD”). Because of his positions with AHI, BFDS, AAI, ADI, AFS and APSD, Mr. Burke is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. 32 Mr. Burke is a Trustee of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Equity Fund (1 fund); Clough Global Opportunities Fund (1 fund); Clough Funds Trust (1 fund); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (1 fund); Director of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. (1 fund); Trustee of ALPS ETF Trust (21 funds).

 

 

42 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS

 

Name,

Address*

& Year

of Birth

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

Term of Office**

and Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Kimberly R. Storms,

1972

Treasurer Ms. Storms was elected Treasurer of the Trust at the March 12, 2013 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Storms is Senior Vice President - Director of Fund Administration of ALPS. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Storms is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Storms is also Treasurer of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust. Ms. Storms also serves as a Board member and Treasurer of The Center for Trauma & Resilience, a nonprofit agency.

Karen S. Gilomen,

1970

Secretary Ms. Gilomen was elected Secretary of the Trust at the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Gilomen joined ALPS in August 2016 as Vice President and Senior Counsel. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Gilomen was Vice President - General Counsel & CCO of Monticello Associates, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Gilomen is deemed an affiliate of the Trust, as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Gilomen is also the Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Reaves Utility Income Fund, and the Assistant Secretary of the WesMark Funds.

Ted Uhl,

1974

Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) Mr. Uhl was appointed CCO of the Trust at the June 8, 2010 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Uhl joined ALPS in October 2006, and is currently Deputy Compliance Officer of ALPS. Prior to his current role, Mr. Uhl served as Senior Risk Manager for ALPS from October 2006 until June 2010. Before joining ALPS, Mr. Uhl served a Sr. Analyst with Enenbach and Associates (RIA), and a Sr. Financial Analyst at Sprint. Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Uhl is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Uhl is also CCO of the Boulder Growth & Income Fund, Inc., Centre Funds, Elevation ETF Trust, Index Funds, Reality Shares ETF Trust and Reaves Utility Income Fund.

Jennell Panella,

1974

Assistant Treasurer Ms. Panella was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees Ms. Panella joined ALPS in June 2012 and is currently Fund Controller of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Panella served as Financial Reporting Manager for Parker Global Strategies, LLC (2009-2012). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Panella is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Panella also serves as Assistant Treasurer of James Advantage Funds.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 43

 

 

Trustees and Officers

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

OFFICERS (continued)

 

Name,

Address*

& Year

of Birth

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

Term of Office**

and Length of

Time Served

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years***

Alan Gattis,

1980

Assistant Treasurer Mr. Gattis was elected Assistant Treasurer of the Trust at the September 13, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees Mr. Gattis joined ALPS in 2011 and is currently Vice President and Fund Controller of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Mr. Gattis was an Auditor at Spicer Jeffries LLP (2009 through 2011) and an Auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (2004 - 2009). Because of his position with ALPS, Mr. Gattis is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Mr. Gattis is also Assistant Treasurer of ALPS Series Trust and Elevation ETF Trust.

Sharon Akselrod,

1974

Assistant Secretary Ms. Akselrod was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the September 15, 2015 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Akselrod joined ALPS in August 2014 and is currently Senior Investment Company Act Paralegal of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Akselrod served as Corporate Governance and Regulatory Associate for Nordstrom fsb (2013-2014) and Senior Legal Assistant – Legal Manager for AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company (2008-2013). Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Akselrod is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Akselrod is also Assistant Secretary of ALPS ETF Trust and Principal Real Estate Fund.

Jennifer Craig,

1973

Assistant Secretary Ms. Craig was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the June 8, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Craig joined ALPS in 2007 and is currently Assistant Vice President and Paralegal Manager of ALPS. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Craig was Legal Manager at Janus Capital Management LLC and served as Assistant Secretary of Janus Investment Fund, Janus Adviser Series and Janus Aspen Series. Because of her position with ALPS, Ms. Craig is deemed an affiliate of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act. Ms. Craig is also Assistant Secretary of Clough Global Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Equity Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Clough Funds Trust, Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. and ALPS Series Trust.

Sareena Khwaja-Dixon,

1980

Assistant Secretary Ms. Khwaja-Dixon was elected Assistant Secretary of the Trust at the December 12, 2017 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Ms. Khwaja-Dixon joined ALPS in August 2015 and is currently Senior Counsel and Vice President of ALPS Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining ALPS, Ms. Khwaja-Dixon served as a Senior Paralegal/Paralegal for Russell Investments (2011 – 2015). Ms. Khwaja-Dixon is also Secretary of Liberty All-Star Equity Fund and Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.,and Assistant Secretary of Clough Funds Trust, Clough Dividend and Income Fund, Clough Global Opportunities Fund, and Clough Global Equity Fund.

 

*All communications to Trustees and Officers may be directed to Financial Investors Trust c/o 1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80203.

**This is the period for which the Trustee or Officer began serving the Trust. Each Trustee serves an indefinite term, until his successor is elected. Officers are elected on an annual basis.
***Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the office shown or other offices in the same company for the last five years.
****The Fund Complex includes all series of the Trust (currently 32) and any other investment companies for which any Trustee serves as trustee for and which Vulcan Value Partners, LLC provides investment advisory services (currently none).

 

 

44 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Privacy Policy 

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Who We Are    
Who is providing this notice?

Vulcan Value Partners Fund and Vulcan Value Partners Small Cap Fund. 

What We Do  
How do the Funds protect my personal information? To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured  files and buildings.
How do the Funds collect my personal information? We collect your personal information, for example, when you
  ● open an account
  provide account information or give us your contact information
  make a wire transfer or deposit money
Why can't I limit all sharing? Federal law gives you the right to limit only
  sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness
  affiliates from using your information to market to you
  sharing for non-affiliates to market to you
  State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

  

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 45

 

 

Privacy Policy

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

FACTS WHAT DO THE FUNDS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
What? The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:
  Social Security number and account transactions
  Account balances and transaction history
  Wire transfer instructions
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Funds choose to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information DO THE FUNDS SHARE: Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes

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

Yes No

For our marketing purposes

to offer our products and services to you

No We do not share.
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We do not share.

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes

information about your transactions and experiences

Yes No

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes –

information about your creditworthiness

No We do not share.
For non–affiliates to market to you No We do not share.

 

 

46 www.vulcanvaluepartners.com

 

 

Privacy Policy 

 

April 30, 2018 (Unaudited)

 

Definitions  
Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
Non-affiliates Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.
  The Funds do not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.
Joint marketing A formal agreement between non-affiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.
  The Funds do not jointly market.
Other Important Information  
California Residents If your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
Vermont Residents The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information.

 

 

Annual Report | April 30, 2018 47

 

 

(LOGO)

 

 

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

 

(a)The Registrant, as of the end of the period covered by this report, has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or any persons performing similar functions on behalf of the Registrant.

 

(b)       Not applicable.

 

(c)During the period covered by this report, no amendments to the provisions of the code of ethics described in Item 2(a) above were made.

 

(d)During the period covered by this report, no implicit or explicit waivers to the provisions of the code of ethics described in Item 2(a) above were granted.

 

(e)Not applicable.

 

(f)The Registrant’s Code of Ethics is attached as an Exhibit to this report.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has determined that the Registrant has at least one Audit Committee Financial Expert serving on its audit committee. The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has designated Jeremy W. Deems as the Registrant’s “Audit Committee Financial Expert.” Mr. Deems is “independent” as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

(a)Audit Fees: For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were $368,680 and $345,460, respectively.

 

(b)Audit-Related Fees: For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item were $0 and $0, respectively.

 

 

 

(c)Tax Fees: For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $97,875 and $105,945, respectively. The fiscal year 2017 and 2016 tax fees were for services for dividend calculation, excise tax preparation and tax return preparation.

 

(d)All Other Fees: For the Registrant’s fiscal years ended April 30, 2018 and April 30, 2017, no fees were billed to Registrant by the principal accountant for products and services, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item.

 

(e)(1)Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures: All services to be performed by the Registrant’s principal accountant must be pre-approved by the Registrant’s Audit Committee. The Chairman of the Audit Committee may pre-approve non-audit services to be performed by the Registrant’s principal accountant on an interim basis, subject to ratification by the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

(e)(2)No services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the Registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

(f)Not applicable.

 

(g)The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant’s accountant to the Registrant, and rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, were $132,945 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 and $136,335 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2017. These fees consisted of non-audit fees billed to (i) the Registrant of $97,875 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 and $105,945 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 as described in response to paragraph (c) above and (ii) to ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“AFS”), an entity under common control with ALPS Advisors, Inc., the Registrant’s investment adviser, of $35,070 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 and $30,390 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2017. The non-audit fees billed to AFS related to SSAE 16 services and other compliance-related matters.

 

(h)The Registrant’s audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence. The Registrant’s audit committee determined that the provision of such non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

 

 

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Reports to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

(b)Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

 

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees, where those changes were implemented after the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K, or this Item.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)The Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

 

 

 

(b)There was no change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

 

Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

Item 13. Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)Registrant’s Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers, which is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2 of Form N-CSR, is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12(a)(1) to the Registrant’s Certified Shareholder Report on Form N-CSR, File No. 811-8194, filed on January 9, 2017.

 

(a)(2)The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.Cert.

 

(a)(3)Not applicable.

 

(a)(4)Not applicable to the Registrant.

 

(b)The certifications by the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906Cert.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST

 

By: /s/ Edmund J. Burke  
  Edmund J. Burke (Principal Executive Officer)  
  President  
     
Date: July 9, 2018  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST

 

By: /s/ Edmund J. Burke  
  Edmund J. Burke (Principal Executive Officer)  
  President  
     
Date: July 9, 2018  
     
By: /s/ Kimberly R. Storms  
  Kimberly R. Storms (Principal Financial Officer)  
  Treasurer  
     
Date: July 9, 2018