STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a Prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with: the Class A and Class C Shares Prospectus, and the Institutional and Class R6 Shares Prospectus of the Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund, the Sterling Capital Mid Value Fund, the Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, the Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund, the Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund, the Sterling Capital Behavioral International Equity Fund, the Sterling Capital Mid Cap Relative Value Fund, the Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund, the Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund and the Sterling Capital SMID Opportunities Fund (collectively, the “Equity Funds”), the Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund, the Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund, the Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Fund, the Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund, the Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund, the Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund, the Sterling Capital North Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, the Sterling Capital South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, the Sterling Capital Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund and the Sterling Capital West Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund (collectively, the “Bond Funds”), which are dated February 1, 2023, (collectively, the “Prospectuses”), as supplemented from time to time. This SAI is incorporated by reference in its entirety into the Prospectuses. The audited financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the related report of the independent registered public accounting firm in the Funds’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 are incorporated by reference into this SAI. Copies of this SAI, the Prospectuses and the Annual Report may be obtained by writing Sterling Capital Funds at P.O. Box 9762, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9762 (after February 16, 2023, please address mail to Sterling Capital Funds P.O. Box 534465, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4465), or by telephoning toll free 1-800-228-1872.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS	3
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES	5
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PORTFOLIO INSTRUMENTS	5
FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS	42
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER	49
VALUATION	50
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION	51
PURCHASE OF CLASS A AND CLASS C SHARES	51
SALES CHARGES	53
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE	57
MATTERS AFFECTING REDEMPTION	58
ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION	60
MANAGEMENT OF STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS	100
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS	100
CODES OF ETHICS	108
INVESTMENT ADVISER	108
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS	111
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES	115
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS	116
ADMINISTRATOR	119
SUB-ADMINISTRATOR	121
UNDERWRITER	122
EXPENSES	125
CUSTODIAN	126
TRANSFER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES	126
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM	126
LEGAL COUNSEL	126
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	127
ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES	127
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY	127
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS	128
MISCELLANEOUS	130
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	145
APPENDIX A	146
APPENDIX B	154

The Prospectuses of the Funds and this SAI are not an offering of the securities herein described in any state in which such offering may not lawfully be made. No salesperson, dealer or other person is authorized to give any information or make any representation other than those contained in the Prospectuses of the Funds and this SAI.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS

Sterling Capital Funds (the “Trust”) is an open-end management investment company. Each series of Sterling Capital Funds (except the Tax-Free Bond Funds) is “diversified,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Among other things, a diversified Fund must, with respect to 75% of its total assets, not invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer.

Sterling Capital Funds consists of units of beneficial interest (“Shares”) offered to the public, each representing interests in one of twenty separate investment portfolios (“Funds”) that are described in this SAI:

EQUITY FUNDS

Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund (the “Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund”)

Sterling Capital Mid Value Fund (the “Mid Value Fund”)

Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund (the “Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund”)

Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund (the “Special Opportunities Fund”)

Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund (the “Equity Income Fund”)

Sterling Capital Behavioral International Equity Fund (the “Behavioral International Equity Fund”)

Sterling Capital Mid Cap Relative Value Fund (the “Mid Cap Relative Value Fund”)

Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund (the “Real Estate Fund”)

Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund (the “Small Cap Value Fund”)

Sterling Capital SMID Opportunities Fund (the “SMID Opportunities Fund”)

BOND FUNDS

TAXABLE BOND FUNDS

Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Ultra Short Bond Fund”)

Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund (the “Short Duration Bond Fund”)

Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Fund (the “Intermediate U.S. Government Fund”)

Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund (the “Total Return Bond Fund”)

Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund (the “Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund”)

Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund (the “Quality Income Fund”)

TAX-FREE BOND FUNDS

Sterling Capital North Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund (the “North Carolina Fund”)

Sterling Capital South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund (the “South Carolina Fund”)

Sterling Capital Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund (the “Virginia Fund”)

Sterling Capital West Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund (the “West Virginia Fund”)

Each Fund may offer to the public one or more of the following four classes of Shares, as indicated in the Prospectus and on the cover of this SAI: Class A, Class C, Institutional and R6 Shares. Much of the information contained in this SAI expands on subjects discussed in the Prospectuses. Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectuses. No investment in Shares of a Fund should be made without first reading the applicable Prospectuses.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PORTFOLIO INSTRUMENTS

The Funds’ Prospectuses discuss the investment objectives of the Funds and the policies to be employed to achieve those objectives. This section contains supplemental information concerning certain types of securities and other instruments in which the Funds may invest (to the extent not inconsistent with a Fund’s investment objective and strategy and the 1940 Act), the investment policies and portfolio strategies that the Funds may utilize, and certain risks attendant to such investments, policies and strategies. Unless stated otherwise, all percentage limitations on investments set forth herein will apply at the time of the making of an investment and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.

Appendix A to this SAI identifies nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (“NRSROs”) that may be used by Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital” or the “Adviser”), with regard to portfolio investments for the Funds and provides a description of relevant ratings assigned by each such NRSRO. A rating by an NRSRO may be used only where the NRSRO is neither controlling, controlled by, nor under common control with the issuer of, or any issuer, guarantor, or provider of credit support for, the instrument.

AUCTION RATE SECURITIES. Certain Funds may invest in securities issued by municipalities and governmental agencies and sold through an auction process.

Provided that the auction mechanism is successful, auction rate securities usually permit the holder to sell the securities in an auction at par value at specified intervals. The dividend is reset by a “Dutch” auction in which bids are made by broker-dealers and other institutions for a certain amount of securities at a specified minimum yield. The dividend rate set by the auction is the lowest interest or dividend rate that covers all securities offered for sale.

While this process is designed to permit auction rate securities to be traded at par value, there is the risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. Since February 2008, numerous auctions have failed due to insufficient demand for securities. Failed auctions may adversely impact the liquidity of auction rate securities investments. Although some issuers of auction rate securities are redeeming or are considering redeeming such securities, such issuers are not obligated to do so and, therefore, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist for a Fund’s investments in auction rate securities at a time when the Fund wishes to dispose of such securities.

An issuer’s obligations under its auction rate municipal securities are subject to provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by federal or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its auction rate municipal securities may be materially, adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.

EQUITY SECURITIES. Certain Funds may invest in equity securities. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities and warrants. Common stocks, which represent an ownership interest in a company, are probably the most recognized type of equity security. Equity securities have historically outperformed most other securities, although their prices can be volatile in the short term. Market conditions and political, economic and even company-specific news can cause significant changes in the price of a stock. Smaller companies (as measured by market capitalization), sometimes called small-cap companies or small-cap stocks, may be especially sensitive to these factors. To the extent a Fund invests in equity securities, that Fund’s Shares will fluctuate in value, and thus equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of short-term fluctuations.

Certain Funds may also invest in a company’s securities at the time of a company’s initial public offering (“IPO”). Companies involved in IPOs are often smaller and have a limited operating history, which involves a greater risk that the value of their securities will be impaired following the IPO. In addition, market psychology prevailing at the time of an IPO can have a substantial and unpredictable effect on the price of an IPO security, causing the price of a company’s securities to be particularly volatile at the time of its IPO and for a period thereafter. As a result, a Fund’s Adviser might decide to sell an IPO security more quickly than it would otherwise, which may result in significant losses to the Fund.

PREFERRED STOCK. Certain Funds may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and generally has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the issuer’s assets, but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under normal circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights.

CREDIT ENHANCEMENT. Certain Funds may purchase securities subject to credit enhancements. Credit enhancement consists of an arrangement in which a company agrees to pay amounts due on a fixed-income security if the issuer defaults. In some cases the company providing credit enhancement makes all payments directly to the security holders and receives reimbursement from the issuer. The credit enhancer has greater financial resources and liquidity than the issuer. However, there can be no assurance that the company supplying the credit enhancement can meet all its obligations under these arrangements.

Common types of credit enhancement include guarantees, letters of credit, bond insurance and surety bonds. Credit enhancement also includes arrangements where securities or other liquid assets secure payment of a fixed-income security. If a default occurs, these assets may be sold and the proceeds paid to the security’s holder. Either form of credit enhancement reduces credit risks by providing another source of payment for a fixed-income security.

ZERO COUPON SECURITIES. Certain Funds may purchase zero coupon securities. Zero coupon securities do not pay interest or principal until final maturity unlike debt securities that provide periodic payments of interest (referred to as a coupon payment). Investors buy zero coupon securities at a price below the amount payable at maturity. The difference between the purchase price and the amount paid at maturity represents interest on the zero coupon security. Investors must wait until maturity to receive interest and principal, which increases the interest rate and credit risks of a zero coupon security. Even though such securities do not pay current interest in cash, a Fund nonetheless is required to accrue interest income on these investments and to distribute the interest income on a current basis. Thus, a Fund could be required to liquidate investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements. There are many forms of zero coupon securities. Some are issued as a discount and are referred to as zero coupon or capital appreciation bonds. Others are created from interest-bearing bonds by separating the right to receive the bond’s coupon payments from the right to receive the bond’s principal due at maturity, a process known as coupon stripping. In addition, some securities give the issuer the option to deliver additional securities in place of cash interest payments, thereby increasing the amount payable at maturity. These are referred to as pay-in-kind or PIK securities. Certain Funds may invest in zero coupon U.S. Government Securities.

INSURANCE CONTRACTS. Certain Funds may purchase insurance contracts. Insurance contracts include guaranteed investment contracts, funding agreements and annuities. The Funds treat these contracts as fixed-income securities.

Certain Funds may make limited investments in funding agreements issued by highly rated U.S. insurance companies. Under these agreements, the Funds make cash contributions to a deposit fund of the insurance company’s general account. The insurance company then credits interest to the Fund on a monthly or quarterly basis, which is based on an index (such as the U.S. Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or another reference rate).

BANKERS’ ACCEPTANCES AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Certain Funds may invest in bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit, and demand and time deposits. The Funds may also make interest-bearing savings deposits in commercial and savings banks in amounts not in excess of 5% of their respective total assets. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange typically drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or a savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

Bankers’ acceptances will be those guaranteed by domestic and foreign banks, if at the time of investment such banks have capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 (as of the date of their most recently published financial statements). Certificates of deposit and demand and time deposits will be those of domestic and foreign banks and savings and loan associations, if (a) at the time of investment they have capital, surplus, and undivided profits in excess of $100,000,000 (as of the date of their most recently published financial statements) or (b) the principal amount of the instrument is insured in full by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

COMMERCIAL PAPER. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return. Tax-exempt commercial paper is commercial paper of a tax-exempt issuer with a maturity of less than nine months.

Commercial paper purchasable by each Fund includes “Section 4(a)(2) paper,” a term that includes debt obligations issued in reliance on the “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Section 4(a)(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the Federal securities laws, and is frequently sold (and resold) to institutional investors such as the Fund through or with the assistance of investment dealers who make a market in the Section 4(a)(2) paper, thereby providing liquidity. Certain transactions in Section 4(a)(2) paper may qualify for the registration exemption provided in Rule 144A under the 1933 Act.

VARIABLE AMOUNT MASTER DEMAND NOTES. Variable amount master demand notes, in which certain Funds may invest, are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate according to the terms of the instrument. They are also referred to as variable rate demand notes. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, they are not normally traded. Although there may be no secondary market in the notes, the Funds may demand payment of principal and accrued interest at any time or during specified periods not exceeding one year, depending upon the instrument involved, and may resell the note at any time to a third party. The absence of such an active secondary market, however, could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable amount master demand note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligations or during periods when the Fund is not entitled to exercise their demand rights, and a Fund could, for this or other reasons, suffer a loss to the extent of the default. While the notes are not typically rated by credit rating agencies, issuers of variable amount master demand notes must satisfy the credit criteria used by a Fund’s Adviser for commercial paper. A Fund’s Adviser will consider the earning power, cash flow, and other liquidity ratios of the issuers of such notes and will continuously monitor their financial status and ability to meet payment on demand. Where necessary to ensure that a note is of “high quality,” a Fund will require that the issuer’s obligation to pay the principal of the note be backed by an unconditional bank letter or line of credit, guarantee or commitment to lend. In determining dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity, a variable amount master demand note will be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period of time remaining until the principal amount can be recovered from the issuer through demand or, if longer, the period of time remaining until the next adjustment of the interest rate.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT. Certain Funds may invest in certain obligations or securities of foreign issuers. The Intermediate U.S. Government Fund may invest in U.S.-dollar denominated foreign securities, but may not invest in securities that are denominated in foreign currencies. Permissible investments include Canadian Time Deposits (“CTDs”) which are U.S. dollar denominated certificates of deposit issued by Canadian offices of major Canadian Banks. Permissible investments for the Intermediate U.S. Government Fund include Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit (“ECDs”) which are U.S. dollar denominated certificates of deposit issued by branches of foreign and domestic banks located outside the United States, Yankee Certificates of Deposit (“Yankee CDs”) which are certificates of deposit issued by a U.S. branch of a foreign bank, denominated in U.S. dollars and held in the United States, Eurodollar Time Deposits (“ETDs”) which are U.S. dollar denominated deposits in a foreign branch of a U.S. bank or a foreign bank, and CTDs. The Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund may invest in Yankee bonds, which are U.S. dollar-denominated bonds and notes issued by foreign corporations or governments. The Funds may invest in foreign commercial paper, including Canadian Commercial Paper, which is commercial paper issued by a Canadian corporation or a Canadian counterpart of a U.S. corporation, and European commercial paper, which is U.S. dollar denominated commercial paper of an issuer located in Europe. The Short Duration Bond Fund, the Behavioral International Equity Fund and the SMID Opportunities Fund may also invest in debt obligations of foreign issuers denominated in foreign currencies. The Taxable Bond Funds and the Equity Funds may invest in stocks, bonds and other obligations issued by foreign companies, foreign governments, and supranational entities that trade on U.S. exchanges.

Certain Funds may invest in securities issued by foreign branches of U.S. banks, foreign banks, or other foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”) and securities purchased on foreign securities exchanges. 

ADRs typically are issued by an American bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts, are receipts issued in Europe, typically by foreign banks and trust companies, that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic underlying securities. GDRs are depository receipts structured like global debt issues to facilitate trading on an international basis. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be issued as sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities trade in the form of ADRs, EDRs or GDRs. Unsponsored ADR, EDR and GDR programs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities. As a result, although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, available information concerning the issuers may not be as current for-unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, and the prices of unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer.

Investing in foreign securities involves considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of companies organized and operated in the United States. Because foreign securities generally are denominated and pay dividends or interest in foreign currencies, the value of a Fund that invests in foreign securities as measured in U.S. dollars will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates. A Fund’s investments in foreign securities may also be adversely affected by changes in foreign political or social conditions, diplomatic relations, confiscatory taxation, expropriation, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, or imposition of (or change in) exchange control regulations and the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions. In addition, changes in government administrations or economic or monetary policies in the U.S. or abroad could result in appreciation or depreciation of portfolio securities and could favorably or adversely affect a Fund’s operations. A Fund’s income or gains from investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which reduce the Fund’s return on those securities. Special tax considerations apply to foreign securities.

Additional risks include less publicly available information, the risk that companies may not be subject to the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements of U.S. companies, the risk that foreign securities markets may have less volume and therefore many securities traded in these markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than U.S. securities, the risk that custodian and brokerage costs may be higher, the risk of future adverse political and economic developments, possible seizure, currency blockage, nationalization of foreign investments and the risk of less stringent disclosure standards. For example, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain non-U.S. countries. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a non-U.S. issuer, as compared to the financial reports of U.S. companies. Investors in non-U.S. countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue investor claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against non-U.S. issuers and non-U.S. persons is limited. Foreign issuers of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting treatment and engage in business practices different from those respecting domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Certain Funds will acquire such securities only when a Fund’s Adviser believes the benefits associated with such investments outweigh the risks.

EMERGING MARKETS. Certain Funds may invest its assets in countries with emerging economies or securities markets. These countries may include Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Zambia. Political and economic structures in many of these countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and these countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristics of more developed countries. Some of these countries may have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. In addition, The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in these countries and the availability to the Fund of additional investments in emerging market countries. The small size and inexperience of the securities markets in certain of these countries and the limited volume of trading in securities in these countries may make investments in the countries less liquid and more volatile than investments in Japan or most Western European countries. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers located in certain emerging market countries, and, as a result, it may be difficult to access the value or prospects of an investment in such issuers.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. Certain Funds may use forward currency exchange contracts. Forward currency exchange contracts involve an obligation to exchange a specified currency for another at a future date at a rate set at the time of the contract. Forward currency exchange contracts do not eliminate fluctuations in the values of portfolio securities but rather allow a Fund to establish a rate of exchange for a future point in time.

To the extent a Fund invests in an emerging market, the resulting emerging market currency exposure will generally be maintained. With respect to any forward currency exchange contract, it will not generally be possible to match precisely the amount covered by the contract and the value of the securities involved due to the changes in the values of such securities resulting from market movements between the date the forward currency exchange contract is entered into and the date it matures. In addition, while forward currency exchange contracts may offer protection from losses resulting from declines in the value of a particular foreign currency, they also may result in losses and moreover will limit potential gains which might result from increases in the value of such currency. The Fund will also incur costs in connection with forward currency exchange contracts and conversions of foreign currencies and U.S. dollars.

MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. Certain Funds may invest in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). A MLP generally is a publicly traded company organized as a limited partnership or limited liability company and treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. MLPs may derive income and gains from, among other things, the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, refining, transportation (including pipelines transporting gas, oil, or products thereof), or the marketing of any mineral or natural resources. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. The general partner of an MLP is typically owned by one or more of the following: a major energy company, an investment fund, or the direct management of the MLP. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an up to 2% equity interest in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. Limited partners own the remainder of the partnership, through ownership of common units, and have a limited role in the partnership’s operations and management. MLP securities in which the Funds may invest can include, but are not limited to: (i) equity securities of MLPs, including common units, preferred units or convertible subordinated units; (ii) debt securities of MLPs, including debt securities rated below investment grade; (iii) securities of MLP affiliates; (iv) securities of open-end funds, closed-end funds or exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that invest primarily in MLP securities; or (v) exchange-traded notes whose returns are linked to the returns of MLPs or MLP indices. The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those inherent in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in an MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests.

INCOME TRUSTS. Certain Funds may invest in income trusts. Income trusts are investment trusts that hold income-producing assets and distribute income generated by such assets to the “unitholders” of the trust, which are entitled to participate in the trust’s income and capital as its beneficiaries. Income trusts generally invest in assets that provide a return to the trust and its unitholders based on the cash flows of an underlying business. Such assets may include equity and debt instruments, royalty interests or real properties. The income trust can receive interest, royalty or lease payments from an operating entity carrying on a business, as well as dividends and a return of capital.

Income trusts also may include royalty trusts, a particular type of income trust whose securities are listed on a stock exchange and which controls an underlying company whose business relates to, without limitation, the acquisition, exploitation, production and sale of oil and natural gas. Investments in income trusts (including royalty trusts) are subject to operating risk based on the income trust’s underlying assets and their respective businesses. Such risks may include lack of or limited operating histories. Income trusts are subject to interest rate risk and increases in interest rates offered by competing investments may diminish the value of trust units. Changes in the interest rate also may affect the value of future distributions from the income trust’s underlying assets or the value of the underlying assets themselves. Interest rate risk is also present within the income trusts themselves because they often hold very long term capital assets, and much of the excess distributable income is derived from a maturity (or duration) mismatch between the life of the asset and the life of the financing associated with it. In an increasing interest rate environment, the income trust’s distributions to its unitholders may decrease. Income trusts also may be subject to additional risk, including, without limitation, limited access to debt markets.

Income trusts do not guarantee minimum distributions or returns of capital to unitholders. The amount of distributions paid on a trust’s units will vary from time to time based on production levels, commodity prices, royalty rates and certain expenses, deductions and costs, as well as on the distribution payout ratio policy adopted. The reduction or elimination of distributions to unitholders may decrease the value of trust units. Income trusts generally pay out to unitholders the majority of the cash flow that they receive from the production and sale of underlying assets. As a result of distributing the bulk of their cash flow to unitholders, the ability of a trust to finance internal growth is limited. Therefore, income trusts typically grow through acquisition of additional assets, funded through the issuance of additional equity or, where the trust is able, additional debt. Because an income trust may make distributions to unitholders in excess of its net income, unitholder equity may decline over time.

The extent to which a Fund can invest in a particular income trust – and in particular, such trusts that are treated as so-called “grantor trusts” for federal income tax purposes -- may be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and may bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. See “Additional Tax Information” below for more information about these and other special tax considerations that can arise in respect of the Fund’s investments in income trusts, including royalty trusts.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Securities held by each of the Funds may be subject to repurchase agreements. Under the terms of a repurchase agreement, a Fund would acquire securities from member banks of the FDIC with capital, surplus, and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000 (as of the date of their most recently published financial statements) and from registered broker-dealers which Sterling Capital deems creditworthy under guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase such securities at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. The repurchase price would generally equal the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates, which may be more or less than the rate on the underlying portfolio securities. The seller under a repurchase agreement will be required to provide collateral pursuant to the agreement valued at not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest) and the Adviser will monitor the collateral’s value to ensure that it equals or exceeds the repurchase price (including accrued interest).

If the seller were to default on its repurchase obligation or become insolvent, a Fund holding such obligation would suffer a loss to the extent that the proceeds from a sale of the underlying portfolio securities were less than the repurchase price under the agreement, or to the extent that the disposition of such securities held by the Fund were delayed by applicable statutory, regulatory or other resolution regimes. If the seller should be involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, a Fund may incur delays and costs in selling the underlying security or may suffer a loss of principal and interest if the Fund is treated as an unsecured creditor and required to return the underlying security to the seller’s estate. Repurchase agreements are considered to be loans by a Fund under the 1940 Act.

REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND DOLLAR ROLL AGREEMENTS. Certain Funds may also enter into reverse repurchase agreements and dollar roll agreements in accordance with applicable investment restrictions. Pursuant to such reverse repurchase agreements, a Fund would sell certain of its securities to financial institutions such as banks and broker-dealers, and agree to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. A dollar roll agreement is analogous to a reverse repurchase agreement, with a Fund selling mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracting to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act may impact a Fund’s ability to enter into reverse repurchase agreements.

Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar roll agreements involve risks, such that the market value of securities to be purchased by the Fund may decline below the price at which it is obligated to repurchase the securities, or that the other party may default on its obligation, so that the Fund is delayed or prevented from completing the transaction.

U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The Intermediate U.S. Government Fund will invest primarily in bills, notes and bonds issued or guaranteed by the United States Department of the Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”). Such obligations are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Each of the Funds may invest in such securities and in other securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. Such securities may include those which are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, such as obligations of the Government National Mortgage Association and the Export-Import Bank of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others which are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s securities; and still others, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit Banks or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), which are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to U.S. government-sponsored agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law. A Fund will invest in the obligations of such agencies and instrumentalities only when the Adviser believes that the credit risk with respect thereto is minimal.

U.S. Government Securities may include mortgage-backed pass-through securities. Interest and principal payments (including prepayments) on the mortgages underlying such securities are passed through to the holders of the security. Prepayments occur when the borrower under an individual mortgage prepays the remaining principal before the mortgage’s scheduled maturity date. As a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying securities, mortgage-backed pass-through securities are often subject to more rapid prepayments of principal than their stated maturity would indicate. Because the prepayment characteristics of the underlying mortgages vary, it is not possible to predict accurately the realized yield or average life of a particular issue of pass-through certificates. Prepayments are important because of their effect on the yield and price of the securities. During periods of declining interest rates, such prepayments can be expected to accelerate, and the Funds would be required to reinvest the proceeds at the lower interest rates then available. In addition, prepayments of mortgages which underlie securities purchased at a premium may not have been fully amortized at the time the obligation is repaid. As a result of these principal prepayment features, mortgage-backed pass-through securities are generally more volatile investments than other U.S. Government Securities.

On June 3, 2019, under the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s “Single Security Initiative,” Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae entered into a joint initiative to develop a common securitization platform for the issuance of a “uniform mortgage-backed security” or “UMBS,” in place of their separate offerings of “to be announced” (TBA)-eligible mortgage-backed securities. The Single Security Initiative seeks to generally align the characteristics of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mortgage-backed securities. The effects it may have on the market for mortgage-backed securities are uncertain and the issuance of UMBS may not achieve the intended results and may have unanticipated or adverse affects on the market for mortgage-backed securities.

Certain Funds may also invest in zero coupon U.S. Government Securities. These securities tend to be more volatile than other types of U.S. Government Securities. For a discussion of zero coupon securities, please see “ZERO COUPON SECURITIES” above.

The Tax-Free Bond Funds may invest in U.S. Government Securities in connection with the purchase of taxable obligations (as described below).

SWAPS. Certain Funds may enter into swap transactions. Swap transactions may include, but are not limited to, interest rate, currency, credit default and index credit default, securities index, basket, specific security and commodity swaps, interest rate caps, floors and collars and options on interest rate swaps (collectively defined as “swap transactions”). Certain Funds may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with the respective Fund’s investment objective and policies, such as for the purpose of attempting: to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining that return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in cash markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, to protect against any increase in the price of securities a Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in a potentially more economical way. Each Tax-Free Bond Fund will not sell interest rate caps, floors or collars if such Fund does not own securities with coupons which provide the interest that the Fund may be required to pay. 

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional counterparties for periods typically ranging from a few weeks to several years. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) that would be earned or realized on specified notional investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated by reference to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency or commodity, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The purchaser of an interest rate cap or floor, upon payment of a fee, has the right to receive payments (and the seller of the cap or floor is obligated to make payments) to the extent a specified interest rate exceeds (in the case of a cap) or is less than (in the case of a floor) a specified level over a specified period of time or at specified dates. The purchaser of an interest rate collar, upon payment of a fee, has the right to receive payments (and the seller of the collar is obligated to make payments) to the extent that a specified interest rate falls outside an agreed upon range over a specified period of time or at specified dates. The purchaser of an option on an interest rate swap (known as a “swaption”), upon payment of a fee (either at the time of purchase or in the form of higher payments or lower receipts within an interest rate swap transaction) has the right, but not the obligation, to initiate a new swap transaction of a pre-specified notional amount with pre-specified terms with the seller of the option as the counterparty.

The “notional amount” of a swap transaction is the agreed upon basis for calculating the payments that the parties have agreed to exchange. For example, one swap counterparty may agree to pay a floating rate of interest (e.g., SOFR) calculated based on a $10 million notional amount on a quarterly basis in exchange for receipt of payments calculated based on the same notional amount and a fixed rate of interest on a semi-annual basis. In the event a Fund is obligated to make payments more frequently than it receives payments from the other party, it will incur incremental credit exposure to that swap counterparty. This risk may be mitigated somewhat by the use of swap agreements which call for a single net payment to be made by the party with the larger payment obligation when the obligations of the parties fall due on the same date. Under most swap agreements entered into by a Fund, payments by the parties will be exchanged on a “net basis”, and a Fund will receive or pay, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.

The amount of a Fund’s potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. Derivative transactions may be more volatile than many other types of instruments.

The use of swap transactions involves investment techniques and risks that are different from those associated with portfolio security transactions. If a Fund’s Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values, interest rates, and other applicable factors, the investment performance of the Fund may be less favorable than if these techniques had not been used. These instruments are typically not traded on exchanges. Accordingly, there is a risk that the other party to certain of these instruments will not perform its obligations to a Fund or that a Fund may be unable to enter into offsetting positions to terminate its exposure or liquidate its position under certain of these instruments when it wishes to do so. Such occurrences could result in losses to a Fund.

The Adviser will, however, consider such risks and will enter into swap and other derivatives transactions only when it believes that the risks are not unreasonable.

The Funds will not enter into any swap transaction unless the counterparty to the transaction is deemed creditworthy by the Fund’s Adviser. If a counterparty defaults, a Fund may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, but there is no assurance that a Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies.

The liquidity of swap transactions will be determined in accordance with guidelines established by the Adviser and approved by the Board of Trustees which are based on various factors, including (1) contractual rights of the Funds to terminate transactions within seven days, (2) the availability of dealer quotations, (3) the estimated transaction volume for the instrument, (4) the number of dealers and end users for the instrument in the marketplace and the level of market making by dealers in the type of instrument, (5) the nature of the instrument (including any right of a party to terminate it on demand) and (6) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to terminate, assign or offset a Fund’s rights and obligations relating to the instrument). Such determination will govern whether the instrument will be deemed within the applicable liquidity restriction on investments that are not readily marketable.

During the term of a swap, cap, floor or collar, changes in the value of the instrument are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking to market to reflect the market value of the instrument. When the instrument is terminated, a Fund will record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and a Fund’s basis in the contract.

Transactions in some types of swaps (including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps) are required to be centrally cleared. In a transaction involving those swaps (“cleared derivatives”), a Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Funds are not members of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Funds hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives positions, the Funds make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through their accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.

In some ways, cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to funds than bilateral arrangements, for example, by requiring that funds provide more margin for their cleared derivatives positions. Also, as a general matter, in contrast to a bilateral derivatives position, following a period of notice to a Fund, a clearing member at any time can require termination of an existing cleared derivatives position or an increase in the margin required at the outset of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase the margin required for existing positions or to terminate those positions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination of existing cleared derivatives positions by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of a Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could expose a Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member because margin for cleared derivatives positions in excess of a clearing house’s margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, a Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared, and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Funds and their clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all cleared derivatives transactions that are within credit limits (specified in advance) for each Fund, the Funds are still subject to the risk that no clearing member will be willing or able to clear a transaction. In those cases, the position might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the position, including loss of an increase in the value of the position and loss of hedging protection. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Funds and clearing members is drafted by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Funds than the documentation for typical bilateral derivatives. For example, documentation relating to cleared derivatives generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Funds in favor of the clearing member for losses the clearing member incurs as the Funds’ clearing member. Also, such documentation typically does not provide the Funds any remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent. While futures contracts entail similar risks, the risks may be more pronounced for cleared derivatives due to their more limited liquidity and market history.

Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility. A swap execution facility is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a swap execution facility can create additional costs and risks for the Funds. For example, swap execution facilities typically charge fees, and if a Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, a Fund may be required to indemnify a swap execution facility, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a swap execution facility on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the swap execution facility.

The federal income tax treatment with respect to swap transactions may impose limitations on the extent to which a Fund may engage in such transactions.

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS (“CDSs”). Certain Funds may enter into CDSs. As described above, swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In the case of CDSs, the contract gives one party (the “buyer”) the right to recoup the economic value of a decline in the value of debt securities of the reference issuer if a credit event (e.g., a downgrade or default) occurs. In a physically-settled CDS, this value is obtained by delivering a debt security of the reference issuer in return for a previously agreed upon payment from the other party (the “seller”), frequently, the par value of the debt security. CDSs may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) from the buyer to the seller. If the Fund is the seller of a CDS contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the buyer in the event of a default or other credit event by the reference issuer, such as a U.S. or foreign corporate issuer, with respect to such debt obligation. In return, the Fund would receive from the buyer a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, a Fund would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. As the seller, a Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (“REITs”). Certain Funds may invest in equity interests or debt obligations issued by REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with several requirements of the Code. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which a Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred directly by a Fund.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills and on cash flows, are not diversified, and are subject to default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

Investments in REITs also involve risks associated with an issuer with limited financial resources as well as infrequent or limited trading risk.

TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES. Certain Funds may purchase trust preferred securities. Trust preferred securities are issued by a special purpose trust subsidiary backed by subordinated debt of the corporate parent. Trust preferred securities currently permit the issuing entity to treat the interest payments as a tax-deductible cost. These securities, which have no voting rights, have a final stated maturity date and a fixed schedule for periodic payments. In addition, these securities have provisions which afford preference over common and preferred stock upon liquidation, although the securities are subordinated to other, more senior debt securities of the same issuer. The issuers of these securities have the right to defer interest payments for a period of up to five years, although interest continues to accrue cumulatively. The deferral of payments may not exceed the stated maturity date of the securities themselves. The non-payment of deferred interest at the end of the permissible period will be treated as an event of default. At the present time, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) generally treats capital securities as debt.

SUPRANATIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. Certain Funds may purchase debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

INVESTMENT GRADE DEBT OBLIGATIONS. Certain Funds may invest in “investment grade securities,” which are securities rated in the four highest rating categories of an NRSRO. The Total Return Bond Fund and the Quality Income Fund each will invest in investment grade securities (rated at the time of purchase, or determined by the portfolio manager to be of comparable quality), provided that such Funds may continue to hold debt securities that have been downgraded from investment grade to below investment grade. Certain Funds may only invest in those investment grade securities rated in the three highest rating categories of an NRSRO. It should be noted that debt obligations rated in the lowest of the top four ratings (i.e., “Baa” by Moody’s or “BBB” by S&P), are considered to have some speculative characteristics and are more sensitive to economic change than higher rated securities. The Equity Funds may each invest up to 20% of their total net assets in such securities. An issuer undergoing reorganization or restructuring may issue to its security holders additional securities which may be different from the securities already held by the security holder. The Funds may hold such additional securities even if they do not generally invest in such securities.

NON-INVESTMENT GRADE DEBT SECURITIES. Certain Funds may invest in debt securities rated below investment grade, also known as “high yield” or “junk bonds.” These securities are regarded as predominantly speculative. Securities rated below investment grade generally provide a higher yield than higher rated securities of similar maturity, but are subject to a greater degree of risk that the issuer may not be able to make principal and interest payments. Issuers of these securities may not be as strong financially as those issuing higher rated securities. Such high yield issuers may include smaller, less creditworthy companies or highly indebted firms.

The value of high yield securities may fluctuate more than the value of higher rated securities, since high yield securities tend to reflect short-term corporate and market developments to a greater extent than higher rated securities. Thus, periods of economic uncertainty and change can result in the increased volatility of market prices of high yield bonds and of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). Additional risks of high yield securities include limited liquidity and secondary market support. As a result, the prices of high yield securities may decline rapidly in the event that a significant number of holders decide to sell. Issuers of high yield securities also are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse developments specific to the issuer. A projection of an economic downturn, for example, could cause the price of these securities to decline because a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. In the event of a default, the Funds would experience a decline in the value of its investment. In addition, a long-term track record on bond default rates, such as that for investment grade corporate bonds, does not exist for the high yield market. It may be that future default rates on high-yield bonds will be more widespread and higher than in the past, especially during periods of deteriorating economic conditions.

The market prices of debt securities generally fluctuate with changes in interest rates so that these Funds’ NAVs can be expected to decrease as long-term interest rates rise and to increase as long-term rates fall. The market prices of high yield securities structured as zero coupon or pay-in-kind securities are generally affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes and tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically.

Credit quality in the high yield market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high yield security. Each of the Equity Funds will limit its investments in non-investment grade securities to 20% of its total net assets. Subject to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) restrictions, the Equity Funds, and the Taxable Bond Funds (except the Intermediate U.S. Government Fund) may invest in such securities by investing in investment companies that primarily invest in non-investment grade securities.

Consolidation in the financial services industry has resulted in there being fewer market makers for high yield debt securities, which may result in further risk of illiquidity and volatility with respect to high yield debt securities held by a Fund, and this trend may continue in the future. Furthermore, high yield debt securities held by a Fund may not be registered under the 1933 Act, and, unless so registered, the Fund will not be able to sell such high yield debt securities except pursuant to an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act. This may further limit the Fund’s ability to sell high yield debt securities or to obtain the desired price for such securities.

CUSTODY RECEIPTS. Certain Funds may invest in custody receipts that represent debt securities. Custody receipts are derivative products which, in the aggregate, evidence direct ownership in a pool of securities. Typically, a sponsor will deposit a pool of securities with a custodian in exchange for custody receipts evidencing those securities. The sponsor will then generally sell those custody receipts in negotiated transactions at varying prices that are determined at the time of sale. Each custody receipt evidences the individual securities in the pool and the holder of a custody receipt generally will have all the rights and privileges of owners of those securities. Each holder of a custody receipt will be treated as directly purchasing its pro rata share of the securities in the pool for an amount equal to the amount that such holder paid for its custody receipt. If a custody receipt is sold, a holder will be treated as having directly disposed of its pro rata share of the securities evidenced by the custody receipt. Additionally, the holder of a custody receipt may withdraw the securities represented by a custody receipt subject to certain conditions.

Custody receipts are generally subject to the same risks as those securities evidenced by the receipts which are corporate debt securities. Additionally, custody receipts may also be less liquid than the underlying securities if the sponsor fails to maintain a trading market.

ASSET-BACKED AND RELATED SECURITIES. Certain Funds may invest in asset-backed securities. An asset-backed security is a fixed-income security that predominantly derives its creditworthiness from cash flows relating to a pool of assets. There are a number of different types of asset-backed and related securities, including mortgage-backed securities, securities backed by other pools of collateral (such as automobile loans, student loans, sub-prime mortgages and credit card receives) and collateralized mortgage obligations and collateralized debt obligations, certain of which are described in more detail below.

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities are asset-backed securities backed by pools of residential and commercial mortgages, which may include sub-prime mortgages. Mortgage-backed securities may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government, such as Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Federal Home Loan Banks), foreign governments (or their agencies or instrumentalities), or non-governmental issuers. Interest and principal payments (including prepayments) on the mortgage loans underlying mortgage-backed securities pass through to the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, depending on whether they are issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government) or by non-governmental issuers. Securities issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable. When worldwide economic and liquidity conditions deteriorated in 2008, mortgage-backed securities became subject to greater illiquidity risk. These conditions may occur again. Also, government actions and proposals affecting the terms of underlying home loans, changes in demand for products (e.g., automobiles) financed by those loans, and the inability of borrowers to refinance existing loans (e.g., sub-prime mortgages), have had, and may continue to have, adverse valuation and liquidity effects on mortgage-backed securities. Although liquidity of mortgage-backed securities has improved, there can be no assurance that in the future the market for mortgage-backed securities will continue to improve and become more liquid. In addition, mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk of loss of principal if the obligors of the underlying obligations default in their payment obligations, and to certain other risks described in “Other Asset-Backed Securities” below. The risk of defaults associated with mortgage-backed securities is generally higher in the case of mortgage-backed investments that include sub-prime mortgages.

Other Asset-Backed Securities. Similar to mortgage-backed securities, other types of asset-backed securities may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government (including those whose securities are neither guaranteed nor insured by the U.S. government), foreign governments (or their agencies or instrumentalities), or non-governmental issuers. These securities include securities backed by pools of automobile loans, educational loans, home equity loans, and credit card receivables. The underlying pools of assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose entities. These securities may be subject to risks associated with changes in interest rates and prepayment of underlying obligations similar to the risks of investment in mortgage-backed securities described immediately above. Similar to mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities face illiquidity risk from worldwide economic and liquidity conditions as described above in “Mortgage-Backed Securities.” The risk of investing in asset-backed securities has increased since 2008 because performance of the various sectors in which the assets underlying asset-backed securities are concentrated (e.g., auto loans, student loans, sub-prime mortgages, and credit card receivables) has become more highly correlated.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”). Certain Funds may also invest in CMOs. CMOs are mortgage-related securities which are structured pools of mortgage pass-through certificates or mortgage loans. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series which have different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof. CMOs of different classes are generally retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. Thus, the early retirement of a particular class or series of CMO held by a Fund would have the same effect as the prepayment of mortgages underlying a mortgage-backed pass-through security.

CMOs may include stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”). Such securities are derivative multi-class mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the United States Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. SMBSs are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the securities’ yield to maturity. Generally, the value of the PO class is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities even if the security is rated in the highest rating category.

Although SMBSs are purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers, these securities are a fairly recent development. As a result, established trading markets may not have fully developed. SMBSs issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and held by a Fund may be considered illiquid securities pursuant to guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.

Unless stated otherwise, each Fund (except Short Duration Bond Fund, Intermediate U.S. Government Fund, Total Return Bond Fund, Ultra Short Bond Fund, Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund, and Quality Income Fund) will limit its investment in CMOs to 25% of the value of its total assets.

Offerings of Certificates for Automobile Receivables (“CARs”). CARs are structured either as flow-through grantor trusts or as pay-through notes. CARs structured as flow-through instruments represent ownership interests in a fixed pool of receivables. CARs structured as pay-through notes are debt instruments supported by the cash flows from the underlying assets. CARs may also be structured as securities with fixed payment schedules which are generally issued in multiple-classes. Cash-flow from the underlying receivables is directed first to paying interest and then to retiring principal via paying down the two respective classes of notes sequentially. Cash-flows on fixed-payment CARs are certain, while cash-flows on other types of CARs issues depend on the prepayment rate of the underlying automobile loans. Prepayments of automobile loans are triggered mainly by automobile sales and trade-ins. Many people buy new cars every two or three years, leading to rising prepayment rates as a pool becomes more seasoned.

Certificates for Amortizing Revolving Debt (“CARDs”). CARDs represent participation in a fixed pool of credit card accounts. CARDs pay “interest only” for a specified period. The CARDs principal balance remains constant during this period, while any cardholder repayments or new borrowings flow to the issuer’s participation. Once the principal amortization phase begins, the balance declines with paydowns on the underlying portfolio. Cash flows on CARDs are certain during the interest-only period. After this initial interest-only period, the cash flow will depend on how fast cardholders repay their borrowings. Historically, monthly cardholder repayment rates have been relatively fast. As a consequence, CARDs amortize rapidly after the end of the interest-only period. During this amortization period, the principal payments on CARDs depend specifically on the method for allocating cardholder repayments to investors. In many cases, the investor’s participation is based on the ratio of the CARDs’ balance to the total credit card portfolio balance. This ratio can be adjusted monthly or can be based on the balances at the beginning of the amortization period. In some issues, investors are allocated most of the repayments, regardless of the CARDs’ balance. This method results in especially fast amortization.

Credit support for asset-backed securities may be based on the underlying assets or provided by a third party. Credit enhancement techniques include letters of credit, insurance bonds, limited guarantees (which are generally provided by the issuer), senior-subordinated structures and over collateralization. Asset-backed securities purchased by a Fund will be subject to the same quality requirements as other securities purchased by the Fund.

For purposes of calculating Annual Fund Operating Expenses in the Prospectuses, structured products such as asset-backed securities are not included.

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities pay interest, dividends or distributions at a specified rate. The rate may be a fixed percentage of the principal or adjusted periodically. In addition, the issuer of a fixed-income security must repay the principal amount of the security, normally within a specified time.

A security’s yield measures the annual income earned on a security as a percentage of its price. A security’s yield will increase or decrease depending upon whether it costs less (a discount) or more (a premium) than the principal amount. If the issue may redeem the security before its scheduled maturity, the price and yield on a discount or premium security may change based upon the probability of an early redemption. Securities with higher risks generally have higher yields.

Further descriptions of certain types of fixed-income securities are provided elsewhere in this SAI.

MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS. Certain Funds may invest in municipal obligations. Municipal securities generally are fixed-income securities, and include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to public institutions and facilities. Municipal securities may be referred to, for example, as general obligation bonds, special revenue bonds, private activity bonds, tax-increment financing bonds, municipal mortgage-backed securities, municipal leases, municipal notes and variable rate demand instruments or notes. General obligation bonds generally are supported by the issuer’s power to exact property or other taxes in sufficient amounts to pay principal and interest on the bonds; however, the issuer’s authority to impose additional taxes may be limited by its charter or state law. Special revenue bonds are payable solely from specific revenues received by the issuer, such as specific taxes, assessments, tolls, or fees, and bondholders may not collect from the municipality’s general taxes or revenues. These obligations are discussed further under “Tax-Exempt Obligations” below. Private activity bonds that are or were issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately-operated facilities are included within the term municipal obligations if the interest paid thereon is exempt from federal income tax. Tax-increment financing (TIF) bonds are payable from increases in taxes or other revenues attributable to projects within the TIF district. Municipal mortgage-backed securities are special revenue bonds the proceeds of which may be used to provide mortgage loans for single-family homes or to finance multifamily housing, represent interests in pools of mortgages, which may have fixed or variable rates, and can have complicated financial structures. Municipal leases are leases entered into by municipalities for equipment or facilities, and, in order to comply with state public financing laws, are typically subject to annual appropriation, meaning that a municipality may end a lease, without penalty, by not providing for the lease payments in its annual budget. After the lease ends, the lessor can resell the equipment or facility, but may lose money on the sale. Securities may be supported by pools of municipal leases. The most common type of lease-backed securities are certificates of participation, but funds may also invest directly in individual leases. Lease obligations are discussed further under “Tax-Exempt Obligations” below. Municipal notes are short-term securities issued by municipalities to fund, for example, current operations and capital projects, and the issuers typically repay the notes at the end of their fiscal year, either with taxes, other revenues, or proceeds from newly issued notes or bonds. Further descriptions of other types of tax-exempt securities are provided elsewhere in this SAI.

Opinions relating to the validity of municipal obligations and to the exemption of interest thereon from federal income taxes are rendered by counsel to the issuers or bond counsel to the respective issuing authorities at the time of issuance. The Funds other than the Tax-Exempt Funds do not expect to be eligible to pass through tax-exempt interest in the form of exempt-interest dividends to shareholders.

In some cases, municipal obligations are represented by custodial receipts evidencing rights to receive specific future interest payments, principal payments, or both, on the underlying municipal securities held by the custodian. Under such arrangements, the holder of the custodial receipt has the option to tender the underlying municipal securities at its face value to the sponsor (usually a bank or broker dealer or other financial institution), which is paid periodic fees equal to the difference between the bond’s fixed coupon rate and the rate that would cause the bond, coupled with the tender option, to trade at par on the date of a rate adjustment.

An issuer’s obligations under its municipal obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal bankruptcy code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by federal or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its municipal obligations may be materially, adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.

TAXABLE OBLIGATIONS. Certain Funds may invest in taxable municipal obligations. Taxable municipal obligations are typically issued by municipalities or their agencies for purposes which do not qualify for federal tax exemption, but do qualify for state and local tax exemption. These debt obligations are issued to finance the cost of buying, building or improving various projects, such as sporting facilities, health care facilities, housing projects, electric, water and sewer utilities, and colleges or universities. Generally, payments on these debt obligations depend on the revenues generated by the projects, excise taxes or state appropriations, or the debt obligations can be backed by the government’s taxing power. Due to federal taxation, taxable municipal obligations offer yields more comparable to other taxable sectors such as corporate bonds or agency bonds than to other municipal obligations. These debt obligations are federally taxable to individuals but may be exempt from state and local taxes, although the Funds may not be eligible to pass through to shareholders the state and local tax-exempt character of this income.

TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS. Under normal market conditions, the North Carolina Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which, in the opinion of the issuer’s bond counsel at the time of issuance, is exempt both from federal income tax and North Carolina personal income tax and not treated as a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals (“North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). Under normal market conditions, the South Carolina Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which, in the opinion of the issuer’s bond counsel at the time of issuance, is exempt both from federal income tax and South Carolina personal income tax and not treated as a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals (“South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations”). Under normal market conditions, the Virginia Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which, in the opinion of the issuer’s bond counsel at the time of issuance, is exempt both from federal income tax and Virginia personal income tax and not treated as a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals (“Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). Under normal market conditions, the West Virginia Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes in investments the income from which, in the opinion of the issuer’s bond counsel at the time of issuance, is exempt both from federal income tax and West Virginia personal income tax and not treated as a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals (“West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations”). In addition to North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations, and West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations, the North Carolina Fund, the South Carolina Fund, the Virginia Fund, and the West Virginia Fund may invest in tax-exempt obligations issued by or on behalf of states other than North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, and territories and possessions of the United States, the District of Columbia and their respective authorities, agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions, the interest on which, in the opinion of the issuer’s counsel at the time of issuance, is exempt from federal income tax and is not treated as a preference item for individuals for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax (“National Tax-Exempt Obligations”). North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations, West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations and National Tax-Exempt Obligations are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Tax-Exempt Obligations.” All Funds, except the Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, the Mid Value Fund and the SMID Opportunities Fund, may invest in Tax-Exempt Obligations. The Funds other than the Tax-Exempt Funds do not expect to be eligible to pass through tax-exempt interest in the form of exempt-interest dividends to shareholders.

Tax-Exempt Obligations include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, such as the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to other public institutions and facilities. Private activity bonds that are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to finance various privately-operated facilities are included within the term Tax-Exempt Obligations if the interest paid thereon is both exempt from federal income tax and not treated as a preference item for individuals for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax.

Tax-Exempt Obligations may also include General Obligation Notes, Tax Anticipation Notes, Bond Anticipation Notes, Revenue Anticipation Notes, Project Notes, Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper, Construction Loan Notes and other forms of short-term tax-exempt loans. Such instruments are issued with a short-term maturity in anticipation of the receipt of tax funds, the proceeds of bond placements or other revenues.

Project Notes are issued by a state or local housing agency and are sold by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. While the issuing agency has the primary obligation with respect to its Project Notes, they are also secured by the full faith and credit of the United States through agreements with the issuing authority which provide that, if required, the federal government will lend the issuer an amount equal to the principal of and interest on the Project Notes.

The two principal classifications of Tax-Exempt Obligations consist of “general obligation” and “revenue” issues. General obligation bonds are typically backed by the full faith and credit of the issuer, whereas revenue bonds are payable from a specific project or other limited source of revenue. The Funds may also acquire “moral obligation” issues, which are normally issued by special purpose authorities. Currently, South Carolina issuers do not have authority to issue moral obligation securities. State units and local governments in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia are permitted to issue moral obligation debt that is not a general obligation of those issuers.

There are, of course, variations in the quality of Tax-Exempt Obligations, both within a particular classification and between classifications, and the yields on Tax-Exempt Obligations depend upon a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. The ratings of Moody’s and S&P represent opinions as to the quality of Tax-Exempt Obligations. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and Tax-Exempt Obligations with the same maturity, interest rate and rating may have different yields, while Tax-Exempt Obligations of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same yield. Subsequent to purchase by a Fund, an issue of Tax-Exempt Obligations may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Funds. Neither event would under all circumstances require the elimination of such an obligation from the Fund’s investment portfolio. However, the obligation generally would be retained only if such retention was determined by the Fund’s portfolio manager to be in the best interests of the Fund.

An issuer’s obligations for its Tax-Exempt Obligations are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the federal bankruptcy code, and laws, if any, which may be enacted by Congress or state legislatures extending the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or imposing other constraints upon the enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its Tax-Exempt Obligations may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.

Also included within the general category of Tax-Exempt Obligations are participation certificates in a lease, an installment purchase contract, or a conditional sales contract (hereinafter collectively called “lease obligations”) entered into by a state or political subdivisions to finance the acquisition or construction of equipment, land, or facilities. Although lease obligations do not generally constitute general obligations of the issuer for which the lessee’s unlimited taxing power is pledged (in South Carolina, certain governmental lease obligations are included in calculation of the general obligation debt limit while in Virginia, such obligations are not included in the calculation of applicable debt limits, provided such obligations are properly structured), the lease obligation is frequently assignable and backed by the lessee’s covenant to budget for, appropriate, and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the lessee has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. Although “non-appropriation” lease obligations are secured by the leased property, disposition of the property in the event of foreclosure might prove difficult. These securities represent a relatively new type of financing that has not yet developed the depth of marketability associated with more conventional securities. Certain investments in lease obligations may be illiquid. Under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, the following factors will be considered when determining the liquidity of a lease obligation: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the obligation; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the obligation and the number of potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers to undertake to make a market in the obligation; and (4) the nature of the marketplace trades.

VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE NOTES. The Behavioral International Equity Fund and the Tax-Free Bond Funds may acquire variable and floating rate tax-exempt notes, subject to each Fund’s investment objective, policies, and restrictions. The Taxable Bond Funds (except the Ultra Short Bond Fund) may do the same, without the tax-exempt restriction. With respect to the Ultra Short Bond Fund, such notes generally permit the Ultra Short Bond Fund to demand payment of the principal of the instrument from the issuer or a third party, such as a dealer or bank (a “Demand Provider”). Some demand instruments are “conditional,” so that the occurrence of certain conditions discharges the Demand Provider’s obligation to repurchase the security. Other demand instruments are “unconditional,” so that there are no conditions under which the Demand Provider’s obligation to repurchase the security can terminate. A variable rate note is one whose terms provide for the adjustment of its interest rate on set dates and which, upon such adjustment, can reasonably be expected to have a market value that approximates its par value. A floating rate note is one whose terms provide for the adjustment of its interest rate whenever a specified interest rate changes and which, at any time, can reasonably be expected to have a market value that approximates its par value. Such notes are frequently not rated by credit rating agencies; however, unrated variable and floating rate notes purchased by a Fund will be determined by Sterling Capital with respect to the Tax-Free Bond Funds and the Taxable Bond Funds, under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase to rated instruments eligible for purchase under a Fund’s investment policies. In making such determinations, Sterling Capital with respect to the Tax-Free Bond Funds and the Taxable Bond Funds will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuers of such notes (such issuers include financial, merchandising, bank holding and other companies) and will continuously monitor their financial condition. Although there may be no active secondary market with respect to a particular variable or floating rate note purchased by the Taxable Bond Funds or the Tax-Free Bond Funds, a Fund may resell a note at any time to a third party. The absence of an active secondary market, however, could make it difficult for a Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note in the event the issuer of the note defaulted on its payment obligations and a Fund could, as a result or for other reasons, suffer a loss to the extent of the default. Variable or floating rate notes may be secured by bank letters of credit.

For purposes of the Tax-Free Bond Funds, the maturities of the variable and floating rate notes will be determined in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES. Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis. In addition, certain Funds may purchase and sell securities on a forward commitment basis (i.e., for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield), including “TBA” (to-be-announced) purchase commitments. Proposed Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) rules would impose mandatory margin requirements on TBA transactions, with limited exceptions. TBAs have historically not been required to be collateralized. The collateralization of TBA trades is intended to mitigate counterparty credit risk between trade and settlement, but could increase the cost of TBA transactions and impose added operational complexity. It is unclear if these margin requirements will be adopted as proposed.

When a Fund engages in when-issued or forward commitment transactions, it relies on the seller to consummate the trade. Failure of the seller to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing the opportunity to obtain a price considered to be advantageous. In addition, the purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis involves a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date. A Fund expects that commitments by a Fund to purchase when-issued securities will not exceed 25% of the value of its total assets under normal market conditions.

CALLS. Certain Funds may write (sell) “covered” call options and purchase options to close out options previously written by it. Such options may be listed on a National Securities Exchange (“Exchange”) and cleared by the Options Clearing Corporation or may be entered into bilaterally with counterparties off-exchange in over-the-counter transactions. In the case of a call option on a security, the option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or cash equivalents in such amount as are held in a segregated account by its custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by it. For a call option on an index, the option is covered if the Fund maintains with its custodian cash or liquid portfolio securities equal to the contract value. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security or index as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or liquid portfolio securities in a segregated account with its custodian.

Subject to its investment objective and policies, a Fund may write covered call options for hedging and risk management purposes and to generate additional premium income for the Fund. This premium income will serve to enhance the Fund’s total return and will reduce the effect of any price decline of the security involved in the option. Covered call options will generally be written on securities which, in the opinion of a Fund’s Adviser, are not expected to make any major price moves in the near future but which, over the long term, are deemed to be attractive investments for the Fund.

A call option on a security gives the holder (buyer) the right to purchase a security at a specified price (the exercise price) at any time until (in the case of an “American-style” option) or at a specified time on (in the case of a “European-style” option) a certain date (the expiration date). If the buyer of the option exercises the option, the writer of the option is either required to deliver the underlying security (in the case of physically-settled options) against payment of the exercise price or pay the difference between the price of the underlying security on the exercise date and the exercise price (in the case of cash-settled options). This obligation terminates upon the expiration of the call option, or such earlier time at which the writer effects a closing purchase transaction by repurchasing an option identical to that previously sold. To secure the writer’s obligation to deliver the underlying security in the case of an exchange-traded physically-settled call option, a writer is required to deposit in escrow the underlying security or other assets in accordance with the rules of the Options Clearing Corporation. The Funds will write only covered call options. A Fund will not write a covered call option if, as a result, the aggregate fair value of all portfolio securities covering call options or subject to put options exceeds 25% of the fair value of its net assets (50% for the Special Opportunities Fund and SMID Opportunities Fund).

Fund securities on which call options may be written will be purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with a Fund’s investment objectives. When writing a covered call option, a Fund, in return for the premium, gives up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline. Unlike one who owns securities not subject to a physically-settled American-style option, a Fund does not have any control over the point at which it may be required to sell the underlying securities, because it may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior to the expiration of its obligation as a writer. If a call option which a Fund has written expires, a Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium; however, such gain may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If the call option is exercised, a Fund will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security.

The premium received is the market value of an option. The premium a Fund will receive from writing a call option will reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to such market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security, and the length of the option period. Once the decision to write a call option has been made, the Adviser, in determining whether a particular call option should be written on a particular security, will consider the reasonableness of the anticipated premium and the likelihood that a liquid secondary market will exist for those options. The premium received by a Fund for writing covered call options will be recorded as a liability in a Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. This liability will be readjusted daily to the option’s current market value, which will be the latest sale price at the time at which the NAV per share of a Fund is computed (typically, the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)), or, in the absence of such sale, the latest asked price. The liability will be extinguished upon expiration of the option, the purchase of an identical option in the closing transaction, or delivery of the underlying security upon the exercise of the option.

Closing transactions will be effected in order to realize a profit on an outstanding call option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, or to permit the sale of the underlying security. Furthermore, effecting a closing transaction will permit a Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price or expiration date or both. If a Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will seek to effect a closing transaction prior to, or concurrently with, the sale of the security. There is, of course, no assurance that a Fund will be able to effect such closing transactions at a favorable price. If a Fund cannot enter into such a transaction, it may be required to hold a security that it might otherwise have sold, in which case it would continue to bear market risk on the security. This could result in higher transaction costs. A Fund will pay transaction costs in connection with the writing of options to close out previously written options. Such transaction costs are normally higher than those applicable to purchases and sales of portfolio securities.

Call options written by a Fund will normally have expiration dates of less than nine months from the date written. The exercise price of the options may be below, equal to, or above the current market values of the underlying securities at the time the options are written. From time to time, a Fund may purchase an underlying security for delivery in accordance with an exercise notice of a call option assigned to it, rather than delivering such security from its portfolio. In such cases, additional costs will be incurred.

A Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from the writing of the option. Because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by a Fund.

The Equity Funds may purchase call options for the purpose of hedging.

PUTS. The Tax-Free Bond Funds may acquire “puts” with respect to Tax-Exempt Obligations held in their portfolios. The Equity Funds may buy put options for the purpose of hedging. The Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund may buy put options, buy call options, and write secured put options for the purpose of hedging or earning additional income, which may be deemed speculative. A put is a right to sell a specified security (or securities) within a specified period of time at a specified exercise price. Each of these Funds may sell, transfer, or assign a put only in conjunction with the sale, transfer, or assignment of the underlying security or securities.

The amount payable to a Fund upon its exercise of a “put” is normally (i) the Fund’s acquisition cost of the securities subject to the put (excluding any accrued interest which the Fund paid on the acquisition), less any amortized market premium or plus any amortized market or original issue discount during the period the Fund owned the securities, plus (ii) all interest accrued on the securities since the last interest payment date during that period. 

Puts may be acquired by the Tax-Free Bond Funds to facilitate the liquidity of their portfolio assets or to shorten the maturity of underlying assets. Puts may also be used to facilitate the reinvestment of assets at a rate of return more favorable than that of the underlying security.

The Tax-Free Bond Funds will generally acquire puts only where the puts are available without the payment of any direct or indirect consideration. However, if necessary or advisable, a Fund may pay for puts either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities which are acquired subject to the puts (thus reducing the yield to maturity otherwise available for the same securities).

These Funds intend to enter into puts only with dealers, banks, and broker-dealers that are deemed creditworthy by the Adviser.

PUT AND CALL OPTIONS. A Fund will not purchase put and call options when the aggregate premiums on outstanding options exceed 5% of its net assets at the time of purchase, and will not write options on more than 25% of the value of its net assets (50% for the Special Opportunities Fund and the SMID Opportunities Fund) (measured at the time an option is written). Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risks. In addition, unlisted options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options issued by the Options Clearing Corporation, which performs the obligations of its members if they default. Cross-hedging is the use of options or forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value of securities denominated in a different currency based on a belief that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies.

STAND-BY COMMITMENTS. The Tax-Free Bond Funds may acquire “stand-by commitments” with respect to Tax-Exempt Obligations held in their portfolios, and the Equity Funds may acquire stand-by commitments with respect to the securities held in their portfolios. Under a stand-by commitment, a dealer would agree to purchase at a Fund’s option specified securities at their amortized cost value to the Fund plus accrued interest, if any. (Stand-by commitments acquired by a Fund may also be referred to as put options.) Stand-by commitments may be exercisable by a Fund at any time before the maturity of the underlying securities and may be sold, transferred, or assigned only with the instruments involved. A Fund’s right to exercise stand-by commitments will be unconditional and unqualified.

The amount payable to a Fund upon its exercise of a stand-by commitment will normally be (i) the Fund’s acquisition cost of the securities (excluding any accrued interest which the Fund paid on their acquisition), less any amortized market premium or plus any amortized market or original issue discount during the period the Fund owned the securities, plus (ii) all interest accrued on the securities since the last interest payment date during the period.

Each Fund expects that stand-by commitments will generally be available without the payment of any direct or indirect consideration. However, if necessary or advisable, a Fund may pay for a stand-by commitment either separately in cash or by paying a higher price for portfolio securities which are acquired subject to the commitment (thus reducing the yield to maturity otherwise available for the same securities). The total amount paid in either manner for outstanding stand-by commitments held by a Fund will not exceed 1/2 of 1% of the value of that Fund’s total assets calculated immediately after each stand-by commitment is acquired.

Each Fund intends to enter into stand-by commitments only with dealers, banks, and broker-dealers that are deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. A Fund’s reliance upon the credit of these dealers, banks, and broker-dealers will be secured by the value of the underlying securities that are subject to the commitment.

A Fund would acquire stand-by commitments solely to facilitate portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights thereunder for speculative purposes. The acquisition of a stand-by commitment would not affect the valuation or assumed maturity of the underlying securities. Stand-by commitments acquired by a Fund would be valued at zero in determining NAV. Where the Fund paid any consideration directly or indirectly for a stand-by commitment, its cost would be reflected as unrealized depreciation for the period during which the commitment was held by that Fund.

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO OPTIONS. There are several risks associated with transactions in put and call options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an Exchange may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options, restrictions may be imposed by an Exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an Exchange; the facilities of an Exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or one or more Exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that Exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms. In addition, the success of a hedging strategy based on options transactions may depend on the ability of the Fund’s Adviser to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates.

FUTURES CONTRACTS AND RELATED OPTIONS. Certain Funds may invest in a de minimis amount of futures contracts and options thereon.

Futures contracts obligate a Fund, at maturity, to buy or sell a specified quantity of an asset, index or rate, such as securities, a securities index or a foreign currency at a specified time and price. A Fund may enter into a futures contract to hedge the value of its securities portfolio as a whole or to protect against declines in the value of securities to be sold. In addition, a Fund may utilize futures contracts in anticipation of changes in the composition of its holdings, interest rates (including the Federal Funds Rate) or foreign currency exchange rates. Futures contracts are traded on an Exchange, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the Exchange for cash, without delivering the security or commodity or otherwise selling the contract. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures position, and the Fund would be obligated to meet margin requirements (as discussed below) until the position is closed. In addition, a Fund may be required to make delivery of the assets underlying futures contracts it holds. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on a Fund’s ability to effectively hedge.

The margin required for a futures contract is set by the clearing house on which the contract is cleared and the Fund’s futures commission merchant and may be modified during the term of the contract. Margin requirements on foreign exchanges made be different than U.S. exchanges. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract, which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Funds may earn interest income on initial margin deposits. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would own the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, each Fund will mark-to-market its open futures positions.

A Fund’s futures broker may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in certain futures contracts. Such restrictions may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective.

Successful use of futures by the Funds is also subject to an Adviser’s ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of the markets. For example, if a Fund has hedged against the possibility of a decline in the market adversely affecting securities held by it and securities prices increase instead, a Fund will lose part or all of the benefit to the increased value of its securities which it has hedged because it will have approximately equal offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, in some situations, if a Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements. Such sales of securities may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices which reflect the rising market. A Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging instruments and in the Fund’s securities being hedged. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a hedge not to achieve its objectives.

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the contract.

Utilization of futures transactions by a Fund involves the risk of loss by a Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker or clearing house with whom a Fund has an open position in a futures contract or related option and the risk that such a broker or clearing house may be unable or unwilling to meet its obligations. Futures contracts are centrally cleared and involve risks similar to those associated with the clearing of swaps. See “Swaps” above.

Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, and the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses.

The trading of futures contracts is also subject to the risk of trading halts, suspensions, exchange or clearing house equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other disruptions of normal trading activity, which could at times make it difficult to impossible to liquidate existing positions or to recover excess variation margin payments. Furthermore, exchanges may cancel trades in limited circumstances, for example, if the exchange believes that allowing such trades to stand as executed could have an adverse impact on the stability or integrity of the market. Any such cancellation may adversely affect the performance of a Fund.

Certain Funds may purchase and sell call and put options on futures contracts traded on an Exchange or board of trade. When a Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it has the right to assume a position as a purchaser or a seller of a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the option period. When a Fund sells an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated to sell or buy a futures contract if the option is exercised. When a Fund trades options on futures contracts, it is subject to many of the risks associated with trading futures contracts.

RIGHTS OFFERINGS AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE. Certain Funds may participate in rights offerings and may purchase warrants, which are privileges issued by corporations enabling the owners to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time. Subscription rights normally have a short life span to expiration. The purchase of rights or warrants involves the risk that the Fund could lose the purchase value of a right or warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the rights’ and warrants’ expiration. Also, the purchase of rights and/or warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the right and/or warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (“ETFs”). Certain Funds may invest in ETFs, such as Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts (“SPDRs”) and NASDAQ-100 Index Tracking Stock (“NASDAQ 100s”). ETFs are ownership interests in unit investment trusts, depositary receipts, and other pooled investment vehicles that hold a portfolio of securities or stocks designed to track the price, performance and dividend yield of an index or a group of stocks in a particular geographic area.

ETFs invest in a securities portfolio that includes substantially all of the securities (in substantially the same weights) as the securities included in the designated index. The results of ETFs will not match the performance of the designated index due to reductions in the performance attributable to transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the ETF to service providers. ETFs are subject to risks specific to the performance of a few component securities if such securities represent a highly concentrated weighting in the designated index. ETFs are eligible to receive their portion of dividends, if any, accumulated on the securities held in trust, less fees and expenses of the trust.

An investment in an ETF offers, among other things, (i) an efficient means to achieve diversification in a particular industry, or (ii) for those Funds that invest in foreign securities, exposure to a particular country that would otherwise only be possible through a series of transactions and numerous holdings. Although similar diversification benefits may be achieved through an investment in another investment company, ETFs generally offer greater liquidity and lower expenses.

Because an ETF charges its own fees and expenses, fund shareholders will indirectly bear these costs. The Funds will also incur brokerage commissions and related charges when purchasing shares in an ETF in secondary market transactions. Unlike typical investment company shares, which are valued once daily, shares in an ETF may be purchased or sold on a listed securities exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that are generally close to NAV.

An index-based ETF may purchase, retain and sell securities at times when an actively managed fund would not do so. As a result, you can expect greater risk of loss (and a corresponding greater prospect of gain) from changes in the value of securities that are heavily weighted in the index than would be the case if the investment vehicle was not fully invested in such securities.

Since ETFs are investment companies, investment in ETFs would, absent exemptive relief, be limited under applicable federal statutory provisions. Those provisions generally restrict a fund’s investment in the shares of another investment company to, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, not more than 5% of its total assets (which may represent no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of such other investment company) and limit aggregate investments in all investment companies to 10% of total assets (the “3-5-10 Limitations”). The Funds may invest in certain ETFs in excess of the 3-5-10 Limitations in reliance on exemptive relief issued to the ETF by the SEC, provided that certain conditions are met.

EXCHANGE-TRADED NOTES (“ETNs”). A Fund may invest in ETNs. ETNs are typically senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market index less applicable fees and expenses. ETNs are listed on an exchange and traded in the secondary market. A Fund may hold the ETN until maturity, at which time the issuer is obligated to pay a return linked to the performance of the relevant market index. ETNs do not make periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.

The market value of an ETN may be influenced by, among other things, time to maturity, level of supply and demand of the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, the current performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked, and the credit rating of the ETN issuer. The market value of an ETN may differ from the performance of the applicable market index and there may be times when an ETN trades at a premium or discount. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETNs at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities underlying the market index that the ETN seeks to track. A change in the issuer’s credit rating may also impact the value of an ETN despite the underlying market index remaining unchanged. ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or a court will uphold, how a Fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes.

An ETN that is tied to a specific market index may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market index. ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by their applicable market index, and a Fund would bear a proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN in which it invests.

A Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN. Some ETNs that use leverage in an effort to amplify the returns of an underlying market index can, at times, be relatively illiquid and may therefore be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs may offer the potential for greater return, but the potential for loss and speed at which losses can be realized also are greater. The extent of a Fund’s investment in commodity-linked ETNs, if any, is limited by tax considerations.

INVESTMENTS IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES (“BDCs”). Certain Funds may invest in BDCs, which typically operate as publicly traded private equity firms that invest in early stage to mature private companies as well as small public companies. BDCs are regulated under the 1940 Act and are taxed as regulated investment companies under the Code. BDCs realize operating income when their investments are sold off, and therefore maintain complex organizational, operational, tax and compliance requirements. Under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Generally, little public information exists for private and thinly traded companies and there is a risk that investors may not be able to make a fully informed decision. Additionally, a BDC may only incur indebtedness in amounts such that the BDC’s asset coverage equals at least 200% after such incurrence. These limitations on asset mix and leverage may prohibit the way that the BDC raises capital.

INVESTMENT COMPANIES. Each Fund may acquire the securities of other investment companies, such as open-end or closed-end management investment companies, including ETFs and business development companies (as discussed above), or in pooled accounts, or other unregistered accounts or investment vehicles to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and consistent with their respective investment objectives and strategies. Except as noted below, the 1940 Act’s limits currently require that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of a fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by a fund (collectively, the “3-5-10 Limitations”). Any of the Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds without limit subject to the acquiring Fund’s investment policies and restrictions and the conditions of Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act. New SEC Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, which became effective on January 19, 2022, is designed to streamline and enhance the regulatory framework for funds of funds arrangements. Rule 12d1-4 permits acquiring funds to invest in the securities of other registered investment companies in excess of the 3-5-10 Limitations, subject to certain conditions. In connection with this rule, the SEC rescinded Rule 12d1-2 under the 1940 Act and most fund of funds exemptive orders, effective January 19, 2022.

As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. Those expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that a Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations, and are reflected in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table in the Fund’s prospectus.

Certain Funds may invest in investment companies that invest primarily in debt securities.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES. Certain Funds may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities are fixed-income securities which may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified time period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible bonds and convertible preferred stocks are fixed-income securities that generally retain the investment characteristics of fixed-income securities until they have been converted, but also react to both movements in interest rates and movements in the underlying equity securities. The holder is entitled to receive the fixed-income of a bond or the dividend preference of a preferred stock until the holder elects to exercise the conversion privilege. Usable bonds are corporate bonds that can be used in whole or in part, customarily at full face value, in lieu of cash to purchase the issuer’s common stock. When owned as part of a unit along with warrants, which are options to buy the common stock, they function as convertible bonds, except that the warrants generally will expire before the bond’s maturity. Convertible securities are senior to equity securities, and, therefore, have a claim to assets of the corporation prior to the holders of common stock in the case of liquidation. However, convertible securities are generally subordinated to similar non-convertible securities of the same company. The interest income and dividends from convertible bonds and preferred stocks provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks, but lower than non-convertible securities of similar quality.

RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper issued by corporations without registration under the 1933 Act in reliance on the exemption in Section 3(a)(3), and commercial paper issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption in Section 4(a)(2) (“Section 4(a)(2) paper”). Section 4(a)(2) paper is restricted as to disposition under the federal securities laws in that any resale must similarly be made in an exempt transaction. Section 4(a)(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of investment dealers which make a market in Section 4(a)(2) paper, thus providing liquidity.

Each Fund may purchase securities which are not registered under the 1933 Act but which can be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as the Adviser determines that an adequate trading market exists for the securities. This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in a Fund during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing these restricted securities.

CALLABLE SECURITIES. Certain fixed-income securities invested in by certain Funds are callable at the option of the issuer or a third party. Callable securities are subject to prepayment/call risk.

STRUCTURED PRODUCTS. Structured products, such as structured notes, generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded over the counter. They are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This structuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, of specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity of one or more classes of securities (“structured securities”) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow of the underlying instruments. With respect to structured products, because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there is currently no active trading market for these securities.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY RISK. Legal, tax, and regulatory changes may adversely affect the Fund. New (or revised) laws or regulations or interpretations of existing law may be issued by the IRS or U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”), the SEC, the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, or other governmental regulatory authorities, or self-regulatory organizations that supervise the financial markets that could adversely affect the Funds. In particular, these agencies are empowered to promulgate a variety of new rules pursuant to recently enacted financial reform legislation in the United States. The Funds also may be adversely affected by changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by these governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations. It is impossible to predict what, if any, changes in regulations may occur, but any regulation that restricts the ability of a Fund to trade in securities could have a material adverse impact on a Fund’s performance.

In addition, the securities and derivatives markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The CFTC, the SEC, the FDIC, other regulators, and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The regulation of securitization and derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For more information, please see “Derivatives Regulation” below.

Each of Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund, Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund, Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund and Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund (each a “Pool” and collectively the “Pools”) are operated by a person who has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA (the “exclusion”) promulgated by the CFTC. Accordingly, the Adviser (with respect to the Pools) is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, each of the Pools will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA (“commodity interests”), including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions.  In the event that the adviser believes that a Pool’s investments in commodity interests exceed the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the Adviser may be required to register as a “commodity pool operator” with the CFTC with respect to that Pool. The Adviser’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to a Pool will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of a Pool’s investment in commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the Pool holds out its use of commodity interests. Each Pool’s ability to invest in commodity interests is limited by the Adviser’s intention to operate the Pool in a manner that would permit the Adviser to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the Pool’s total return. In the event the Adviser becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator with respect to a Pool, the Pool’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting that Pool’s total return, and the commodity pool operators (“CPOs”) of any shareholders that are pooled investment vehicles may be unable to rely on certain CPO registration exemptions.

The CFTC and domestic futures exchanges have established (and continue to evaluate and revise) speculative position limits, referred to as “position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person may hold or control in particular options and futures contracts. In addition, federal position limits apply to swaps that are economically equivalent to futures contracts that are subject to CFTC-set speculative limits. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, must be aggregated for purposes of complying with speculative position limits, unless an exemption applies. Thus, even if a Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that positions of different clients managed by Sterling Capital and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. Although it is possible that the trading decisions of Sterling Capital may have to be modified and that positions held by the Funds may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits, Sterling Capital (acting in its capacity as investment manager of the Funds) believes that this is unlikely. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of a Fund and each respective Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. A violation of position limits could also lead to regulatory action materially adverse to a Fund’s investment strategies.

The SEC and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions may adopt (and in certain cases, have adopted) bans on short sales of certain securities in response to market events. Bans on short selling may make it impossible for a Fund to execute certain investment strategies and may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to generate returns.

Rules implementing the credit risk retention requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) for asset-backed securities require the sponsor of certain securitization vehicles (or a majority-owned affiliate of the sponsor) to retain, and to refrain from transferring, selling, conveying to a third party, or hedging 5% of the credit risk in assets transferred, sold, or conveyed through the issuance of such vehicle, subject to certain exceptions. These requirements may increase the costs to originators, securitizers, and, in certain cases, collateral managers of securitization vehicles in which a Fund may invest, which costs could be passed along to such Fund as an investor in such transactions.

Investors should also be aware that some EU-regulated institutions (such as banks, certain investment firms, and managers of alternative investment funds) are currently restricted from investing in securitizations (including U.S.-related securitizations), unless, in summary: (i) the institution is able to demonstrate that it has undertaken certain due diligence in respect of various matters, including its investment position, the underlying assets, and in certain cases the originator of the securitization; and (ii) the originator, sponsor, or original lender of the securitization has disclosed to the institution that it will retain, on an ongoing basis, a net economic interest of not less than 5% of specified credit risk tranches or asset exposures related to the securitization. In addition, in respect of securitization transactions the securities of which are issued on or after January 1, 2019, there is a direct requirement on the originator, sponsor or original lender of the securitization to make the required credit risk retention. Although the requirements do not apply to any of the Funds directly, the costs of compliance, in the case of any securitization within the EU risk retention rules in which a Fund has invested or is seeking to invest, could be indirectly borne by the Fund and the other investors in the securitization.

Derivatives Regulation. The U.S. government has enacted legislation that provides for regulation of the derivatives market, including clearing, margin, reporting, and registration requirements. The European Union, the United Kingdom, and some other countries have adopted similar requirements, which affect a Fund when it enters into a derivatives transaction with a counterparty subject to those requirements. Because implementation of the legislation is evolving, their ultimate impact on the Funds remains unclear.

Regulators in the U.S., the European Union, the United Kingdom, and certain other jurisdictions have adopted mandatory minimum margin requirements for bilateral derivatives. These rules impose minimum variation margin requirements and, in some cases, initial margin requirements that could increase the amount of margin a Fund needs to provide in connection with its derivatives transactions and, therefore, make derivatives transactions more expensive. In addition, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, a Fund’s ability to exercise remedies could be stayed or eliminated under new special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit a Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institution’s insolvency. In particular, in the European Union and the United Kingdom, governmental authorities could reduce, eliminate or convert to equity the liabilities to the Funds of a counterparty experiencing financial difficulties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 18f-4”) governs the use of derivatives and certain related instruments (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements) by registered investment companies. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 limits derivatives exposure through one of two value-at-risk tests, requires funds to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (including the appointment of a derivatives risk manager and the implementation of certain testing requirements), and subjects funds to certain reporting requirements in respect of derivatives. Limited derivatives users (as determined by Rule 18f-4) are not, however, subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC also eliminated the asset segregation framework arising from prior SEC guidance for covering certain derivative instruments and related transactions.

These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict a Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or otherwise limiting liquidity. The implementation of the clearing requirement has increased the cost of derivatives transactions, since market participants have to pay fees to their clearing member and are typically required to post more margin for cleared derivatives than they historically posted for bilateral derivatives. The cost of derivatives transactions is expected to increase further as clearing members raise their fees to cover the cost of additional capital requirements and other regulatory changes applicable to the clearing members. These rules and regulations are new and evolving, and, therefore, their potential impact on the Funds and the financial system are not yet known. While the new rules and regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that they will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Funds to new kinds of costs and risks.

Regulatory Risk (Volcker Rule). Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act and the rules issued thereunder (also known as the “Volcker Rule”) prohibit banking entities, such as Truist Bank and its affiliates, including the Adviser, from engaging in certain trading activities involving their own capital (also known as “proprietary trading”).  These prohibitions may include certain restrictions on the extent to which Truist Bank and/or its affiliates may own Shares of a Fund.  If Truist Bank or its affiliates own 25% or more of the outstanding Shares of a Fund longer than three years from the Fund’s launch date (or such longer period as may be permitted by the Federal Reserve), the Fund may be subject to these proprietary trading restrictions, which include restrictions on the ability to purchase and sell securities on a short term basis.  To the extent Truist Bank is required to reduce its seed capital or other investment in a Fund to address these trading restrictions, it may prevent the Fund from pursuing its investment objective, restrict the activities of the Fund and prevent the Fund from retaining enough capital to engage in certain investment strategies, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance.  In addition, if Truist Bank or its affiliates reduce their interest in a Fund due to Volcker Rule compliance requirements, the Fund may be subject to transaction costs, losses and adverse tax consequences and may be forced to liquidate prematurely, among other things.

MARKET RISK. The risk that the market value of a security may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably for a variety of reasons, including general financial market conditions, changing market perceptions and changes in government intervention in the financial markets. These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time. In addition, the increasing popularity of passive index-based investing may have the potential to increase security price correlations and volatility. (As passive strategies generally buy or sell securities based simply on inclusion and representation in an index, securities prices will have an increasing tendency to rise or fall based on whether money is flowing into or out of passive strategies rather than based on an analysis of the prospects and valuation of individual securities. This may result in increased market volatility as more money is invested through passive strategies). These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in a Fund’s portfolio holdings.

Market risk may affect a single issuer, industrial sector of the economy or the market as a whole. For fixed income securities, market risk is largely, but not exclusively, influenced by changes in interest rates. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities, although under certain market conditions fixed income securities may have comparable or greater price volatility. A rise in interest rates typically causes a fall in values, while a fall in rates typically causes a rise in values. Key information about a security or market may be inaccurate or unavailable. This is particularly relevant to investments in foreign securities. A Fund may also be subject to inverse market risk, the particular type of market risk associated with investments that are intended to perform when equity markets decline. These investments will lose value when the equity markets to which they are tied are increasing in value.

MANAGEMENT RISK.  Each Fund is subject to management risk because it relies on Sterling Capital to achieve its investment objective. Each Fund runs the risk that Sterling Capital’s investment techniques will fail to produce desired results and cause the Fund to incur significant losses. Sterling Capital also may fail to use derivatives effectively, choosing to hedge or not to hedge positions at disadvantageous times. In the case of Tax-Free Bond Funds, Sterling Capital’s tax-management strategies may be ineffective or limited by market conditions, the timing of cash flows into and out of the Fund, and current or future changes in tax legislation and regulation.

There can be no assurance that key Sterling Capital personnel will continue to be employed by Sterling Capital. The loss of their services could have an adverse impact on Sterling Capital’s ability to achieve the Funds’ investment objectives.

MARKET DISRUPTION AND GEOPOLITICAL RISK.  The Funds are subject to the risk that geopolitical and other events (e.g., wars and terrorism) will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets, thereby decreasing the value of the Funds’ investments. Sudden or significant changes in the supply or prices of commodities or other economic inputs (e.g., the marked decline in oil prices that began in late 2014) may have material and unexpected effects on both global securities markets and individual countries, regions, sectors, companies, or industries, which could significantly reduce the value of a Fund’s investments. Terrorism in the United States and around the world has increased geopolitical risk. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 resulted in the closure of some U.S. securities markets for four days, and similar attacks are possible in the future. In addition, the Funds are subject to the risk that geopolitical events, such as political, social or financial instability, civil unrest, and other political developments, such as sanctions, tariffs, the imposition of exchange controls or other cross-border trade barriers or “trade wars”, may negatively affect a Fund’s investment in issuers located in, doing business in, or with assets relating to a market effected by such geopolitical event. Securities markets may be susceptible to market manipulation or other fraudulent trading practices, which could disrupt their orderly functioning or reduce the prices of securities traded on them, including securities held by the Funds. Fraud and other deceptive practices committed by a company whose securities are held by a Fund undermine Sterling Capital’s due diligence efforts and, when discovered, will likely cause a steep decline in the market price of those securities and thus negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments. In addition, when discovered, financial fraud may contribute to overall market volatility, which can negatively affect a Fund’s investment program, as well as the rates or indices underlying a Fund’s investments.

While the U.S. government has always honored its credit obligations, a default by the U.S. government (as has been threatened in the recent past) would be highly disruptive to the U.S. and global securities markets and could significantly reduce the value of the Funds’ investments. Similarly, political events within the United States at times have resulted, and may in the future result, in shutdowns of government services, which could adversely affect the U.S. economy, decrease the value of many Fund investments, and increase uncertainty in or impair the operation of the U.S. or other securities markets. Climate change regulation (such as decarbonization legislation or other mandatory controls to reduce omissions of greenhouse gases) could significantly affect many of the companies in which the Funds invest by, among other things, increasing those companies’ operating costs and capital expenditures. Uncertainty surrounding the sovereign debt of several European Union countries, as well uncertainty surrounding as the continued existence of the European Union itself, has disrupted and may continue to disrupt markets in the United States and around the world. If a country changes its currency or if the European Union dissolves, the world’s securities markets likely will be significantly disrupted.

The United Kingdom formally withdrew from the European Union (commonly known as “Brexit”) on January 31, 2020. An agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union governing their future trade relationship became effective January 1, 2021, but critical aspects of the relationship remain unresolved and subject to further negotiation and agreement. Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Potential negative long-term effects could include, among others, greater market volatility and illiquidity, disruptions to world securities markets, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence, and an increased likelihood of a recession in the United Kingdom. The consequences of the United Kingdom’s or another country’s exit from the European Union also could threaten the stability of the Euro and could negatively affect the financial markets of other countries in the European region and beyond, which may include companies or assets held or considered for prospective investment by Sterling Capital.

Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, ceased publication of most LIBOR settings on a representative basis at the end of 2021 and is expected to cease publication of a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings on a representative basis after June 30, 2023. In addition, global regulators have announced that, with limited exceptions, no new LIBOR-based contracts should be entered into after the end of 2021. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies (e.g., the Secured Overnight Financing Rate for U.S. dollar LIBOR and the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate for GBP LIBOR). Markets are developing in response to these new rates, but questions around liquidity in new rates and how to appropriately adjust these rates to eliminate any economic value transfer at the time of transition remain a significant concern.

The transition away from, and eventual elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the interest rates on, and liquidity and value of, certain assets and liabilities of the Fund that are tied to LIBOR. These may include bank loans, floating rate securities, structured securities (including asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), other debt securities, derivatives, and other assets or liabilities tied to LIBOR, particularly insofar as the documentation governing such instruments does not include “fall back” provisions addressing the transition from LIBOR. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology and/or increased costs for certain LIBOR-related instruments or financing transactions, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies, resulting in prolonged adverse market conditions for a Fund. There also remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. All of the aforementioned may adversely affect a Fund’s performance or net asset value.

War, terrorism, economic uncertainty, and related geopolitical events, such as sanctions, tariffs, the imposition of exchange controls or other cross-border trade barriers have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. For example, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beginning in late February 2022, and subsequent related events, have had, and could continue to have, severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets for securities and commodities. Following Russia’s actions, various governments, including the United States, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia, including, among other sanctions, a prohibition on doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs; the removal by certain countries and the European Union of selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (commonly referred to as “SWIFT”), the electronic banking network that connects banks globally; and restrictive measure to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. Those events, including sanctions and the potential for future sanctions, including any affecting Russia’s energy sector, and other actions, and Russia’s retaliatory responses to those sanctions and actions, have adversely affected the Russian economy and may result in the further decline of the value and liquidity of Russian securities, a continued weakening of the ruble and continued exchange closures, and may have other adverse consequences on the Russian economy that affect the value of Russian investments and impair the ability of a Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities. In addition, trade disputes (such as the “trade war” between the United States and China that intensified in 2018 and 2019) may affect investor and consumer confidence and adversely affect financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. Events such as these and their impact on the Funds are difficult to predict.

Likewise, natural and environmental disasters (such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in early 2011), epidemics or pandemics (such as the outbreak of COVID-19), and systemic market dislocations (such as the kind surrounding the insolvency of Lehman Brothers in 2008), if repeated, would be highly disruptive to economies and markets, adversely affecting individual companies and industries, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments. During such market disruptions, the Funds’ exposure to the risks described elsewhere in this SAI and in the Prospectuses will likely increase. Market disruptions, including sudden government interventions, can also prevent the Funds from implementing their investment programs and achieving their investment objectives. For example, a market disruption may adversely affect the orderly functioning of the securities markets and may cause the Funds’ derivatives counterparties to discontinue offering derivatives on some underlying commodities, securities, reference rates, or indices or to offer them on a more limited basis. To the extent a Fund has focused its investments in the stock index of a particular region, adverse geopolitical and other events in that region could have a disproportionate impact on the Fund.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS. If deemed appropriate under the circumstances, certain Funds may increase its holdings in short-term obligations to up to 100% of its total assets. Under normal market conditions, the Equity Funds (except the Behavioral International Equity Fund) will limit their investment in short-term obligations to 20% of their total net assets. Such short-term obligations may include money market instruments and repurchase agreements. A Fund may not achieve its investment objective as a result of taking any temporary defensive position.

UNDERWRITING SECURITIES. To the extent permitted by the “Investment Restrictions” section, each Fund may underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of such statute, rules or regulations.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Except as provided otherwise, the following investment restrictions may be changed with respect to a particular Fund only by a vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares of that Fund (as defined under “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES” in this SAI).

EACH TAXABLE BOND FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase with respect to 75% of its portfolio, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such issuer. There is no limit as to the percentage of assets that may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

2. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of such Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services. For example, electric utilities, gas utilities, and water utilities will each be considered a separate industry.

THE BEHAVIORAL LARGE CAP VALUE EQUITY FUND, THE MID VALUE FUND, AND THE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of such Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services. For example, electric utilities, gas utilities, and water utilities will each be considered a separate industry.

2. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such issuer, or the Fund would hold more than 10% of any class of securities of the issuer or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations. There is no limit to the percentage of assets that may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

THE BEHAVIORAL SMALL CAP VALUE EQUITY FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of such Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services. For example, electric utilities, gas utilities, and water utilities will each be considered a separate industry.

2. Underwrite any issue of securities, except as the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the sale of securities in accordance with its investment objectives, policies, and limitations.

THE ULTRA SHORT BOND FUND MAY NOT:

1. Write or purchase call options. The Fund may not write put options. The Fund may not purchase put options.

THE MID CAP RELATIVE VALUE FUND, THE REAL ESTATE FUND AND THE SMALL CAP VALUE FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such issuer, or the Fund would hold more than 10% of any class of securities of the issuer or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations. There is no limit to the percentage of assets that may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

2. Write put options.

THE MID CAP RELATIVE VALUE FUND AND THE SMALL CAP VALUE FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of such Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services. For example, electric utilities, gas utilities, and water utilities will each be considered a separate industry.

THE REAL ESTATE FUND:

1. Will invest more than 25% of the value of its total assets in REITs and other real estate-related securities.

THE SMID OPPORTUNITIES FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities or “regulated investment companies” as defined in the Code, if, immediately after such purchase with respect to 75% of its portfolio, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such issuer, or the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer. There is no limit as to the percentage of assets that may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

2. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry.

EACH OF THE FUNDS (EXCEPT THE BEHAVIORAL SMALL CAP VALUE EQUITY FUND) MAY:

1. Borrow money or lend to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations.

EACH OF THE FUNDS MAY:

1. Issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations.

THE NORTH CAROLINA FUND, THE SOUTH CAROLINA FUND, THE VIRGINIA FUND, AND THE WEST VIRGINIA FUND MAY NOT:

1. Write or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads, or combinations thereof except that the Funds may acquire puts with respect to Tax-Exempt Obligations in their portfolios and sell those puts in conjunction with a sale of those Tax-Exempt Obligations.

2. Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, and (b) this limitation shall not apply to Tax-Exempt Obligations or governmental guarantees of Tax-Exempt Obligations. For purposes of this limitation, a security is considered to be issued by the government entity (or entities) whose assets and revenues back the security, or, with respect to a private activity bond that is backed only by the assets and revenues of a non-governmental user, such nongovernmental user.

EACH FUND MAY:

1. Purchase or sell commodities, commodities contracts, or future contracts or real estate to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations.

2. The North Carolina Fund, the South Carolina Fund, the Virginia Fund, the West Virginia Fund, the Short Duration Bond Fund, the Intermediate U.S. Government Fund and the Total Return Bond Fund may not write or purchase call options. Each of the Funds, except the Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, may not write put options. The Short Duration Bond Fund, the Intermediate U.S. Government Fund and the Total Return Bond Fund may not purchase put options.

THE BEHAVIORAL SMALL CAP VALUE EQUITY FUND MAY:

1. Purchase securities of any issuer only when consistent with the maintenance of its status as a diversified company under the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time. Under the 1940 Act, and the rules, regulations, and interpretations thereunder, a “diversified company,” as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than U.S. Treasury bills, notes or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or its instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the fund.

2. Borrow money or lend to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations. The 1940 Act limits the Fund’s ability to borrow money, prohibiting a fund from issuing senior securities, except that it may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by a fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, a fund shall, within three days thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%.

THE EQUITY INCOME FUND MAY NOT:

1. Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined or interpreted under the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of such statute, rules or regulations.

THE EQUITY INCOME FUND MAY:

1. Purchase securities of any issuer only when consistent with the maintenance of its status as a diversified company under the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of such statute, rules or regulations.

2. Underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of such statute, rules or regulations.

The fundamental investment restrictions of the Equity Income Fund have been adopted to avoid wherever possible the necessity of shareholder meetings unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act. This recognizes the need to react quickly to changes in the law or new investment opportunities in the securities markets and the cost and time involved in obtaining shareholder approvals for diversely held investment companies. However, the Equity Income Fund has also adopted non-fundamental investment restrictions, set forth below, which in some instances may be more restrictive than the Fund’s fundamental restrictions. Any changes in the non-fundamental investment policies of the Fund will be communicated to its shareholders prior to effectiveness.

THE BEHAVIORAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND MAY NOT:

1. Purchase securities of any one issuer, other than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if, immediately after such purchase with respect to 75% of its portfolio, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such issuer. There is no limit as to the percentage of assets that may be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

2. Purchase any securities that would cause 25% or more of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) there is no limitation with respect to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements secured by obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents if their activities are primarily related to financing the activities of their parents; and (c) the Fund generally determines industry classifications for purposes of this policy in reference to issuer-assigned GICS codes provided to the Fund by unaffiliated third party vendors (“GICS Codes”) and treats each industry represented by a distinct 4-digit GICS Code as a separate “industry.”

THE BEHAVIORAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND MAY:

1. Issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations.

2. Underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretation of such statute, rules or regulations.

THE SMID OPPORTUNITIES FUND, THE LONG DURATION CORPORATE BOND FUND AND THE QUALITY INCOME FUND MAY:

1. Underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of such statute, rules or regulations.

NOTE REGARDING FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS. Certain relevant limitations of the 1940 Act are described below. These limitations are based either on the 1940 Act itself, the rules or regulations thereunder or applicable orders of the SEC. In addition, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff may be taken into account, where deemed appropriate by a Fund, to determine if an investment practice or the purchase of securities or other instruments is permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or applicable orders of the SEC.

Under the 1940 Act, a “diversified company,” as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government, its agencies or its instrumentalities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the value of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the fund. “Concentration” is generally interpreted under the 1940 Act to be investing more than 25% of total assets in an industry or group of industries. For purposes of the concentration policies described above, the Funds generally determine industry classifications for purposes of these policies in reference to issuer-assigned GICS codes provided to the Fund by unaffiliated third party vendors (“GICS Codes”) and, the Funds (except the Behavioral International Equity Fund) treat each industry represented by a distinct 6-digit GICS Code as a separate “industry.” In addition, the Funds do not consider investment companies to constitute an “industry.” Rather, a Fund will “look-through” investments in investment companies to the underlying securities held by such investment companies when determining fund exposure to a particular industry.

Mortgage-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities are not subject to the Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund’s and the Quality Income Fund’s industry concentration restrictions, by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. Government securities. In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities, or any asset-backed securities, the Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund and the Quality Income Fund take the position that such securities do not represent interests in any particular “industry” or group of industries.

The 1940 Act also limits the amount that a Fund may invest in other investment companies, prohibiting the Fund from (i) owning more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of a single other investment company; (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single other investment company; and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in securities of all other investment companies (the “3-5-10 Limitations”). New SEC Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, which became effective on January 19, 2022, is designed to streamline and enhance the regulatory framework for funds of funds arrangements. Rule 12d1-4 permits permits acquiring funds to invest in the securities of other registered investment companies beyond certain statutory limits, subject to certain conditions.. In connection with this rule, the SEC rescinded Rule 12d1-2 under the 1940 Act and most fund of funds exemptive orders, effective as of January 19, 2022.

The 1940 Act restricts the ability of any mutual fund to lend. Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may only make loans if expressly permitted to do so by a Fund’s investment policies, and a Fund may not make loans to persons who control or are under common control with a Fund. Thus, the 1940 Act effectively prohibits a Fund from making loans to certain persons when conflicts of interest or undue influence are most likely present.

The 1940 Act limits a Fund’s ability to borrow money, prohibiting a fund from issuing senior securities, except that it may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by a fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, a fund shall, within three days thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%.

The 1940 Act prohibits a diversified mutual fund from underwriting securities in excess of 25% of its total assets.

Additionally, a Fund’s ability to make certain types of investments (e.g., investments in commodities or real estate) may be limited by other applicable laws, rules, or regulations, including the Code.

NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The following investment restrictions are considered NON-FUNDAMENTAL and therefore may be changed by a vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Funds:

1. All Funds may not purchase securities on margin, except that a Fund may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions, and a Fund may make margin payments in connection with futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars and other financial instruments.

2. All Funds (except the SMID Opportunities Fund) may not sell securities short (unless they own or have the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short), however that policy does not prevent the above Funds from entering into short positions in foreign currency, futures contracts, options, forward contracts, swaps, caps, floors, collars, and other financial instruments, and the Funds may obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the clearance of portfolio transactions.

3. The Equity Income Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, real estate limited partnership interests, and commodities or commodities contracts (except that the Equity Income Fund may invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts, as disclosed in the applicable Prospectus). However, subject to its permitted investments, the Equity Income Fund may invest in companies which invest in real estate, securities or loans secured by interests in real estate, commodities or commodities contracts.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The portfolio turnover rate for each Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of a Fund’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities. The calculation excludes all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, the portfolio turnover rates for each of the Funds were as follows:

Unless otherwise indicated, changes in portfolio turnover rates were generally the result of active trading strategies employed by such Funds’ portfolio managers in response to market conditions, and not reflective of a material change in a Fund’s investment strategy.

High turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs to the Funds and may result in higher levels of taxable realized gains (including short-term taxable gains generally taxed as ordinary income when distributed to individual shareholders) to a Fund’s shareholders. The portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemptions of Shares. Higher portfolio turnover rates for each Fund may lead to increased taxes and transaction costs. Portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor in making investment decisions. See “Additional Tax Information.”

VALUATION

Except as noted below, investments of the Funds in securities traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market are valued at the closing price on the principal exchange or market, typically 4:00 PM EST or, absent such a price, by reference to the latest available bid prices in the principal market in which such securities are normally traded. In December 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act, including related oversight and reporting requirements. The rule also defines when market quotations are "readily available" for purposes of the 1940 Act, which is the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. The compliance date for Rule 2a-5 was September 8, 2022 (the "Compliance Date"). Effective as of the Compliance Date, the Board approved changes to the Funds' valuation policy to comply with Rule 2a-5 and designated Sterling Capital Management LLC (“Sterling Capital” or the “Adviser”) as the Funds’ “Valuation Designee” to determine the fair value of securities for which market quotations are not readily available, subject to oversight by Board of Trustees.

With regard to each of the above-mentioned Funds, securities the principal market for which is not a securities exchange are valued at their latest bid quotations in such principal market. Fixed-income securities are valued by using evaluations provided by an independent pricing service, the use of which has been approved by the Valuation Designee. Securities for which an independent pricing service does not provide a current evaluation or provides a value that does not represent fair value in the judgment of the Valuation Designee are valued at fair value under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Such procedures may include a yield equivalent or a price produced through use of a pricing matrix. With respect to participation certificates (otherwise known as participation notes, equity linked notes, or “widgets”), if the price provided by an independent pricing service should reflect a price premium, the market maker (broker) will be contacted to provide the premium and the participation certificate’s price will be adjusted accordingly. Repurchase Agreements are valued at original cost. Open ended mutual fund investments will be valued at the most recently calculated NAV. Closed end mutual funds are valued at their market values based upon the latest available sale price or, absent such a price, by reference to the latest available bid prices in the principal market in which such securities are normally traded.

The value of a foreign security is determined in its national currency as of the close of trading on the foreign exchange or other principal market on which it is traded, which value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent using the latest foreign exchange bid quotation (from an approved pricing vendor) as of the time of NAV calculation. When the closing price is not an accurate representation of value due to events that have occurred after the closing of the primary exchange and prior to the time of NAV calculations (hereinafter, a “Significant Event”), then a market quotation is deemed to not be readily available and the fair value of affected securities will be determined by consideration of other factors by the Valuation Designee as detailed below. An example of a common Significant Event is a significant movement in the U.S. equity markets following the close of trading on a foreign exchange. The Valuation Designee may predetermine the level of such a movement that will constitute a Significant Event (a “Trigger”) and preauthorize the Trust’s Accounting Agent to utilize a pricing service (a “Fair Value Pricing Service”) that has been designed to determine a fair value.

Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available (e.g., where an independent pricing service does not provide a current evaluation or provides a value that does not represent fair value in the judgment of the Valuation Designee) will be valued at fair value using methods approved by the Board of Trustees.

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

Each class of Shares of each Fund of Sterling Capital Funds is offered on a continuous basis by Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). Class A, Class C, or Institutional Shares may be purchased through banks, brokers and other financial intermediaries, as well as through accounts at Truist Bank, or Truist Bank’s affiliated or correspondent banks. Customers purchasing Shares of the Funds may include officers, directors, or employees of Truist Bank or Truist Bank’s affiliated or correspondent banks. Class R6 Shares are available only to eligible group retirement and benefit plans (such as 401(k) plans, 457(b) plans, 403(b) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans, and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, any of whose accounts are maintained by the Funds at an omnibus level), 529 plans and certain eligible institutional investors and accounts, including certain accounts at Truist Bank and its affiliates and predecessors where Truist Bank or its affiliates or predecessors (including, without limitation, their wealth management divisions) act in a fiduciary or discretionary capacity (excluding, without limitation, brokerage accounts), and certain other eligible investors. Financial intermediaries such as clearing firms or record keepers that expect to receive compensation from a Fund or from Sterling Capital in the form of sub-recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency or other similar service fees are not eligible to purchase R6 Shares. R6 Shares of the Funds are not designed to accommodate the payment of sub-recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency or other similar service fees to financial intermediaries. Note also that not all Funds and classes are available for purchase in all states.

PURCHASE OF CLASS A AND CLASS C SHARES

As stated in the Class A and Class C Prospectus, the public offering price of Class A Shares of a Fund is its NAV next computed after an order is received, plus a sales charge which varies based upon the quantity purchased. The public offering price of such Class A Shares of a Fund is calculated by dividing NAV by the difference (expressed as a decimal) between 100% and the sales charge percentage of offering price applicable to the purchase. The offering price is rounded to two decimal places each time a computation is made. The sales charge scale set forth in the Class A and Class C Prospectus applies to purchases of Class A Shares of such a Fund by a purchaser (a “Purchaser”).

Class C Shares of each Fund offering such Shares are sold at their NAV per share, as next computed after an order is received. However, as discussed in the Class A and Class C Prospectus, the Class C Shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) if they are redeemed prior to the first anniversary of purchase.

Shares of a Fund sold to a bank, other financial institution or intermediary or broker-dealer (hereinafter referred to individually as “Participating Organizations”) acting in a fiduciary, advisory, custodial, or other similar capacity on behalf of customers will normally be held of record by the Participating Organizations. With respect to Shares so sold, it is the responsibility of the Participating Organization to transmit purchase or redemption orders to the Fund’s transfer agent and to deliver federal funds for purchase on a timely basis. Beneficial ownership of the Shares will be recorded by the Participating Organizations and reflected in the account statements provided by the Participating Organizations to customers. Depending upon the terms of a particular customer account, a Participating Organization or Bank may charge a customer’s account fees for services provided in connection with investment in the Funds.

In the case of orders for the purchase of Shares placed through a broker-dealer, the public offering price will be the NAV as so determined plus any applicable sales charge, but only if the broker-dealer receives the order prior to the Funds’ valuation time, which is as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE, normally at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, (the “Valuation Time”) for that day and transmits to the Funds by the Valuation Time. The broker-dealer is responsible for transmitting such orders promptly. If the broker-dealer fails to do so, the investor’s right to that day’s closing price must be settled between the investor and the broker-dealer. If the broker-dealer receives the order after the Valuation Time for that day, the price will be based on the NAV determined as of the Valuation Time for the next Business Day.

Every shareholder will be mailed a confirmation of each new transaction in the shareholder’s account. In the case of Class A and Class C Shares held of record by a Participating Organization but beneficially owned by a customer, confirmations of purchases, exchanges and redemptions of Class A and Class C Shares by a Participating Organization will be sent to the customer by the Participating Organization. Certificates representing Shares will not be issued.

AUTO INVEST PLAN. The Funds’ Auto Invest Plan enables shareholders to make regular purchases of Class A, Class C, and Institutional Shares through automatic deduction from their bank accounts. With shareholder authorization, the Funds’ transfer agent will deduct the amount specified (subject to the applicable minimums) from the shareholder’s bank account and will automatically invest that amount in Class A, Class C, or Institutional Shares at the public offering price on the date of such deduction.

For a shareholder to change the Auto Invest instructions or to discontinue the feature, the request must be made in writing to Sterling Capital Funds, P.O. Box 9762, Providence, RI 02940-9762 (after February 16, 2023, please address mail to Sterling Capital Funds P.O. Box 534465, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4465). The Auto Invest Plan may be amended or terminated without notice at any time by the Funds.

Sterling Capital Funds INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT (“IRA”). A Sterling Capital Funds IRA enables individuals, even if they participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, to establish their own retirement program by purchasing Class A or Class C Shares for an IRA. Sterling Capital Funds IRA contributions may be tax-deductible and earnings are tax deferred. Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the tax deductibility of IRA contributions is restricted or eliminated for individuals who participate in certain employer pension plans and whose annual income exceeds certain limits. Existing IRAs and future contributions up to the IRA maximums, whether deductible or not, still earn income on a tax-deferred basis.

All Sterling Capital Funds IRA distribution requests must be made in writing to the Funds’ transfer agent. Any additional deposits to a Sterling Capital Funds IRA must distinguish the type and year of the contribution.

For more information on a Sterling Capital Funds IRA, call Sterling Capital Funds at 1-800-228-1872. Investment in Shares of the Tax-Free Bond Funds would not be appropriate for any IRA. Shareholders are advised to consult a tax adviser on Sterling Capital Funds IRA contribution and withdrawal requirements and restrictions.

SALES CHARGES

As the Funds’ principal underwriter, the Distributor enters into selling and/or service agreements with financial intermediaries to authorize the financial intermediaries to make available Class A and Class C Shares of the Funds to investors. The Funds re-allow some or all of the applicable sales charge as dealer discounts and brokerage commissions. With respect to the Equity Funds (except the Mid Cap Relative Value Fund, the Real Estate Fund and the Small Cap Value Fund), and Total Return Bond Fund, the Distributor receives up to 0.75% of the sales charge charged to shareholders for marketing and distribution expenses. With respect to the Mid Cap Relative Value Fund, the Real Estate Fund and the Small Cap Value Fund, the Distributor receives up to 0.25% of the sales charge charged to shareholders for marketing and distribution expenses. With respect to the Tax-Free Bond Funds, Intermediate U.S. Government Fund, Short Duration Bond Fund, Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund and Quality Income Fund, the Distributor receives up to 0.40% of the sales charge charged to shareholders for marketing and distribution expenses. The Fund’s transfer agent will pay the remaining sales charge to dealers. As a result, broker-dealers that sell Shares of the Funds may receive more revenue from the sale of the Funds than from the sale of other mutual funds offered by such firms. Under federal securities laws, a broker or dealer who receives a reallowance in excess of 90% of the sales charge may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act. From time to time dealers who receive dealer discounts and broker commissions may reallow all or a portion of such dealer discounts and broker commissions to other dealers or brokers.

The Adviser, at its expense, may also provide additional compensation to dealers in connection with sales of Class A Shares of any Fund. The maximum cash compensation payable by shareholders is 5.75% of the public offering price of Class A Shares. In addition, the Adviser may provide financial assistance to financial intermediaries (including, but not limited to, broker dealers, shareholder servicing agents, and financial advisors) in connection with conferences, sales or training programs for their employees, seminars for the public, advertising campaigns regarding one or more of the Funds, and/or broker dealer-sponsored special events. Financial intermediaries may not use sales of a Fund’s Shares to qualify for this compensation to the extent such may be prohibited by the laws of any state or any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Financial intermediaries are not permitted to delay the placement of orders to benefit themselves by a price change.

CLASS A SHARES

Class A Shares are sold at their public offering price. This price equals NAV plus the initial sales charge, if applicable. Therefore, part of the money you invest is used to pay the sales charge and the remainder is invested in Fund shares. The sales charge decreases with larger purchases. There is no initial sales charge on purchases of the Ultra Short Bond Fund’s shares. There is no sales charge on shares purchased directly from a Fund online at www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or on reinvested dividends and distributions. Different financial intermediaries may impose different sales loads or offer different ways to reduce sales loads. These variations are described in the Prospectus in the Appendix: Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers Available from Certain Financial Intermediaries (the “Appendix”).

Subject to the Appendix, the current sales charge rates are as follows:

FOR THE EQUITY FUNDS

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A CDSC of up to 1.00% of the purchase price will be charged to the following Class A shareholders who receive a sales charge waiver and then redeem their shares within two years after purchase: shareholders who purchased $1 million or more. This CDSC will be based on the lower of the cost of the shares or their NAV at the time of redemption.

For sales of over $1 million or more, broker-dealers may be paid a finder’s fee of up to 1.00% of the offering price of such shares up to $2.5 million, 0.5% of the offering price from $2.5 million up to $5 million, and 0.25% of the offering price from $5 million and up.

Where a finder’s fee is paid, the broker-dealer shall not be entitled to receive any 12b-1 fees with respect to such shares for the first 12 months after the shares are purchased.

FOR THE TAX-FREE BOND FUNDS, INTERMEDIATE U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND, SHORT DURATION BOND FUND, LONG DURATION CORPORATE BOND FUND, QUALITY INCOME FUND AND TOTAL RETURN BOND FUND

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A CDSC of up to 0.50% of the purchase price will be charged to the Class A shareholders who purchased $250,000 or more, received a sales charge waiver and then redeem their shares within eighteen months after purchase. This CDSC will be based on the lower of the cost of the shares or their NAV at the time of redemption.

For sales of over $250,000 or more, broker-dealers may be paid a finder’s fee of up to 0.50% of the offering price of such shares up to $5 million, 0.35% of the offering price from $5 million up to $10 million, and 0.25% of the offering price from $10 million and up.

Where a finder’s fee is paid, the broker-dealer shall not be entitled to receive any 12b-1 fees with respect to such shares for the first 12 months after the shares are purchased.

There is no initial sales charge on purchases of the Ultra Short Bond Fund’s shares.

The sales charges set forth in the tables above are applicable to purchases made at one time by any Purchaser, which includes: (i) an individual, his or her spouse and children under the age of 21; (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account; or (iii) any other organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not, provided that such organization has been in existence for at least six months and has some purpose other than the purchase of redeemable securities of a registered investment company. In order to qualify for a lower sales charge, all orders from a Purchaser will have to be placed through a single investment dealer and identified at the time of purchase as originating from the same Purchaser, although such orders may be placed into more than one discrete account which identifies the Purchasers.

In determining whether a particular redemption is subject to a CDSC, it is assumed that the redemption is first of any Class A Shares and then of any Class C Shares in the shareholder’s Fund account, (unless the shareholder elects to redeem in a different order) or Shares representing capital appreciation, next of Shares acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, and finally of other Shares held by the shareholder for the longest period of time. This method should result in the lowest possible sales charge.

SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS

Certain sales of Class A Shares made through certain financial intermediaries are made without a sales charge or with a reduced sales charge, as described in the Appendix. Purchasers investing through a financial intermediary should consult their financial intermediary to determine their eligibility for such sales charge reductions.

Certain sales of Class A Shares are made without a sales charge or with a reduced sales charge, as described in the Class A and Class C Prospectuses under the caption “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers,” to promote goodwill with employees and others with whom Truist Financial Corporation (“Truist”) and/or Sterling Capital Funds have business relationships, and because the sales effort, if any, involved in making such sales is negligible. However, a CDSC of up to 1.00% of the purchase price will be charged to the following Class A shareholders who receive a sales charge waiver and then redeem their shares within two years of purchase: shareholders who purchased $1 million or more (for the Equity Funds and the Total Return Bond Fund) or $500,000 or more (for the Tax-Free Bond Funds, Intermediate U.S. Government Fund and Short Duration Bond Fund).

LETTER OF INTENT. Any Purchaser may obtain a reduced sales charge by means of a written Letter of Intent (“LOI”) which expresses the intention of such Purchaser to invest a certain amount in Class A Shares of any of the Funds (the “Variable NAV Funds”), within a period of 13 months. Each purchase of Shares under a LOI will be made at the public offering price plus the sales charge applicable at the time of such purchase to a single transaction of the total dollar amount indicated in the LOI (the “LOI Investment Amount”). For purposes of meeting the LOI Investment Amount, a LOI may include accumulated holdings (as described and calculated under “Concurrent Purchases and Right of Accumulation” below) if such LOI gives the Transfer Agent sufficient information to permit confirmation of the accumulated holdings; however, no sales charge adjustment will be made for shares purchased prior to the date of the LOI. The 13-month period during which the LOI is in effect will begin on the date of the earliest purchase to be included. This program may be modified or eliminated at any time or from time to time by the Funds without notice.

A LOI is not a binding obligation upon the investor to purchase the LOI Investment Amount. The minimum initial investment under a LOI is 5% of such amount. Class A Shares purchased with the first 5% of such amount will be held in escrow (while remaining registered in the name of the investor) to secure payment of the higher sales charge applicable to the Class A Shares actually purchased if the LOI Investment Amount is not purchased, and such escrowed Class A Shares will be involuntarily redeemed to pay the additional sales charge, if necessary. Dividends on escrowed Class A Shares, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Class A Shares will not be held in escrow. The escrowed Class A Shares will not be available for disposal by the investor until all purchases pursuant to the LOI have been made or the higher sales charge has been paid. When the LOI Investment Amount has been purchased, the escrow will be released. To the extent that an investor purchases more than the LOI Investment Amount indicated on the LOI and qualifies for a further reduced sales charge within the 13 month period, no sales charge adjustment will be made for shares purchased prior to such qualifying purchase.

For further information, interested investors should contact the Funds’ transfer agent. LOI privileges may be amended or terminated without notice at any time by the Funds.

CONCURRENT PURCHASES AND RIGHT OF ACCUMULATION. A Purchaser (as defined above) may qualify for a reduced sales charge by combining concurrent purchases of Class A Shares of one or more of the Variable NAV Funds or by combining a current purchase of Class A Shares of a Variable NAV Fund with prior purchases of Shares of any Variable NAV Fund. The applicable sales charge is based on the sum of (i) the Purchaser’s current purchase of Class A Shares of any Variable NAV Fund sold with a sales charge plus (ii) the then current NAV of all Shares held by the Purchaser in any Variable NAV Fund. To receive the applicable public offering price pursuant to the right of accumulation, shareholders must at the time of purchase provide the Transfer Agent with sufficient information to permit confirmation of qualification. Accumulation privileges may be amended or terminated without notice at any time by the Funds.

Proceeds from the CDSC together with the distribution and shareholder service fees under the Distribution Plan defray the expenses of advancing brokerage commissions, as well as expenses for the Funds’ distribution-related and shareholder services. These services include the payment of compensation to dealers and agents selling Class C Shares. A dealer commission of 1.00% of the original purchase price of the Class C Shares of the Fund will be paid to financial institutions and intermediaries. In addition, the Distributor may receive up to 0.25% of the original purchase price of the Class C Shares.

CLASS C SHARES. The CDSC is waived on redemption of Shares: (i) following the death or disability (as defined in the Code, as defined below) of a shareholder or a participant or beneficiary of a qualifying retirement plan if redemption is made within one year of such death or disability; (ii) to the extent that the redemption represents a minimum required distribution from an Individual Retirement Account or other qualifying retirement plan to a shareholder who has attained the age of 70 1/2; and (iii) provided that the shareholder withdraws no more than 12% of the account value annually using the Auto Withdrawal Plan Feature. A shareholder or his or her representative should contact the transfer agent to determine whether a retirement plan qualifies for a waiver and must notify the transfer agent prior to the time of redemption if such circumstances exist and the shareholder is eligible for this waiver. In addition, the following circumstances are not deemed to result in a “redemption” of Class C Shares for purposes of the assessment of a CDSC, which is therefore waived: (i) plans of reorganization of the Fund, such as mergers, asset acquisitions and exchange offers to which the Fund is a party; and (ii) exchanges for Class C Shares of other Funds of Sterling Capital Funds as described under “Exchange Privilege.”

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

INSTITUTIONAL SHARES. Institutional Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Institutional Shares of another Fund. Institutional Shares may be exchanged for Class A Shares of a Fund if an investor ceases to be eligible to purchase Institutional Shares. Institutional Shares may not be exchanged for Class C Shares and may be exchanged Class R6 Shares only if the Shareholder becomes eligible to purchase Class R6 Shares.

Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares of a Fund may be exchanged for Class R6 Shares of another Fund. Class R6 Shares may also be exchanged for Class A Shares, if the Shareholder ceases to be eligible to purchase Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares may not be exchanged for Class C Shares or Institutional Shares.

CLASS A. Class A Shares of each Fund may be exchanged for Class A Shares of another Fund. Class A Shares may not be exchanged for Class C Shares and may be exchanged for Institutional Shares and Class R6 Shares only if the Shareholder becomes eligible to purchase such Shares.

CLASS C. Class C Shares of each Fund may be exchanged for Class C Shares of another Fund on the basis of relative NAV per Class C Share, without the payment of any CDSC which might otherwise be due upon redemption of the outstanding Class C Shares. Class C Shares may only be exchanged for Institutional Shares and Class R6 Shares only if the Shareholder becomes eligible to purchase such Shares. Class C Shares generally may not be exchanged for Class A Shares except as otherwise provided in the Class A and Class C Prospectus, including the Appendix.

For purposes of computing the CDSC that may be payable upon a disposition of the newly acquired Class C Shares, the holding period for outstanding Class C Shares of the Fund from which the exchange was made is “tacked” to the holding period of the newly acquired Class C Shares. For purposes of calculating the holding period applicable to the newly acquired Class C Shares, the newly acquired Class C Shares shall be deemed to have been issued on the date of receipt of the shareholder’s order to purchase the outstanding Class C Shares of the Fund from which the exchange was made.

Except as noted below, Class C Shares of a Fund will automatically convert to Class A Shares of the same Fund after being held for 8 years, thus reducing the future annual expenses (Class A Shares have a Rule 12b-1 fee of 0.25% versus 1.00% for Class C Shares). Conversions will generally occur during the month of or following the 8-year anniversary of the share purchase date. The automatic conversion will be based on the relative net asset values of the two share classes without the imposition of a sales charge or fee. For Class C Shares held through a financial intermediary, automatic conversions to Class A Shares will occur in accordance with the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary, and the timing of this conversion may differ from the timing stated above. It is the financial intermediary’s (and not the Funds’) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder is credited with the proper holding period. Not all financial intermediaries are able to track purchases to credit individual shareholders’ holding periods. In particular, the Funds understand that group retirement plans held through third party intermediaries that hold Class C Shares in an omnibus account in certain instances do not track participant level share lot aging. Please consult with your financial intermediary about your eligibility to exercise this conversion privilege.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. An exchange is considered a sale of Shares and will result in a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, which, in general, is calculated by netting the shareholder’s tax cost (or “basis”) in the Shares surrendered and the value of the Shares received in the exchange. If a shareholder exchanges Class A Shares within 90 days of acquiring them and if a sales charge is waived on the exchange, for purposes of measuring the capital gain or loss on the exchange, the shareholder’s basis in the surrendered Shares is reduced by the lesser of (i) the sales charge paid for the surrendered shares or (ii) the amount of the sales charge that is waived on the exchange.

If not selected on the Account Registration form, the shareholder will automatically receive Exchange privileges. A shareholder wishing to exchange Class A or Class C Shares purchased through a Participating Organization or Bank may do so by contacting the Participating Organization or Bank. If an exchange request in good order is received by the Funds’ transfer agent by 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) on any Business Day, the exchange usually will occur on that day.

MATTERS AFFECTING REDEMPTION

REDEMPTION BY MAIL. A written request for redemption must be received by the Funds’ transfer agent in order to constitute a valid tender for redemption from an IRA. Also, the signature on the written request must be guaranteed by a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, securities exchange, securities association, clearing agency or savings association, as those terms are defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), if (a) a redemption check is to be payable to anyone other than the Owner(s) of record or (b) a redemption check is to be mailed to the Owner(s) at an address other than the address of record or (c) the Owner(s) address of record has changed within the last ten (10) business days or (d) the redemption proceeds are being transferred to another Fund account with a different registration or (e) the redemption proceeds are being wired to bank instructions currently not on the account. The Funds reserve the right to reject any signature guarantee if (1) it has reason to believe that the signature is not genuine, (2) it has reason to believe that the transaction would otherwise be improper, or (3) the guarantor institution is a broker or dealer that is neither a member of a clearing corporation nor maintains net capital of at least $100,000. Proceeds may be mailed to the address of record or sent electronically or mailed to a previously designated bank account without a signature guarantee. See “Redemption by Telephone” for further discussion on sending proceeds to your bank account.

REDEMPTION BY TELEPHONE. Shares may be redeemed by telephone if the shareholder selected that option on the Account Registration Form. A shareholder may have the proceeds mailed to the address of record or sent electronically or mailed directly to a domestic commercial bank account previously designated by the shareholder on the Account Registration Form. Under most circumstances, such payments will be transmitted on the next Business Day following receipt of a valid request for redemption. Such electronic redemption requests may be made by the shareholder by telephone to the transfer agent. The transfer agent may reduce the amount of a wire redemption payment by its then-current wire redemption charge. Such charge is currently being waived. There is no charge for having payment of redemption requests mailed or sent via the Automated Clearing House to a designated bank account. For telephone redemptions, call Sterling Capital Funds at 1-800-228-1872. If not selected on the Account Registration form, the shareholder will automatically receive telephone redemption privileges. None of the Funds’ transfer agent, Sterling Capital or the Funds will be liable for any losses, damages, expense or cost arising out of any telephone transaction (including exchanges and redemptions) effected in accordance with the Funds’ telephone transaction procedures, upon instructions reasonably believed to be genuine. The Funds will employ procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine; if these procedures are not followed, the Funds may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures include recording all phone conversations, sending confirmations to shareholders within 72 hours of the telephone transaction, verifying the account name and a shareholder’s account number or tax identification number and sending redemption proceeds only to the address of record or to a previously authorized bank account. If, due to temporary adverse conditions, investors are unable to effect telephone transactions, shareholders may also mail the redemption request to the Funds.

REDEMPTION ONLINE. Shares may be redeemed online if the shareholder has set up an account online at www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com. Redemption proceeds will be mailed to the shareholder’s address of record or sent to the shareholder’s bank account via electronic transfer (ACH). Under most circumstances, such payments will be mailed on the next Business Day following receipt of a valid request for redemption. For online redemptions, visit Sterling Capital Funds at www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com. None of the Funds’ transfer agent, Sterling Capital or the Funds will be liable for any losses, damages, expenses or costs arising out of any online transaction (including exchanges and redemptions) effected in accordance with the Funds’ online transaction procedures, upon receipt of instructions reasonably believed to be genuine. The Funds will employ procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that instructions communicated online are genuine; if these procedures are not followed, the Funds may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures include the use of an online password and symbol authentication system, sending confirmations to shareholders within 72 hours of the online transaction, and sending redemption proceeds only to the address of record or sent to the shareholder’s bank account via electronic transfer (ACH). In addition, a shareholder may not make an online redemption within 30 days of changing their address of record. If, due to temporary adverse conditions, investors are unable to effect online transactions, shareholders may also mail the redemption request to the Funds.

The Funds may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment for Shares during any period when (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, (b) the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (c) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension, or (d) an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal by a Sterling Capital Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practical or (ii) it is not reasonably practical for a Fund to determine the value of its total net assets.

The Funds may redeem any class of Shares involuntarily if redemption appears appropriate in light of the Funds’ responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

AUTO WITHDRAWAL PLAN. Sterling Capital Funds Auto Withdrawal Plan enables shareholders to make regular redemptions of Class A, Class C, and Institutional Shares of a Fund. With shareholder authorization, the Funds’ transfer agent will automatically redeem Class A, Class C, and Institutional Shares at the NAV of the applicable Fund on the dates of withdrawal and have the amount specified transferred according to the instructions of the shareholder.

Purchase of additional Class A Shares concurrent with withdrawals may be disadvantageous to certain shareholders because of tax liabilities.

To participate in the Auto Withdrawal Plan, shareholders should complete a supplemental sign-up form that can be acquired by calling the Funds’ transfer agent. For a shareholder to change the Auto Withdrawal instructions or to discontinue the feature, the request must be made in writing to Sterling Capital Funds, P.O. Box 9762, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9762 (after February 16, 2023, please address mail to Sterling Capital Funds P.O. Box 534465, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4465). The Auto Withdrawal Plan may be amended or terminated without notice at any time by the Funds.

PAYMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS. Redemption orders are effected at the NAV per Share next determined after the Shares are properly tendered for redemption, as described above. Payment to shareholders for Shares redeemed will be made within seven days after receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent of the request for redemption. However, to the greatest extent possible, the Funds will attempt to honor requests from shareholders for next Business Day payments upon redemptions of Shares if the request for redemption is received by the transfer agent before the last Valuation Time on a Business Day or, if the request for redemption is received after the last Valuation Time, to honor requests for payment within two Business Days, unless it would be disadvantageous to the Funds or the shareholders of the particular Fund to sell or liquidate portfolio securities in an amount sufficient to satisfy requests for payments in that manner. The Fund will attempt to honor requests from its shareholders for same day payment upon redemption of Shares if the request for redemption is received by the transfer agent before the close of business on a Business Day. Payment for redemptions requests received after the close of business will be made on the next Business Day, unless it would be disadvantageous to the Fund or its shareholders to sell or liquidate portfolio securities in an amount sufficient to satisfy requests for payments in that manner. For requests sent by regular mail, there may be a delay between the time the request reaches the P.O. Box and the time of a Fund’s receipt of the request, which may affect the NAV at which the request is processed.

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION

The following discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury Regulations, and other applicable authority, all as of the date of this SAI. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important federal tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Funds. This discussion does not address all aspects of taxation (including state, local and foreign taxes) that may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their own investment or tax circumstances, or to particular types of shareholders, such as insurance companies, tax-advantaged retirement plans, financial institutions or foreign shareholders (defined below), that are subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situations and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.

TAXATION OF THE FUNDS. Each Fund will be treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. It is the policy of each Fund to elect to be treated as, and to qualify for, the favorable tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under Subchapter M of the Code. By following such policy, each Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal income taxes to which such Fund may be subject. If the Funds qualify as RICs that are accorded special treatment, the Funds will not be subject to federal income tax on income or gains distributed in a timely manner to their shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). RICs are subject to a federal excise tax if they do not distribute substantially all of their income and gains on a calendar-year basis. Each Fund intends to avoid paying federal income and excise taxes by timely distributing substantially all of its ordinary income and net realized capital gains.

In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, a Fund must, among other things, (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined below); (b) distribute during or with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid - generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and (c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of a Fund’s taxable year (i) at least 50% of the fair market value of its total assets is represented by cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below).

In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (a) of the paragraph immediately above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (x) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in subsection (a)(i) of the paragraph above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Section 7704(c)(2) of the Code. MLPs, if any, in which a Fund invests will generally be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

For purposes of the diversification requirements in (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” includes the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership. Also, for purposes of meeting the diversification requirements described in (c) above, identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to identification of the issuer for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet the diversification test in (c) above.

As mentioned above, if a Fund qualifies as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income or gains distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). Although each Fund expects to qualify as a RIC and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located, or in which it is are otherwise deemed to be conducting business, a Fund may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

If for any taxable year a Fund were to fail to meet the income, distribution or diversification test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions or disposing of certain assets. If a Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such a failure for any taxable year, or otherwise failed to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment, all of the Fund’s taxable income would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates at the Fund level (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders). In addition, all distributions to shareholders from earnings and profits would be taxed as dividend income, even if the distributions were attributable to long-term capital gains or exempt interest income earned by the Fund. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders or to be treated as qualified dividend income to non-corporate shareholders, provided, in both cases, that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund Shares. Furthermore, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a RIC that is accorded special treatment, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions.

Each Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction), its net tax-exempt income (if any) and its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). Investment company taxable income that is retained by a Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates. If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but it may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a timely notice to its shareholders who would then, in turn, be (i) required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly-filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If a Fund makes this designation, for federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund would be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. A Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance a Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

In determining its net capital gain (including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend), its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a RIC may elect to treat any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) and certain late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary losses attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

If a Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 of such year, plus any retained amount from the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would be properly taken into account after October 31 are treated as arising on January 1 of the following year. A Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to corporate income tax for its taxable year ending within the calendar year. A dividend paid to shareholders in January of a year generally is deemed to have been paid by a Fund on December 31 of the preceding year if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November, or December of that preceding year. Each Fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to do so.

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, subject to certain limitations, a Fund may carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year to offset its capital gains, if any, realized during a subsequent taxable year. If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses, those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains.

DISTRIBUTIONS. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income from a Fund (other than qualified dividend income and exempt-interest dividends, as discussed below) generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned (or is deemed to have owned) his or her Shares. In general, a Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Tax rules can alter the Fund’s holding period in its investments and thereby affect the tax treatment of gain or loss on such investments. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by a Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will generally be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued regulations that impose special rules in respect of Capital Gain Dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

The Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by a Fund of net investment income and capital gains (other than exempt-interest dividends) as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, exchange, redemption or other taxable disposition of Fund Shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in a Fund.

Distributions of taxable income or capital gains are taxable to Fund shareholders as described herein whether received in cash or reinvested in additional Fund Shares. Dividends and distributions on a Fund’s Shares generally are subject to federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed the Fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of Shares purchased at a time when a Fund’s NAV reflects gains that are either unrealized, or realized but not distributed. Realized gains may be required to be distributed even when a Fund’s NAV also reflects unrealized losses.

If, in and with respect to any taxable year, a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits,” the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in the shareholder’s Fund Shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of his or her Shares.

Distributions of investment income properly reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” are taxed to individuals at the rates applicable to net capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements (described below) are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels.

In general, a dividend is not treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date that is 60 days before the date on which such share became ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.

In general, distributions of investment income reported by a Fund as derived from qualified dividend income are treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to such Fund’s Shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by a Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends) are eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. The Bond Funds do not expect a significant portion of their distributions to be derived from qualified dividend income.

In general, properly reported dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of a Fund will qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by a Fund will not be treated as a dividend eligible for the dividends-received deduction (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days during the 91-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date (less than 91 days in the 181-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date in the case of certain preferred stock), or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction may otherwise be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its Shares of a Fund or (2) by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends-received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock -- generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds). The Bond Funds do not expect a significant portion of their distributions to qualify for the dividends-received deduction.

If a Fund receives dividends from another mutual fund or an ETF that qualifies as a RIC (each an “Underlying RIC”), and the Underlying RIC reports such dividends as qualified dividend income or as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income or as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, as the case may be, provided in each case that the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the Underlying RIC.

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction or (ii) dividend income received by the Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, such distribution will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. Similarly, to the extent that a Fund that qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends (see the discussion under “Exempt-Interest Dividends” below) makes a distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of tax-exempt interest with respect to securities on loan or (ii) tax-exempt interest received by the Fund on tax-exempt securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, such distribution may not constitute exempt-interest dividends to shareholders.

Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to qualified publicly traded partnership income from a Fund’s investment in a MLP will ostensibly not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such MLP directly.

Dividends received by a shareholder of a Fund that are derived from the Fund’s investments in U.S. Government Securities may not be entitled to the exemption from state and local income taxes that would be available if the shareholder had purchased U.S. Government Securities directly.

Dividends are generally taxable in the taxable year received. However, as noted above, a dividend paid to shareholders in January generally is deemed to have been paid by the Fund on December 31 of the preceding year if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November or December of that preceding year. Shareholders will be advised at least annually as to the amount and federal income tax character of distributions made during each year.

EXEMPT-INTEREST DIVIDENDS. The Tax-Free Bond Funds generally expect most of their income dividends to be exempt-interest dividends. A Fund will be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders only if, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the total value of the Fund’s assets consists of securities generating interest that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 103(a) of the Code. Such dividends may not exceed, in the aggregate, the net interest a Fund receives during the taxable year from securities exempt from regular federal income tax. Generally, exempt-interest dividends will be excluded from a shareholder’s gross income for federal income tax purposes, but may be taxable for federal alternative minimum tax purposes for individual shareholders and for state and local tax purposes. In particular, if a Fund invests in “private activity bonds,” certain shareholders may become subject to alternative minimum tax on the part of the Fund’s distributions derived from interest on such bonds.

As a matter of policy, under normal market conditions, not more than 10% of a Fund’s total assets will be invested in securities the interest on which is treated as a preference item for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax for individuals. Individual shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential alternative minimum tax implications of holding Shares of a Fund.

A Fund that is qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends will notify investors in a written statement of the percentage of its income distributions reported as tax-exempt. The percentage is applied uniformly to all income distributions made during the year. The percentage of income designated as tax-exempt for any particular distribution may be substantially different from the percentage of the Fund’s income that was tax-exempt during the period covered by the distribution. Thus, a shareholder who holds Shares for only part of the year may be allocated more or less tax-exempt dividends than would be the case if the allocation were based on the ratio of net tax-exempt income to total net investment income actually earned while a shareholder.

If a shareholder receives an exempt-interest dividend with respect to any Share held by the shareholder for six months or less, any loss on the sale or exchange of such Share will generally be disallowed to the extent of the amount of such exempt-interest dividend. This loss disallowance rule does not apply to a shareholder’s disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less with respect to a regular exempt-interest dividend paid by the Fund if the Fund declares substantially all of its net tax-exempt income as exempt-interest dividends on a daily basis and pays such dividends on at least a monthly basis.

In certain limited instances, the portion of Social Security or railroad retirement benefits that may be subject to federal income taxation may be affected by the amount of tax-exempt interest income, including exempt-interest dividends, received by a shareholder. Shareholders who receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits should consult their tax advisers to determine what effect, if any, an investment in a Fund may have on the federal taxation of their benefits.

Part or all of the interest on indebtedness, if any, incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry Shares of a Fund paying exempt-interest dividends will not be deductible. The portion of interest that is not deductible is generally equal to the total interest paid or accrued on the indebtedness multiplied by the percentage of the Fund’s total dividends (excluding Capital Gain Dividends) paid to the shareholder that consist of exempt-interest dividends. Under rules used by the IRS to determine when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase of Shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of Shares.

In general, exempt-interest dividends, if any, attributable to interest received on certain private activity obligations and certain industrial development bonds will not be tax-exempt to any shareholders who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or who are “related persons” of such substantial users. The term “substantial user” is defined under U.S. Treasury Regulations to include a non-exempt person who regularly uses a part of such facilities in his trade or business, and whose gross revenues derived with respect to the facilities financed by the issuance of bonds represent more than 5% of the total revenues derived by all users of such facilities, or who occupies more than 5% of the usable area of such facilities, or for whom such facilities or a part thereof were specifically constructed, reconstructed or acquired. “Related persons” include certain related natural persons, affiliated corporations, a partnership and its partners and an S Corporation and its shareholders. Each shareholder who may be considered a “substantial user” should consult a tax adviser with respect to whether exempt-interest dividends would retain the exclusion under Section 103 of the Code if the shareholder were treated as a “substantial user” or a “related person.”

If a Fund intends to be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends, the Fund may be limited in its ability to enter into taxable transactions involving forward commitments, repurchase agreements, financial futures and options contracts on financial futures, tax-exempt bond indices and other assets.

The Funds may acquire puts with respect to Tax-Exempt Obligations held in the portfolios. See “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES - Additional Information on Portfolio Instruments - Puts” in this SAI. The policy of each of the Tax-Free Bond Funds is to limit the acquisition of puts to those under which the Fund will be treated for federal income tax purposes as the owner of the Tax-Exempt Obligations subject to the put and the interest on the Tax-Exempt Obligations will be tax-exempt to the Fund. Although the IRS has issued a published ruling that provides some guidance regarding the tax consequences of the purchases of puts, there is currently no guidance available from the IRS that definitively establishes the tax consequences of many of the types of puts that the Tax-Free Bond Funds could acquire under the 1940 Act. Therefore, although the Tax-Free Bond Funds will only acquire a put after concluding that the put will have the tax consequences described above, the IRS could reach a different conclusion from that of the Tax-Free Bond Funds. If a Tax-Free Bond Fund were not treated as the owner of the relevant Tax-Exempt Obligations, income from such securities would probably not be tax exempt.

Distributions made by a Tax-Free Bond Fund derived from taxable income and gains may result in federal income taxes (as described under “Distributions” above) and/or state income or other taxes. Depending upon the extent of their activities in states and localities in which their offices are maintained, in which their agents or independent contractors are located, or in which they are otherwise deemed to be conducting business, Funds may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers concerning the application of state and local taxes to distributions received from a Fund.

REDEEMING OR EXCHANGING SHARES. Upon the disposition of Shares of a Fund (whether by redemption, sale or exchange), a shareholder will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount received and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Fund Shares. In general, any gain or loss realized upon taxable disposition of Fund Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than 12 months, and as short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have not been held for more than 12 months. Any such long-term gain will be included in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates; any such short-term gain will be taxed at the rates applicable to ordinary income.

Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund Shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividend received (or deemed received) by a shareholder with respect to those Fund Shares. For purposes of determining whether Fund Shares have been held for six months or less, the holding period is suspended for any periods during which a shareholder’s risk of loss is diminished as a result of holding one or more other positions in substantially similar or related property, or through certain options or short sales.

In addition, any loss realized on a sale or exchange of Fund Shares will be disallowed to the extent that a shareholder replaces the Fund Shares disposed of with other substantially identical Fund Shares within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date of disposition, which could, for example, occur as a result of automatic dividend reinvestment. In such an event, a Fund shareholder’s basis in the replacement Fund Shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Upon the redemption or exchange of Fund Shares, the Fund or, in the case of Shares purchased through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may be required to provide you and the IRS with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund Shares you redeemed or exchanged. See the Funds’ Prospectuses for more information.

DISCOUNT SECURITIES. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income (and required to be distributed by a Fund) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount by the issuer is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is taxable and is required to be distributed even though a Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

Moreover, some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Alternatively, a Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance may be treated as having acquisition discount (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price), or OID in the case of certain types of debt obligations. Generally, a Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount or OID in income (as ordinary income) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount by the issuer is not received until a later time, usually when the debt obligation matures. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt obligations having acquisition discount or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income by the Fund with respect to such debt obligations.

If a Fund holds the foregoing kinds of obligations, or other debt obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of a Fund or by disposing of portfolio securities, including when it is not advantageous to do so, that the Fund would otherwise have continued to hold. A Fund may realize gains or losses from such dispositions. These dispositions may cause a Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend than if the Fund had not held such obligations.

SECURITIES PURCHASED AT A PREMIUM. Very generally, where a Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity (i.e., a premium), the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if a Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require a Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.

HIGH-YIELD BONDS. A Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for a Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent a Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by each Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to federal income or excise tax.

A portion of the OID on certain high-yield discount obligations may not be deductible to the issuer. If a portion of the OID on such high-yield discount obligations is not deductible, that portion will be treated as a dividend for purposes of the corporate dividends-received deduction. In such cases, if an issuer of the high-yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by a Fund may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent attributable to the deemed dividend portion of such OID.

CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN REITS. Certain of the Funds may invest in equity securities of issuers qualifying as REITs under Subchapter M of the Code. A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, the distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by the RIC from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.

INVESTMENTS IN MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES. A Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), including by investing in residual interests in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect, or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury Regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of a Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the Regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC, such as a Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest directly. As a result, a Fund may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in federal withholding tax. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code.

INVESTMENTS IN OPTIONS AND FUTURES. In general, option premiums received by a Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by a Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the Fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of a Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

A Fund’s options activities may include transactions constituting straddles for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is, that trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Such straddles include, for example, positions in a particular security, or an index of securities, and one or more options that offset the former position, including options that are “covered” by a Fund’s long position in the subject security. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. These straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.

The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by a Fund (including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options) will be governed by Section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable.

CERTAIN OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING TRANSACTIONS. In addition to the special rules described above in respect of futures and options transactions, the Funds’ transactions in other derivative instruments (e.g., forward contracts and swap agreements), as well as other hedging, short sale, securities loan or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (e.g., notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to a Fund, defer losses to a Fund, and/or cause adjustments in the holding periods of a Fund’s securities, thereby affecting, among other things, whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing, and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Because the tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.

Certain of a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income (or, in the case of a tax-exempt Fund, the sum of its net tax-exempt and taxable income). If such a difference arises, and a Fund’s book income is less than its taxable income (or, in the case of a tax-exempt Fund, the sum of its net tax-exempt and taxable income) the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment and to avoid an entity-level tax. In the alternative, if a Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income (or in the case of a tax-exempt Fund, the sum of its net tax-exempt and taxable income) the distribution, if any, of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the Shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

INVESTMENTS IN INCOME TRUSTS. Certain Funds’ investments in certain income trusts may be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as RIC under the Code and may bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. In particular, where, as is frequently the case, U.S. royalty trusts are treated as grantor trusts for federal income tax purposes, they generally pass through tax items such as income, gain or loss to interest-holders on a gross basis. An applicable Fund monitors the individual underlying items of income that it receives from such trusts to determine how it will characterize such income for purposes of meeting the 90% gross income requirement applicable to RICs described above.

FOREIGN TAXES. Income, proceeds and gains received by a Fund (or Underlying RICs) from sources within foreign countries may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by such countries that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s securities. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. If more than 50% of a Fund’s assets at taxable year end consist of the securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be permitted to elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portions of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes paid by the Fund. A shareholder’s ability to claim an offsetting foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund is subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in the shareholder’s not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their U.S. federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but not a deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund. Shareholders of a Fund generally are not expected to be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes incurred by a Fund.

FOREIGN CURRENCY-RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND PASSIVE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COMPANIES. A Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt securities or certain foreign currency options, futures contracts or forward contracts (or similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by a Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

Equity investments by a Fund in certain foreign corporations classified for U.S. tax purposes as “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from a disposition of shares in the PFIC, which tax could not be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, a Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, a Fund may elect in certain cases to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which event the Fund will be required to include in income its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether the Fund receives any distributions from the PFIC. A Fund also may make an election to mark any gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its holdings in a PFIC “to the market” as though it had sold and, solely for purposes of this mark-to-market election, repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total returns. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. Certain Canadian royalty trusts qualify as PFICs. If a Fund indirectly invests in PFICs by virtue of the Fund’s investment in other funds, it may not make such PFIC elections; rather, the underlying funds directly investing in the PFICs would decide whether to make such elections.

A PFIC is any foreign corporation if (i) 75% of more of the corporation’s income for a taxable year is passive income, or (ii) 50% or more of the average percentage of the corporation’s assets (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) produce or are held for the production of passive income. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

BACKUP WITHHOLDING. Each Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury under the backup withholding rules a percentage of the proceeds of Share sales, exchanges, or redemptions made by, and the dividends and other distributions paid to, any individual shareholder who (i) fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), (ii) who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or (iii) who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rules may also apply to distributions that are properly reported as exempt-interest dividends. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

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

SHAREHOLDER REPORTING OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO FOREIGN BANK AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS. Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund by vote or value could be required to report annually their “financial interest” in the Fund’s “foreign financial accounts,” if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Shareholders should consult a tax adviser, and persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION CONCERNING FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS. Distributions by a Fund to a shareholder that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign shareholder”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) short-term capital gain dividends, and (3) interest-related dividends, each as defined below and subject to certain conditions described below, and (4) exempt-interest dividends, generally are not subject to withholding of federal income tax (except that exempt-interest dividends may be subject to backup withholding).

In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, in each case, to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders.

The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and “short-term capital gain dividends” do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual foreign shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by a foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. The exception to withholding for “interest-related dividends” does not apply to distributions to a foreign shareholder (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person to the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation. If a Fund invests in a RIC that pays Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends or interest-related dividends to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to foreign shareholders. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as short-term capital gain and/or interest-related dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. In the case of Shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary is permitted to withhold even if a Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend.

Foreign shareholders should contact their intermediaries with respect to the application of these rules to their accounts.

Distributions by the Fund to foreign shareholders other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends, interest-related dividends and exempt-interest dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

A foreign shareholder is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of Shares of a Fund, unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States, (ii) in the case of a foreign shareholder that is an individual, the shareholder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the foreign shareholder’s sale of Shares of a Fund (as described below).

Foreign shareholders with respect to whom income from a Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the foreign shareholder within the United States will in general be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income derived from the Fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in Shares of the Fund and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States. More generally, foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Special rules would apply if a Fund were a “qualified investment entity” (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the past five years. A Fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and RICs that are QIEs, not-greater-than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in RICs generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether a Fund is a QIE.

If an interest in a Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, in which case such foreign shareholder generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

If a Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its Shares) that are attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s foreign shareholders, and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a foreign shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the foreign shareholder’s current and past ownership of the Fund.

Foreign shareholders of a Fund also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.

Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisers and, if holding Shares through intermediaries, their intermediaries, concerning the application of these rules to their investment in a Fund.

In order for a foreign shareholder to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, and/or to establish an exemption from backup withholding (also discussed above), the foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements. Foreign shareholders in a Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard.

Special rules (including withholding and reporting requirements) apply to foreign partnerships and those holding Fund Shares through foreign partnerships. In addition, additional considerations may apply to foreign trusts and estates. Investors holding Fund Shares through foreign entities should consult their tax advisers about their particular situations.

A foreign shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the federal estate tax in addition to the federal tax on income referred to above.

OTHER REPORTING AND WITHHOLDING REQUIREMENTS. Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require a Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays. The IRS and the U.S. Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not apply to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or Capital Gain Dividends the Fund pays. If a payment by the Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends). Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION CONCERNING TAX-EXEMPT SHAREHOLDERS. Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt entity that is a shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a Fund if Shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Section 514(b) of the Code.

A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if a Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT (as defined in Section 664 of the Code) that realizes any UBTI for a taxable year must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI as a result of investing in a Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a Share in a Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, each Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. The Funds have not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Funds.

SHARES PURCHASED THROUGH TAX-QUALIFIED PLANS. Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans or tax-advantaged arrangements. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the suitability of Shares of a Fund as investments through such plans and arrangements and the precise effect of such investments in their particular tax situations.

GENERAL. Information set forth in the Prospectuses and this SAI that relates to federal taxation is only a summary of some of the important federal tax considerations generally affecting purchasers of Shares of the Funds. No attempt has been made to present a detailed explanation of the federal income tax treatment of a Fund or its shareholders and this discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential purchasers of Shares of a Fund are urged to consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situation (especially with respect to foreign, state or local taxation). In addition, the tax discussions in the Prospectuses and this SAI are based on tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of the Prospectuses and this SAI; such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action, and such changes may be retroactive.

ADDITIONAL TAX INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TAX-FREE BOND FUNDS. As indicated in the Prospectuses, the North Carolina Fund, the South Carolina Fund, the Virginia Fund, and the West Virginia Fund are designed to provide North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia shareholders, respectively, with current tax-exempt interest income. The Funds are not intended to constitute a balanced investment program and are not designed for investors seeking capital appreciation or maximum tax-exempt income irrespective of fluctuations in principal. Shares of the Tax-Free Bond Funds would not be suitable for tax-exempt institutions and may not be suitable for retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code, so-called Keogh or H.R. 10 plans, and individual retirement accounts. Such plans and accounts are generally tax-exempt and, therefore, would not realize any benefit from the dividends of the Tax-Free Bond Funds being tax-exempt, and such dividends will be taxable to the beneficiaries of such plans and accounts when distributed to them.

Dividends that are derived from interest on a Fund’s investments in U.S. Government Securities and received by a shareholder who is a North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia resident are currently eligible for exemption from those states’ income taxes. Such dividends may be eligible for exemption from the state and local taxes of other jurisdictions as well, although state and local tax authorities may not agree with this view. However, in South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia as well as in other states, distributions of income derived from repurchase agreements and securities lending transactions generally will not qualify for exemption from state and local income taxes.

Distributions from the North Carolina Fund will not be subject to North Carolina income tax if made to individual shareholders residing in North Carolina or to trusts or estates subject to North Carolina income tax to the extent such distributions are either (i) attributable to interest on obligations of North Carolina or its political subdivisions, or (ii) attributable to interest on direct obligations of the United States, or its possessions.

Distributions from the South Carolina Fund will not be subject to South Carolina income tax if made to individual shareholders residing in South Carolina or to trusts or estates subject to South Carolina income tax to the extent such distributions are either (i) attributable to interest on obligations of South Carolina or its political subdivisions, including any agencies, instrumentalities and authorities thereof which are exempt from federal income taxes, or (ii) attributable to interest on direct obligations of the United States. However, distributions from the South Carolina Fund may be subject to certain estate, transfer and certain franchise taxes by South Carolina.

Distributions from the Virginia Fund will not be subject to Virginia income tax if the Virginia Fund pays distributions to shareholders that it derived from interest on debt obligations of Virginia or its political subdivisions, debt obligations of the United States excludable from Virginia income tax under the laws of the United States, or debt obligations of Puerto Rico, Guam, or the Virgin Islands, which debt obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the borrowing government.

Distributions from the West Virginia Fund will not be subject to West Virginia income tax if the West Virginia Fund pays distributions to shareholders that it derived from interest on debt obligations of West Virginia or its political subdivisions or debt obligations of the United States and some of its authorities, commissions, or instrumentalities.

If a shareholder receives an exempt-interest dividend with respect to any Share and such Share is held for 6 months or less, any loss on the sale or exchange of such Share will be disallowed for North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia tax purposes to the extent of the amount of such exempt-interest dividend, even though some portion of such dividend actually may have been subject to North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia income tax.

Distributions by the Tax-Free Bond Funds of net long-term capital gains on securities held for more than one year are taxable to shareholders as such, regardless of how long the shareholder has held Shares in a Tax-Free Bond Fund, except distributions which are directly attributable to gains from certain obligations of the State of North Carolina and its political subdivisions that were issued before July 1, 1995 are exempt from North Carolina state income tax. Distributions will be taxable as described above even if the NAV of a Share in a Tax-Free Bond Fund is reduced below the shareholder’s cost of that Share by the distribution of income or gain realized on the sale of securities and the distribution is, as an economic matter, a return of capital.

Part or all of the interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry Shares of the North Carolina Fund, the South Carolina Fund, the Virginia Fund, or the West Virginia Fund is not deductible, or requires a modification increasing adjusted gross income, for federal, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia income tax purposes.

Distributions of exempt-interest dividends, to the extent attributable to interest on North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations and to interest on direct obligations of the United States (including territories thereof), are not subject to North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, or West Virginia individual or corporate income tax. Distributions from the South Carolina Fund may be subject to certain estate, transfer and certain franchise taxes by South Carolina. Distributions of gains attributable to certain obligations of the State of North Carolina and its political subdivisions issued prior to July 1, 1995 are not subject to North Carolina individual or corporate income tax; however, distributions of gains attributable to such types of obligations that were issued after June 30, 1995 will be subject to North Carolina individual or corporate income tax. Distributions of gains attributable to obligations of the State of South Carolina are subject to South Carolina individual and corporate income tax. Individuals who are shareholders in West Virginia cannot reduce their West Virginia AGI for any portion of interest or dividends received from a Fund derived from income on obligations of any state, or political subdivision thereof, other than West Virginia, regardless of any Federal law exemption, such as that accorded “exempt-interest dividends;” and they must increase their West Virginia Adjusted Gross Income (“AGI”) by the amount of such interest or dividend income. Also, an individual who is a shareholder must increase his West Virginia AGI by interest on indebtedness incurred (directly or indirectly) to purchase or hold Shares of a Fund to the extent such interest was deductible in determining Federal AGI. The sale, exchange or redemption of Fund Shares is subject to the West Virginia income tax to the extent the gain or loss therefrom affects the determination of the shareholder’s Federal AGI.

The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal and state tax considerations generally affecting purchasers of Shares of the Tax-Free Bond Funds. No attempt has been made to present a detailed explanation of the federal or state income tax treatment of the Tax-Free Bond Funds or their shareholders and this discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential purchasers of Shares of the Tax-Free Bond Funds are urged to consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situation. In addition, the foregoing discussion is based on tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this SAI; such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS

The concentration of investments in North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations by the North Carolina Fund raises special investment considerations. In particular, changes in the economic condition and governmental policies of North Carolina and its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, and authorities could adversely affect the value of the North Carolina Fund and its portfolio securities. This section provides a brief summary of recent economic trends in North Carolina. The information set forth below is derived from official statements of the North Carolina government and other sources that are generally available to investors. No independent verification has been made of the following information.

Economy. North Carolina’s economy is relatively diverse and includes a major banking center, a strong agricultural sector, an active trade sector, and a developing service sector. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, North Carolina’s estimated population as of July 1, 2022, grew to approximately 10.7 million. The state’s population has consistently grown in recent years; as of 2022, North Carolina is the 9^th most populous state in the nation.

North Carolina’s economy improved over the past year and has been growing over recent years. Labor market indicators demonstrate that the number of payroll jobs has rebounded from the pandemic. While the labor force participation rate has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the labor force participation rate has improved. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina’s unemployment rate declined from 4.4% in October 2021 to 3.8% in October 2022, which rate was close to the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reported for October 2022 of 3.7%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the seasonally adjusted non-farm employment in North Carolina in October 2022 accounted for approximately 4,832,800 jobs, which represents a 4.3% increase since October 2021. The largest job gains were in the leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and other services.

Budgetary Process. Under North Carolina’s constitutional and statutory scheme, the state’s governor is required to prepare and propose a biennial budget to the General Assembly. The General Assembly is responsible for considering the budget proposed by the governor and enacting the final biennial budget, which must be balanced. In enacting the final budget, the General Assembly may modify the budget proposed by the governor as it deems necessary. The governor is responsible for administering the biennial budget enacted by the General Assembly. The full budgetary process takes place in “odd” years. In “even” years, the governor may recommend budget adjustments for the General Assembly’s consideration. The most recently completed biennial budget period was July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. The General Assembly passed a biennial budget for July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023 in November 2021, which the governor signed.

Finances. As of June 30, 2022, North Carolina’s assets and deferred outflows of resources exceeded liabilities and deferred inflows of resources by $77.77 billion. North Carolina’s overall net position increased $11.33 billion or 17.05% (total primary government) from the prior fiscal year. Over time, increases or decreases in net position may serve as a useful indicator of whether the financial position of the state is improving or declining. As of June 30, 2022, North Carolina’s General Fund, which is the chief operating fund of the state, held assets totaling approximately $18.43 billion, which was an increase of 54.06% over the previous year.

North Carolina Tax Rate. North Carolina’s individual income tax system applies a flat rate that was 5.25% in 2021 and 4.99% in 2022. The most recent North Carolina Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (“CAFR”) indicates that individual income tax revenue increased $2.48 billion, or 16.12%, year-over-year between fiscal year ended July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. According to the CAFR, North Carolina’s personal income has shown substantial growth during the fiscal year (4.7%), leading to the individual income tax revenue growth. On the whole, tax revenues increased by 14.94% from 2021 to 2022, according to CAFR.

Debt. As of June 30, 2022, North Carolina had total long-term debt outstanding (bonds, special indebtedness, and notes from direct borrowings) of approximately $8.24 billion, a decrease of 1.99% from the previous fiscal year-end. The state issues two types of tax-supported debt: general obligation bonds, which are supported by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the state and require approval by a majority of voters, and various types of “special indebtedness” (i.e., debt not subject to a vote of the state’s citizens), which are subject to appropriation by the North Carolina General Assembly and may also be secured by a lien on facilities or equipment. General obligations of the State of North Carolina remained rated “Aaa” by Moody’s and “AAA” by S&P and Fitch in 2022, making North Carolina one of thirteen states with a triple-A rating from each of these rating agencies. North Carolina’s debt is considered manageable at current levels when compared with its peer group composed of twelve other states rated triple-A. There can be no assurance that the economic conditions on which these ratings are based will continue or that particular bond issues may not be adversely affected by changes in economic or political conditions. Further, the credit of the State of North Carolina is not material to the ability of political subdivisions and other borrowers that have issued publicly-financed North Carolina bonds to make payments on such obligations.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS

The concentration of investments in South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations by the South Carolina Fund raises special investment considerations. In particular, changes in the economic condition and governmental policies of South Carolina and its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, and authorities could adversely affect the value of the South Carolina Fund and its portfolio securities. This section briefly describes current economic trends in South Carolina. The information set forth below is derived from official statements prepared in connection with the issuance of South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations and other sources that are generally available to investors. Sterling Capital Funds has not independently verified this information.

The South Carolina Constitution requires the General Assembly to provide a balanced budget process. South Carolina law provides that General Assembly shall, if a deficit appears likely, effect such reductions in appropriations as may be necessary to prevent a deficit. The State Constitution further provides that annual increases in state appropriations may not exceed the annual growth rate of the economy of the State and that the annual increases in the number of state employees may not exceed the average growth of the population of the State. Such limits on growth are subject to suspension (for any one fiscal year) by an affirmative vote in each House of the General Assembly by 2/3 of the members present and voting, but not less than 3/5 of the total membership in each House.

The South Carolina Constitution requires the establishment of a General Reserve Fund for the purpose of covering operating deficits of state government. In November 2022, the South Carolina Constitution was amended by referendum to increase the required funding amount of the General Reserve Fund from 5% to 7% of the general fund revenues of the latest completed fiscal year. The funding requirement will be phased in incrementally by 0.5% each year. Funds may be withdrawn from the General Reserve Fund only for the purpose of covering operating deficits of state government and the General Assembly is required to provide for the orderly restoration of funds withdrawn from the General Reserve Fund through procedures set forth in the South Carolina Constitution.

The South Carolina Constitution also requires the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund. In November 2022, the South Carolina Constitution was amended by referendum to increase the funding requirement from 2% to 3% of the general fund revenues of the latest completed fiscal year. Additionally, the constitutional amendment allows Capital Reserve Fund moneys to be used to offset mid-year budget reductions, thereby allowing the State to potentially avoid mid-year budget cuts if revenues are lower than expected.

For fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, the General Reserve Fund had a beginning balance of $440.238 million, which increased from the prior year by $34.024 million appropriated by the 2018-2019 Appropriations Act and the Capital Reserve Fund had a beginning balance of $183.584 million, which increased from the prior year by $21.099 million appropriated by the 2018-2019 Appropriations Act.

As noted above, the State Constitution requires a procedure for the monitoring of revenues and expenditures with a view to a reduction of appropriations as may be necessary to prevent a deficit. The State Board of Economic Advisors provides projections and forecasts of revenues and expenditures and advises the State Fiscal Accountability Authority on economic trends. Particularly with respect to the constitutional requirement of monitoring revenues, statutory provisions require that the Board of Economic Advisors provide to the State Fiscal Accountability Authority quarterly estimates of state revenues.

Effective July 1, 2015, if at the end of the first, second or third quarter of any fiscal year, the Board of Economic Advisors reduces the revenue forecast for the fiscal year by 3% or less, within 3 days of that determination the Director of the Executive Budget Office must reduce general fund appropriations by the requisite amount as prescribed by law and further must immediately notify the State Treasurer and Comptroller General of the reduction. Upon that notification, the appropriations are considered reduced; however, no agencies, departments, institutions, activity, program, item, special appropriation, or allocation for which the General Assembly has provided funding may be discontinued, deleted, or deferred by the Director of the Executive Budget Office. The Director of the Executive Budget is required to apply any reduction to the rate of expenditure as uniformly as practicable, except that no reduction may be applied to funds encumbered by a written contract with any agency, department, or institution not connected with state government. If at the end of the first, second, or third quarter of any fiscal year the Board of Economic Advisors reduces the revenue forecast for the fiscal year by more than 3%, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may call each respective house into session to take action to avoid a year-end deficit. If the General Assembly does not take action within 20 days of the determination of the Board of Economic Advisors, the Director of the Executive Budget Office is required to reduce general fund appropriations by the requisite amount in the manner prescribed by law and in accordance with the provisions that apply to a reduction of 3% or less, as described above.

General Fund Revenues

Estimated General Fund revenues for the 2022 fiscal year were $12.124 billion. Actual revenues at June 30, 2022, were $880.126 million, or 7.3%, over the estimated revenue used in the fiscal year 2022 budget appropriations act. This also represented an increase in collections over the prior year of $2.545 billion, or 24.3%. Individual income and sales tax collections are the fund’s major revenue sources. Individual income tax collections ended the year over the adjusted estimate by $439.411 million and sales tax collections ended the year over the adjusted estimate by $246.661 million. Actual expenditures were $3.432 billion less than actual revenues. Also, expenditures were kept $1.454 billion under fiscal year 2022 adjusted appropriations. In addition, $1.434 billion of unbudgeted spending occurred through “open-ended” appropriations. Actual expenditures were kept under actual revenues and budgeted expenditures due to conservative budgeting practices by the State, as the economy throughout fiscal year 2022 was highly unpredictable with rapidly rising inflation and a stock market correction in the second half of the fiscal year.

Summary of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Appropriation Act

During fiscal year 2021-22, budgetary appropriations increased by $520.0 million. The General Assembly provided an employee pay increase of 2.5%, totaling $59.4 million for State employees, and the increase in health insurance premiums for 2022 is fully funded. An additional $32.4 million dollars was appropriated to fund the statutorily-required 1% increase in retirement contributions. Funding for K-12 education increased by $146.5 million, including $72 million to increase teacher salaries by $1,000 and other direct funding to school districts of $65 million. The General Assembly also appropriated $14.9 million for maintenance of effort in the Medicaid program. Institutions of higher learning received $48.2 million to mitigate tuition increases and $370 million for infrastructure. The fiscal year 2021-22 budget includes $282.3 million in funding for local governments, an increase of 11.2% over fiscal year 2020-21. Agencies also received $1.58 billion in nonrecurring funding, including $35.4 million for economic development and $94.2 million statewide for projects benefiting our tourism and agricultural sectors. The General Reserve Fund and Capital Reserve Fund are fully funded at a combined total of $642.5 million.

Summary of the Fiscal Year 2020-21 Continuing Resolution and Budget Process

On March 11, 2020, the South Carolina House of Representatives gave approval to a draft budget plan. Prior to the budget being considered by the State Senate, however, the General Assembly’s session was suspended due to concerns about the potential spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Before the session was suspended, an initial appropriation of $45 million was made from the Contingency Reserve Fund to a newly created COVID-19 Response Reserve at the Department of Health and Environmental Control for response efforts related to COVID-19.

The South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors (the “BEA”) subsequently reduced the FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 revenue estimates, reducing the forecasted surplus in FY 2019-20 from $567.5 million to $40.1 million, and reducing the forecasted recurring revenue growth for FY 2020-21 from $886 million to $185.8 million. The BEA also advised the General Assembly that the FY 2020-21 forecast would be revisited once year-end data was available in August of 2020. With the FY 2020-21 revenue estimate well in excess of FY 2019-20 appropriations and with work still to do on a FY 2020-21 spending plan, the General Assembly decided to delay the budget debate and adopt a Continuing Resolution (H.3411) to allow for additional time to identify needs and challenges related to COVID-19. On May 19, 2020, the General Assembly approved the Continuing Resolution to allow for the operation of State government until such a time as a revised revenue forecast was available. A Sine Die resolution (S.1194) was also passed to allow the General Assembly to return into legislative session from September 15^th through September 24^th to consider the Appropriations Bill and other matters relating to COVID-19.

The General Assembly also met on June 23^rd and June 24^th of 2020 for the purpose of authorizing federal expenditures from South Carolina’s $1.9 billion share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and to increase one-time funding for COVID-19 response efforts (H.5202). This included additional spending from the Contingency Reserve Fund to the COVID Response Reserve ($155.0 million), to the Disaster Trust Fund ($20.0 million), to the Medical University of South Carolina for COVID-19 Testing ($25.0 million), and to the Department of Administration for CARES Act compliance efforts. With respect to CARES Act funds, spending of $1.3 billion of the $1.9 billion allocated to South Carolina was authorized in this legislation. This spending includes $500 million to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce for the Unemployment Trust Fund, $222 million to the South Carolina Department of Education for academic recovery camps for grades K-8, $125 million for public and private hospitals and $50 million to expand broadband access in underserved areas. The remainder was allocated to State and local government entities for supplies and expenses related to the COVID-19 response.

The General Assembly met during the weeks of September 14^th and September 21^st of 2020 to consider the authorization of the remaining CARES Act funds. The General Assembly approved H.3210 which authorized an additional $93 million for COVID-19 statewide testing, an additional $420 million for the Unemployment Trust Fund, $25 million for nonprofit relief, and $40 million for Minority and Small Business Relief. The remainder was authorized for local government entities and independent colleges and universities for COVID-19 related expenditures. At that time, the revenue forecast for FY 2020-21 supported continuing appropriations at the prior year level. Therefore, the General Assembly elected to continue to operate under the Continuing Resolution, with the option to revisit the current year budget in January if necessary. Despite the impact of the pandemic, revenues grew 13.2% for the fiscal year and exceeded expenses by $1.024 billion.

Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget Process

Due to conservative budgeting in FY 2020-21 with the Continuing Resolution and continued high revenue growth, the FY 2022-23 budget process has $1.519 billion in new recurring revenue for appropriation and forecasted surpluses totaling $3.109 billion from last fiscal year and this year. In addition, the Litigation Recovery Account has an available balance of $53.9 million.

The House of Representatives’ budget provides $101.8 million for the 18.1% health insurance premium increase, which funds the employer and employee share of the cost and expanded well visits. It also provides $72.6 million for a base pay increase of 3% for State employees. The House of Representatives’ budget also proposes funding the statutorily-required 1% increase in the retirement contributions at $37.2 million with an additional $115 million in non-recurring funds to catch-up for the suspension of the retirement contribution increase schedule for all funding sources, including federal, that was suspended temporarily in FY 2020-21 due to the pandemic. Funding to agencies includes $200 million for Medicaid maintenance of effort, $120 million in State matching funds for federal transportation expenditures, and $350 million to the State’s Naval Base Intermodal Facility (S.C. Ports Authority) for infrastructure improvements. The House of Representatives’ budget would also increase funding to K-12 education by $250 million, including funding to increase teacher salaries to a minimum of $40,000. The budget incorporates the proposed income tax rate reductions as passed by the House and the recommended reserve fund increases.

The State Senate’s budget similarly provides for funding the health insurance premium increase, proposes a pay increase of 3% for State employees, and funds the 1% increase in retirement contributions for FY 2022-23. The Senate also incorporates proposed tax reductions and reserve fund increases as passed by the body. The Senate income tax proposal also includes a one-time tax rebate of up to $700 per return. The Senate funded K-12 education and healthcare at levels similar to the House. The Senate also provided similar funding for the Naval Base Intermodal Facility and federal matching funds for transportation projects. In addition, the Senate’s budget proposes appropriating $450 million to the State’s Closing Fund for economic development.

Revenues

Total recurring general fund revenues for FY 2021-22 are forecasted to increase over the FY 2019-20 Appropriation Act by $222.0 million. This figure is net of the mandated General Reserve Fund contribution. Nonrecurring revenues of $775.0 million are available for appropriation, which includes $162.5 million released from the FY 2019-20 Capital Reserve Fund, $103.5 million in fiscal year 2018-19 surplus revenues, and $462.6 million in fiscal year 2019-20 surplus revenues. Education Improvement Act revenues are forecasted to increase by $44.2 million over FY 2019-20.

Total recurring general fund revenues for FY 2022-23 are forecasted to increase over the FY 2021-22 Appropriation Act amount by $1,918.7 million. This figure is net of the mandated Capital Reserve Fund contribution. Nonrecurring revenues of $3,997.0 million are available for appropriation, which includes $183.6 million released from the FY 2021-22 Capital Reserve Fund, $1,023.8 million in FY 2020-21 surplus revenues, and $2,789.6 million in FY 2021-22 projected surplus revenues, less the General Reserve Fund contribution. An additional $525.0 million recovered from litigation with the U. S. Department of Energy is also available for appropriation. Education Improvement Act revenues are forecasted to increase by $110.2 million over FY 2021-22 appropriations.

Recent Revenue Results

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021. The revenue estimate for the State’s budgetary General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, as adopted by the BEA on November 8, 2019, was $9,599.7 million. The revenue estimate was adjusted upward slightly in February of 2020 to $9,624.7 million. However, after the onset of the pandemic in the spring of 2020, the estimate was lowered several times that year with the lowest estimate of $8,821.0 million in November. Actual revenues for FY 2020-21 were $9,431.4 million. Both the General Reserve Fund and the Capital Reserve Fund were fully funded for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, at the constitutionally required amounts of $440.2 million and $176.1 million, respectively.

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022. The revenue estimate for the State’s budgetary General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, as adopted by the BEA on November 10, 2020, was $8,959.0 million. The estimate was reevaluated in February of 2021, but was not changed. In April of 2021, the estimate was increased to $9,275.4 million. The estimate was further increased in November of 2021 to $10,257.3 million. As revenues have remained strong during the fiscal year, the BEA increased the estimate in February of 2022 to $11,822.2 million. A final revision was adopted on May 24, 2022, increasing the forecast to $12,774.3 million. Actual revenues for FY 2020-21 were $13,654.4 million.

Revenue Estimates

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023. The revenue estimate for the State’s budgetary General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, as adopted by the BEA on November 16, 2022, was $12.46 billion.  This figure represents a decline of 8.7 percent from the prior fiscal year’s actual revenue and includes the impact of the income tax reduction adopted by the General Assembly.  The estimate, however, still represents an increase over the May 2022 estimate by $1.39 billion due to higher than-expected revenues in FY 2021-22 and growth in early FY 2022-23. 

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024. The revenue estimate for the State’s budgetary General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, as adopted by the BEA on November 16, 2022, was $12.30 billion, a decrease of 1.3 percent from the updated forecast for FY 2022-23.  Even with this decrease, the FY 202324 forecast is above the long-term revenue trends observed prior to the pandemic.

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

On December 27, 2020, H.R. 133, was signed into law by the President. This federal legislation includes a number of federal relief measures, including expansions of the Paycheck Protection Program, individual stimulus payments, and unemployment programs. State agencies are still analyzing the impact of this legislation and this additional infusion of funding is not accounted for in the most recent State revenue estimates.

The State’s audited Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 is available at: FY 2021-2022 | Comptroller General (sc.gov).

The State has not defaulted on its bonded debt since 1879 and has not incurred any debt to fund operating deficits since 1932. South Carolina’s general obligation bonds are currently rated Aaa by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc., AAA by Fitch Ratings, and AA+ by S&P Global Ratings. Such ratings apply only to the general obligation bonded indebtedness of the state and do not apply to bonds issued by political subdivisions or to revenue bonds not backed by the full faith and credit of the State. There can be no assurance that the economic conditions on which the above ratings are based will continue or that particular bond issues may not be adversely affected by changes in economic or political conditions.

Historically, the State’s economy was dependent on agriculture until well into the 20th century; thereafter, manufacturing became the leading contributor to the State’s gross domestic product. Since the 1950’s, the State’s economy has undergone a diversification and today South Carolina is one of the fastest growing economies on the East Coast. The State is home to major automotive and aerospace companies and it is developing such new industries as composites and advanced materials, high-tech and information services and medical and life sciences.

Population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2020 Census shows the resident population of South Carolina of 5,118,425 on April 1, 2020, compared to 4,625,364 in the 2010 Census, an increase of 493,061 or 10.7%. The State’s population estimate in 2021 was 5.19 million, or 1.2% over 2020, compared to increases of 0.6% for the Southeast and 0.1% for the nation. The table below shows South Carolina’s resident population and the annual change in its population relative to the Southeast and the nation since 2011.

Per Capita Personal Income. In 2021, the State's per capita personal income increased to $52,074 or 6.6% over 2020, compared to increases of 7.5% for the Southeast and 7.3% for the nation. The State's per capita personal income in 2021 was 82.1% of the national per capita personal income (compared to 82.6% in 2020) and 88.5% of the Southeast (compared to 88.3% in 2020).

Real Gross Domestic Product. In 2021, principal contributors to the State’s gross domestic product were financial activities (18.7%), manufacturing (15.8%), followed by government (14.4%). During the years 2016 to 2021, the fastest growing contributors to the State’s gross domestic product were information (10.2%) and Professional and Business Services (4.5%). The State’s total gross domestic product grew at an average annual growth rate of 2.2% versus 1.9% for southeastern states and the nation from 2016 to 2021.

Employment. Over the 2011-2021 period, the compounded annual employment growth rate in South Carolina was higher than in the South Atlantic and in the nation. In April 2022, the State’s employment level reached an historic monthly high with 2,336,853 (preliminary) employed.

SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE SOUTH CAROLINA FUND

The State of South Carolina has the power to issue general obligation bonds based on the full faith and credit of the State. Under Article X of the Constitution of the State of South Carolina, the State may issue general obligation debt without either a referendum or a supermajority of the General Assembly, within limits defined by reference to anticipated sources of revenue for bonds issued for particular purposes. A referendum or supermajority of the General Assembly may authorize additional general obligation debt. Article X further requires the levy and collection of an ad valorem tax if debt service payments on general obligation debt are not made.

Political subdivisions are also empowered to issue general obligation bonds, which are backed only by the full faith and credit of that political subdivision, and not by the resources of the State or any other political subdivision. Political subdivisions are empowered to levy ad valorem property taxes on certain real property and personal property to raise funds for the payment of general obligation bonds. General obligation debt may be incurred only for a public purpose which is also a corporate purpose of the applicable political subdivision.

Under Article X of the State Constitution, political subdivisions are empowered to issue aggregate general obligation indebtedness up to 8% of the assessed value of all taxable property within the political subdivision (exclusive of debt incurred before the effective date of Article X with respect to such subdivisions) without a referendum. A referendum may authorize additional general obligation debt. The ordinance or resolution authorizing bonded debt of a political subdivision also directs the levy and collection of ad valorem taxes to pay the debt. In addition, Article X of the State Constitution provides for withholding by the State Treasurer of any state appropriations to a political subdivision which has failed to make punctual payment of general obligation bonds. Such withheld appropriations, to the extent available, shall be applied to the bonded debt. Political subdivisions are not generally authorized to assess income taxes, or to pledge any form of tax other than ad valorem property taxes, for the payment of general obligation bonds. Political subdivisions may pledge certain additional revenues, however, to secure their general obligation bonds and, certain political subdivisions have been authorized to impose a limited-duration 1% sales tax to defray the debt service on bonds for certain capital projects.

Industrial development bonds and other forms of revenue bonds issued by the State or a political subdivision are not secured by the full faith and credit of the State or the issuing entity. Such bonds are payable only from revenues derived from a specific facility or revenue source.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN VIRGINIA TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS

The Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund will invest primarily in Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund Obligations. For this reason, the Fund is affected by political, economic, regulatory or other developments that constrain the taxing, revenue-collecting and spending authority of Virginia issuers or otherwise affect the ability of Virginia issuers to pay interest, principal, or any premium. The following information constitutes only a brief summary of certain of these developments and does not purport to be a complete description of them. The information has been obtained from recent official statements prepared by the Commonwealth of Virginia relating to its securities, and no independent investigation has been undertaken to verify its accuracy. Moreover, the information relates only to the state itself and not to the numerous special purpose or local government units whose issues may also be held by the Fund. The credits represented by such issues may be affected by a wide variety of local factors or structuring concerns, and no disclosure is made here relating to such matters.

The following is a summary of certain economic markers of Virginia’s economy, including employment information, personal income information and retail sales. As reported by the Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia’s unemployment rate as of November 2021 was 3.4 percent, compared to 4.2 percent for the United States as a whole. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, estimated personal income for Virginians in 2020 was over $535.7 billion. This results in a per capita income of $61,958, which ranked twelfth among states and greater than the national average of approximately $59,510. In 2020, per capita income increased by 5.5 percent, compared to an increase of 6.2 percent for the United States as a whole. During 2020, taxable retail sales decreased by approximately 3.2 percent and grew by approximately 1.6 percent during 2019. During 2020, Virginia saw a 4.3 percent increase in the number of residential building permits issued over 2019. Further, there was a 9.5 percent increase in the value of new construction.

Among the nonagricultural employment sectors in Virginia, the service sector is the largest, followed by the public administration sector, which includes federal, state, and local government, and retail trade.

According to statistics published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Virginia Labor Market Information, Virginia’s unemployment rate from 2012 to November 2021 was less than the national unemployment rate each year. Virginia is one of twenty-six states with a right-to-work law and has a record of good labor-management relations. Virginia’s favorable business climate is reflected in the relatively small number of strikes and other work stoppages it experiences. Virginia is one of the least unionized of the more industrialized states.

The Constitution of Virginia vests the ultimate responsibility and authority for levying taxes and appropriating revenue in the General Assembly, but the Governor has broad authority to manage the budgetary process. The Governor is required by statute to present a bill detailing his proposed budget for the next biennium (the “Budget Bill”) and a narrative summary of the bill to the General Assembly by December 20th in the year immediately prior to each even year session. The Budget Bill is introduced in both the House of Delegates and the Senate. It is referred to the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, which hold joint meetings to hear from citizens, from other General Assembly members and from agency representatives. The Budget Bill is then approved by each Committee in an open session and reported to the respective floors for consideration, debate, amendment and passage. After the bill has passed both houses, differences between the House and Senate versions are reconciled by a conference committee from both houses. Under constitutional provisions, the Governor retains the right in his review of legislative action on the Budget Bill, to suggest alterations to or to veto appropriations made by the General Assembly. After enactment, the Budget Bill becomes law (the “Appropriation Act”).

Once an Appropriation Act becomes law, implementation and administration of the provisions of the Appropriation Act are functions of the Governor, assisted by the Secretary of Finance and the Department of Planning and Budget. This process also involves constant monitoring of revenue collections and expenditures to ensure that a balanced budget is maintained. The Appropriation Act requires that if projected revenue collections fall below amounts appropriated, the Governor must reduce expenditures and withhold allotments of appropriations, with the exception of amounts needed for debt service and specified other purposes, to the extent necessary to prevent any expenditure in excess of estimated revenues. The Appropriation Act provides that up to 15 percent of a General Fund appropriation to an agency may be withheld, if required.

The Constitution of Virginia requires the Governor to ensure that expenses do not exceed total revenues anticipated plus fund balances during the period of two years and six months following the end of the General Assembly session in which the appropriations are made. Virginia’s Revenue Stabilization Fund was established under the Constitution of Virginia and is available to offset, in part, anticipated shortfalls in revenues in years when revenues are forecasted to decline by more than two percent of the certified tax revenues collected in the most recently ended fiscal year. The maximum balance of the Revenue Stabilization Fund is 15 percent of Virginia’s average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales for the three immediately preceding fiscal years, as certified by Virginia’s Auditor of Public Accounts, and the Revenue Stabilization Fund had a balance of $639.6 million as of June 30, 2021.

Beginning in 2018, the Commonwealth established, by statute, a second reserve fund entitled the Revenue Reserve Fund (the “Reserve Fund”). The General Assembly may appropriate to the Reserve Fund any surplus revenues after making constitutionally mandated transfers. The monies in the Reserve Fund may be used to offset, in whole or in part, certain anticipated shortfalls in revenue when appropriations based on previous forecasts exceed expected revenues in subsequent forecasts. If a revenue shortfall is two percent or less of General Fund resources collected in the most recently ended fiscal year, the General Assembly may appropriate an amount for transfer from the Reserve Fund not to exceed 50 percent of the amount in the Reserve Fund. The total amount in the Stabilization Fund and the Reserve Fund may not exceed 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the three fiscal years immediately preceding.

On December 16, 2020, Governor Northam presented his proposed amendments to the 2020 Special Session Appropriation Act, impacting the remainder of the 2020-2022 biennium. The starting point for the Governor’s introduced amended budget was Chapter 56 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, which was enacted on November 18, 2020. The Governor’s introduced 2021 amended budget bill was considered by the 2021 Session of the General Assembly which convened on January 13, 2021. The General Assembly continued their consideration of the Governor’s introduced budget amendments into the 2021 Special Session I, which adjourned on March 1, 2021, offering their recommendations for additional amendments to the bill. At the April 7, 2021 reconvened session, the Governor offered executive amendments that were considered and folded into the amended budget for the 2020-22 biennium. As a result of the adoption of all the Governor’s proposed reconvened session amendment by the General Assembly, the 2021 Appropriation Act, also known as Chapter 552, 2021 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, became effective on April 7, 2021.

General Fund appropriation changes in the 2021 Appropriation Act focused on the following: responding to ongoing needs related to COVID-19 pandemic; restoration of priority programs; providing employee compensation and benefits; strengthening fiscal integrity through deposits to reserves; and preservation of liquidity to operate government and deliver services. After General Fund resource changes, savings, and spending, the 2021 Appropriation Act results in an estimated $8.1 million general fund balance at the end of the biennium.

On December 16, 2021, Governor Northam presented amendments to the 2021 Appropriation Act affecting appropriations for the remainder of the 2020-2022 biennium, primarily fiscal year 2022. These amendments to the 2021 Appropriation Act were considered by the 2022 Session of the General Assembly which convened on January 12, 2022. The General Assembly adjourned on March 12, 2022 without a budget agreement. The General Assembly convened a special session on April 4, 2022 and offered its recommendations for additional amendments to the bill on June 1, 2022. At the June 17, 2022 reconvened special session, Governor Glenn Youngkin offered executive amendments that were considered and agreed to by the General Assembly and subsequently folded into the amended budget for the 2020-2022 biennium. The 2022 Amendments to the 2021 Appropriation Act, also known as Chapter I, 2022 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, became effective June 17, 2022.

Many of the changes included in Chapter 2 are technical adjustments to funding formulas and other required changes in spending items and some of the changes are in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the General Fund operating spending in Chapter 2 is $545 million higher than the total included in Chapter 552 (2021 Appropriation Act). However, this includes $750 million in deposits to the Virginia Retirement System to reduce unfunded liabilities, a $498 million deposit to reserve funds, and $287 million in one-time commitments to transportation initiatives. Without these deposits, the operating spending in Chapter 2 is $981 million less than Chapter 552.

The largest overall spending reductions include over $900 million in the Department of Medical Assistance Services for Medicaid forecast changes and other related savings and $130 million in net savings in Direct Aid to Public Education for changes in K-12 enrollment and other associated costs and savings. The 2022 amendments to the 2021 Appropriation Act assume a General Fund balance at the end of the biennium of $4.733 billion.

On December 16, 2021, Governor Northam presented the introduced Budget Bill for the 2022-2024 biennium that began on July 1, 2022 (House Bill/Senate Bill 30) (the "2022 Budget Bill"). The General Assembly adjourned on March 12, 2022 without a budget agreement. The General Assembly convened a special session on April 4, 2022 and offered its recommendations for additional amendments to the bill on June 1, 2022. Governor Youngkin offered executive amendments that were considered by the General Assembly at the June 17, 2022 reconvened special session and where they agreed, folded such amendments into the new budget for the 2022-2024 biennium. On June 22, 2022, Governor Youngkin signed the 2022 Appropriation Act. The 2022 Appropriation Act, also known as Chapter 2, 2022 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I, became effective on July 1, 2022.

Some key features of the 2022 Appropriation Act include the following: increase PreK-12 funding ($3.2 billion); includes $763.1 million to support 5% salary increases each year for state supported local school personnel; $850 million for local school construction; increase higher education funding ($687.8 million); includes $237.4 million for higher education financial aid; increase Medicaid funding ($889.6 million) (note: FY2022 state Medicaid funding reduced by $903 million); enhance mental health services and direct care salaries ($202.6 million); increase children's health care funding ($73.3 million); set aside funding for the upcoming Amazon custom grant payment ($85 million); invest in Business Ready Sites ($109 million); provide additional funding to the Housing Trust Fund ($150 million); deposit one-time funding into the Water Quality Improvement Fund ($313 million); support additional local School Resource Officers ($45 million); increase funding to local police departments ($47 million); provide 5% salary increase each year for state and state-supported local employees ($746.7 million); invest one time funding into the Virginia Retirement System for unfunded other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities ($80.4 million); provide funding to be deposited to the Revenue Stabilization Fund ($1.2 billion); authorize $2.15 billion of General Fund cash and $166 million of state-supported debt to maintain existing facilities, invest in new facilities, and renovate or upgrade systems at existing facilities of the Commonwealth.

The 2022 Appropriation Act assumes a General Fund balance at the end of the 2022-2024 biennium of $15.9 million.

On July 21, 2022, Governor Youngkin announced that preliminary results for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2022 indicated that the Commonwealth finished the fiscal year with a $1.94 billion surplus in the General Fund, representing a 16.3 percent increase compared to the financial results of the previous Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2021, and exceeding the budgeted forecast of an 8.5 percent increase. The financial results described in this paragraph are based on preliminary, unaudited financial information and are subject to change.

Virginia’s General Fund revenues are principally composed of tax revenues. In recent fiscal years, most of the tax revenues have been derived from taxes imposed by Virginia on individual and fiduciary income; sales and use; corporate income; communications sales and use; premiums of insurance companies; and deeds, contracts, wills and suits. The General Fund balance increased by approximately $4.0 billion in fiscal year 2021, an increase of approximately 112.9 percent from fiscal year 2020. Overall tax revenues increased by 14.9 percent from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. Individual and Fiduciary Income tax revenues increased by 12.7 percent. Corporation Income tax collections increased by 49.8 percent from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. State States and Use Taxes increased by 12.4 and 49.8 percent, respectively, from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. Other taxes, Premiums of Insurance Companies and Public Service Corporations tax collections increased by 39.4, 0.7 and 4.2 percent, respectively, from fiscal year 2020 to fiscal year 2021. Tax revenue decreases occurred in the form of a 9.3 percent decrease in Communications Sales and Use tax collections. Overall revenue increased by 14.6 percent and non-tax revenues increased by 7.2 percent. Overall expenditures increased by 1.26 percent in fiscal year 2021, compared to a 3.16 percent increase in fiscal year 2020. General Government expenditures decreased by $340.0 million, or 11.8 percent, and Education expenditures increased by $442.1 million, or 4.6 percent. Capital Outlay expenditures decreased by $1.6 million, or 36.1 percent, and Individual and Family Services expenditures increased by $167.6 million, or 2.4 percent.

Virginia has a Debt Capacity Advisory Committee that is charged by statute with annually estimating the amount of tax-supported debt, which may prudently be authorized, consistent with the financial goals, capital needs and policies of Virginia. Such estimate is provided to the Governor and General Assembly. The Committee is also required to review annually the amount and condition of bonds, notes and other security obligations of Virginia’s agencies, institutions, boards and authorities which are either secured by a moral obligation pledge to replenish reserve fund deficiencies or for which Virginia has a contingent or limited liability. The Committee provides its recommendations on the prudent use of such obligations to the Governor and the General Assembly. The Committee also reviews the amounts and condition of bonds, notes and other security obligations of Virginia’s agencies, institutions, boards and authorities which are neither tax-supported debt nor obligations secured by a moral obligation pledge to replenish reserve fund deficiencies. The Committee may recommend limits, when appropriate, on these other obligations.

The Constitution of Virginia, in Section 9 of Article X, provides for the issuance of debt by or on behalf of Virginia. Sections 9(a), (b) and (c) provide for the issuance of debt to which Virginia’s full faith and credit is pledged, and Section 9(d) provides for the issuance of debt not secured by the full faith and credit of Virginia, but which may be supported by and paid from Virginia’s tax collections subject to appropriations by the General Assembly. Virginia may also enter into leases and contracts that are classified on its financial statements as long-term indebtedness. Certain authorities and institutions of Virginia may also issue debt.

Section 9(a) of Article X provides that the General Assembly may contract general obligation debt: (1) to meet certain types of emergencies, (2) to meet casual deficits in the revenue or in anticipation of the collection of revenues of Virginia and (3) to redeem a previous debt obligation of Virginia. Total indebtedness issued pursuant to Section 9(a) (2) shall not exceed 30 percent of an amount equal to 1.15 times the annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales, as certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts, for the preceding fiscal year and any such indebtedness shall mature within twelve months from the date of its incurrence.

Section 9(b) of Article X provides that the General Assembly may authorize the creation of general obligation debt for capital projects. Such debt is required to be authorized by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly and approved in a statewide referendum. The outstanding amount of such debt is limited in the aggregate to an amount equal to 1.15 times the average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales, as certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts, for the three immediately preceding fiscal years (“9(b) Debt Limit”). Thus, the amount of such debt that can be issued is the 9(b) Debt Limit less the total amount of such debt outstanding (“Debt Margin”). An additional 9(b) debt authorization restriction is calculated in order to determine the amount of such debt that the General Assembly may authorize in any year. The additional authorization restriction is limited to 25 percent of the 9(b) Debt Limit less any 9(b) debt authorized in the current and prior three fiscal years. The phrase “taxes on income and retail sales” is not defined in the Constitution or by statute. The record made in the process of adopting the Constitution, however, suggests an intention to include only income taxes payable by individuals, fiduciaries and corporations and the state sales and use tax.

Section 9(c) of Article X provides that the General Assembly may authorize the creation of general obligation debt for revenue producing capital projects for executive branch agencies and institutions of higher learning. Such debt is required to be authorized by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly and approved by the Governor. The Governor must certify before the enactment of the bond legislation and again before the issuance of the bonds that the net revenues pledged are expected to be sufficient to pay principal and interest on the bonds issued to finance the projects. The outstanding amount of Section 9(c) debt is limited in the aggregate to an amount equal to 1.15 times the average annual tax revenues derived from taxes on income and retail sales, as certified by the Auditor of Public Accounts, for the three immediately preceding fiscal years (“9(c) Debt Limit”). While the debt limits under Sections 9(b) and 9(c) are each calculated as the same percentage of the same average tax revenues, these debt limits are separately computed and apply separately to each type of debt.

Tax-supported debt of Virginia includes both general obligation debt and debt of agencies, institutions, boards and authorities for which debt service is expected to be made in whole or in part from appropriations of tax revenues.

Outstanding Section 9(b) debt as of June 30, 2021 includes the unamortized portion of $278.2 million of general obligation bonds. In November 1992, $613 million in general obligation bonds were authorized and approved by the voters. In November 2002, $1 billion in general obligation bonds were authorized and approved by the voters. Various series of refunding bonds were issued to refund certain series of bonds. Outstanding Section 9(c) debt as of June 30, 2021 includes various series of Higher Educational Institutions Bonds (including refunding bonds) issued from 2005 to 2018, one series of Transportation Facilities Bonds (refunding bonds) issued in 2016, and four series of Parking Facilities Bonds (including refunding bonds) issued between 2009 and 2016. Outstanding general obligation debt does not include 9(b) and 9(c) advance refunded bonds for which funds have been deposited in irrevocable escrow accounts in amounts sufficient to meet all required future debt service.

Section 9(d) of Article X provides that the restrictions of Section 9 are not applicable to any obligation incurred by Virginia or any of its institutions, agencies or authorities if the full faith and credit of Virginia is not pledged or committed to the payment of such obligation. There are currently outstanding various types of 9(d) revenue bonds issued by authorities, political subdivisions and agencies to which Virginia’s full faith and credit is not pledged. Certain of these bonds, however, are paid in part or in whole from revenues received as appropriations by the General Assembly from general tax revenues, while others are paid solely from revenues derived from enterprises related to the operation of the financed capital projects or other non-General Fund revenues. The debt repayments of the Virginia Public Building Authority, the Virginia College Building Authority 21^st Century College and Equipment Programs, the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority and several other long-term capital leases or notes have been supported all or in large part by General Fund appropriations.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (“CTB”) has issued various series of bonds authorized under the State Revenue Bond Act. These bonds are secured by and payable from funds appropriated by the General Assembly from the Transportation Trust Fund. The Transportation Trust Fund was established by the General Assembly in 1986 as a special non-reverting fund administered and allocated by the CTB for the purpose of increased funding for construction, capital and other needs of state highways, airports, mass transportation and ports. As of June 30, 2021, $2.4 billion (unadjusted) in CTB Tax-Support bonds were outstanding. During 2007, the CTB was authorized by the General Assembly to issue up to $3.0 billion in Capital Projects Revenue Bonds with an additional $180 million authorized in 2008 and an additional $150 million authorized in 2018. As of June 30, 2021, $2.4 billion had been issued under this authorization and is currently outstanding.

The Virginia Port Authority (“VPA”) issues bonds secured by its share of the Transportation Trust Fund. As of June 30, 2021, $218.7 million of Commonwealth Port Fund Revenue Bonds were outstanding and there was no authorized but unissued Commonwealth Port Fund debt.

Virginia is involved in numerous agreements to lease buildings, energy efficiency projects and equipment. These lease agreements are for various terms, and each lease contains a non appropriation clause indicating that continuation of the lease is subject to funding by the General Assembly. The principal balance of all tax-supported capital leases outstanding was $42.2 million as of June 30, 2021.

Virginia also finances the acquisition of certain personal property and equipment through installment purchase agreements. The length of the agreements and the interest rates charged vary. In most cases, the agreements are collateralized by the personal property and equipment acquired. Installment purchase agreements contain non appropriation clauses indicating that continuation of the installment purchase is subject to funding by the General Assembly. The principal balance of tax-supported installment purchase obligations outstanding was $224.0 million as of June 30, 2021.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority, the Virginia Resources Authority and the Virginia Public School Authority are authorized to issue bonds secured in part by a moral obligation pledge of Virginia. All three are designed to be self-supporting from their individual loan programs. Virginia may fund deficiencies that may occur in debt service reserves for moral obligation debt. By the terms of the applicable statutes, the Governor is obligated to include in his annual budget submitted to the General Assembly the amount necessary to restore any such reported deficiency, but the General Assembly is not legally required to make any appropriation for such purpose. Neither the Virginia Housing Development Authority nor the Virginia Public School Authority have bonds outstanding that are secured by the moral obligation pledge. To date, the Virginia Resources Authority has not reported to Virginia that any such reserve deficiencies exist.

As of June 30, 2021, local government was comprised of 95 counties, 39 incorporated cities and 37 incorporated towns. Cities and counties are units of general government that have traditionally provided all services not provided by Virginia. Virginia is unique in that cities and counties are independent and their land areas do not overlap. Cities and counties each levy and collect their own taxes and provide their own services. Towns, on the other hand, are units of local government and are a part of the counties in which they are located. Towns levy and collect taxes for town purposes, but their residents are also subject to county taxes. The largest expenditure by local governments in Virginia is for public elementary and secondary education. Each county and city in Virginia, with few exceptions, constitutes a separate school district. Counties, cities and towns typically also provide such services as police and fire protection, water and sewer services and recreational facilities.

Moody’s Investors Service has rated the long-term general obligation bonds of Virginia Aaa, S&P Global Ratings has rated such bonds AAA, and Fitch Ratings has rated such bonds AAA. There can be no assurance that such ratings will be continued for any given period of time or that they will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies if, in their judgment, the circumstances so warrant. See the Appendix to this SAI.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING INVESTMENT IN WEST VIRGINIA AND/OR SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE WEST VIRGINIA FUND

Being invested primarily in West Virginia municipal securities, the West Virginia Fund is subject to the risks of West Virginia’s economy and of the financial condition of its state and local governments and their agencies.

West Virginia’s economy has nearly fully recovered from the recession precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, labor force constraints and bottlenecks in supply chains continue to impact the state. Notwithstanding, strong demand for fossil-based fuel stocks, which generate severance taxes, and additional revenue growth have resulted in an increasingly positive fiscal outlook for the state. Combined with recent announcements for large scale economic development projects by state officials, continued job growth prospects appear likely.

In 2020, employment fell by approximately 95,000 jobs, but as of late-summer 2022, approximately 93,000, or nearly 98%, of the lost jobs had been regained. Between 2020 and 2021, West Virginia’s total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 26,000 to 685,400. The average civilian labor force increased 5,800 over the same period to 788,800, and total employment increased by 29,900, with total unemployment decreasing by 24,200 jobs, as employers continued to add jobs as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic waned.

Since November 2021, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 26,000. Employment gains included 8,500 in government due to election workers, 4,600 in leisure and hospitality, 4,400 in education and health services, 3,200 in professional and business services, 2,800 in mining and logging, 1,700 in manufacturing, 1,600 in construction, 1,100 in financial activities, and 200 in other services. Information employment was unchanged, while employment in trade, transportation, and utilities declined 2,100 over the year.

The state’s unemployment rate surged to nearly 16 percent in April 2020 but has since declined significantly, reaching an all-time low of approximately 3.5 percent during the second quarter of 2022. The seasonal adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.1 percent in November. Most of the downward trajectory in the State’s unemployment rate can be linked to a fundamental improvement in the labor market since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The baseline forecast for West Virginia’s jobless rate is expected to trend higher, reaching the low-5.0-percent range by late-2023 and into early-2024.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created volatility in West Virginia’s economic performance, real output growth has fluctuated over the past decade when compared to the national average. For example, year-to-year changes in the State’s real gross domestic product (GDP) oscillated between positive and negative territory for much of the last decade and the state recorded only a 0.5 percent average annual gain in real GDP between 2010 and 2019 (versus 2.2 nationally). More recently, however, the State’s real GDP increased by 4.1% in 2021, from $68.35 to $71.84 billion, representing the eighth largest annual percentage change in the nation. In comparison, the national real GDP increased by 3.2% in the third quarter of 2022.

The State’s economy remains heavily dependent on the energy sector, with the mining and natural resources industries accounting for nearly 15% of the State’s real GDP in 2021, which exposes the state to downside risk if demand for such resources decreases.

West Virginia’s coal industry has rebounded over the past two years after recording its lowest annual production level in roughly a century in 2020 (outside of years characterized by major organized labor strikes). In 2021, West Virginia was the second-largest coal producer in the nation, after Wyoming, and accounted for 14% of U.S. total coal production. As global demand for steam and metallurgical coal has risen, total coal production increased to approximately 81 million short tons in 2021, representing a gain of more than 16 percent over 2020 levels. Production has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, which totaled nearly 98 million tons in 2019. Production so far in 2022 is on track to exceed 2021, reaching almost 84 million tons if present production levels continue. West Virginia had 12% of recoverable coal reserves at producing mines in 2021, the third-largest reserve base in the nation, after Wyoming and Illinois.

Despite production increases in 2021, coal employment was relatively flat when compared with 2020. Total employment in 2021 was approximately 11,700 jobs, compared with 11,650 in 2020. These levels are down considerably from 2019, when employment was nearly 14,500 jobs. Employment has increased in the first half of 2022, with average coal employment in the second quarter about 1,200 jobs higher than in the same period in 2021, representing a gain of about 11 percent.

Overseas coal exports from West Virginia bottomed out at nearly the lowest levels in a decade during the pandemic recession but have recovered significantly in the last two years. Coal export volume topped $1 billion in the second quarter of 2022, a more than 200 percent increase over the $350 million exported in the same quarter in 2020. If current growth rates continue, coal volumes would top the recent 2018 peak of approximately $1.2 billion per quarter.

West Virginia’s natural gas industry continues to develop and has benefited significantly from recent exploration and resource development in high-yield regions of the state’s Marcellus and Utica shale fields. In 2021, West Virginia was fourth in the nation in natural gas marketed production. The state produced nearly 2.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, about 10 times more than in 2010, and 95% of it was from shale gas wells. After recording two consecutive years of production growth exceeding 20 percent in 2019 and 2020, natural gas output increased nearly seven percent in 2021 and withdrawals have jumped an additional six percent through the first half of 2022.

Natural gas prices have fluctuated considerably over the last two years. In the second quarter of 2020 the Henry Hub spot price fell to $1.90 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), which in inflation-adjusted terms was the lowest level since 1997. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, however, the price of natural gas increased from $4.79 per MMBtu in the first quarter of 2022 to $8.08 per MMBtu in the third quarter, a gain of 69 percent. The war in Ukraine has created upward price pressure on natural gas supplies in the United States, which increases the value of the state’s natural gas reserves and is likely to continue to provide incentives for additional natural gas production.

Despite the additional demand for natural gas globally, production in West Virginia has been relatively flat when compared with 2021. In 2022, production levels are on pace to be relatively flat compared with 2021 totals, though activity could increase as new wells are brought online to respond to high gas prices. The slowdown in production growth in 2021 and the early part of 2022 was the result of a decline in new drilling activity during the pandemic recession. In response to increased demand and higher prices, drilling activity has started to recover in the first half of 2022.

The addition of the Rover II, Mountaineer Xpress and other new pipelines, along with the installation of more condensate network links to transport natural gas liquids have made the State’s natural gas production more accessible to industrial users and utilities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. Additionally, the last of the state’s major pipeline projects, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, reached 94 percent completion in 2022. However, the 303-mile pipeline that connects the natural gas producing regions of West Virginia with larger population centers in Virginia, continues to face court challenges that have put the pipeline on hold at various points since its construction started in 2018.

Natural gas liquids (NGL) production has also expanded in significant fashion in recent years, increasing from 63 million barrels in 2019 to more than 102 million barrels in 2021. NGL production growth has slowed over the course of 2022, but NGL output from horizontal wells has increased nearly four percent through the first half of the year and is expected to see increased demand over the near term as the Royal Dutch Shell ethane cracker just outside of the West Virginia border in Pennsylvania ramps up operations.

Even as natural gas output has increased over the past several years, including during the pandemic, employment levels in the natural gas industry are below growth periods which occurred prior to the pandemic. This trend is due to a shift to contract labor firms, rapid technological progress, and innovations in drilling practices, all of which have enabled upstream operators to enjoy increases in new well production without less workers. The net effect of these changing practices and innovations has been to dramatically increase operational efficiency and new well productivity. Employment in the natural gas industry is expect to increase from approximately 5,000 jobs in 2022 to approximately 6,500 by 2027.

West Virginia’s energy economy faces uncertainty over the near future. Demand for the state’s coal faces headwinds from federal policy, as well as the ongoing switch to renewable energy in the nation’s power grid. In August, the US Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which contains $383 billion in spending aimed at reducing carbon output in the country. To the extent that these measures reduce the demand for coal and natural gas, the IRA could potentially suppress production and employment in the state’s fossil fuel industries. However, the IRA also provides incentives for electrification of both cars and buildings, thus increasing demand for electric power generation, which in West Virginia is largely provided by coal-fired power. Forecasters predict that coal production will fall from approximately 81 million short tons in 2022, to approximately 69 million short tons by the end of 2027, representing a decline of nearly 15 percent. In contrast, natural gas production is expected to return to a growth path between 2022 and 2027, as higher prices provide incentives for producers to restart gas exploration and drilling. Natural gas production is forecast to rise from about 2.9 trillion cubic feet in 2022 to 3.8 trillion cubic feet in 2027, representing a 5 percent increase per year on average during this period.

West Virginia’s manufacturing sector, which accounts for 7% of all jobs and approximately 10% of total economic output, experienced significant disruption of global supply chains due to the pandemic. While the sector’s payrolls and output have generally recovered to pre-pandemic levels, production schedules remain delayed due to ongoing shortages of key inputs, labor supplies, and rail/seaborne transportation delays. In addition, the manufacturing sector in West Virginia experienced high-profile plant closures in the last year with, as examples, Viatris closing its Mylan Pharmaceuticals plant in Morgantown, eliminating approximately 1,400 jobs and Mountain State Carbon closing its metallurgical coke plant in Follansbee, eliminating approximately 300 jobs. Despite these challenges, West Virginia’s manufacturing sector is expected to realize job growth of approximately 0.8 percent annually between 2022 and 2027, outpacing overall statewide gains in employment over the next five years. However, the manufacturing sector’s performance is subject to downside risk due to rising interest rates, increasing cost of capital, and liquidity concerns, factors which could make capacity expansion plans for manufacturers increasingly difficult. Further, an outright national recession would likely have a stronger negative impact on the state’s manufacturers.

West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted labor force participation rate is the lowest in the country with only 54.9% of the State’s adult population either working or looking for work as of November 2022, compared to the national average of 62%. The low labor force participation rate is due, in part, to the state’s aging population. More than 27% of the State’s residents are age 60 or older, exceeding the national figure by five percentage points. The state’s median age decreased slightly in 2021 to 42.8 years but remains 4 years higher than the United States as a whole. The state’s median age ranked fourth highest among all 50 states. Other factors contributing to the low labor force participation rate include poor health and human capital limitations for available jobs. Additionally, the opioid epidemic has likely had an effect on workforce participation in recent years, especially among the prime working age.

State and local governments continue to make concentrated efforts to encourage diversification of the state’s economy with good success. These efforts have resulted in the location or expansion of manufacturing plants in the State by major corporations such as Proctor & Gamble, ROCKWOOL, Toyota, and Clorox. In addition, several other projects are expected to increase new manufacturing activity in the state going forward. For example, Nucor announced a $2.7 billion steel sheet mill facility project in Mason County, Mountain Top Beverage is expected to begin production at a new Morgantown-area facility at the end of 2022, and BHE Renewables (a Berkshire Hathaway entity) is expected to develop a renewable energy microgrid to power a 2,000-acre industrial park in Jackson County to include a titanium castings production facility for the aerospace industry.

For many years, the business community has viewed the state as having an unfavorable judicial climate. Legislation adopted over the last few years has implemented civil justice reform, privatized the workers’ compensation system, and created both a business court and an intermediate court of appeals. With a change in the controlling party in both houses of the state legislature after the 2014 election, more than 30 legal reform bills have been passed. During the 2016 legislative session, the state legislature passed a right-to-work law and repealed prevailing wage for public projects. In addition to making legislative changes to improve the state’s judicial climate, the state has also eliminated or reduced business taxes in an effort to improve the state’s business climate, including the elimination of the state’s Business Franchise Tax and a reduction in the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax. All of these changes have engendered a more favorable view of the state in the business community.

Revenue growth at the state level was strong due to conservative budgeting and conservative revenue estimates during the pandemic. The State appears well positioned to handle the coming transition toward lower future federal funding available for State government service needs. Due almost exclusively to higher energy prices, State General Revenue Fund severance tax collections rose 180.3 percent to a record high of $768.8 million. Personal income tax collections of more than $2.5 billion were 16.8 percent above prior year adjusted collections. Corporate net income tax collections of more than $366 million were 38.5 percent above prior year adjusted collections. Income tax collections benefited from an upswing in 2021 capital gain realizations and natural resource royalty incomes along with strong business profit growth and enhanced wage incomes. Consumer sales tax collections grew by 7.7 percent due to enhanced consumption associated with higher employment, higher wage incomes, and higher commodity prices. Higher premiums led to a 15.1 percent jump in Insurance Premium Tax collections.

State General Revenue Fund collections totaled nearly $5.889 billion in fiscal year 2022. Collections exceeded appropriations by nearly $515.7 million. Additional fiscal year-end expirations resulted in $34.6 million of unspent appropriations in fiscal year 2022. The final unappropriated General Revenue Fund surplus for fiscal year 2022 equaled slightly more than $550 million. These surplus funds remain available for future appropriation.

A major limiting factor to West Virginia’s ability to grow moving forward is its declining population. West Virginia saw its population decline in number for the ninth consecutive year in 2021 and has registered an overall loss of approximately 76,000 residents since 2012. In addition, low birth rates, poor health outcomes, and large percentage of elderly residents will cause natural population declines that will continue to increase as the population ages. Due to its population loss, West Virginia is one of seven states that lost one of its congressional seats. However, forecasters predict that the State’s population decline will stabilize over the next few years, as the State’s economic performance improves and lawmakers work to address the problem. Recent positive economic news such as the Nucor, BHE Renewables, Mountain State Beverage and other economic development announcements could enhance the state’s long-run growth prospects and contribute to positive migration flows into West Virginia. Furthermore, investments in expanding broadband capabilities could attract remote workers, some of whom participate in the Ascend West Virginia program which offers an incentive of $12,000 and a year’s worth of free outdoor recreation to out-of-state residents who move to a few pilot cities (Lewisburg, Morgantown, Shepherdstown, and Elkins).

DIVERSIFICATION AND CONCENTRATION

The Tax-Free Bond Funds are non-diversified funds under the 1940 Act. This means they may invest in the securities of a limited number of issuers. Under the Code, at the end of each fiscal quarter each Tax-Free Bond Fund must nevertheless diversify its portfolio such that, with respect to 50% of its total assets, not more than 25% of its total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities or securities of other regulated investment companies), and with respect to the remainder of its total assets, no more than 5% of its assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government Securities or securities of other regulated investment companies). Because of the relatively small number of issuers of North Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, South Carolina Tax-Exempt Obligations, Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations, and West Virginia Tax-Exempt Obligations, the North Carolina Fund, the South Carolina Fund, the Virginia Fund, and the West Virginia Fund are more likely to invest a higher percentage of their assets in the securities of a single issuer than is an investment company that invests in a broad range of tax-exempt securities. This involves an increased risk of loss to a Tax-Free Bond Fund if the issuer is unable to make interest or principal payments or if the value of such securities declines, and consequently may cause greater fluctuation in the NAV of the Tax-Free Bond Fund’s Shares.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal tax considerations generally affecting purchasers of Shares of each Fund. This summary is based on tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this SAI; such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action, and such changes may be retroactive.

No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the federal income tax treatment of each Fund or its shareholders, and this discussion is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, potential purchasers of Shares of a Fund are urged to consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situation, including the potential application of foreign, state and local taxes.

MANAGEMENT OF STERLING CAPITAL FUNDS

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

The Funds are managed under the direction of the Board of Trustees. Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, By-laws and Massachusetts law, the Trustees have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out this responsibility, including the election and removal of Fund officers.

The Trustees of the Funds (including Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds (the “Independent Trustees”)), their ages, their term of office and length of time served, a description of their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Sterling Capital Funds complex that the Trustee oversees, and any other directorships or trusteeships held by the Trustee during the last five years in any publicly-traded company or registered investment company are listed in the two tables immediately following. The business address of the Trustees and Officers listed below is 434 Fayetteville St., Suite 500, Raleigh NC 27601.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Information about Each Trustee’s Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills for Board Membership. The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees supports the conclusion that the Board possesses the requisite skills and attributes to carry out its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust. The following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills were considered in respect of each Trustee:

The Trustees receive fees and are reimbursed for expenses in connection with each meeting of the Board of Trustees they attend. However, no officer or employee of the Distributor, The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Sub-Administrator” or “The Bank of New York Mellon”), Sterling Capital or Truist receives any compensation from the Funds for acting as a Trustee.

Sterling Capital’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), Mr. Charles A. Durham, also serves as the Funds’ CCO. The CCO’s compensation is reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees and paid by Sterling Capital. However, the Funds reimburse Sterling Capital for its allocable portion of the CCO’s base salary and incentive pay. As a result, the CCO fee paid by the Funds is only part of the total compensation received by Mr. Durham.

OFFICERS

Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

The Board has overall responsibility for the conduct of the affairs of the Trust. The Board sets and reviews policies regarding the operation of the Trust, and directs the officers to perform the daily functions of the Trust. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees is an Independent Trustee. Each Trustee shall serve during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns or is removed, or, if sooner, until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Trustees and the election and qualification of his successor. The Board of Trustees may fill any vacancy on the Board provided that, after such appointment, at least two-thirds of the Trustees have been elected by shareholders. Any Trustee may be removed by the Board, with or without cause, by action of a majority of the Trustees then in office, or by a vote of shareholders at any meeting called for that purpose.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board’s leadership structure features Independent Trustees serving as Board Chairman and as Chairperson of each of the Board’s Committees. This structure is reviewed by the Board regularly and the Board believes it to be appropriate and effective. All Independent Trustees are members of the Audit and Nominations Committees. Inclusion of all Independent Trustees in the Audit and Nominations Committees allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes.

The officers of the Trust are elected annually by the Board. The Chairman of the Trustees, if one is elected, the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Trust shall hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each other officer shall hold office and each agent shall retain authority at the pleasure of the Trustees. The Trust’s CCO must be approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board.

Board Oversight of Trust Risk

The Board of Trustees’ role is one of oversight, rather than active management. This oversight extends to the Funds’ risk management processes. Those processes are embedded in the responsibilities of officers of the Funds. The officers of the Funds, including the President and Principal Executive Officer, the Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, and the CCO, report to the Board and to the Chairs of its Committees on a variety of matters at regular meetings of the Board and on an ad hoc basis.

The Sterling Capital Funds have retained Sterling Capital as the Funds’ investment adviser and administrator. Sterling Capital provides the Funds with investment advisory services, and is responsible for day-to-day administration of the Funds and management of the risks that arise from the Funds’ investments and operations. Employees of Sterling Capital serve as the Funds’ officers, including the Funds’ President and Principal Executive Officer and the CCO. The Board provides oversight of the services provided by Sterling Capital, including risk management services. In the course of providing oversight, the Board receives a wide range of reports on the Funds’ activities, including regarding a Fund’s investment portfolio, the compliance of the Fund with applicable laws, and the Fund’s financial accounting and reporting. The Board meets periodically with Sterling Capital personnel to receive reports on Sterling Capital and other service providers’ risk management services. The Board also meets periodically with the Funds’ CCO to receive reports regarding the compliance of the Fund with the federal securities laws and the Funds’ internal compliance policies and procedures. In addition, the Board meets periodically with the portfolio managers of a Fund to receive reports regarding the management of the Fund, including its investment risks.

For interested Trustees and officers, positions held with affiliated persons or principal underwriters of the Funds are listed in the following table:

No officers of the Funds, other than the Funds’ CCO, receive compensation directly from the Funds for performing the duties of their offices. Sterling Capital receives fees from the Funds for acting as Adviser and Administrator, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing receives fees from the Funds for acting as transfer agent to the Funds, and The Bank of New York Mellon receives fees from the Funds for providing fund accounting services. In addition, The Bank of New York Mellon receives fees from the Administrator for acting as Sub-Administrator.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The purposes of the Audit Committee are to oversee the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting policies and practices; to oversee the quality and objectivity of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audit thereof; to consider the selection of an independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds and the scope of the audit; and to act as a liaison between the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board of Trustees. Messrs. Kagan, Priest, Roberts, and Van Scoy, and Ms. Bingham serve on this Committee; Mr. Priest serves as chair of the Audit Committee. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, there were two meetings of the Audit Committee.

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The purpose of the Nominations Committee is to recommend qualified candidates to the Board of Trustees in the event that a position is vacated or created. Messrs. Kagan, Priest, Roberts, and Van Scoy and Ms. Bingham serve on this Committee; Ms. Bingham serves as chair of the Nominations Committee. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, there were three meetings of the Nominations Committee.

Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, the Nominations Committee may consider Trustee candidates recommended by members of the Nominations Committee, candidates recommended by other members of the Board, candidates recommended by shareholders, or candidates recommended by the Trust’s management. Shareholder recommendations should be submitted to the Nominations Committee in care of Sterling Capital Funds. Recommendations for candidates as Trustees of Sterling Capital Funds will be evaluated, among other things, in light of whether the number of Trustees is expected to change and whether the Trustees expect any vacancies.

SECURITIES OWNERSHIP

For each Trustee, the following tables disclose the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustee in the Funds and, on an aggregate basis, in any registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the Funds’ family of investment companies as of December 31, 2022.

The following table shows information for Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act:

The following table shows information for the Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act:

As of December 31, 2022, the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each class of shares of each Fund offered in the Prospectus.

TRUSTEE COMPENSATION

CODES OF ETHICS

Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital have each adopted a code of ethics (“Codes”) pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, and these Codes permit personnel covered by the Codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by each Fund, subject to certain restrictions.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Investment advisory and management services are provided to all the Funds by Sterling Capital pursuant to an Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of October 1, 2010, as amended.

Under the Advisory Agreement between Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital, the fee payable to Sterling Capital by each Fund, for investment advisory services is the lesser of: (a) a fee computed daily and paid monthly at the annual rate of thirty-two one-hundredths of one percent (0.32%) of the Intermediate U.S. Government Fund’s average daily net assets; twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.25%) of the Total Return Bond Fund’s average daily net assets; twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.25%) of the Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund’s average daily net assets; thirty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.35%) of Quality Income Fund’s average daily net assets; twenty one-hundredths of one percent (0.20%) of the Short Duration Bond Fund’s average daily net assets; thirty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.35%) of each of the Tax-Free Bond Fund’s average daily net assets; forty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.45%) of the Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund’s average daily net assets; sixty one-hundredths of one percent (0.60%) of the Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund’s average daily net assets; sixty one-hundredths of one percent (0.60%) of the Mid Value Fund’s average daily net assets; fifty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.55%) of the Equity Income Fund’s average daily net assets; forty one-hundredths of one percent (0.40%) of the Behavioral International Equity Fund’s average daily net assets; sixty one-hundredths of one percent (0.60%) of the Mid Cap Relative Value Fund; five hundred seventy-five thousandths of one percent (0.575%) of the Real Estate Fund; seventy-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.75%) of the Small Cap Value Fund; seventy one-hundredths of one percent (0.70%) of the SMID Opportunities Fund; twenty one-hundredths of one percent (0.20%) of the Ultra Short Bond Fund’s average daily net assets; and sixty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.65%) of the Special Opportunities Fund’s average daily net assets; or (b) such fee as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing by Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital. A fee agreed to in writing from time to time by Sterling Capital Funds and Sterling Capital may be significantly lower than the fee calculated at the annual rate and the effect of such lower fee would be to lower a Fund’s expenses and increase the net income of the fund during the period when such lower fee is in effect.

Sterling Capital has contractually agreed through January 31, 2024 to limit the management fees paid by Sterling Capital Quality Income Fund to the following level: 0.31%.

In addition, Sterling Capital has contractually agreed through January 31, 2024 for Sterling Capital SMID Opportunities Fund, Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund, Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund, Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Bond Fund, Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund, and Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund to waive its fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the applicable Fund to the extent that total annual fund operating expenses (other than acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes, and extraordinary expenses) exceed the following levels: Sterling Capital SMID Opportunities Fund: Class A Shares – 1.04%, Class C Shares – 1.79% and Institutional Shares: 0.79%; Sterling Capital Ultra Short Bond Fund: Class A Shares – 0.52% and Institutional Shares: 0.27%; Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund: Class A Shares – 0.68%, Class C Shares – 1.43% and Institutional Shares – 0.43%; Sterling Capital Intermediate U.S. Government Bond Fund: Class A Shares – 0.75%, Class C Shares – 1.50% and Institutional Shares – 0.50%; Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund: Class A Shares – 0.70%, Class C Shares – 1.45%, Institutional Shares – 0.45% and Class R6 Shares – 0.45%; and Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund: Class A Shares – 0.70%, Class C Shares – 1.45%, Institutional Shares – 0.45% and Class R6 Shares – 0.45%. In addition, Sterling Capital, as the Funds’ administrator, has contractually agreed through January 31, 2024 for Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund, Sterling Capital Mid Value Fund, Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund, Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund, Sterling Capital Behavioral International Equity Fund, Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund, Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund, Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund, Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund, and Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund to waive its fees, pay Fund operating expenses, and/or reimburse the applicable Fund the following levels with respect to its Class R6 Shares: Sterling Capital Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund – 0.07%; Sterling Capital Mid Value Fund – 0.08%; Sterling Capital Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund – 0.06%; Sterling Capital Special Opportunities Fund – 0.09%; Sterling Capital Equity Income Fund – 0.10%; Sterling Capital Behavioral International Equity Fund – 0.05%; Sterling Capital Real Estate Fund – 0.07%; Sterling Capital Small Cap Value Fund – 0.10%; Sterling Capital Short Duration Bond Fund – 0.09%; Sterling Capital Total Return Bond Fund – 0.10%; and Sterling Capital Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund – 0.09%.

The Advisory Agreement provides that Sterling Capital shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Funds in connection with the performance of such Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of Sterling Capital in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by Sterling Capital of its duties and obligations thereunder.

Unless sooner terminated, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect as to each of the Funds from year to year if such continuance is approved at least annually by the Funds’ Board of Trustees or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares of that Fund (as defined under “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES”). The Advisory Agreement is terminable as to a particular Fund at any time upon 60 days written notice without penalty by the Trustees, by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares of that Fund, or by Sterling Capital. The Advisory Agreement also terminates automatically in the event of any assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, September 30, 2021, and September 30, 2020, Sterling Capital received the following investment advisory fees (“Paid” indicates gross advisory fees and “Waived” are fees waived from gross advisory fees and/or reimbursed directly to the Fund):

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The portfolio managers identified under “Investment Management” in each Prospectus are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds. Each portfolio manager may also have responsibility for the day-to-day management of accounts other than the Fund(s) for which he or she serves as portfolio manager. Information regarding these accounts is set forth below.

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED AND ASSETS BY ACCOUNT TYPE

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2022*

As of September 30, 2022, the following portfolio managers managed the following accounts in each of the indicated categories, having the indicated total assets, with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.

NUMBER OF OTHER ACCOUNTS MANAGED AND ASSETS BY ACCOUNT TYPE

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2022*

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

From time to time, potential conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of a Fund and the management of other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts (collectively, the “Managed Accounts”). The Managed Accounts might have similar investment objectives or strategies as a Fund, track the same indexes a Fund tracks or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by a Fund. The Managed Accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than a Fund. Consequently, portfolio managers may purchase or sell securities for one Fund and not for a Managed Account.

Sterling Capital manages portfolios for multiple institutional, individual, and mutual fund clients. Each portfolio has its own set of investment objectives and investment policies that may differ from those of a Fund. The portfolio managers make investment decisions for each portfolio based on the investment objectives and policies and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that portfolio. Accordingly, a particular portfolio may contain different securities than a Fund, and investment decisions may be made in other accounts that are different than the decisions made for a Fund. As an example, the portfolio manager may decide to buy a security in one or more portfolios, while selling the same security in other portfolios based on the different objectives, restrictions, and cash flows in the portfolios. In addition, some of these portfolios have fee structures, including performance fees, which are, or have the potential to be, higher than the fees paid by a Fund to Sterling Capital. Because performance fees are tied to performance, the incentives associated with any given portfolio may be higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by the firm. In addition, Sterling Capital will serve as investment adviser to portfolios where it or its affiliates or related persons provided the initial investment or seed capital for a new investment portfolio.

As an independently-operated subsidiary of Truist, Sterling Capital is affiliated with various advisers, broker-dealers, and other financial entities under common ownership with Truist. From time to time, Sterling Capital may engage in business activities with some of these companies, subject to Sterling Capital’s policies and procedures governing how it handles conflicts of interest. These activities will from time to time give rise to conflicts of interest in the allocation of investment opportunities among clients.

Sterling Capital’s objective is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly. To help accomplish this objective and to address potential conflicts of interest, Sterling Capital has adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time. Sterling Capital’s compliance procedures include actively monitoring compliance with investment policies, trade allocation, and Code of Ethics requirements. In addition, Sterling Capital’s senior management team reviews the performance of portfolio managers and analysts.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION

Sterling Capital offers each of its investment professionals a compensation plan which can be comprised of three components: (1) base salary, which is fixed and linked to job function, responsibilities, and experience; (2) incentive compensation, which varies based on investment performance and other factors determined by the executive management of Sterling Capital; and (3) a percentage of firm profits or revenues, which varies based on factors determined by executive management.  Incentive compensation is based on (i) the pre-tax performance of the strategies managed by the portfolio manager in comparison to benchmarks appropriate for such strategies and/or in comparison to relevant peer groups  (e.g., Bloomberg, FTSE Russell, ICE, Lipper, Morningstar, etc.) over pre-determined time periods (e.g., a combination of 1- and 3-year returns), and (ii) other objective or subjective criteria determined by executive management, which may include firm/department leadership, management of personnel, risk management/compliance results, and overall firm or group contribution.  Investment professionals’ compensation may also include a share of the revenues earned from a particular strategy or from a particular team, any such allocation to be approved by executive management. Any profit interests awarded to a portfolio manager would be based on the determination of executive management, which may consider a number of factors in the granting of such awards, including long-term performance, firm/department leadership, potential for generating future growth of the firm, and other objective or subjective criteria that may be set by executive management.

Securities Ownership

The following table discloses the dollar range of equity securities of each of the Funds beneficially owned by the portfolio managers in each of the Funds for which they are primarily responsible as of September 30, 2022, unless otherwise noted below:

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Board of Trustees has delegated the authority to vote proxies on behalf of the Funds that own voting securities to Sterling Capital. Proxy voting policies and procedures or summaries thereof are attached as Appendix B.

You may obtain information about how a Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: www.sterlingcapitalfunds.com or by contacting us in writing at Sterling Capital Funds, P.O. Box 9762, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9762 (after February 16, 2023, please address mail to Sterling Capital Funds P.O. Box 534465, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4465).

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Advisory Agreement for each Fund provides that the Adviser is responsible for selecting securities to be bought and sold as well as brokers to execute those transactions. Purchases and sales of portfolio securities with respect to the Bond Funds usually are principal transactions in which portfolio securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Purchases from underwriters of portfolio securities generally include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and purchases from dealers serving as market makers may include the spread between the bid and asked price. Transactions on stock exchanges (including purchases and sales of ETFs) involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Transactions in the over-the-counter market are generally principal transactions with dealers. With respect to the over-the-counter market, the Funds, where possible, will deal directly with dealers who make a market in the securities involved except in those circumstances where better price and execution are available elsewhere. While the Adviser generally seeks competitive spreads or commissions, the Funds may not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available on each transaction, for reasons discussed below.

During the following fiscal years, the Funds listed below paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions:

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Funds paid $0, $0 and $0, respectively, in commissions to Truist Investment Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Truist, for transactions effected on behalf of the Special Opportunities Fund. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Funds paid $0, $16,000 and $5,426, respectively, in commissions to Truist Investment Services, Inc. for transactions effected on behalf of the Equity Income Fund. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate percentage of the Special Opportunities Fund’s total brokerage commissions paid to Truist Investment Services, Inc. were 0%, 0% and 0%, respectively, and the percentage of the Fund’s aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving commissions effected through Truist Investment Services, Inc. were 0%, 0% and 0%, respectively. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate percentage of the Equity Income Fund’s total brokerage commissions paid to Truist Investment Services, Inc. were 0%, 5.425% and 0.65%, respectively, and the percentage of the Fund’s aggregate dollar amount of transactions involving commissions effected through Truist Investment Services, Inc. were 0%, 0.09% and 0.01%, respectively.

Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, to various dealers is determined by Sterling Capital in a manner deemed fair and reasonable. The major consideration in allocating brokerage business is the assurance that the best execution is being received on all transactions effected for all accounts. As detailed in the above chart, brokerage may be directed to brokers because of research services provided. Brokerage will at times be allocated to firms that supply research, statistical data and other services when the terms of the transaction and the capabilities of different broker/dealers are consistent with the guidelines set forth in Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act. Information so received is in addition to and not in lieu of services required to be performed by Sterling Capital and does not reduce the advisory fees payable to Sterling Capital. Such information may be useful to Sterling Capital in serving both Sterling Capital Funds and other clients and, conversely, supplemental information obtained by the placement of business of other clients may be useful to Sterling Capital in carrying out its obligations to Sterling Capital Funds.

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

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

To the extent permitted by applicable rules and regulations, Sterling Capital may execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Funds through affiliates. As required by Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, the Funds have adopted procedures which provide that commissions paid to such affiliate must be fair and reasonable compared to the commission, fees or other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions. The procedures also provide that the Board of Trustees will review reports of such affiliated brokerage transactions in connection with the foregoing standard.

Investment decisions for each Fund are made independently from those for the other Sterling Capital Funds or any other investment company or account managed by Sterling Capital. Any such other investment company or account may also invest in the same securities as the Funds. When a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of a Fund and another Sterling Capital Fund, investment company or account, the transaction will be averaged as to price and available investments will be allocated as to amount in a manner which Sterling Capital believes to be fair and equitable over time to the Fund(s) and such other investment company or account. In some instances, this investment procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by a Fund or the size of the position obtained by a Fund. To the extent permitted by law, Sterling Capital may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for a Fund with those to be sold or purchased for the other Sterling Capital Funds or for other investment companies or accounts in order to obtain best execution. As provided by the Advisory Agreement, in making investment recommendations for the Funds, Sterling Capital will provide its services in accordance with its fiduciary obligations and will manage each Fund in the best interests of such Fund.

SECURITIES OF “REGULAR BROKER-DEALERS.” The Funds are required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which the Funds hold at the close of their most recent fiscal year. As of September 30, 2022, the Ultra Short Bond Fund held debt securities of Bank of America Corp., CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC valued at $347,029, $322,568, $860,877, $465,334, and $224,483 respectively. The Short Duration Bond Fund held debt securities of Bank of America Corp., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc. Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Morgan Stanley & Company LLC valued at $997,960, $689,226, $1,050,799, $1,295,708, $1,833,657 and $952,113, respectively. The Total Return Bond Fund held debt securities of Bank of America Corp., Barclays Bank PLC, CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC valued at $7,336,876, $3,552,505, $6,969,167, $4,652,607, $17,717,806 and $14,684,020, respectively. The Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund held debt securities of CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, Morgan Stanley & Company LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC valued at $213,899, $252,930, $369,220, $212,865 and $276,592, respectively. The Quality Income Fund held debt securities of CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC valued at $1,247,797 $1,314,012, $1,644,168 and $2,328,603, respectively. The Intermediate U.S. Government Fund held debt securities of CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc., and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC valued at $128,530 and $266,311.

ADMINISTRATOR

Sterling Capital, 434 Fayetteville St., Suite 500, NC 27601, serves as the Administrator (the “Administrator”) to each Fund pursuant to an Administration Agreement effective October 1, 2010, as amended. Prior to October 1, 2010, BB&T Asset Management served as the Administrator pursuant to the Management and Administration Agreement dated April 23, 2007, as amended.

Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator has agreed to maintain office facilities for the Funds, to maintain the Funds’ financial accounts and records, and to furnish the Funds statistical and research data and certain bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Funds. The Administrator prepares annual and semi-annual reports to the SEC, prepares federal and state tax returns, prepares filings with state securities commissions, and generally assists in supervising all aspects of the Funds’ operations (other than those performed by Sterling Capital under the Advisory Agreement, those performed by U.S. Bank National Association under their custodial services agreements with the Funds, those performed by The Bank of New York Mellon under its fund accounting agreement with the Funds, and those performed by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing under its transfer agency and shareholder services agreement and blue sky service agreement with the Funds). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities thereunder.

Under the Administration Agreement for expenses assumed and services provided as administrator, the Administrator receives a fee from each series of the Sterling Capital Funds that is calculated based upon each series of the Sterling Capital Funds’ average net assets as well as the average net assets of the remaining series of Sterling Capital Funds. The fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of ten and three-quarters hundredths of one percent (0.1075%), applicable to the first $3.5 billion of average net assets, at an annual rate of seven-and-one-half one-hundredths of one percent (0.075%) of the next $1 billion of average net assets, at the annual rate of six one-hundredths of one percent (0.06%) of the next $1.5 billion of average net assets, and at the annual rate of four one-hundredths of one percent (0.04%) of average net assets in excess of $6 billion. The fee shall be computed daily and paid monthly. In addition to paying the Administrator the fees set forth in the Administration Agreement, the Fund shall also reimburse the Administrator for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to the travel and lodging expenses incurred by officers and employees of the Administrator in connection with attendance at Board meetings.

Alternatively, the Funds may pay a fee as may from time to time be agreed upon in writing by Sterling Capital Funds and the Administrator. A fee agreed to in writing from time to time by the Funds and the Administrator may be significantly lower than the fee calculated at the annual rate and the effect of such lower fee would be to lower a Fund’s expenses and increase the net income of such Fund during the period when such lower fee is in effect.

For its services as administrator and expenses assumed pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator received the following fees (“Paid” indicates gross administration fees and “Waived” are fees waived from gross administration fees and/or reimbursed directly to the Fund):

FISCAL YEAR END

The Administration Agreement shall, unless sooner terminated as provided in the Administration Agreement (described below), continue for a period of three years (the “Initial Term”). Thereafter, the Administration Agreement shall be renewed automatically for successive one year terms (the “Renewal Terms”), unless written notice not to renew is given by the non-renewing party to the other party at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or the then-current Renewal Term. The Administration Agreement is also terminable with respect to a particular Fund only upon mutual agreement of the parties to the Administration Agreement or for cause (as defined in the Administration Agreement) on not less than 60 days written notice by the party alleging cause.

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any loss suffered by the Funds in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of its duties, or from the reckless disregard by the Administrator of its obligations and duties thereunder, except as otherwise provided by applicable law.

SUB-ADMINISTRATOR

The Bank of New York Mellon, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as sub-administrator to the Funds pursuant to a Sub-Administration Services Agreement dated December 18, 2006, as amended, and effective with respect to the Funds as of April 30, 2007 (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”). Under the Sub-Administration Agreement, the Sub-Administrator has agreed to assume many of the Administrator’s duties, for which The Bank of New York Mellon receives a fee, paid by the Administrator, that is calculated based upon each portfolio of the Funds’ average net assets. The fee shall be calculated at the annual rate of 0.0370% applicable to the first $3.5 billion of average net assets, at the annual rate of 0.0240% applicable to the next $1 billion of average net assets, at the annual rate of 0.019% applicable to the next $1.5 billion of average net assets, and at the annual rate of 0.01% applicable to net assets in excess of $6 billion.

UNDERWRITER

Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101, serves as principal underwriter to each Fund pursuant to a Distribution Agreement effective as of February 1, 2016 (the “Underwriting Agreement”). The Underwriting Agreement provides that, unless sooner terminated it will continue in effect for continuous one-year periods if such continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Funds’ Board of Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Funds or Fund subject to such Underwriting Agreement, and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Funds who are not parties to such Underwriting Agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to such Underwriting Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated in the event of any assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Adviser, or any other service provider for the Trust.

Under the Underwriting Agreement the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes Shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares and the Distributor and its officers have no roles in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Trust. The Distributor receives payment from the Funds for distribution activities permitted and authorized under the Distribution Plan adopted by the Funds. Under the Distribution Plan, a Fund will pay a monthly distribution fee to the Distributor as compensation for its services in connection with the Distribution Plan at an annual rate equal to twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (0.25%) of the average daily net assets of Class A Shares of each Fund, and one percent (1.00%) of the average daily net assets of Class C Shares of each Fund. The Adviser may also compensate the Distributor for services provided to the Funds under the Underwriting Agreement that either (i) are not authorized under the Distribution Plan or (ii) represent amounts incurred in excess of the fee payable under the Distribution Plan.

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022, 2021 and 2020, Sterling Capital Distributors, LLC, the Funds’ underwriter, received the following fees with respect to the Class A and Class C Shares from the following Funds (“Paid” indicates gross fees and “Waived” are fees waived from gross fees and/or reimbursed directly to the Fund):

The Distribution Plan was initially approved on August 18, 1992 by the Funds’ Board of Trustees, including a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Plan (the “Independent Trustees”). The Distribution Plan provides for fees only upon the Class A and Class C Shares of each Fund.

In accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Distribution Plan may be terminated with respect to any Fund by a vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding Class A or Class C Shares of that Fund. The Distribution Plan may be amended by vote of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose, except that any change in the Distribution Plan that would materially increase the distribution fee with respect to a Fund requires the approval of the holders of that Fund’s Class A and Class C Shares. Sterling Capital Funds’ Board of Trustees will review on a quarterly and annual basis written reports of the amounts received and expended under the Distribution Plan (including amounts expended by the Distributor to Participating Organizations pursuant to the Servicing Agreements entered into under the Distribution Plan) indicating the purposes for which such expenditures were made.

The Distributor may use the distribution fee to provide distribution assistance with respect to a Fund’s Class A and Class C Shares or to provide shareholder services to the holders of such Shares. The Distributor may also use the distribution fee (i) to pay financial institutions and intermediaries (such as insurance companies and investment counselors but not including banks), broker-dealers, and the Distributor compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or (ii) to pay banks, other financial institutions and intermediaries, broker-dealers, and the Distributor compensation for services or reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the provision of shareholder services. These payments to financial institutions may include payments to affiliates of Sterling Capital. All payments by the Distributor for distribution assistance or shareholder services under the Distribution Plan will be made pursuant to an agreement (a “Servicing Agreement”) between the Distributor and a Participating Organization. A Servicing Agreement will relate to the provision of distribution assistance in connection with the distribution of a Fund’s Class A and Class C Shares to the Participating Organization’s customers on whose behalf the investment in such Shares is made and/or to the provision of shareholder services to the Participating Organization’s customers owning a Fund’s Class A and Class C Shares.

The distribution fee will be payable without regard to whether the amount of the fee is more or less than the actual expenses incurred in a particular year by the Distributor in connection with distribution assistance or shareholder services rendered by the Distributor itself or incurred by the Distributor pursuant to the Servicing Agreements entered into under the Distribution Plan. The Distributor sets aside distribution fees in a retention account that is used solely for distribution related expenses.

The Distribution Plan also contains a so-called “defensive” provision applicable to all classes of Shares. Under this defensive provision to the extent that any payment made to the Administrator, including payment of administration fees, should be deemed to be indirect financing of any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares issued by the Funds within the context of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, such payment shall be deemed to be authorized by the Distribution Plan.

EXPENSES

Sterling Capital bears all expenses in connection with the performance of its services as Adviser and Administrator, respectively, other than the cost of securities (including brokerage commissions, if any) purchased for a Fund. Each Fund bears all expenses relating to its organization and operations, including but not limited to: expenses of preparing, printing and mailing all shareholders’ reports, notices, prospectuses, proxy statements and reports to regulatory agencies; expenses relating to the issuance, registration and qualification of shares; government fees; interest charges; expenses of furnishing to shareholders their account statements; taxes; expenses of redeeming shares; brokerage and other expenses connected with the execution of portfolio securities transactions; expenses pursuant to the Funds’ plans of distribution; fees and expenses of custodian including those for keeping books and accounts, maintaining a committed line of credit, and calculating the NAV of shares; fees and expenses of transfer agents and dividend disbursing agents; legal, accounting, financial, management, tax and auditing fees and expenses of the Funds (including an allocable portion of the cost of the Adviser’s employees rendering such services to the Funds); the compensation and expenses of Trustees who are not otherwise affiliated with the Funds, the Adviser or any of their affiliates; expenses of Trustees’ and shareholders’ meeting; trade association memberships; insurance premiums; and any extraordinary expenses. As a general matter, expenses are allocated to the Class A, Class C, Class R6 and Institutional Class of a Fund on the basis of the relative NAV of each class. At present, the only expenses that will be borne solely by Class A and Class C Shares, other than in accordance with the relative NAV of the class, are expenses under the Distribution Plan which relate only to the Class A and Class C Shares.

Pursuant to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Statement of Position (SOP) 98-5, any Fund organizational or start-up costs incurred on or after January 1, 1999 will be expensed as they are incurred.

CUSTODIAN

U.S. Bank, National Association, 425 Walnut Street, M.L. CN-OH-W6TC, Cincinnati, OH 45202, serves as the Custodian to the Funds.

TRANSFER AGENT AND FUND ACCOUNTING SERVICES

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing, 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as transfer agent to the Funds pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Blue Sky Services Agreement. BNY Mellon Investment Servicing receives a fee based on the type of services provided to the Funds as agreed upon by the Funds and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing.

The Bank of New York Mellon provides fund accounting services to the Funds pursuant to a Fund Accounting Agreement. For its services, The Bank of New York Mellon receives a fee from a Fund at the annual rate of 0.0075% of such Fund’s average daily net assets.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Cohen & Company, Ltd. has been selected as the independent registered public accounting firm. The address of Cohen & Company, Ltd. is 342 North Water Street, Suite 830, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Ropes & Gray LLP, One Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199-3600, is counsel to the Funds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

Sterling Capital Funds was organized as a Massachusetts business trust by the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated October 1, 1987, under the name “Shelf Registration Trust IV.” A copy of Sterling Capital Funds’ Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 1, 2011, (the “Declaration of Trust”) is on file with the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to issue an unlimited number of Shares, which are units of beneficial interest. Sterling Capital Funds presently has twenty series of Shares offered to the public which represent interests in the Behavioral Large Cap Value Equity Fund, Mid Value Fund, Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, Special Opportunities Fund, Equity Income Fund, Behavioral International Equity Fund, Mid Cap Relative Value Fund, Real Estate Fund, Small Cap Value Fund, SMID Opportunities Fund, Ultra Short Bond Fund, Short Duration Bond Fund, Intermediate U.S. Government Fund, Total Return Bond Fund, Long Duration Corporate Bond Fund, Quality Income Fund, North Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund, Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund and West Virginia Intermediate Tax-Free Fund. The Funds’ Declaration of Trust authorizes the Board of Trustees to divide or redivide any unissued Shares of Sterling Capital Funds into one or more additional series.

Shares have no subscription or preemptive rights and only such conversion or exchange rights as the Board of Trustees may grant in its discretion. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectuses and this SAI, the Funds’ Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Funds, shareholders of a Fund are entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to that Fund, and a proportionate distribution, based upon the relative asset values of the respective Funds, of any general assets not belonging to any particular Sterling Capital Fund which are available for distribution.

Shares of the Funds are entitled to one vote per share (with proportional voting for fractional shares) on such matters as shareholders are entitled to vote. Shareholders vote in the aggregate and not by series or class on all matters except (i) when required by the 1940 Act, shares shall be voted by individual series, (ii) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of a particular series or class, then only shareholders of such series or class shall be entitled to vote thereon, and (iii) only the holders of Class A and Class C Shares will be entitled to vote on matters submitted to shareholder vote with regard to the Distribution Plan applicable to such class.

As used in this SAI, a “vote of a majority of the outstanding Shares” of the Funds or a particular Fund means the affirmative vote, at a meeting of shareholders duly called, of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the votes of shareholders of the Funds or such Fund present at such meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the votes attributable to the shareholders of record of Sterling Capital Funds or such Fund are represented in person or by proxy, or (b) the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding votes of shareholders of Sterling Capital Funds or such Fund.

SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Funds. However, the Funds’ Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Funds and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in every agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Funds or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of a Fund’s property for all loss and expense of any shareholder of such Fund held liable on account of being or having been a shareholder. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which a Fund would be unable to meet its obligations.

The Agreement and Declaration of Trust states further that no Trustee, officer or agent of the Funds shall be personally liable in connection with the administration or preservation of the assets of the Funds or the conduct of the Funds’ business; nor shall any Trustee, officer, or agent be personally liable to any person for any action or failure to act except for his own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his duties. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust also provides that all persons having any claim against the Trustees or the Funds shall look solely to the assets of the Funds for payment.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Trust has adopted its own policies and procedures governing the disclosure of information about each Fund’s respective Portfolio Holdings.¹ It is the policy of each Fund to protect the confidentiality of material, non-public, information about the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings and prevent the selective disclosure of non-public Portfolio Holdings information. Non-public information about a Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to persons not employed by the Adviser, or its affiliates, or a Fund’s investment sub-adviser(s) (if applicable), unless there is a legitimate business purpose for doing so, and disclosure is made in accordance with the Funds’ portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures. No Fund, or affiliate of a Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), may receive compensation or consideration of any type in connection with the disclosure of information about a Fund’s Portfolio Holdings.

Public Availability of Portfolio Holdings Information

Equity Funds. No earlier than ten calendar days after the end of each month, the Equity Funds will make public on such Funds’ Web site a complete schedule of each such Fund’s portfolio holdings. Such information will be current as of the end of the most recent month and will be available on such Funds’ Web site until updated for the next applicable month.

Bond Funds. No earlier than ten calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter, the Bond Funds will make public on such Funds’ Web site a complete schedule of each Bond Fund’s portfolio holdings. Such information will be current as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter, and will be available on the Bond Funds’ Web site until updated for the next applicable fiscal quarter.

Ongoing Disclosure Arrangements

Non-public information about a Fund’s Portfolio Holdings may be disclosed on a regular basis to the Fund’s Board of Trustees, independent legal counsel for the Funds, and the Funds’ service providers² who generally need access to such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities to the Funds where each such person is subject to duties of confidentiality, including a duty not to share such information with an unauthorized person or trade on such information, imposed by law and/or contract.  Any “ongoing arrangement” to make available such information not identified above must be for a legitimate business purpose, the disclosure must in the best interests³ of the Funds and their shareholders, and the recipient of such information will be subject to duties of confidentiality as noted above.

The approval of (1) the Funds’ President or Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and (2) the Funds’ CCO must be obtained before entering into any new ongoing arrangement, or materially altering any existing arrangement to make available non-public Portfolio Holdings information. Any such new or materially altered arrangement will be disclosed to the Funds’ Board of Trustees at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

At least annually the Funds’ CCO will provide to the Funds’ Board of Trustees a complete list of all ongoing arrangements to make available non-public Portfolio Holdings information.

Public Disclosure of the Portfolio Characteristics

“Portfolio Characteristics” means aggregated information of a statistical nature that does not identify, directly or indirectly, specific Portfolio Holdings or subsets of holdings (such as top 10 Portfolio Holdings).  Portfolio Characteristics include, but are not limited to, (1) descriptions of allocations by asset class, sector, industry, or credit quality; (2) performance- and risk-related statistics such as alpha, beta, r-squared, Sharpe ratio, and standard deviation; (3) descriptive portfolio-level statistics such as maturity, duration, P/E ratio, and median market capitalization; and (4) non-security specific attribution analyses, such as those based on asset class, sector, industry, or country performance.

Portfolio Characteristics may be made available and distributed if the availability of such information is disclosed in the SAI and the distribution of such information is otherwise in accordance with the general principles of the Funds’ portfolio holdings disclosure policies and procedures.  Such information, if provided to anyone, shall be made available to any person upon request.

Disclosure to Certain Broker-Dealers

The trading desks of a Fund’s investment adviser and/or sub-adviser(s), periodically may distribute to counterparties and others involved in trade transactions (i.e., brokers and custodians), lists of applicable investments held by their clients (including the Funds) for the purpose of facilitating efficient trading of such investments and receipt of indicative pricing or relevant research. In addition, such trading desks may distribute to third parties, a list of the issuers and securities which are covered by their respective research departments as of a particular date, which may include securities that are held by a Fund as of that date and/or securities that a Fund may purchase or sell in the future; however, in no case will the list specifically identify that a particular issuer or security is currently held by a Fund or that a Fund may purchase or sell an issuer or security in the future.

Disclosure of Similar Separate Account, WRAP or Model Portfolio Information

Some of the separately managed accounts, wrap accounts and model portfolios managed for compensation by the Adviser have the same or substantially similar investment objectives and strategies to those of the Funds, and therefore, the same or substantially similar portfolio holdings. The portfolio holdings of these accounts and/or portfolios are made available to certain parties on a more timely basis than Fund Portfolio Holdings are made publicly available as specified in above. It is possible that any such recipient of these holdings could trade ahead of or against a Fund based on the information received.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sterling Capital Funds may include information in its Annual Reports and Semi-Annual Reports to shareholders that (1) describes general economic trends, (2) describes general trends within the financial services industry or the mutual fund industry, (3) describes past or anticipated portfolio holdings for one or more of the Funds within Sterling Capital Funds, or (4) describes investment management strategies for such Funds. Such information is provided to inform shareholders of the activities of Sterling Capital Funds for the most recent fiscal year or half-year and to provide the views of the Adviser and/or Sterling Capital Funds officers regarding expected trends and strategies.

Sterling Capital Funds is registered with the SEC as a management investment company. Such registration does not involve supervision by the SEC of the management or policies of the Funds.

The following table indicates the name, address, and percentage of ownership of each person who owns of record or is known by the Trust to own beneficially 5% or more of any Class of a Fund’s outstanding shares as of January 6, 2023:

As of December 31, 2022, Truist and its affiliates possessed, on behalf of its underlying accounts, voting or investment power with respect to the following Funds in the following amounts: 88% of the Behavioral Small Cap Value Equity Fund, 99% of the Behavioral International Equity Fund and 38% of the Ultra Short Bond Fund.  As a result, Truist may be deemed to be a “controlling person” of each of the above mentioned Funds under the 1940 Act.