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Statement of Additional Information
March 31, 2023
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund and Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund (each a “Fund” and together the “Funds”), series of Managed Portfolio Series (the “Trust”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ current prospectus for A Class Shares, Institutional Class shares, C Class shares, and T Class Shares, dated March 31, 2023 (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time. In addition, each Fund’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 is incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s annual report dated November 30, 2022. To obtain a copy of the Prospectus and/or Annual Report(s), free of charge, please write or call the Funds at the address or toll-free telephone number below, or visit the Adviser’s website at www.tortoiseecofin.com.
Tortoise Funds
c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
855-TCA-FUND (855-822-3863)



Tortoise Funds
Series of Managed Portfolio Series (the “Trust”)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
   Board of Trustees    
   The Role of the Board     
   Trustees and Officers    
   Board Committees    
   Trustee Compensation    
   Portfolio Managers    
   Legal Counsel    
Tax Matters     
Distributions     



The Trust and the Funds
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on January 27, 2011, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company. Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund (“Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund”) and Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund ("Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund") are each series, or mutual funds, of the Trust. The Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund commenced operations on May 31, 2011. The Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund was formerly known as the Tortoise MLP & Pipeline Fund and changed its name on January 16, 2023. The Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund has registered four different share classes — A Class, Institutional Class, C Class, and T Class. T Class shares of the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund are not currently available for purchase. Prior to March 30, 2019, the A Class of each Fund was designated as the “Investor Class.” The Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund offers three classes of shares: A Class shares, Institutional Class shares and C Class shares. The Advisory Research MLP & Energy Income Fund (the "Energy Infrastructure and Income Predecessor Fund") reorganized into the MLP & Energy Income Fund on November 15, 2019. The Tortoise MLP & Energy Income Fund was renamed the Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund on September 1, 2022. Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., (“TCA Advisors” or the “Adviser”), is the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser is affiliated with Tortoise Index Solutions, LLC, doing business as TIS Advisors (“TIS Advisors”). The Adviser manages three other series of the Trust. TIS Advisors manages two other series of the Trust. The Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund is a non-diversified series and each Fund has its own investment objective and investment policies. Shares of other series of the Trust are offered in separate prospectuses and SAIs. The Funds’ Prospectus and this SAI are a part of the Trust’s Registration Statement filed with the SEC. Copies of the Trust’s complete Registration Statement may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee, or may be accessed free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. As permitted by Delaware law, the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may create additional classes of the Funds and may create additional series (and classes thereof) of the Trust and offer shares of these series and classes under the Trust at any time without the vote of shareholders.
All shares of a series shall represent an equal proportionate interest in the assets held with respect to that series (subject to the liabilities held with respect to that series and such rights and preferences as may have been established and designated with respect to classes of shares of such series), and each share of a series shall be equal to each other share of that series.
Shares are voted in the aggregate and not by series or class, except in matters where a separate vote is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or when the matters affect only the interest of a particular series or class. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional shares owned.
The Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders. Meetings of the shareholders shall be called by any member of the Board upon written request of shareholders holding, in the aggregate, not less than 10% of the shares, such request specifying the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called.
Interests in each Fund are represented by shares of beneficial interest, each with no par value per share. Each share of a Fund is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the assets belonging to the Fund, as may be declared by the Board.
The Board has the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series without materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of the shares of that series in the assets belonging to that series or materially affecting the rights of shares of any other series. In case of the liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated are entitled to receive a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series (or Class thereof) are borne by that series (or class). Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by, or under the direction of, the Board to all applicable series (and classes thereof) in such manner and on such basis as the Board in its sole discretion deems fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever with respect to the Trust or any series of the Trust without his or her express consent.
All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of a Fund’s shares, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds
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derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, subject only to the rights of creditors, shall constitute the underlying assets of the Fund.
Investment Objective, Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks
The following discussion supplements the description of each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies set forth in the Prospectus. Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below (see “Fundamental and Non-Fundamental Investment Limitations”), the Funds’ investment objective, strategies and policies are not fundamental and may be changed by sole action of the Board, without shareholder approval. While a Fund is permitted to hold securities and engage in various strategies as described hereafter, it is not obligated to do so. The Funds might not invest in all of these types of securities or use all of these techniques at any one time. The Funds’ transactions in a particular type of security or use of a particular technique is subject to limitations imposed by each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions described in the Funds’ Prospectus and/or this SAI, as well as the federal securities laws.
Investment Objective
The investment objective of each Fund is set forth under the “Summary Section” in the Funds’ Prospectus.
Diversification
The Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund is non-diversified. A non-diversified fund is a fund that does not satisfy the definition of a “diversified company” set forth in the 1940 Act. A “diversified company” means that as to 75% of a Fund’s total assets, excluding cash, government securities and securities of other investment companies, (1) no more than 5% may be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) a Fund may not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer. The Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund is a diversified fund.
Because each Fund intends to qualify as a “regulated investment company”(“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”), each Fund’s investments will be limited so that at the close of each quarter of each taxable year (i) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets are invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs), the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same business or similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (which includes master limited partnerships, “MLPs”). These tax-related limitations may be changed by the Board to the extent appropriate in light of changes to applicable tax requirements.
Market Volatility
U.S. and international markets have from time to time experienced significant volatility. Certain social, political, economic, environmental and other conditions and events (such as natural disasters and weather-related phenomena generally, epidemics and pandemics, terrorism, conflicts and social unrest) may adversely interrupt the global economy and result in prolonged periods of significant market volatility. During certain volatile periods, the fixed income markets have experienced substantially lower valuations, reduced liquidity, price volatility, credit downgrades, increased likelihood of default and valuation difficulties. At times, concerns have spread to domestic and international equity markets. In some cases, the stock prices of individual companies have been negatively affected even though there may be little or no apparent degradation in the financial conditions or prospects of that company. Continued volatility may have adverse effects on the Fund, and the risks discussed below and in the Prospectus may increase.
Equity Securities
An equity security represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company. Its value is based on the success of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets and general market conditions. The value of equity securities will be affected by changes in the stock markets, which may be the result of domestic or international political or economic news, changes in interest rates or changing investor sentiment. At times, stock markets can be volatile and stock prices can change substantially. Equity securities risk affects each Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”), which will fluctuate as the value of the securities it holds changes. Not all stock prices change uniformly or at the same time, and not all stock markets move in the same direction at the same time. Other factors affect a particular
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stock’s prices, such as poor earnings reports by an issuer, loss of major customers, major litigation against an issuer, or changes in governmental regulations affecting an industry. Adverse news affecting one company can sometimes depress the stock prices of all companies in the same industry. Not all factors can be predicted. Types of equity securities in which the Funds may invest include primarily common stocks; MLP common units, limited liability company common units and MLP convertible subordinate units; securities issued by affiliates of MLPs including other equity securities of corporations and limited liability companies that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests; and preferred equity, convertible securities, warrants, rights and depository receipts of companies that are organized as corporations, limited partnerships or limited liability companies; and energy real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).
Common Stock
Common stock represents an equity ownership interest in the profits and losses of a corporation, after payment of amounts owed to bondholders, other debt holders, and holders of preferred stock. Holders of common stock generally have voting rights, but the Funds do not expect to have voting control in any of the companies in which they invest. In addition to the general risks set forth above, investments in common stocks are subject to the risk that in the event a company in which a Fund invests is liquidated, the holders of preferred stock and creditors of that company will be paid in full before any payments are made to the Fund as holders of common stock. It is possible that all assets of that company will be exhausted before any payments are made to the holders of common stock.
Master Limited Partnerships
An MLP is an entity that is generally taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes if certain qualifying income requirements are met.
An MLP has one or more general partners (who may be individuals, corporations, or other partnerships) which manage the partnership, and limited partners, which provide capital to the partnership but have no role in its management. Typically, the general partner is owned by company management or another publicly traded sponsoring corporation. When an investor buys units in an MLP, the investor becomes a limited partner.
MLPs are formed in several ways. A nontraded partnership may decide to go public. Several nontraded partnerships may roll up into a single MLP. A corporation may spin-off a group of assets or part of its business into an MLP of which it is the general partner, to realize the assets’ full value on the marketplace by selling the assets and using the cash proceeds received from the MLP to address debt obligations or to invest in higher growth opportunities, while retaining control of the MLP. A corporation may fully convert to an MLP, although tax consequences have made this an unappealing option for most corporations. Unlike the ways described above, it is also possible for a newly formed entity to commence operations as an MLP from its inception.
The sponsor or general partner of an MLP, other energy companies, and utilities may sell assets to MLPs in order to generate cash to fund expansion projects or repay debt. The MLP structure essentially transfers cash flows generated from these acquired assets directly to MLP limited partner unitholders.
In the case of an MLP buying assets from its sponsor or general partner the transaction is intended to be based upon comparable terms in the acquisition market for similar assets. To help ensure that appropriate protections are in place, the board of the MLP generally creates an independent committee to review and approve the terms of the transaction. The committee often obtains a fairness opinion and can retain counsel or other experts to assist its evaluation. Since both parties normally have a significant equity stake in the MLP, both parties are aligned to see that the transaction is accretive and fair to the MLP.
As a motivation for the general partner to successfully manage the MLP and increase cash flows, the terms of MLPs typically provide that the general partner receives a larger portion of the net income as distributions reach higher target levels. As cash flow grows, the general partner receives a greater interest in the incremental income compared to the interest of limited partners. Although the percentages vary among MLPs, the general partner’s marginal interest in distributions generally increases from 2% to 15% at the first designated distribution target level moving up to 25% and ultimately 50% as pre-established distribution per unit thresholds are met. Nevertheless, the aggregate amount distributed to limited partners will increase as MLP distributions reach higher target levels. Given this incentive structure, the general partner has an incentive to streamline operations and undertake acquisitions and growth projects in order to increase distributions to all partners.
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The business of certain MLPs is affected by supply and demand for energy commodities because such MLPs derive revenue and income based upon the volume of the underlying commodity produced, transported, processed, distributed, and/or marketed. Pipeline MLPs have indirect commodity exposure to gas and oil price volatility because although they do not own the underlying energy commodity, the general level of commodity prices may affect the volume of the commodity that the MLP delivers to its customers and the cost of providing services such as distributing natural gas liquids (“NGLs”). The costs of natural gas pipeline MLPs to perform services may exceed the negotiated rates under “negotiated rate” contracts. Specifically, processing MLPs may be directly affected by energy commodity prices. Propane MLPs own the underlying energy commodity, and therefore have direct exposure to energy commodity prices, although the Adviser intends to target high quality MLPs that seek to mitigate or manage direct margin exposure to commodity prices. However, the MLP industry in general could be hurt by market perception that an MLP’s performance and valuation are directly tied to commodity prices.
The Funds may invest in the securities of MLPs, which include:
MLP Common Units. MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in an MLP, providing limited voting rights and entitling the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Unlike stockholders of a corporation, common unitholders do not elect directors annually and generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the partnership agreement. MLPs are required by their partnership agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. Common unitholders generally have first right to a minimum quarterly distribution (“MQD”) prior to distributions to the convertible subordinated unitholders or the general partner (including incentive distributions). Common unitholders typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, MLP common unitholders have first rights to the partnership’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders, and preferred unitholders have been paid in full. MLP common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter. In addition, like common stock, prices of MLP common units are sensitive to general movements in the stock market and a drop in the stock market may depress the price of MLP common units to which a Fund has exposure. MLP common units may represent an ownership interest, held directly or indirectly, in a limited partnership whose primary assets are general partner interests in an underlying operating MLP.
Limited Liability Company Common Units. Some energy companies in which the Funds may invest have been organized as LLCs. Such LLCs are treated in the same manner as MLPs for federal income tax purposes. Consistent with its investment objective and policies, a Fund may invest in common units or other securities of such LLCs. LLC common units represent an equity ownership interest in an LLC, entitling the holders to a share of the LLC’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Similar to MLPs, LLCs typically do not pay federal income tax at the entity level and are required by their operating agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. LLC common unitholders generally have first right to a MQD prior to distributions to subordinated unitholders and typically have arrearage rights if the MQD is not met. In the event of liquidation, LLC common unitholders have first right to the LLC’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders and preferred unitholders, if any, have been paid in full. LLC common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter.
In contrast to MLPs, LLCs have no general partner and there are generally no incentives that entitle management or other unitholders to increased percentages of cash distributions as distributions reach higher target levels. In addition, LLC common unitholders typically have voting rights with respect to the LLC, whereas MLP common units have limited voting rights.
MLP Convertible Subordinated Units.  MLP convertible subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to the MLP, and institutional investors. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unitholders. Convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified MQD, plus any arrearages, and may receive less than common unitholders in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unitholders generally are entitled to MQD prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner but are not entitled to arrearage rights. Therefore, convertible subordinated units generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. They are generally convertible automatically into the senior common units of the same issuer at a one-to-one ratio upon the passage of time and/or the satisfaction of certain financial tests. These units generally do not trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. Although the means by which convertible subordinated units convert into senior common units depend on a security’s specific terms, MLP convertible subordinated units typically are exchanged for common units. The value of a convertible security is a function of its worth if converted into the underlying common
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units. Convertible subordinated units generally have similar voting rights as MLP common units. Distributions may be paid in cash or in-kind.
Equity Securities of MLP Affiliates. In addition to equity securities of MLPs, the Funds may also invest in equity securities of MLP affiliates. MLP affiliates are issuers of entities that own interests of general partners of MLPs.
General Partner Interests. Indirect investments in MLP general partner interests are available through investment in the equity securities of MLP affiliates organized as corporations and limited liability companies that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests. While these general partner interests themselves are generally not publicly traded, the MLP affiliates investing in such interests and in which the Funds may invest are publicly traded. General partner interests often confer direct board participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over the MLP. General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of the MLP’s aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner interests typically hold incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), which provide them with an increasing larger share of the aggregate MLP cash distributions upon the payment of distributions to limited partner unitholders that exceed prescribed levels. Due to the incentive distribution rights, general partner interests have higher distribution growth prospects than their underlying MLPs, but incentive distribution payments would also decline at a greater rate than the decline rate in distributions to common unitholders in the event of a reduction in the MLP’s distribution.
General partner interests generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unitholders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unitholders.
Real Estate Securities
The real estate securities in which the Funds may invest consist of securities issued by Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) and/or Real Estate Operating Companies (“REOCs”) that are listed on a securities exchange or traded over-the-counter and that are generally focused on the energy industry.  A REIT is a corporation or trust that invests in fee or leasehold ownership of real estate, mortgages or shares issued by other REITs and receives favorable tax treatment provided it meets certain conditions. REITs may be characterized as equity REITs (i.e., REITs that primarily invest in fee ownership and leasehold ownership of land), mortgage REITs (i.e., REITs that primarily invest in mortgages on real estate and other real estate debt) or hybrid REITs which invest in both fee and leasehold ownership of land and mortgages. A REIT that meets the applicable requirements of the Code may deduct dividends paid to shareholders, effectively eliminating any corporate level federal tax. As a result, REITs are able to distribute a larger portion of their earnings to investors than other corporate entities subject to the federal corporate tax. There is the risk that a REIT held by the Funds will fail to qualify for this tax-free pass-through treatment of its income. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Funds, in addition to bearing a proportionate share of the expenses of the Funds, investors will also indirectly bear similar expenses of the REITs in which a Fund invests. A REOC is typically structured as a “C” corporation under the Code and is not required to distribute any portion of its income. A REOC, therefore, does not receive the same favorable tax treatment that is accorded a REIT. In addition, the value of the Funds’ securities issued by REOCs may be adversely affected by income streams derived from businesses other than real estate ownership.
Preferred Equity
Preferred equity represents an ownership interest in a company, often pays dividends at a specific rate and has a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and liquidation of assets. A preferred equity is a blend of the characteristics of a bond and common stock. It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership, but does not have the seniority of a bond and, unlike common stock its participation in the issuer’s growth may be limited. Although the dividend or distribution is set at a fixed annual rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer. In addition, preferred equity usually does not have voting rights.
Warrants and Rights
The Funds may purchase, or receive as a distribution from other investments, warrants and rights, which are instruments that permit a Fund to acquire, by subscription, the capital stock of a corporation at a set price, regardless of the market price for such stock. The principal difference between warrants and rights is their term-rights typically expire within weeks while warrants have longer durations. Neither rights nor warrants have voting rights or pay dividends. The market price of warrants is usually significantly less than the current price of the underlying stock. Thus, there is a greater risk that warrants might drop in value at a faster rate than the underlying stock.
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Initial Public Offerings
The Funds may invest in securities offered by companies in initial public offerings (“IPOs”). IPOs involve companies that have no public operating history and therefore entail more risk than established public companies. Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, a Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, a Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. Companies that offer securities in IPOs tend to typically have small market capitalizations and therefore their securities may be more volatile and less liquid that those issued by larger companies. Certain companies offering securities in an IPO may have limited operating experience and, as a result face a greater risk of business failure.
Foreign Investments and Currencies
The Funds may invest in securities of foreign issuers whether or not they are traded in the United States or U.S. dollar denominated, purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and enter into forward currency contracts (see “Forward Currency Contracts,” below). The Funds may also invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and foreign securities that are traded on a U.S. exchange. Investments in ADRs and foreign securities involve certain inherent risks, including the following:
American Depositary Receipts. Among the means through which the Funds may invest in foreign securities that are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange is the purchase of ADRs. ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the depositary security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts of the deposited securities. Accordingly, available information concerning the issuer may not be current and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than the prices of sponsored depositary receipts. For purposes of each Fund’s investment policies, ADRs are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Political and Economic Factors. Individual foreign economies of certain countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position. The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of the United States. Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of interest. The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading partners. Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of those countries.
On March 29, 2017, the United Kingdom (“UK”) triggered the procedures to withdraw from the European Union (“EU”) after the two year period settlement negotiation as prescribed in Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. On January 31, 2020 the UK officially withdrew from the EU, subject to an 11 month transition period. Following a transition period during which the EU and the UK government engaged in a series of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the EU and the UK government signed an agreement on December 30, 2020 regarding the economic relationship between the UK and the EU. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. It is still uncertain what the long-term impacts will be as a result of the commercial arrangements reached between the EU and the UK. The withdrawal could cause an extended period of uncertainty and market volatility, not just in the UK but throughout the EU, the European Economic Area and globally.
Currency Fluctuations. A Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of a Fund’s assets denominated in that currency. Such changes will also affect the Fund’s income. The value of the Fund’s assets may also be affected significantly by currency restrictions and exchange control regulations enacted from time to time.
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Market Characteristics. The Adviser expects that many foreign securities in which a Fund may invest could be purchased in over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets or on exchanges located in the countries in which the principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are located, if that is the best available market. Foreign exchanges and markets may be more volatile than those in the United States. While growing in volume, they usually have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, and a Fund’s investments in foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than investments in U.S. securities. Moreover, settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in U.S. markets, and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States. Foreign security trading practices, including those involving securities settlement where Fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment or securities, may expose the Funds to increased risk in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer.
Legal and Regulatory Matters. Certain foreign countries may have less supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities, non-uniform accounting standards and less financial information available from issuers, than is available in the United States. It may be more difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment against a foreign issuer. Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the United States or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers located in those foreign countries.
Taxes. The interest and dividends payable on certain of a Fund’s foreign portfolio securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing the net amount of income available for distribution to Fund shareholders. Foreign issuers may not be subject to auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to those which apply to U.S. companies.
Costs. To the extent that a Fund invests in foreign securities, its expense ratio is likely to be higher than those of investment companies investing only in domestic securities, because related brokerage costs and the cost of maintaining the custody of foreign securities may be higher.
Additional Risks of Emerging and Frontier Markets. In addition, a Fund may invest in foreign securities of companies that are located in developing, emerging or frontier markets. Investing in securities of issuers located in these markets may pose greater risks not typically associated with investing in more established markets, such as increased risk of social, political and economic instability. Emerging and frontier market countries typically have smaller securities markets than developed countries and therefore less liquidity and greater price volatility than more developed markets. Securities traded in emerging markets may also be subject to risks associated with the lack of modern technology, poor governmental and/or judicial infrastructures relating to private or foreign investment or to judicial redress for injury to private property, the lack of capital base to expand business operations, foreign taxation and the inexperience of financial intermediaries, custodians and transfer agents. Emerging and frontier market countries are also more likely to impose restrictions on the repatriation of an investor’s assets and even where there is no outright restriction on repatriation, the mechanics of repatriations may delay or impede a Fund’s ability to obtain possession of its assets. As a result, there may be an increased risk or price volatility associated with a Fund’s investments in emerging and frontier market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations.
Forward Currency Contracts
A forward currency contract (“forward contract”) involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific non-U.S. currency in exchange for another currency, which may be U.S. dollars, at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at an exchange rate (price) set at the time of the contract. At or before maturity of a forward currency contract, a Fund may either exchange the currencies specified in the contract or terminate its contractual obligation to exchange currencies by purchasing an offsetting contract. If the Fund makes delivery of the foreign currency at or before the settlement of a forward contract, it may be required to obtain the currency by converting assets into the currency. The Fund may close out a forward contract obligating it to exchange currencies by purchasing or selling an offsetting contract, in which case, it will realize a gain or a loss.
A Fund may enter into forward contracts in order to “lock in” the exchange rate between the currency it will deliver and the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. In addition, a Fund may enter into forward contracts to hedge against risks arising from securities it owns or anticipates purchasing, or the U.S. dollar value of interest and dividends paid on those securities. The Funds do not intend to enter into forward contracts on a regular or continuing basis and the Funds will not enter these contracts for speculative purposes.
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Foreign currency transactions involve certain costs and risks. The Funds incur foreign exchange expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. Forward contracts involve a risk of loss if the Adviser is inaccurate in its prediction of currency movements. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain. The precise matching of forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved is generally not possible. Accordingly, it may be necessary for a Fund to purchase additional foreign currency if the market value of the security is less than the amount of the foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver under the forward contract and the decision is made to sell the security and make delivery of the foreign currency. The use of forward contracts as a hedging technique does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities a Fund owns or intends to acquire, but it does fix a rate of exchange in advance. Moreover, investors should bear in mind that the Fund is not obligated to actively engage in hedging or other currency transactions. Although forward contracts can reduce the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, they also limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of the currencies. There is also the risk that the other party to the transaction may fail to deliver currency when due which may result in a loss to a Fund.
Under definitions adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and SEC, non-deliverable forwards are considered swaps, and therefore are included in the definition of “commodity interests.” Although non-deliverable forwards have historically been traded in the OTC market, as swaps they may in the future be required to be centrally cleared and traded on public facilities. Forward contracts that qualify as deliverable forwards are not regulated as swaps for most purposes, and are not included in the definition of “commodity interests.” However, these forwards are subject to some requirements applicable to swaps, including reporting to swap data repositories, documentation requirements, and business conduct rules applicable to swap dealers. CFTC regulation of currency forwards, especially non-deliverable forwards, may restrict the Funds’ ability to use these instruments in the manner described above or subject the Adviser to CFTC registration and regulation as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”).
Debt Securities
The Funds may invest in a wide range of debt securities, which may include investment grade debt securities and below investment grade debt securities (commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high yield bonds”). Investment grade corporate bonds are those rated BBB- or better by Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, Inc. (“S&P”) or Baa3 or better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), each of which are considered a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or an equivalent rating by another NRSRO. To the extent that a Fund invests in below investment grade debt securities, such securities will be rated, at the time of investment, at least B- by S&P or B3 by Moody’s or a comparable rating by at least one other rating agency or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. A Fund may hold a debt security rated below investment grade if a downgrade occurs after the security has been purchased.
Below Investment Grade Debt Securities. Below investment grade debt securities generally offer a higher current yield than that available for investment grade issues. However, below investment grade debt securities involve higher risks, in that they are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged, to changes in the financial condition of the issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. During periods of economic downturn or rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to make payments of interest and principal and increase the possibility of default. At times in recent years, the prices of many below investment grade debt securities declined substantially, reflecting an expectation that many issuers of such securities might experience financial difficulties. As a result, the yields on below investment grade debt securities rose dramatically, reflecting the risk that holders of such securities could lose a substantial portion of their value as a result of the issuers’ financial restructuring or default. There can be no assurance that such price declines will not recur. The market for below investment grade debt issues generally is thinner and less active than that for higher quality securities, which may limit the Funds’ ability to sell such securities at fair value in response to changes in the economy or financial markets. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may also decrease the values and liquidity of below investment grade debt securities, especially in a thinly traded market. Changes by recognized rating services in their rating of a debt security may affect the value of these investments. A Fund will not necessarily dispose of a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. However, the Adviser will monitor the investment to determine whether continued investment in the security will assist in meeting the Fund’s investment objective.
Corporate Debt Securities. Corporate debt securities are fixed-income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations, although corporate debt instruments may also include bank loans to companies. Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or un-secured status. Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured.
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The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations. Corporate debt may be rated investment grade or below investment grade and may carry fixed, variable, or floating rates of interest.
Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles. For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated investment grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries relatively limited risk. On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of risk.
Corporate debt securities carry credit risk, interest rate risk and prepayment risk. Credit risk is the risk that a Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due. Some corporate debt securities that are rated below investment grade are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss, including default, than higher quality debt securities. The credit risk of a particular issuer’s debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment. For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities. This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities. In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of more junior securities.
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise. In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter terms. Prepayment risk occurs when issuers may prepay fixed rate debt securities when interest rates fall, forcing a Fund to invest in securities with lower interest rates. Issuers of debt securities are also subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors that may restrict the ability of the issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities. The possibility exists therefore, that, as a result of bankruptcy, litigation or other conditions, the ability of an issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may become impaired.
Convertible Securities. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock or other equity security at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities entitle the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or dividends paid or accrued on preferred stock until the security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. 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. The investment characteristics of each convertible security vary widely, which allows convertible securities to be employed for a variety of investment strategies. A Fund will exchange or convert convertible securities into shares of underlying common stock when, in the opinion of the Adviser, the investment characteristics of the underlying common stock or other equity security will assist the Fund in achieving its investment objectives. The Funds may also elect to hold or trade convertible securities. In selecting convertible securities, the Adviser evaluates the investment characteristics of the convertible security as a fixed income instrument, and the investment potential of the underlying equity security for capital appreciation.
Zero-Coupon Securities. Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest payments, but are sold at a deep discount from their face value. The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date. The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, liquidity of the security, and the issuer’s perceived credit quality. If the issuer defaults, the holder may not receive any return on its investment. Because zero-coupon securities bear no interest, their price fluctuates more than other types of bonds. Since zero-coupon bondholders do not receive interest payments, when interest rates rise, zero-coupon securities fall more dramatically in value than bonds paying interest on a current basis. When interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities rise more rapidly in value because the bonds reflect a fixed rate of return. An investment in zero-coupon may cause a Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on its investment.
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Unrated Debt Securities. The Funds may also invest in unrated debt securities. Unrated debt, while not necessarily lower in quality than rated securities, may not have as broad a market. Because of the size and perceived demand for the issue, among other factors, certain issuers may decide not to pay the cost of getting a rating for their bonds. The creditworthiness of the issuer, as well as any financial institution or other party responsible for payments on the security, will be analyzed to determine whether to purchase unrated bonds.
Yankee Bonds. The Funds may invest in Yankee bonds. Yankee bonds are U.S. dollar denominated bonds typically issued in the U.S. by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign banks and corporations. The Funds may also invest in Yankee Certificates of Deposit (“Yankee CDs”). Yankee CDs are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit issued by a U.S. branch of a foreign bank and held in the U.S. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities issued by U.S. issuers, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, foreign withholding or other taxes, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect and create increased risk relative to payment of principal or interest.
Variable and Floating Rate Securities. Variable and floating rate securities provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the obligations. The terms of such obligations must provide that interest rates are adjusted periodically based upon an interest rate adjustment index as provided in the respective obligations. The adjustment intervals may be regular, and range from daily up to annually, or may be event based, such as based on a change in the prime rate. The Funds may invest in floating rate debt instruments (“floaters”) and engage in credit spread trades. The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset feature, floaters provide a Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, a Fund will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two securities or currencies, where the value of the investment position is determined by movements in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities or currencies. The Funds also may invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”). The interest rate on an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floating rate security may exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality.
Restricted or Thinly Traded Securities
Restricted securities are less liquid than securities traded in the open market, therefore, a Fund may not be able to readily sell such securities. Such securities are unlike securities that are traded in the open market, which can be expected to be sold immediately if the market is adequate. The sale price of securities that are not readily marketable may be lower or higher than the company’s most recent determination of their fair value. In addition, the value of these securities typically requires more reliance on the judgment of the Adviser than that required for securities for which there is an active trading market. Due to the difficulty in valuing these securities and the absence of an active trading market for these securities, a Fund may not be able to realize these securities’ true value, or may have to delay their sale in order to do so.
Restricted securities generally can be sold in private transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or in a registered public offering. If the issuer of the restricted securities has an effective registration statement on file with the SEC covering the restricted securities, the Adviser has the ability to deem restricted securities as liquid. To enable a Fund to sell its holdings of a restricted security not registered under the 1933 Act, the Fund may have to cause those securities to be registered. When a Fund must arrange registration because it wishes to sell the security, a considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund can sell it. The Fund would bear the risks of any downward price fluctuation during that period.
In recent years, a large institutional market developed for certain securities that are not registered under the 1933 Act, including private placements, repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities and corporate bonds and notes. These instruments are often restricted securities because the securities are either themselves exempt from registration or were sold in transactions not requiring registration, such as Rule 144A transactions. Institutional investors generally will not seek to sell these instruments to the general public, but instead will often depend on an efficient institutional market in which such unregistered securities can be resold or on an issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment. Therefore, the fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or certain institutions is not dispositive of the liquidity of such investments.
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act for resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Institutional markets for restricted securities that exist or may develop as
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a result of Rule 144A may provide both readily ascertainable values for restricted securities and the ability to liquidate an investment. An insufficient number of qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing Rule 144A-eligible securities held by the Funds, however, could affect adversely the marketability of such portfolio securities and the Funds might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices.
The Funds may also invest in securities that may not be restricted, but are thinly-traded. Although securities of certain energy companies trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext U.S. (formerly known as AMEX), the NASDAQ National Market or other securities exchanges or markets, such securities may have a trading volume lower than those of larger companies due to their relatively smaller capitalizations. Such securities may be difficult to dispose of at a fair price during times when the Adviser believes it is desirable to do so. Thinly-traded securities are also more difficult to value and the Adviser’s judgment as to value will often be given greater weight than market quotations, if any exist. If market quotations are not available, thinly-traded securities will be valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board. Investment of capital in thinly-traded securities may restrict our ability to take advantage of market opportunities. The risks associated with thinly-traded securities may be particularly acute in situations in which our operations require cash and could result in us borrowing to meet our short term needs or incurring losses on the sale of thinly-traded securities.
Illiquid Investments
The Funds may purchase illiquid investments, which may include securities that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered under the Securities Act. The Funds may not acquire any illiquid investments if, immediately after the acquisition, a Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. The term “illiquid investments” for this purpose means any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined pursuant to the provisions of Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act. The Funds may not be able to sell illiquid investments when the Adviser considers it desirable to do so or may have to sell such investments at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the investments were more liquid. In addition, the sale of illiquid investments also may require more time and may result in higher dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of investments that are more liquid. Illiquid investments also may be more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations for such investments, and investments in illiquid investments may have an adverse impact on NAV.
Institutional markets for restricted securities have developed as a result of the promulgation of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, which provides a safe harbor from Securities Act registration requirements for qualifying sales to institutional investors. When Rule 144A restricted securities present an attractive investment opportunity and otherwise meet selection criteria, the Funds may make such investments. Whether or not such investments are illiquid depends on the market that exists for the particular investment. It is not possible to predict with assurance exactly how the market for Rule 144A restricted securities or any other security will develop. An investment which when purchased enjoyed a fair degree of marketability may subsequently become illiquid. In such event, appropriate remedies are considered to minimize the effect on a Fund’s liquidity.
Investment Companies
Each Fund may invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Each Fund generally may purchase or redeem, without limitation, shares of any affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds, including unregistered money market funds, so long as the Fund does not pay a sales load or service fee in connection with the purchase, sale or redemption, or if such fees are paid the Fund’s investment adviser waives its management fee in an amount necessary to offset the amounts paid. With respect to other investments in investment companies, the 1940 Act generally limits each Fund from acquiring (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.
Investments by the Funds in other investment companies will be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act (including limitations on sales charges), and the rules and regulations thereunder. By investing in securities of an investment company, each Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the fees and expenses of that underlying fund in addition to a Fund’s own fees and expenses.
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In October 2020, the SEC adopted regulatory changes related to the ability of an investment company to invest in other investment companies in excess of specified statutory limits. These changes include, among other things, amendments to Rule 12d1-1, the rescission of Rule 12d1-2, the adoption of new Rule 12d1-4, and the rescission of certain exemptive relief issued by the SEC permitting certain fund of funds arrangements. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits each Fund to invest in other investment companies, including money market funds, beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions. The rescission of the applicable exemptive orders and the withdrawal of the applicable no- action letters was effective on January 19, 2022. Following this effectiveness, an investment company is no longer able to rely on these exemptive orders and no-action letters, and is subject instead to Rule 12d1-4 and other applicable rules under Section 12(d)(1).
Closed-End Funds. Closed-end funds are investment companies that typically issue a fixed number of shares that trade on a securities exchange or OTC. The risks of investment in closed-end funds typically reflect the risk of the types of securities in which the funds invest. Investments in closed-end funds are subject to the additional risk that shares of the fund may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV per share. Closed-end funds come in many varieties and can have different investment objectives, strategies and investment portfolios. They also can be subject to different risks, volatility and fees and expenses. When a Fund invests in shares of a closed-end fund, shareholders of that Fund bear their proportionate share of the closed-end fund’s fees and expenses, as well as their share of that Fund’s fees and expenses. Although closed-end funds are generally listed and traded on an exchange, the degree of liquidity, or ability to be bought and sold, will vary significantly from one closed-end fund to another based on various factors including, but not limited to, demand in the marketplace.
Open-End Mutual Funds. Open-end mutual funds are investment companies that issue new shares continuously and redeem shares daily. The risks of investment of open-end mutual funds typically reflect securities in which the funds invest. The NAV per share of an open-end fund will fluctuate daily depending upon the performance of the securities held by the fund. Each open-end fund may have a different investment objective and strategy and different investment portfolio. Different funds may also be subject to different risks, volatility and fees and expenses. Although closed-end funds are generally listed and traded on an exchange, the degree of liquidity, or ability to be bought and sold, will vary significantly from one closed-end fund to another based on various factors including, but not limited to, demand in the marketplace. When a Fund invests in shares of an open-end fund, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the open-end funds’ fees and expenses, as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses.
Exchange-Traded Funds. Exchange-traded Funds (“ETFs”) are typically open-end investment companies that are bought and sold on a national securities exchange. When a Fund invests in an ETF, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it holds. Many ETFs seek to replicate a specific benchmark index. However, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index for many reasons, including because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in an ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities it holds. In addition, because of ETF expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly, it may be more costly to own an ETF.
If a Fund invests in shares of an ETF, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying ETF in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Furthermore, investments in other ETFs could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to shareholders and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by investors in the Fund.
Exchange-Traded Notes
Exchange-Traded Notes (“ETNs”) are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange) during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold the ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day's market benchmark or strategy factor. ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, issuer call options, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic
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events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When a Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. 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. ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or a court will uphold, how the Funds characterize and treat ETNs for tax purposes. Further, the IRS and Congress are considering proposals that would change the timing and character of income and gains from ETNs. An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risk as other instruments that use leverage in any form. The market value of ETN shares may differ from their market benchmark or strategy. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities, commodities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy.
Options, Futures and Other Strategies
General. The Funds may use options (both traded on an exchange and OTC), futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”), swaps, caps, floors, collars, structured or synthetic financial instruments, forward agreements, and other derivative securities (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying security, to attempt to hedge or limit the exposure of a particular portfolio security, to create a synthetic position, for certain tax-related purposes, to close out previously established derivatives such as options, forward and futures positions, to reduce volatility, to enhance income, and/or to gain market exposure. These can also be used as speculative instruments. In addition to the other limitations described herein, the Funds’ ability to use Financial Instruments may be limited by tax considerations.
The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the CFTC. In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below, the Adviser may discover additional opportunities in connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques. These new opportunities may become available as the Adviser develops new investment techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed. The Adviser may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities. The Prospectus or this SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described below.
Exclusion of Adviser from Commodity Pool Operator Definition. An exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) and the rules of the CFTC has been claimed with respect to the Funds.
The terms of the CPO exclusion require the Funds, among other things, to adhere to certain limits on its investments in “commodity interests.” Commodity interests include commodity futures, commodity options and swaps, which in turn include non-deliverable currency forward contracts, as further described below. Because the Adviser and the Funds intend to comply with the terms of the CPO exclusion, as necessary, the Funds may, in the future, need to adjust its investment strategies, consistent with its investment goal, to limit its investments in these types of instruments. The Funds are not intended as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. The CFTC has neither reviewed nor approved the Fund’s and the Adviser’s reliance on this exclusion and exemption, respectively, or the Fund, its investment strategies, the Prospectus or this SAI.
Generally, the exclusion from CPO regulation requires a Fund to meet one of the following tests for its commodity interest positions, other than positions entered into for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined in the rules of the CFTC): either (1) the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish the Fund’s positions in commodity interests may not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions); or (2) the aggregate net notional value of the Fund’s commodity interest positions, determined at the time the most recent such position was established, may not exceed 100% of the liquidation value of the Fund’s portfolio (after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such positions). In addition to meeting one of these trading limitations, the Funds may not be marketed as a commodity pool or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in the commodity futures, commodity options or swaps markets. If, in the future, any of the Funds relying on the
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exclusion can no longer satisfy these requirements, the notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of a CPO would be withdrawn, and the Adviser would be subject to registration and regulation as a CPO with respect to that Fund, in accordance with CFTC rules that apply to CPOs of registered investment companies. Generally, these rules allow for substituted compliance with CFTC disclosure and shareholder reporting requirements, based on the Adviser’s compliance with comparable SEC requirements. However, as a result of CFTC regulation with respect to the Fund, the Fund may incur additional compliance and other expenses.
Special Risks. The use of Financial Instruments involves special considerations and risks, certain of which are described below. Risks pertaining to particular Financial Instruments are described in the sections that follow.
1.Successful use of most Financial Instruments depends upon the Adviser’s ability to predict movements of the overall securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion. Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of market trends by the Adviser may still not result in a successful transaction. The Adviser may be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of market movements or the time span within which the movements take place, which, thus, may result in the strategy being unsuccessful.
2.Certain Financial Instruments may have a leveraging effect on a Fund, and adverse changes in the value of the underlying security, index, interest rate, currency or other or measure can result in losses substantially greater than the amount invested in the Financial Instrument itself. When a Fund engages in transactions that have a leveraging effect, the value of the Fund is likely to be more volatile and all other risks are also likely to be compounded. This is because leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of an asset and creates investment risk with respect to a larger pool of assets than the Fund would otherwise have. Certain Financial Instruments have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.
3.Certain Financial Instrument transactions, including certain options, swaps, forward contracts, and certain options on foreign currencies, are entered into directly by the counterparties and/or through financial institutions acting as market makers (“OTC derivatives”), rather than being traded on exchanges or in markets registered with the CFTC or the SEC. Many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not be available to participants in OTC derivatives transactions. For example, OTC derivatives transactions are not subject to the guarantee of an exchange, and only OTC derivatives that are either required to be cleared or submitted voluntarily for clearing to a clearinghouse will enjoy the protections that central clearing provides against default by the original counterparty to the trade. In an OTC derivatives transaction that is not cleared, the Fund bears the risk of default by its counterparty. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund is instead exposed to the risk of default of the clearinghouse and the risk of default of the broker through which it has entered into the transaction. Information available on counterparty creditworthiness may be incomplete or outdated, thus reducing the ability to anticipate counterparty defaults.
4.Options and futures prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments. Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect or no correlation also may result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, and from the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts.
5.As described below, the Funds might be required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties (e.g., Financial Instruments other than purchased options). If the Funds are unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, they might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires or matures. These requirements might impair a Fund’s ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment when it would otherwise be favorable to do so or require that the Fund sells a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time. The Funds’ ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counter-party”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position. Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.
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6.Losses may arise due to unanticipated market price movements, lack of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time or due to losses from premiums paid by the Fund on options transactions.
Options. The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying investment and general market conditions. Options that expire unexercised have no value. Options currently are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”), the American Stock and Options Exchange (“AMEX”) and other exchanges, as well as the OTC markets.
By buying a call option on a security, a Fund has the right, in return for the premium paid, to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing (selling) a call option and receiving a premium, a Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to deliver securities underlying the option at the exercise price if the option is exercised. The Fund will only write call options on securities it holds in their portfolios (i.e., covered calls). By buying a put option, a Fund has the right, in return for the premium, to sell the security underlying the option at the exercise price. By writing a put option and receiving a premium, a Fund becomes obligated during the term of the option to purchase the securities underlying the option at the exercise price.
Because options premiums paid or received by the Funds are small in relation to the market value of the investments underlying the options, buying and selling put and call options can be more speculative than investing directly in securities.
The Funds may effectively terminate their right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing transaction. For example, a Fund may terminate an obligation under a call option or put option that it has written by purchasing an identical call option or put option. This is known as a closing purchase transaction. Conversely, a Fund may terminate a position in a put or call option it had purchased by writing an identical put or call option. This is known as a closing sale transaction. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.
Interest Rate Options. Interest rate options, including interest rate caps and interest rate floors, which can be combined to form interest rate collars, are contracts that entitle the purchaser to pay or receive the amounts, if any, by which a specified market rate exceeds a cap strike interest rate, or falls below a floor strike interest rate, respectively, at specified dates. The Funds may use interest rate options to hedge against anticipated and non-anticipated changes in interest rates on a portfolio wide basis or versus individual securities which may also have interest rate options embedded within the security.
OTC Options. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows a Fund great flexibility to tailor the option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.
Interest Rate Futures Contracts and Options on Interest Rate Futures Contracts. Bond prices are established in both the cash market and the futures market. In the cash market, bonds are purchased and sold with payment for the full purchase price of the bond being made in cash, generally within five business days after the trade. In the futures market, a contract is made to purchase or sell a bond in the future for a set price on a certain date. Historically, the prices for bonds established in the futures markets have tended to move generally in the aggregate in concert with the cash market prices and have maintained fairly predictable relationships. Accordingly, a Fund may use interest rate futures contracts as a defense, or hedge, against anticipated interest rate changes. A Fund presently could accomplish a similar result to that which it hopes to achieve through the use of interest rate futures contracts by selling bonds with long maturities and investing in bonds with short maturities when interest rates are expected to increase, or conversely, selling bonds with short maturities and investing in bonds with long maturities when interest rates are expected to decline. However, because of the liquidity that is often available in the futures market, the protection is more likely to be achieved, perhaps at a lower cost and without changing the rate of interest being earned by a Fund, through using futures contracts.
Interest rate futures contracts are traded in an auction environment on the floors of several exchanges and must be executed through a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), which is a brokerage firm that is a member of the relevant contract market. Each exchange guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership. A public market exists in futures contracts covering various
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financial instruments including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes; GNMA modified pass-through mortgage backed securities; three-month U.S. Treasury Bills; and ninety-day commercial paper. The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded Eurodollar contracts, which are interest rate futures on the forward level of LIBOR. These contracts are generally considered liquid securities and trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Such Eurodollar contracts are generally used to “lock-in” or hedge the future level of short-term rates. A Fund may trade in any interest rate futures contracts for which there exists a public market, including, without limitation, the foregoing instruments.
Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take delivery of) the specified security on the expiration date of the contract. An index futures contract obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take) an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying securities in the index is made.
When a Fund writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated, in return for the premium received, to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. If a Fund writes a call, it assumes a short futures position. If a Fund writes a put, it assumes a long futures position. When the Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, it acquires the right in return for the premium it pays to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).
Whether a Fund realizes a gain or loss from futures activities depends upon movements in the underlying security or index. The extent of a Fund’s loss from an unhedged short position in futures contracts or from writing unhedged call options on futures contracts is potentially unlimited. A Fund only purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade.
No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, at the inception of a futures contract a Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” that is typically calculated as an amount equal to the volatility in the market value of a contract over a fixed period. Margin also must be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to a Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, a Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.
Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.” Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund’s obligations to or from a futures commission merchant. When a Fund purchases an option on a futures contract, the premium paid plus transaction costs is all that is at risk. In contrast, when the Fund purchases or sell a futures contract or writes a call or put option thereon, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If a Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.
Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions in options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold. Positions in futures and options on futures contracts may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for a particular contract at a particular time. In such event, it may not be possible to close a futures contract or options position.
Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a futures contract or an option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price. Once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.
If a Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain cash or liquid assets in an account.
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Risks of Futures Contracts and Options Thereon. The Funds’ use of futures contracts is subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments generally. In addition, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses to a Fund in excess of the amount the Fund delivered as initial margin. Because of the relatively low margin deposits required, futures trading involves a high degree of leverage; as a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss, or gain, to the Fund.
There is a risk of loss by a Fund of its initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the futures commission merchant (“FCM”) with which the Fund has an open position in a futures contract. The assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available Fund and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer.
Options on futures contracts trade on the same contract markets as the underlying futures contracts. The writer (seller) of an option on a futures contract becomes contractually obligated to take the opposite futures position if the buyer of the option exercises its rights to the futures position specified in the option. The Funds’ use of options on futures contracts is subject to the risks related to derivative instruments generally. In addition, the amount of risk a Fund assumes when it purchases an option on a futures contract is the premium paid for the option plus related transaction costs. The purchase of an option also entails the risk that changes in the value of the underlying futures contract will not be fully reflected in the value of the option purchased.
The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets (including the options on futures markets), due to differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to the following factors, which may create distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationships between the cash and futures markets. Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery. To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion. Third, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions.
Combined Positions. The Funds may purchase and write options in combination with each other. For example, a Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract. Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.
Swaps Generally. The Fund may enter into swap contracts. Generally, swap agreements are contracts between a Fund and another party (the swap counterparty) involving the exchange of payments on specified terms over periods ranging from a few days to multiple years. A swap agreement may be negotiated bilaterally and traded OTC between the two parties (for an uncleared swap) or, in some instances, must be transacted through an FCM and cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as a central counterparty (for a cleared swap). The notional amount is the set dollar or other value selected by the parties to use as the basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. The parties typically do not actually exchange the notional amount. Instead they agree to exchange the returns that would be earned or realized if the notional amount were invested in given investments or at given rates.
Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and exchange trading. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related regulatory developments will ultimately require the clearing and exchange-trading of many OTC derivative instruments that the CFTC and the SEC recently defined as “swaps,” including non-deliverable foreign exchange forwards, OTC foreign exchange options, and swaptions. Mandatory exchange-trading and clearing will take place on a phased-in basis based on the type of market participant, CFTC approval of contracts for central clearing, and public trading facilities making such cleared swaps available to trade. To date, the CFTC has designated only certain of the most common types of credit default index swaps and interest rate swaps as subject to mandatory clearing and certain public trading facilities have made certain of those cleared swaps
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available to trade, but it is expected that additional categories of swaps will in the future be designated as subject to mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements. Central clearing is intended to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity, but central clearing does not eliminate these risks and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps.
Interest Rate Swaps. The Funds may enter into interest rate swap contracts. Interest rate swap contracts are contracts in which each party agrees to make a periodic interest payment based on an index or the value of an asset in return for a periodic payment from the other party based on a different index or asset. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index rises above a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Funds could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, a Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.
Credit Default Swaps. The Funds may enter into credit default swap agreements. The credit default swap agreement may have as a reference obligation one or more securities that are not currently held by a Fund. The buyer in a credit default swap agreement is obligated to pay the seller a periodic fee, typically expressed in basis points on the principal amount of the underlying obligation (otherwise known as the notional amount), over the term of the agreement in return for a contingent payment upon the occurrence of a credit event with respect to the underlying reference obligation. A credit event is typically a default, restructuring or bankruptcy.
The Funds may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. As a seller, the Funds receive a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the agreement, which typically is between one month and five years, provided that no credit event occurs. If a credit event occurs, the Funds typically must pay the contingent payment to the buyer, which is typically the par value (full notional value) of the reference obligation. The contingent payment may be a cash settlement or by physical delivery of the reference obligation in return for payment of the face amount of the obligation. If a Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer typically receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value.
Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if a Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly. Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. If a Fund is a buyer in a credit default swap agreement and no credit event occurs, then it will lose its investment. In addition, the value of the reference obligation received by a Fund as a seller if a credit event occurs, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to a Fund.
Currency Swaps. In order to protect against currency fluctuations, the Fund may enter into currency swaps. The Funds may also hedge portfolio positions through currency swaps, which are transactions in which one currency is simultaneously bought for a second currency on a spot basis and sold for the second currency on a forward basis. Currency swaps involve the exchange of the rights of a Fund and another party to make or receive payments in specified currencies. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Because currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations.
Comprehensive Swaps Regulation. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related regulatory developments have imposed comprehensive regulatory requirements on swaps and swap market participants. The regulatory framework includes: (1) registration and regulation of swap dealers and major swap participants; (2) requiring central clearing and execution of standardized swaps; (3) imposing margin requirements on swap transactions; (4) regulating and monitoring swap transactions through position limits and large trader reporting requirements; and (5) imposing record keeping and centralized and public reporting requirements, on an anonymous basis, for most swaps. The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of most swaps. The SEC has jurisdiction over a small segment of the market referred to as “security-based swaps,” which includes swaps on single securities or credits, or narrow-based indices of securities or credits.
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Risks of Swaps. A Fund’s use of swaps is subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments generally. In addition, because uncleared swaps are typically executed bilaterally with a swap dealer rather than traded on exchanges, uncleared swap participants may not be as protected as participants on organized exchanges. Performance of an uncleared swap agreement is the responsibility only of the swap counterparty and not of any exchange or clearinghouse. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will be unable or will refuse to perform under such agreement, including because of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency.
As noted above, under recent financial reforms, certain types of swaps are, and others eventually are expected to be, required to be cleared through a central counterparty, which may affect counterparty risk and other risks faced by the Fund. Central clearing is designed to reduce counterparty credit risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterparty to each participant’s swap, but it does not eliminate those risks completely and may involve additional costs and risks not involved with uncleared swaps. The Fund is also subject to the risk that, after entering into a cleared swap with an executing broker, no FCM or central counterparty is willing or able to clear the transaction. In such an event, the Fund may be required to break the trade and make an early termination payment to the executing broker.
With respect to cleared swaps, there is also a risk of loss by a Fund of its initial and variation margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of the FCM with which the Fund has an open position, or the central counterparty in a swap contract. The assets of a Fund may not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM or central counterparty because the Fund might be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds and margin segregated on behalf of an FCM’s customers. If the FCM does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is also subject to the risk that the FCM could use the Fund’s assets, which are held in an omnibus account with assets belonging to the FCM’s other customers, to satisfy its own financial obligations or the payment obligations of another customer to the central counterparty. Credit risk of cleared swap participants is concentrated in a few clearinghouses, and the consequences of insolvency of a clearinghouse are not clear.
Risks of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that additional government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options, and swap contracts, may limit or prevent a Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse. It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to use certain instruments as part of its investment strategy. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments.
There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. The futures, options, and swaps markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits, and the suspension of trading. The regulation of futures, options, and swaps transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government action.
New and developing regulation may negatively impact a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective either through limits or requirements imposed on it or upon its counterparties. In particular, any new position limits imposed on a Fund or its counterparties may impact the Fund’s ability to invest in futures, options, and swaps in a manner that efficiently meets its investment objective. New requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Funds, including capital requirements and mandatory clearing, may increase the cost of the Funds’ investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.
In October 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, with a compliance date of August 19, 2022. Funds that are subject to the rule are required to adopt and implement a written derivatives risk management program and quantitatively limit their use of derivatives based on the estimated potential risk of loss that the funds incur from their derivatives transactions. Funds that limit derivatives exposure to 10% of net assets are exempt from many of the requirements of Rule 18f-4, but must still adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage the fund’s derivatives risks. Rule 18f-4 governs the way funds must comply with the asset segregation and coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act with respect to derivatives and certain other financing transactions.
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Interest Rate Floors, Caps, and Collars. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate, to receive payment of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling such interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. An interest rate collar is the combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates.
Cash Investments
Each Fund may invest in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments (“Cash Investments”) for (i) temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic, or political conditions and (ii) retaining flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and identifying and assessing investment opportunities. Cash Investments include shares of other mutual funds, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, time deposits, savings association obligations, commercial paper, short-term notes (including discount notes), and other obligations.
The Funds may hold a substantial position in Cash Investments for long periods of time, which may result in the Funds not achieving their investment objective. If the market advances during periods when a Fund is holding a large Cash Investment, the Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if the Fund had been more fully invested, and this may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective during that period. To the extent that the Fund uses a money market fund for its Cash Investment, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.
Cash Investments are subject to credit risk and interest rate risk, although to a lesser extent than longer-term debt securities due to Cash Investments’ short-term, significant liquidity, and typical high credit quality.
The Funds may invest in any of the following:
Money Market Mutual Funds. Generally, money market mutual funds seek to earn income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity. They primarily invest in high quality money market obligations, including U.S. government obligations, bank obligations and high-grade corporate instruments. These investments generally mature within 397 days from the date of purchase. An investment in a money market mutual fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency.
To the extent that a Fund invests in money market mutual funds, your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher because you will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying money market mutual funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. Furthermore, investing in money market mutual funds could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.
Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. Each Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally 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 and bankers’ acceptances acquired by a Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. government.
In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, to the extent permitted under the investment objective and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, a Fund may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.
Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations. A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper, short-term notes, and other corporate obligations. Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations. Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.
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Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper. While such obligations generally have maturities of ten years or more, a Fund may purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or less from the date of purchase and which are rated “A” or higher by S&P, “A” or higher by Moody’s, similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
U.S. Government Obligations. Each Fund may invest in U.S. government obligations. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government securities, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises.
Payment of principal and interest on U.S. government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-sponsored enterprises, where it is not obligated to do so (see “Agency Obligations,” below). In addition, U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in market value due to fluctuations in market interest rates. As a general matter, the value of debt instruments, including U.S. government obligations, declines when market interest rates increase and rises when market interest rates decrease. Certain types of U.S. government obligations are subject to fluctuations in yield or value due to their structure or contract terms.
Agency Obligations
The Funds may invest in agency obligations, such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), commonly known as “Ginnie Mae,” Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), commonly known as “Fannie Mae,” Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), commonly known as “Freddie Mac,” and the Student Loan Marketing Association (“SLMA”), commonly known as “Sallie Mae.” Some, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of United States, are supported only by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA and FHLMC, are supported by only the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, such as those of the SLMA, 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 instrumentalities because they are not obligated by law to do so. As a result, there is a risk that these entities will default on a financial obligation. For instance, in September 2008, at the direction of the U.S. Treasury, FNMA and FHLMC were placed into conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), a newly created independent regulator.
Repurchase Agreements
The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements. Under such agreements, a Fund agrees to purchase U.S. government obligations from a counterparty and the counterparty agrees to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security itself. Such repurchase agreements will be made only with banks with assets of $500 million or more that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or with government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Board and registered as broker-dealers with the SEC or exempt from such registration. A Fund will generally enter into repurchase agreements of short durations, from overnight to one week, although the underlying securities generally have longer maturities. A Fund may not enter into a repurchase agreement with more than seven days to maturity if, as a result, more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in illiquid investments including such repurchase agreements. To the extent necessary to facilitate compliance with Section 12(d)(3) of the 1940 Act and Rule
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12d3-1 promulgated thereunder, each Fund will ensure that repurchase agreements will be collateralized fully to the extent required by Rule 5b-3.
For purposes of the 1940 Act, a repurchase agreement is deemed to be a loan from a Fund to the seller of the U.S. government obligations that are subject to the repurchase agreement. It is not clear whether a court would consider the U.S. government obligations to be acquired by a Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the U.S. government obligations before its repurchase under a repurchase agreement, the Fund could encounter delays and incur costs before being able to sell the underlying U.S. government obligations. Delays may involve loss of interest or a decline in price of the U.S. government obligations. If a court characterizes the transaction as a loan and the Fund has not perfected a security interest in the U.S. government obligations, the Fund may be required to return the securities to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, the Fund would be at the risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a Fund, the Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the other party, in this case the seller of the U.S. government security.
Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the U.S. government obligations. However, each Fund will always receive as collateral for any repurchase agreement to which it is a party securities acceptable to the Adviser, the market value of which is equal to at least 100% of the repurchase price, and the Funds will make payment against such securities only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer to the account of its Custodian. If the market value of the U.S. government obligations subject to the repurchase agreement become less than the repurchase price (including interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the U.S. government obligations to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that the Fund could be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce on the seller a contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
The Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements for temporary purposes with banks and securities dealers if the creditworthiness of the bank or securities dealer has been determined by the Adviser to be satisfactory. A reverse repurchase agreement is a repurchase agreement in which a Fund is the seller of, rather than the investor in, securities and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price. Use of a reverse repurchase agreement may be preferable to a regular sale and later repurchase of securities because it avoids certain market risks and transaction costs.
Reverse repurchase agreements are considered a form of borrowing and are therefore limited to up to one-third of a Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings). The use of reverse repurchase agreements by a Fund creates leverage which increases its investment risk. If the income and gains on securities purchased with the proceeds of these transactions exceed the cost, the Fund’s earnings or NAV will increase faster than otherwise would be the case; conversely, if the income and gains fail to exceed the cost, earnings or NAV would decline faster than otherwise would be the case. The Funds intend to enter into reverse repurchase agreements only if the income from the investment of the proceeds is expected to be greater than the expense of the transaction, because the proceeds are invested for a period no longer than the term of the reverse repurchase agreement.
Borrowing
Each Fund may borrow money from banks in amounts of up to one-third of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings).  Any such borrowing that comes to exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the one-third limitation.
In addition, each Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes, including addressing liquidity concerns or meeting redemption requests, or for clearance of transactions.  The use of borrowing by a Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies.  Because substantially all of a Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of the Fund’s agreement with its lender, the NAV per share of the Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when its portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if the Fund did not borrow funds.  In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on
24


borrowed funds.  Under adverse market conditions, a Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.
Cybersecurity Risk
The Funds, like all companies, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks. Cybersecurity failures or breaches of the Fund or its service providers or the issuers of securities in which the Funds invest have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

The Trust (on behalf of each Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the favorable “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of a Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of a Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
Each Fund may not:
1.Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings); and (ii) this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in options transactions, reverse repurchase agreements, purchasing securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward delivery basis or short sales in accordance with its objectives and strategies;
2.Underwrite the securities of other issuers (except that the Fund may engage in transactions involving the acquisition, disposition or resale of its portfolio securities under circumstances where it may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act);
3.Purchase or sell real estate or interests in real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies that invest or deal in real estate, including REITs);
4.Purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon or investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;
5.Make loans of money (except for the lending of the Fund’s portfolio securities, repurchase agreements and purchases of debt securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund); or
6.Invest 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets in any particular industry or group of industries, except that each of the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund and Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund will concentrate its assets in the energy infrastructure industry, and under normal circumstances will invest at least 25% of such Fund’s total assets in the securities of companies that constitute the applicable industry. The foregoing does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.
The following are the non-fundamental investment restrictions for each Fund. These restrictions can be changed by the Board, but the change will only be effective after prior written notice is given to Fund shareholders.
25


All Funds
1.Under normal circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investments is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment, as determined pursuant to the provisions of Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act.
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
1.Under normal circumstances, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in securities of energy infrastructure companies. Energy infrastructure companies are companies that process, store, transport and market natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and crude oil (i.e., midstream infrastructure) as well as generate, transport and distribute electricity (i.e., power & renewable infrastructure). For purposes of this strategy, energy infrastructure companies include investment companies that invest primarily in energy infrastructure companies.
2.Under normal circumstances, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund may invest up to: (i) 30% of its total assets in securities denominated in the currency of a non-North American country, which may include securities issued by energy companies organized and/or having securities traded on an exchange outside North America and/or securities of other non-North American companies that are denominated in the currency of a non-North American country.
3.Under normal circumstances, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund may also invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities of any issuers, including securities which may be rated below investment grade (“junk bonds”) by an NRSRO or judged by the Adviser to be of comparable credit quality.
4.Under normal circumstances, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in securities of any one issuer.
5.The Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund will not invest in private companies.
6.The Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund will not engage in short sales of securities.
Percentage Limitations
A Fund’s compliance with its investment policies and limitations on certain investment percentages will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, except with respect to borrowing for leverage or investing in illiquid investments, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether an investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations on certain investment percentages. If a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by a Fund will not be considered a violation. If at any time a Fund’s illiquid investments are greater than 15% of its net assets, the Fund will determine how to remediate the excess illiquid investments in accordance with the 1940 Act and the Fund’s policies and procedures. In addition, if a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular investment by a Fund, the Fund may receive stock, real estate or other investments that the Fund would not, or could not, buy. If this happens, the Fund will sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize the return to its shareholders. With respect to borrowing, if at any time a Fund’s borrowings exceed one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings), such borrowings will be reduced within three days, (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as may be permitted by the 1940 Act, to the extent necessary to comply with the one-third limitation.
Management of the Funds
Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Funds are supervised by the Board. The Board consists of four individuals. The Trustees are fiduciaries and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard. The Board establishes policies for the operation of the Funds and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Funds.
26


The Role of the Board
The Board provides oversight of the management and operations of the Trust. Like all mutual funds, the day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of various service providers to the Trust and its individual series, such as the Adviser; Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Funds’ principal underwriter (the “Distributor”); U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, the Funds’ administrator (the “Administrator”) and transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”); and U.S. Bank, N.A., the Funds’ Custodian, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and its service providers, including the agreements with the Adviser, Distributor, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent. The Board has appointed various individuals of certain of these service providers as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s day-to-day operations. In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and service providers regarding the Trust’s operations. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who reports directly to the Board and who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters, including an annual compliance review. Some of these reports are provided as part of formal Board Meetings, which are held four times per year, in person, and such other times as the Board determines is necessary, and involve the Board’s review of recent Trust operations. From time to time one or more members of the Board may also meet with Trust officers in less formal settings, between formal Board Meetings to discuss various topics. In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.
Board Leadership Structure
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to effectively perform its oversight function. The Board is comprised of four Trustees that are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Funds, as defined by the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”) – Messrs. David A. Massart, Leonard M. Rush, David M. Swanson and Robert J. Kern. Accordingly, 100% of the members of the Board are Independent Trustees, who are Trustees that are not affiliated with the investment adviser to the Funds or its affiliates or other service providers to the Funds. Prior to July 6, 2020, Mr. Kern was considered an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (“Interested Trustee”). He was considered an Interested Trustee by virtue of the fact that he had served as a board member of Quasar Distributors, LLC, which acts as principal underwriter to many of the Trust’s series and had been an Executive Vice President of the Administrator. The Board has established two standing committees, an Audit Committee and a Nominating & Governance Committee, which are discussed in greater detail under “Board Committees” below. Each of the Audit Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee are comprised entirely of Independent Trustees. The Independent Trustees have engaged independent counsel to advise them on matters relating to their responsibilities in connection with the Trust, as well as the Funds.
The Independent Trustees have appointed Leonard M. Rush as Chairman. Prior to July 6, 2020, Mr. Kern served as Chairman of the Trust and Mr. Rush served as lead Independent Trustee with responsibilities to coordinate activities of the Independent Trustees, act as a liaison with the Trust’s service providers, officers, legal counsel, and other Trustees between meetings, help to set Board meeting agendas, and serve as chair during executive sessions of the Independent Trustees.
In accordance with the fund governance standards prescribed by the SEC under the 1940 Act, the Independent Trustees on the Nominating & Governance Committee select and nominate all candidates for Independent Trustee positions. Each Trustee was appointed to serve on the Board because of his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as set forth in the subsection “Trustee Qualifications” below.
The Board reviews its structure regularly in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including: the affiliated or unaffiliated nature of each investment adviser; the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; the committee structure of the Trust; and the independent distribution arrangements of each of the Trust’s series.
The inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of the Audit Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes discussed below. Given the composition of the Board and the function and composition of its various committees as described above, the Trust has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate.
27


Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel, including personnel of the Trust’s service providers. Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counter-party risk, compliance risk, operational risk, business continuity risk, etc.) the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways. For example, the CCO regularly reports to the Board during Board Meetings and meets in executive session with the Independent Trustees and their legal counsel to discuss compliance and operational risks. In addition, Mr. Rush, the Independent Trustee designated as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert” meets with the President, Treasurer and the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Funds’ financial reporting function. The full Board receives reports from the investment advisers to the underlying series as to investment risks.
Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years.
Name, Address and
 Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Number of Portfolios in Trust Overseen by Trustee Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the Past
Five Years
Independent Trustees
Leonard M. Rush, CPA
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1946
Chairman,
Trustee and
Audit
Committee
Chairman
Indefinite
Term; Since
April 2011
32 Retired; Chief Financial Officer, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, (2000-2011). Independent Trustee, ETF Series Solutions (56 Portfolios) (2012-Present)
David A. Massart
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1967
Trustee Indefinite
Term; Since
April 2011
32 Partner and Managing Director, Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC (since 2022); Co-Founder and Chief Investment Strategist, Next Generation Wealth Management, Inc. (2005-2021). Independent Trustee, ETF Series Solutions (56 Portfolios) (2012-Present)
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Name, Address and
 Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Number of Portfolios in Trust Overseen by Trustee Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the Past
Five Years
David M. Swanson
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1957
Trustee and
Nominating &
Governance
Committee
Chairman
Indefinite
Term; Since
April 2011
32 Founder and Managing Principal, SwanDog Strategic Marketing, LLC (2006-present). Independent Trustee, ALPS Variable Investment Trust (7 Portfolios) (2006 to Present); Independent Trustee, RiverNorth Funds (3 Portfolios) (2018 to Present); RiverNorth Managed Duration Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2019 to Present); RiverNorth Opportunistic Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2018 to Present); RiverNorth Capital and Income Fund (1 Portfolio) (2018 to Present); RiverNorth Opportunities Fund (1 Portfolio) (2015 to Present); RiverNorth/DoubleLine Strategic Opportunity Fund, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2019 to Present); RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2020 to Present); RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund II, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2021 to Present); RiverNorth Managed Duration Municipal Income Fund II, Inc. (1 Portfolio) (2022 to Present).
Robert J. Kern
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1958
Trustee Indefinite
Term; Since
January 2011
32 Retired (2018-present); Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (1994-2018). None
Officers
Brian R. Wiedmeyer
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1973
President and Principal Executive Officer Indefinite Term; Since November 2018 N/A Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2005-present). N/A
Deborah Ward
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1966
Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer Indefinite Term; Since April 2013 N/A Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2004-present). N/A
29


Name, Address and
 Year of Birth
Position(s)
Held with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Number of Portfolios in Trust Overseen by Trustee Principal Occupation(s) During the Past Five Years Other
Directorships
Held by Trustee
During the Past
Five Years
Benjamin Eirich
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1981
Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer and Vice President Indefinite
Term; Since
August
2019
(Treasurer);
Indefinite
Term; Since
November
2018 (Vice
President)
N/A Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2008-present). N/A
John Hadermayer
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1977
Secretary Indefinite Term; Since May 2022 N/A Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2022-present); Executive Director, AQR Capital Management, LLC (2013-2022). N/A
Douglas Schafer
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1970
Assistant Treasurer and Vice President Indefinite Term; Since May 2016 (Assistant Treasurer); Indefinite Term; Since November 2018 (Vice President) N/A Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2002-present). N/A
Sara J. Bollech
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1977
Assistant Treasurer and Vice President Indefinite Term: Since November 2021 N/A Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2007-present). N/A
Peter A. Walker, CPA
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1993
Assistant Treasurer and Vice President Indefinite Term: Since November 2021 N/A Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2016-present). N/A
Trustee Qualifications
The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills appropriate to their continued service as Trustees of the Trust in light of the Trust’s business and structure. The Trustees have substantial business and professional backgrounds that indicate they have the ability to critically review, evaluate and assess information provided to them. Certain of these business and professional experiences are set forth in detail in the table above. In addition, the Trustees have substantial board experience and, in their service to the Trust, have gained substantial insight as to the operation of the Trust. The Board annually conducts a “self-assessment” wherein the effectiveness of the Board and the individual Trustees is reviewed.
In addition to the information provided in the table above, below is certain additional information concerning each individual Trustee. The information provided below, and in the table above, is not all-inclusive. Many of the Trustees’ qualifications to serve on the Board involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, integrity, work ethic, the ability to work together, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to exercise judgment, the ability to ask incisive questions, and commitment to shareholder interests.
30


Mr. Kern’s trustee attributes include substantial industry experience, including over 35 years of service with U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the fund accountant (“Fund Accountant”), Administrator and Transfer Agent to the Trust) where he managed business development and the mutual fund transfer agent operation including investor services, account services, legal compliance, document processing and systems support. He also served as a board member of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and previously served as a board member of Quasar Distributors, LLC (the principal underwriter of many of the Trust's series). The Board believes Mr. Kern’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Massart’s trustee attributes include substantial industry experience, including over two decades working with high net worth individuals, families, trusts and retirement accounts to make strategic and tactical asset allocation decisions, evaluate and select investment managers and manage client relationships. He is currently Partner and Managing Director of Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC. Previously, he served as Chief Investment Strategist and lead member of the investment management committee of the SEC registered investment advisory firm he co-founded. He also previously served as Managing Director of Strong Private Client and as a Manager of Wells Fargo Investments, LLC. The Board believes Mr. Massart’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Rush’s trustee attributes include substantial industry experience, including serving in several different senior executive roles at various global financial services firms. He most recently served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and several other affiliated entities and served as the Treasurer for Baird Funds. He also served as the Chief Financial Officer for Fidelity Investments’ four broker-dealers and has substantial experience with mutual fund and investment advisory organizations and related businesses, including Vice President and Head of Compliance for Fidelity Investments, a Vice President at Credit Suisse First Boston, a Manager with Goldman Sachs, & Co. and a Senior Manager with Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Rush has been determined to qualify as an Audit Committee Financial Expert for the Trust. The Board believes Mr. Rush’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee and as the Chairman to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
Mr. Swanson’s trustee attributes include substantial industry experience, including over 35 years of senior management and marketing experience with over 30 years dedicated to the financial services industry. He is currently the Founder and Managing Principal of a marketing strategy boutique serving asset and wealth management businesses. He has also served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of Van Kampen Investments, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Canada, Ltd., Managing Director and Head of Global Investment Products at Morgan Stanley, Director of Marketing for Morgan Stanley Mutual Funds, Director of Marketing for Kemper Funds, and Executive Vice President and Head of Distribution for Calamos Investments. The Board believes Mr. Swanson’s experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.
The discussion of the Trustees’ experience and qualifications is pursuant to SEC requirements, does not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee as having special expertise, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such Trustee or the Board by reason thereof.
Trustee and Management Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table shows the dollar range of Fund shares and shares in other portfolios of the Trust beneficially owned by the Trustees as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2022:
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Dollar Range of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned (None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000, Over $100,000)
Name
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares in all Funds in the Trust
Independent Trustees
Leonard M. Rush None None None
David A. Massart None None None
David M. Swanson $1-$10,000 $1-$10,000 $50,001-$100,000
Robert J. Kern None None None
As of March 1, 2023, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each Fund.
Board Committees
Audit Committee. The Trust has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Funds. The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence. The Audit Committee met twice with respect to the Funds during fiscal year ended November 30, 2022.
Nominating & Governance Committee. The Trust has a Nominating & Governance Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees. The Nominating & Governance Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary.
The Nominating & Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders for vacancies on the Board. Recommendations for consideration by the Nominating & Governance Committee should be sent to the President of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed nominee, and such recommendation must comply with the notice provisions set forth in the Trust’s Bylaws. In general, to comply with such procedures, such nominations, together with all required information, must be delivered to and received by the President of the Trust at the principal executive office of the Trust not later than 120 days, and no more than 150 days, prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board will be accepted on an ongoing basis. The Nominating & Governance Committee’s procedures with respect to reviewing shareholder nominations will be disclosed as required by applicable securities laws. The Nominating & Governance Committee did not meet during the Funds’ fiscal year ended November 30, 2022.
Trustee Compensation
The Trustees receive an annual retainer of $110,000. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives additional compensation of $14,000, the Chairman of the Nominating & Governance Committee receives additional compensation of $8,000 and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees receives $12,500 annually. Prior to January 1, 2023, the Trustees received $6,000 for regularly scheduled meetings and $2,500 for additional meetings. Effective January 1, 2023, the Trustees will receive $8,000 for regularly scheduled meetings and $2,500 for additional meetings.
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The following table sets forth the compensation received by the Trustees for the Funds' fiscal year ended November 30, 2022:
Leonard M. Rush
David A. Massart
David M. Swanson
Robert J. Kern
Chairman, Independent Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman Independent Trustee Independent Trustee and Nominating & Governance Committee Chairman Independent Trustee
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses None None None None
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement None None None None
Total Compensation from the Funds and the Trust 1
$166,500 $140,000 $148,000 $140,000
Aggregate Compensation from the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund 2
$4,749 $3,996 $4,223 $3,996
Aggregate Compensation from the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund 2
$4,749 $3,996 $4,223 $3,996
1The Trust include other series in addition to the Funds.
2Trustee fees and expenses are allocated among the Funds and any other series comprising the Trust.
Control Persons and Principal Shareholders
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by a Fund. Ownership information is not provided for the T Class Shares of the applicable Funds, as the shares were not available for sale as of the date of this SAI. As of March 1, 2023, the following shareholders were considered to be either a control person or a principal shareholder of each of the Funds:
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund – A Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers
1 New York Plaza, Floor 12
New York, New York 10004-1932
81.31  % Record
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
7.15  % Record

33


Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund – Institutional Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Blvd Floor 4th
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1995
20.38  % Record
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
12.74  % Record
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers
1 New York Plaza, Floor 12
New York, New York 10004-1932
10.77  % Record
JP Morgan Securities LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Customers
4 Chase Metrotech Center
3rd Floor Mutual Fund Department
Brooklyn, New York 11245-0003
10.00  % Record
Wells Fargo Bank NA FBO
PO Box 1533
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55480-1533
8.95  % Record
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith
For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6486
7.91  % Record
Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC
C/O Mutual Fund OPS
222 South Main Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-2199
7.56  % Record
TD Ameritrade Inc.
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Clients
PO Box 2226
Omaha, Nebraska 68103-2226
7.54  % Record

34


Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund – C Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Its Customers
1 New York Plaza, Floor 12
New York, New York 10004-1932
33.33  % Record
Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC
Special Custody Account for the
Exclusive Benefit of Customer
2801 Market Street
Saint Louis, Missouri 63103-2523
12.82  % Record
LPL Financial
Omnibus Customer Account
Attn Lindsay O Toole
4707 Executive Drive
San Diego, California 92121-3091
11.69  % Record
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith
For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484
9.33  % Record
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
7.01  % Record
National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Boulevard, Floor 4th
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1995
5.42  % Record

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund - A Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith
For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484
54.80  % Record
National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Blvd Floor 4th
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310-1995
13.12  % Record
35


Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund - A Class
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
6.86  % Record

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund - Institutional Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith
For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484
35.63  % Record
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
19.23  % Record
National Financial Services LLC
For the Exclusive Benefit of Our Customers
200 Liberty Street 5th Floor
New York, New York 10281-4100
6.49  % Record

Tortoise Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund - C Class
Name and Address % Ownership
Type of Ownership1
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith
For the Sole Benefit of Its Customers
4800 Deer Lake Drive East
Jacksonville, Florida 32246-6484
38.50  % Record
Pershing LLC
1 Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, New Jersey 07399-0002
10.90  % Record
Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.
Special Custody A/C FBO Customers
Attn Mutual Funds
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105-1901
7.11  % Record
1“Record” ownership means the shareholder of record, or the exact name of the shareholder on the account, e.g., “ABC Brokerage, Inc.” “Beneficial” ownership refers to the actual pecuniary, or financial, interest in the security, e.g., “Jane Doe Shareholder.”

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Investment Adviser
Investment advisory services are provided to the Funds by Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., also doing business as TCA Advisors, an SEC registered investment adviser ("TCA Advisors" or the “Adviser”), pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser specializes in investing in essential asset companies across the energy value chain, including energy infrastructure. As of February 28, 2023, the Adviser managed investments of approximately $7.3 billion including the assets of publicly traded closed-end funds, open-end funds and private accounts. 
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Funds with investment research and advice and furnishes the Funds with an investment program consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and policies, subject to the supervision of the Board. The Adviser determines which portfolio securities will be purchased or sold, arranges for the placing of orders for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities, selects brokers or dealers to place those orders, maintains books and records with respect to the securities transactions, and reports to the Board on the Funds’ investments and performance. The Adviser is solely responsible for making investment decisions on behalf of the Funds. The Board will have sole responsibility for selecting, evaluating the performance of, and replacing as necessary any of the service providers to the Funds, including the Adviser.
The Adviser also serves as investment adviser to Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (“TYG”), Tortoise Power and Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (“TPZ”), Tortoise Midstream Energy Fund, Inc. (“NTG”), Tortoise Pipeline & Energy Fund, Inc. (“TTP”), Tortoise Energy Independence Fund, Inc. (“NDP”), and Ecofin Sustainable and Social Impact Term Fund (“TEAF”) which are publicly traded closed-end investment companies that invest in MLPs, pipeline and energy companies.
The Adviser is indirectly controlled by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC (“Lovell Minnick”). The Adviser is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of TortoiseEcofin Investments, LLC (“TortoiseEcofin Investments”), a company that owns essential asset and income-oriented investment advisers. A vehicle formed by Lovell Minnick and owned by certain private funds sponsored by Lovell Minnick and a group of institutional co-investors owns a controlling interest in TortoiseEcofin Investments. Certain employees of the Adviser, including the Portfolio Managers, own a minority interest in TortoiseEcofin Investments. TIS Advisors, an affiliate of the Adviser, serves as investment adviser to three other series of the Trust.
As of February 28, 2023, TortoiseEcofin Investments, LLC's registered investment adviser entities had 120 employees in the aggregate, including 62 employees at the Adviser, and including the members of the Fund’s senior investment team.
Following a Fund's initial two-year term, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year, only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by: (i) the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust, on behalf of a Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, when authorized by either: (i) a majority vote of the Fund’s shareholders; or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Board. The Advisory Agreement is also terminable without penalty by the Adviser upon 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment,” as defined under the 1940 Act. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser under such agreement shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for a Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.
In consideration of the investment advisory services provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from each Fund a management fee, as specified in the Prospectus. However, the Adviser may voluntarily agree to reduce the management fees payable to it on a month-to-month basis, including additional fees above and beyond any contractual agreement the Adviser may have to reduce management fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses.
Fund Expenses. Each Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. Pursuant to an Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement between the Adviser and the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, the Adviser has agreed to reimburse each Fund for its operating expenses, as specified in the Prospectus. Expenses reimbursed by the Adviser may be recouped by the Adviser for a period of 36 months following the month during which such expense reimbursement was made, if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time the reimbursement occurred and at the time of the recoupment. The Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement will be in effect and cannot be terminated through March 31, 2024.
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The total amount of advisory fees paid by each Fund during the fiscal years indicated, were as follows:
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
Advisory Fees Paid During the Fiscal Years Ended November 30,
2022 2021 2020
Advisory Fees Accrued $19,443,543 $15,479,147 $20,533,746
Waivers $0 $0 $0
Reimbursements $0 $0 $0
Recoupments $0 $0 $0
Total Advisory Fees Paid to Adviser After Waivers, Reimbursements and Recoupments $19,443,543 $15,479,147 $20,533,746

Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
Advisory Fees Paid During the Fiscal Years Ended November 30,
2022 2021
         2020
Advisory Fees Accrued $4,888,189 $3,940,707 $4,812,477
Waivers $0 $0 $0
Reimbursements $0 $0 $(26,884)
Recoupments $0 $0 $26,884
Total Advisory Fees Paid to Adviser After Waivers, Reimbursements and Recoupments $4,888,189 $3,940,707 $4,812,477
License Agreement. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has consented to the Funds’ use on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis, of the name “Tortoise” in its name. Each Fund will have the right to use the “Tortoise” name and the related logo so long as the Adviser or one of its approved affiliates remains the Fund’s investment adviser. Other than with respect to this limited right, the Funds will have no legal right to the “Tortoise” name. This right will remain in effect for so long as the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser is in effect and will automatically terminate if the Advisory Agreement were to terminate for any reason, including upon its assignment.
Portfolio Managers
Primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund's portfolio is the joint responsibility of a team of portfolio managers consisting of Brian A. Kessens, James R. Mick, Matthew G.P. Sallee, Robert J. Thummel, Jr., and Stephen Pang. Primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund's portfolio is the joint responsibility of Brian A. Kessens, James R. Mick, Matthew G.P. Sallee and Robert J. Thummel, Jr. Each of Messrs. Kessens, Mick, Sallee and Thummel is a Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Adviser. Mr. Pang is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Adviser. Messrs. Kessens, Mick, Sallee, and Thummel have each been portfolio managers involved with managing the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund since 2013. Mr. Pang has been a portfolio manager of the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund since January 1, 2018. Mr. Kessens has been involved with managing the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund's since October 30, 2020. Messrs. Mick, Sallee, and Thummel have each been portfolio managers of the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund since October 31, 2022.
The following table provides information regarding other accounts, excluding the Funds, managed by the portfolio managers, including information regarding the number of managed accounts that pay a performance fee, as of November 30, 2022:
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Name of Manager Account Category # of Accounts Total Assets of Accounts # of Accounts Paying a Performance Fee Total Assets of Accounts Paying a Performance Fee
Brian A. Kessens
Registered investment companies
7
$1,291,201,077
0
$0
Other pooled investment vehicles
2
$90,085,662
0
$0
Other Accounts
375
$2,717,731,825
89
$2,031,279,989
James R. Mick
Registered investment companies
7
$1,291,201,077
0
$0
Other pooled investment vehicles
2
$90,085,662
0
$0
Other Accounts
375
$2,717,731,825
89
$2,031,279,989
Matthew G.P. Sallee
Registered investment companies
7
$1,291,201,077
0
$0
Other pooled investment vehicles
2
$90,085,662
0
$0
Other Accounts
375
$2,717,731,825
89
$2,031,279,989
Robert J. Thummel, Jr.
Registered investment companies
7
$1,291,201,077
0
$0
Other pooled investment vehicles
2
$90,085,662
0
$0
Other Accounts
375
$2,717,731,825
89
$2,031,279,989
Stephen Pang
Registered investment companies
7
$1,291,201,077
0
$0
Other pooled investment vehicles
1
$76,988,746
0
$0
Other Accounts
375
$2,717,731,825
89
$2,031,279,989
Conflicts of interest may arise because the Adviser and its affiliates generally will be carrying on substantial investment activities for other clients in which the Funds will have no interest. The Adviser’s portfolio managers must allocate time and investment ideas across multiple accounts. Trades may be executed for some accounts that may adversely impact the value of securities held by other accounts. Conflicts of interest arise from the fact that related persons of the Adviser serve as general partner of certain private funds the Adviser manages, and the affiliated general partner, as well as certain employees of the Adviser, including certain of the portfolio managers, own an interest in the private fund. The affiliated general partner receives a carried interest in distributions by the private fund. The Adviser and/or the investment personnel may have financial incentives to favor certain of such accounts over a Fund. Certain of the funds and accounts managed by the Adviser may invest in the equity securities of a particular company, while other funds and accounts managed by the Adviser may invest in the debt or preferred securities of the same company. Proprietary accounts of the Adviser or its supervised persons and other customer accounts may compete with the Funds for specific trades. The
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Adviser may buy or sell securities for a Fund that differs from securities bought or sold for other accounts and customers, although their investment objectives and policies may be similar to the Fund’s.
From time to time, the Adviser may seed proprietary accounts for the purpose of evaluating a new investment strategy that eventually may be available to clients through one or more product structures. Such accounts also may serve the purpose of establishing a performance record for the strategy. The Adviser’s management of accounts with proprietary interests and non-proprietary client accounts may create an incentive to favor the proprietary accounts in the allocation of investment opportunities, and the timing and aggregation of investments. The Adviser’s proprietary seed accounts may include long-short strategies, and certain client strategies may permit short sales. A conflict of interest arises if a security is sold short at the same time as a long position, and continuously short selling in a security may adversely affect the stock price of the same security held long in client accounts. The Adviser has adopted various policies to mitigate these conflicts, including policies that require the Adviser to avoid favoring any account, and that prohibit client and proprietary accounts from engaging in short sales with respect to individual stocks held long in client accounts. The Adviser’s policies also require transactions in proprietary accounts to be placed after client transactions.
Situations may occur in which a Fund could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by the Adviser for other accounts. Such situations may be based on, among other things, legal or internal restrictions on the combined size of positions that may be taken for the Funds and the other accounts, thereby limiting the size of a Fund’s position, or the difficulty of liquidating an investment for the Funds and the other accounts where the market cannot absorb the sale of the combined position. The Adviser and/or investment personnel may also have an incentive to make investments in one fund, having the effect of increasing the value of a security in the same issuer held by another fund, which in turn may result in an incentive fee being paid to the Adviser by that other fund.
A Fund’s investment opportunities may be limited by affiliations of the Adviser or its affiliates with energy companies. In addition, to the extent the Adviser sources, contemplates, structures, or makes private investments in energy companies, certain employees of the Adviser may become aware of actions planned by such companies, such as acquisitions, that may not be announced to the public. It is possible that a Fund could be precluded from investing in an energy company about which the Adviser has material nonpublic information.
A Fund’s investment opportunities may be limited by investment opportunities in companies that the Adviser is evaluating for other clients. To the extent a potential investment is appropriate for a Fund and one or more other clients, the Adviser will need to fairly allocate that investment to the Fund or the other client, or both, depending on its allocation procedures and applicable law related to combined or joint transactions. There may arise an attractive limited investment opportunity suitable for the Fund in which it cannot invest under the particular allocation method being used for that investment.
Under the 1940 Act, the Funds and their affiliated companies are generally precluded from co-investing in negotiated private placements of securities. Except as permitted by law, the Adviser will not co-invest its other clients’ assets in negotiated private transactions in which a Fund invests. To the extent a Fund is not precluded from co-investing, the Adviser will allocate private investment opportunities among its clients, including but not limited to the Fund and the Fund’s affiliated companies, based on allocation policies that take into account several suitability factors, including the size of the investment opportunity, the amount each client has available for investment and the client’s investment objectives. These allocation policies may result in the allocation of investment opportunities to an affiliated company rather than to the Fund.
The Adviser and its principals, officers, employees, and affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts and may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with respect to investments made on a Fund’s behalf. As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, positions may be taken by principals, officers, employees, and affiliates of the Adviser that are the same as, different from, or made at a different time than positions taken for a Fund. Further, the Adviser may at some time in the future, manage other investment funds with the same investment objectives as a Fund’s.
Portfolio managers do not receive any direct compensation from the Funds or any other of the managed accounts reflected in the table above. None of the portfolio managers receives any direct compensation from the Registrant or any other of the accounts managed by the Adviser. Each of Messrs. Kessens, Mick, Pang, Sallee, and Thummel has an employment-related agreement with the Adviser. Under these employment-related contracts, they receive base salary compensation and are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. A portion of the bonus amount may be deferred for certain key employees and may increase over a defined vesting period based on a measured rate of return tied to the applicable entity’s performance.
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Certain key employees are eligible to participate in an employee equity ownership plan in which employees are periodically offered the opportunity to purchase equity in the Adviser's parent company. Each portfolio manager owns an equity interest in TortoiseEcofin Investments, LLC, the Adviser's parent company. As equity owners, these individuals each thus benefit from increases in the net income of the organization. The Adviser’s earnings are based in part on the value of assets held in the Fund’s portfolio, as the Adviser’s fee to the Fund is a percentage of the daily net assets of the Fund.
The following table indicates the dollar range of Fund shares beneficially owned by the Portfolio Managers of the Funds for which they serve as portfolio manager as of November 30, 2022:
Dollar Range of Fund Shares Beneficially Owned
(None, $1-$10,000, $10,001-$50,000, $50,001-$100,000, $100,001 - $500,000, $500,001-$1,000,000, Over $1,000,000)
Name of Portfolio Manager Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
Brian A. Kessens
$10,001-$50,000
None
James R. Mick
$50,001-$100,000
None
Matthew G.P. Sallee $10,001-$50,000
None
Robert J. Thummel, Jr.
None
None
Stephen Pang
None
N/A
Service Providers
Pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) between the Trust and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, Fund Services acts as the Administrator to the Funds. Fund Services provides certain administrative services to the Funds, including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, each Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Funds with applicable laws and regulations; arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV per share and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Funds, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties. In this capacity, Fund Services does not have any responsibility or authority for the investment management of the Funds, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, for its services, Fund Services receives from each Fund a fee computed daily and payable monthly based on each Fund’s average net assets, all subject to an annual minimum fee. Fund Services also acts as Fund Accountant, Transfer Agent and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements with the Trust.
Each Fund paid the following in fund administration and fund accounting fees to Fund Services during the three most recent fiscal years ended November 30:
2022 2021 2020
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund $877,469 $725,954 $926,247
Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund $299,852 $271,046 $323,554
Pursuant to a custody agreement between the Trust and the Funds, U.S. Bank, N.A., an affiliate of Fund Services, serves as the Custodian of the Funds’ assets (the “Custodian”). For its services, the Custodian receives a monthly fee based on a percentage of the Fund’s assets, in addition to certain transaction based fees, and is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. The Custodian’s address is 1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212. The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Funds. U.S. Bank, N.A. and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with service providers of mutual funds in which the Funds may invest.
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Legal Counsel
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as counsel to the Trust and as independent legal counsel to the Board.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP, 700 Nicollet Mall, Suite 500, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. Its services include auditing the Funds’ financial statements and the performance of related compliance tax services.
Distribution of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), 111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Funds’ principal underwriter, provides certain administration services and promotes and arranges for the sale of each Fund’s shares on a best efforts basis. The offering of the Funds’ shares is continuous. The Distributor is not affiliated with the Adviser, Administrator, Fund Accountant or the Custodian. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
The Distribution Agreement has an initial term of up to two years and will continue in effect only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board or by vote of a majority of each Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust, on behalf of each Fund, on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of a Fund’s shareholders or by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Trust, or by the Distributor on 60 days’ written notice, and will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment,” as defined in the 1940 Act.
The following tables show the total amount of underwriting commissions associated with the sale of each Fund’s A Class shares during the fiscal periods ended November 30:
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
2022 2021 2020
Total Underwriting Commission $36,925 $209,271 $195,241
Underwriting Commission Retained by the Distributor $2,989 $2,267 $8,822

Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
2022 2021 2020
Total Underwriting Commission $78,106 $98,717 $129,031
Underwriting Commission Retained by the Distributor $12,026 $10,093 $17,932
Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Plan
The Funds have adopted a distribution plan for A Class, C Class and, where applicable, T Class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”).  Under the 12b-1 Plan, each Fund pays a fee to the Distributor for distribution and/or shareholder services (the “Distribution and Servicing Fee”) at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily NAV of the A Class shares, 1.00% of the average daily NAV of the C Class shares and 0.25% of the average daily NAV of the T Class shares.  The 12b-1 Plan provides that the Distributor may use all or any portion of such Distribution and Servicing Fee to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, subject to the terms of the 12b-1 Plan, or to provide certain shareholder services. For C Class shares, 0.25% of the 1.00% fee may be paid for the provision of shareholder services and the remaining amount will be used for distribution expenses. The 12b-1 Plan is intended to benefit the Funds by increasing their assets and thereby reducing the Funds’ expense ratio. T Class Shares did not incur Rule 12b-1 fees during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022, as the shares were not available for purchase.
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The following tables show the allocation of the Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the A Class and the C Class shares of the Funds during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022:
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
Advertising/Marketing $0
Printing/Postage $0
Payment to distributor $146,988
Payment to dealers $527,085
Compensation to sales personnel $0
Other $0
Total $674,073

Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
Advertising/Marketing $0
Printing/Postage $0
Payment to distributor $66,048
Payment to dealers $287,103
Compensation to sales personnel $0
Other $0
Total $353,151
The Distribution and Servicing Fee is payable to the Distributor regardless of the distribution-related expenses actually incurred.  Because the Distribution and Servicing Fee is not directly tied to expenses, the amount of distribution fees paid by A Class, C Class and T Class shares during any year may be more or less than actual expenses incurred pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan.  For this reason, this type of distribution fee arrangement is characterized by the staff of the SEC as a “compensation” plan.
The Distributor may use the Distribution and Servicing Fee to pay for services covered by the 12b-1 Plan including, but not limited to, advertising; compensating underwriters, dealers and selling personnel engaged in the distribution of Fund shares; reimbursing for up-front sales commissions; the printing and mailing of prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports; the printing and mailing of sales literature pertaining to the Funds; and obtaining whatever information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities that a Fund may, from time to time, deem advisable.
The 12b-1 Plan provides that it will continue from year to year upon approval by the majority vote of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, provided that such trustees have made a determination that there is a reasonable likelihood that the 12b-1 Plan will benefit each Fund and its shareholders.  It is also required that the Independent Trustees, select and nominate all other trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds.  The 12b-1 Plan and any related agreements may not be amended to materially increase the amounts to be spent for distribution expenses without approval of shareholders holding a majority of the Fund shares outstanding.  All material amendments to the 12b-1 Plan or any related agreements must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Board and the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on any such amendment.
The 12b-1 Plan requires that the Distributor provide to the Board, at least quarterly, a written report on the amounts and purpose of any payment made under the 12b-1 Plan.  The Distributor is also required to furnish the Board with such other information as may reasonably be requested in order to enable the Board to make an informed determination of whether the 12b-1 Plan should be continued.
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As noted above, the 12b-1 Plan provides for the ability to use Fund assets to pay financial intermediaries (including those that sponsor mutual fund supermarkets and affiliates of the Adviser), plan administrators, and other service providers to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares (distribution services) and for the provision of personal services to shareholders.  The payments made by a Fund to financial intermediaries are based primarily on the dollar amount of assets invested in the Fund through the financial intermediaries.  These financial intermediaries may pay a portion of the payments that they receive from the Fund to their investment professionals.  In addition to the ongoing asset-based fees paid to these financial intermediaries under the 12b-1 Plan, a Fund may, from time to time, make payments under the 12b-1 Plan that help defray the expenses incurred by these intermediaries for conducting training and educational meetings about various aspects of the Funds for their employees.  In addition, a Fund may make payments under the 12b-1 Plan for exhibition space and otherwise help defray the expenses these financial intermediaries incur in hosting client seminars where the Funds are discussed.
In addition, a Fund may participate in various “fund supermarkets” in which a mutual fund supermarket sponsor (usually a broker-dealer) offers many mutual funds to the sponsor’s customers without charging the customers a sales charge.  In connection with its participation in such platforms and with an agreement in place with the Distributor or its affiliates, the Distributor may use all or a portion of the Distribution and Servicing Fee to pay one or more supermarket sponsors a negotiated fee for distributing the Fund’s shares.  In addition, in its discretion, the Adviser may pay additional fees to such intermediaries from its own assets (see “Marketing Support Payments”).
Marketing Support Payments
The Adviser, out of its own profits and resources and without additional cost to the Funds or their shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or other compensation (“Support Payments”) to certain financial intermediaries who sell and/or promote the sale of shares of the Funds, including an affiliated broker-dealer. Subject to and in accordance with the terms of each Fund’s prospectus and the Distribution and/or Service Plan (as applicable) adopted by resolution of the Trust's Board, and specifically the "Payments to Financial Intermediaries" section of each Fund's prospectus, the Adviser may make Support Payments to such financial intermediaries related to marketing/distribution support, shareholder servicing, sales meetings, inclusion on sales lists (including a preferred or select sales list) and participation in sales programs.
The Adviser has agreements with several firms it advises to pay such Support Payments, which are calculated in four ways: (1) as a percentage of net sales; (2) as a percentage of net assets; (3) as a flat fee; and, (4) in the case of payments to an affiliated broker-dealer, an amount equal to production-based compensation due to the broker-dealer’s representatives, and may also include reimbursement of out of pocket expenses incurred by the broker-dealer or its representatives.
The possibility of receiving, or the receipt of, such Support Payments as described above may provide such intermediaries and/or their salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Funds, and other mutual funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over sales of shares of mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments) that do not make such payments. Investors may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to mutual funds.
The Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities for the Funds, broker-dealer selection, and negotiation of brokerage commission rates. The Adviser’s primary consideration in effecting a security transaction will be to obtain the best execution. In selecting a broker-dealer to execute each particular transaction, the Adviser will initially consider their ability to execute transactions at the most favorable prices and lowest overall execution costs, while also taking into consideration other relevant factors, such as, the reliability, integrity and financial condition of the broker-dealer, the size of and difficulty in executing the order, and the quality of execution and custodial services. The determinative factor is not necessarily the lowest possible transaction cost, but whether the transaction represents the best qualitative execution for the client account. Because the Adviser considers all of the factors described above and not just commission cost, commission rates on some transactions may be higher than the lowest available commission rate charged by another broker-dealer for executing the same transaction. The Adviser does not utilize any third party “soft dollar” arrangements. The Adviser receives unsolicited research from some of the brokers with whom it places trades on behalf of clients, however, the Adviser has no arrangements or understandings with such brokers regarding receipt of research in return for commissions. While the Adviser may review certain of the research received, the Adviser does not consider this research when selecting brokers to execute client transactions. The Adviser does not put a specific value on unsolicited research,
44


nor does the Adviser attempt to estimate and allocate the relative costs or benefits among its clients. Research services may include reports on energy companies, the market, the economy and other general widely distributed research, and may be used by the Adviser in servicing all funds and accounts managed by the Adviser, including the Funds. The price to a Fund in any transaction may be less favorable than that available from another broker-dealer if the difference is reasonably justified by other aspects of the execution services offered. The Adviser acquires research (e.g., research ideas and analysis) under separate third-party research arrangements to its execution services.
A Fund may, from time to time, enter into arrangements with placement agents in connection with direct placement transactions. In evaluating placement agent proposals, the Adviser will consider each broker’s access to issuers of energy company securities and experience in the energy market, particularly the direct placement market. In addition to these factors, the Adviser will consider whether the proposed services are customary, whether the proposed fee schedules are within the range of customary rates, whether any proposal would obligate us to enter into transactions involving a minimum fee, dollar amount or volume of securities, or into any transaction whatsoever, and other terms such as indemnification provisions.
The Adviser shall not be deemed to have acted unlawfully or to have breached any duty solely by reason of its having caused a Fund to pay a broker or dealer that provides brokerage and research services to the Adviser an amount of commission for effecting an investment transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Fund and to other clients of the Adviser as to which the Adviser exercises investment discretion. The Adviser is further authorized to allocate the orders placed by it on behalf of a Fund to such brokers and dealers who also provide research or statistical material or other services to the Adviser. Such allocation shall be in such amounts and proportions as the Adviser shall determine and the Adviser will report on said allocations regularly to the Board indicating the brokers to whom such allocations have been made and the basis therefor.
Portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers who sell shares of a Fund subject to rules adopted by FINRA and the SEC. Portfolio transactions may also be placed with broker-dealers in which the Adviser has invested on behalf of a Fund and/or client accounts.
The following table sets forth the amount of brokerage commissions paid by each Fund during the fiscal years ended November 30:
2022 2021 2020
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund
$314,8531
$578,409
$1,318,303
Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund
$12,0632
$48,878
$623,145
1Brokerage commissions for the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund decreased during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 due to decreased trading as a result of the portfolio being strategically positioned at the start of the fiscal year.
2Brokerage commissions for the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund decreased during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 due to decreased trading as a result of the portfolio being strategically positioned at the start of the fiscal year.
Portfolio Turnover
Although the Funds generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations or redemption requests warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in a Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs and could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income rates (currently as high as 37%). To the extent that a Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher portfolio turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
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Each Fund’s portfolio turnover during the fiscal years ended November 30, were as follows:
2022 2021
Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund 20  % 32  %
Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund 10  % 22  %
The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes permit, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Trust, Adviser and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by a Fund.
The Board has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policies”) wherein the Trust has delegated to the Adviser the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by a Fund as part of the Adviser’s investment advisory services, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Board. Notwithstanding this delegation of responsibilities, however, each Fund retains the right to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities. The fundamental purpose of the Proxy Policies is to ensure that each vote will be in a manner that reflects the best interest of a Fund and its shareholders, taking into account the value of the Fund’s investments.
The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, (800) SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Adviser will vote proxies on behalf of a Fund in a manner that it believes is consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Absent special circumstances, all proxies will be voted consistent with guidelines established and described in the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. A summary of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is as follows:
1.The Adviser utilizes a proxy voting service to provide independent research on corporate governance, proxy and corporate responsibility issues. The Adviser reviews these voting recommendations and proxies are generally voted in accordance with such recommendations. The Adviser has adopted the ESG proxy voting guidelines of the proxy voting service, which are applied to all Adviser proxy votes. Proxies are generally voted in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting guidelines; however, the Adviser may opt to override the guidelines if it is decided to be in the best interest of its clients. The applicable Investment Committee (or an employee of the Adviser designated by the Investment Committee) will be responsible for monitoring all decisions regarding proxy voting, including monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions in the best interest of the Funds, and ensuring that proxies are submitted in a timely manner.
2.Proxies are generally voted according to the Adviser’s then-current Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures, which it believes are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of its clients. In pursuing this policy, proxies should be voted in a manner that is intended to maximize value to the client.
3.Although the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures are to be followed as a general policy, certain issues will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on the relevant facts and circumstances. Since corporate governance issues are diverse and continually evolving, the Adviser shall devote an appropriate amount of time and resources to monitor these changes.
4.In situations where there may be a conflict of interest in the voting of proxies between the interests of a Fund and its shareholders and those of the Adviser due to business or personal relationships that the Adviser maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes, the Adviser may (i) disclose the potential conflict to the Fund and obtain consent; (ii) establish an ethical wall or other informational barriers between the person(s) that are involved in the conflict and the persons at the Adviser making the voting decisions; (iii) abstain from voting the proxies; (iv) forward the proxies to clients so the clients may vote the proxies themselves or (v) use an
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independent third party recommendation. The Adviser will document the rationale for any proxy voted contrary to the proxy voting guidelines. Such information will be maintained as part of the recordkeeping requirements.
5.All proxies will be voted in accordance with any applicable investment restrictions of the Funds and, to the extent applicable, any resolutions or other instructions approved by the Board.
The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”). To ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program. Ms. Deborah Ward has been designated as the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer.
Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to: determining that the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures; reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity; checking shareholder names against designated government lists, including Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”), and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications. The Funds will not transact business with any person or legal entity whose identity and beneficial owners, if applicable, cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
As a result of the Program, the Funds may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Funds may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.
The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has adopted portfolio holdings disclosure policies (“Portfolio Holdings Policies”) that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of a Fund. The Portfolio Holdings Policies are applicable to service providers of a Fund, including the Adviser. Information about a Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with these Portfolio Holdings Policies. The Board considered the circumstances under which a Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Portfolio Holdings Policies. The Board also considered actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and the interests of the Adviser, Distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund. After due consideration, the Board determined that the Funds have a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in the Portfolio Holdings Policies. The Board also authorized its CCO to consider and authorize dissemination of portfolio holdings information to additional parties, after considering the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and potential conflicts of interest in making such disclosures.
The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Portfolio Holdings Policies, codes of ethics and other relevant policies of the Funds and their service providers by the CCO, (2) by considering reports and recommendations by the CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act), and (3) by considering whether to approve any amendment to these Portfolio Holdings Policies. The Board reserves the right to amend the Portfolio Holdings Policies at any time without prior notice in its sole discretion.
Disclosure of a Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter, in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders, and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-PORT. These reports will be made available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Each of the Fund posts sector pie charts for its full portfolio on the website monthly and via its fact sheet quarterly generally within 10 calendar days after the month-end or calendar quarter end, as applicable. The Funds post top 10 holdings monthly on their website and via their fact sheets quarterly, generally within 10 calendar days after month-end or calendar quarter end, as applicable. Each Fund also posts full portfolio holdings on its website as soon as practicable after the end of each calendar quarter.
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In the event of a conflict between the interests of a Fund and its shareholders and the interests of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser under the Portfolio Holdings Policy, the CCO of the Adviser, in consultation with the Trust’s CCO, shall make a determination in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, and shall report such determination to the Board at the end of the quarter in which such determination was made. Any employee of the Adviser who suspects a breach of this obligation must report the matter immediately to the Adviser’s CCO or to his or her supervisor.
In addition, material non-public holdings information may be provided without lag as part of the normal investment activities of the Funds to each of the following entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the Funds, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed: the Administrator; the Adviser; the Funds’ Accountant; the Custodian; the Transfer Agent; the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm; counsel to the Funds or the Board (current parties are identified in this SAI); broker-dealers (in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities); lending agents; and regulatory authorities. Portfolio holdings information not publicly available with the SEC may only be provided to additional third parties in accordance with the Portfolio Holdings Policies, when a Fund has a legitimate business purpose, and the third party recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement. Portfolio holdings information may be separately provided to any person, including rating and ranking organizations such as Lipper and Morningstar, at the same time that it is filed with the SEC or one day after it is first published on the Fund’s website. Such portfolio holdings disclosure must be approved under the Portfolio Holdings Policies by the Trust’s CCO.
In no event shall the Adviser, its affiliates or employees, or a Fund receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Holdings Policies and these procedures will protect the Funds from potential misuse of that information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.
Determination of Net Asset Value
The NAV of each Fund’s shares will fluctuate and is determined by the Fund Accountant as of the close of the regular trading session on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) each business day. The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading. The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. However, the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.
The NAV of each class of shares is computed by determining the “Net Assets” of each class and dividing by the total number of shares outstanding of each class at such time. The Net Assets of each class are calculated by (1) taking the value of all assets, less liabilities, held by each Fund and allocating such value to each share class based on the number of shares outstanding in each share class; (2) subtracting “Class Expenses” from each respective share class as defined and approved by the Board and a majority of the Independent Trustees under the Trust’s Rule 18f-3 Multiple-Class Plan; and (3) subtracting from each share class non-class specific “Other Expenses” that are allocated to each class based on the net asset value of each class relative to the net asset value of a Fund or the Trust, as the case may be.
Net Assets Per Share Class = Net Asset Value Per Share Class
Shares Outstanding Per Share Class
A Fund’s assets are generally valued at their market price on the valuation date and are based on valuations provided by independent pricing services consistent with the Trust’s valuation procedures. When market prices are not readily available, a security or other asset is valued at its fair value as determined under fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board. The Board reviews, no less frequently than annually, the adequacy of the Funds' policies and procedures and the effectiveness of their implementation. These fair value pricing procedures will also be used to price a security when corporate events, events in the securities market and/or world events cause the Adviser to believe that a security’s last sale price may not reflect its actual market value. The intended effect of using fair value pricing procedures is to ensure that each Fund is accurately priced. The Board will regularly evaluate whether the Trust’s fair value pricing procedures continue to be appropriate in light of the specific circumstances of the Funds and the quality of prices obtained through the application of such procedures.
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Each security owned by a Fund that is listed on a securities exchange is valued at its last sale price on that exchange on the date as of which assets are valued. Where the security is listed on more than one exchange, the Fund will use the price of the exchange that the Fund generally considers to be the principal exchange on which the stock is traded. If no sale is reported, the security is valued at the mean between the last available bid and asked price.
Portfolio securities primarily traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), which may not necessarily represent the last sale price. If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. OTC securities that are not traded on NASDAQ shall be valued at the most recent trade price.
Fixed income securities are valued at (a) a market value from an approved pricing service generated by their review of securities with similar characteristics or (b) by obtaining a direct written broker-dealer quotation from a dealer who has made a market in the security. Investments in other investment companies, including money market funds, are valued at their NAV per share. Fixed income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost.
Foreign securities are generally valued in the same manner as the securities described above. Foreign securities are priced in the local currencies as of the close of their primary exchange or market or as of the close of trading on the NYSE, whichever is earlier. Foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate as provided by a pricing service as of the close of trading on the NYSE.
Exchange traded options are generally valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”). NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace. Specifically, composite pricing looks at the last trades on the exchanges where the options are traded. If there are no trades for the option on a given business day composite option pricing calculates the mean of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across the exchanges where the option is traded.
Purchase of Shares
Shares of each Fund are sold in a continuous offering and may be purchased on any business day from the Funds. The Funds may also authorize one or more financial intermediaries to accept purchase orders (an “Authorized Intermediary”). Authorized Intermediaries are authorized to designate other Authorized Intermediaries to accept orders on a Fund’s behalf. An order is deemed to be received when the Fund or an Authorized Intermediary accepts the order.
Orders received by a Fund or an Authorized Intermediary by the close of trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a business day will be processed at the applicable price determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE on that day. Otherwise, the orders will be processed at the next determined NAV.
Orders received by financial intermediaries that are not Authorized Intermediaries, will be processed at the applicable price next calculated after the Transfer Agent receives the order from the financial intermediary.
Purchase Requests Must be Received in Good Order
“Good order” means that your purchase request includes:
1.The name of the Fund you are investing in;
2.The dollar amount of shares to be purchased;
3.The class of shares to be purchased;
4.Your Account Application or investment stub; and
5.A check payable to the name of the Fund or a wire transfer received by the Fund.
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Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States. The Funds generally do not sell shares to investors residing outside the United States, even if they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with United States military APO or FPO addresses or in certain other circumstances where the Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer for the Trust both conclude that such sale is appropriate and is not in contravention of United States law.
Redemption of Shares
In general, orders to sell or “redeem” shares may be placed directly with the Fund or through a financial intermediary. You may redeem all or part of your investment in the Fund’s shares on any business day that the Fund calculates its NAV. It is the financial intermediary’s responsibility to transmit orders timely to the Fund.
Redemption Requests Must be Received in Good Order
Your share price will be based on the next NAV per share calculated after the Transfer Agent or an Authorized Intermediary receives your redemption request in good order. A redemption request will be deemed in “good order” if it includes:
1.The shareholder’s name;
2.The name of the Fund;
3.The account number;
4.The share or dollar amount to be redeemed;
5.The class of shares to be redeemed; and
6.Signatures by all shareholders on the account (with signature(s) guaranteed, if applicable).
Unless you instruct the Transfer Agent otherwise, redemption proceeds will be sent to the address of record. The Fund will not be responsible for interest lost on redemption amounts due to lost or misdirected mail.
A signature guarantee of each owner is required in the following situations:
1.If ownership is changed on your account;
2.When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
3.When a redemption is received by the Transfer Agent and the account address has changed within the last 15 calendar days; or
4.For all redemptions in excess of $100,000 from any shareholder account.
Non-financial transactions, including establishing or modifying certain services on an account, may require a signature guarantee, signature verification from a Signature Validation Program member, or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source. Signature guarantees, from either a Medallion program member or a non-Medallion program member, can be obtained from banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public.
The Funds may elect in the future to limit eligible signature guarantors to institutions that are members of a signature guarantee program. The Funds and the Transfer Agent reserve the right to amend these standards at any time without notice.
Redemption-In-Kind
Under normal circumstances, the Funds do not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. The Trust, however, has filed a notice of election under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act that allows a Fund to redeem in-kind redemption requests during any 90-day period in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund, valued at the beginning of such period. If a Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. The Fund potentially could distribute MLP interests. The tax reporting of MLP investments may be more complicated than the income tax reporting for stock and debt investments in that you would receive a K-1, the
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income or loss would be subject to the passive activity loss limitation provisions in the case of an individual or other non-corporate owners, and you may be subject to state income tax filings and unrelated business income tax.
Cancellations and Modifications
The Funds will not accept a request to cancel or modify a written transaction once processing has begun.
Tax Matters
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and their shareholders. The discussion reflects applicable U.S. federal income tax laws of the U.S. as of the date of this SAI, which tax laws may be changed or subject to new interpretations by the courts or the IRS, possibly with retroactive effect. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income, estate or gift, or state, local or foreign tax concerns affecting the Funds and their shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in a Fund). The discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to them of investing in the Funds.
In addition, no attempt is made to address tax concerns applicable to an investor with a special tax status, such as a financial institution, “real estate investment trust,” insurance company, RIC, individual retirement account, other tax-exempt entity, dealer in securities or foreign investor. Furthermore, this discussion does not reflect possible application of the alternative minimum tax. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion assumes the Funds’ stock and debt securities are held by U.S. persons and that such shares and securities are held as capital assets.
A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
A citizen or individual resident of the United States (including certain former citizens and former long-term residents);
A corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
An estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
A trust with respect to which a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. shareholders have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or the trust has made a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A “Foreign holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of the Funds that is an individual, corporation, trust, or estate and is not a U.S. holder. If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of the Funds, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.
Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Funds, series of the Trust, intend to qualify and elect to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, provided it complies with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, diversification of its assets and timing of distributions. If for any taxable year a Fund fails to qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded to RICs, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to the Fund’s shareholders) and its performance and income available for distribution will be reduced.
As long as the Funds meet certain requirements that govern the Funds’ source of income, diversification of assets and distribution of earnings to shareholders, the Funds will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed (or treated as distributed, as described below) to its shareholders. With respect to the source of income requirement, the Funds must derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income (including tax-exempt interest) 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 and forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such shares, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships. A qualified publicly traded partnership is generally defined as a publicly traded partnership under Section 7704 of the Code, but does not include a publicly traded partnership if 90% or more of its income is described in (i) above.
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With respect to the diversification of assets requirement, the Funds must diversify their holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Funds’ total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, the securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited for purposes of such calculation, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount 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 the Funds’ total assets is invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs), the securities (other than the securities of other RICs) of any two or more issuers that the Funds control and that are determined to be engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
In addition, pursuant to the Code, each Fund may invest no more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of MLPs and other entities treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. A Fund will not be required to reduce a position due solely to market value fluctuations in order to comply with the 25% limitation in publicly traded partnerships, inclusive of MLP investments, but will not be able to purchase additional MLP securities unless the Fund is in compliance with the restriction.
Each Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes based on net income. However, a Fund can give no assurances that its anticipated distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes. If a Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company, it would be taxed as a corporation and, in such case, it would be more beneficial for a shareholder to directly own the Fund’s underlying investments rather than indirectly owning the underlying investments through the Fund. If a Fund fails to distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) at least 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12-month period ending on October 31 during such year and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax, the Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax.
Net investment income generally consists of interest, dividends, operational income from investments in MLP companies, and short-term capital gains, less expenses. Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carry forward of a Fund.
Distributions of net investment income are generally taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For individual shareholders, a portion of the distributions paid by a Fund may consist of qualified dividends eligible for taxation at the rate applicable to long-term capital gains to the extent the Fund designates the amount distributed as a qualified dividend and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to his or her Fund shares. In the case of corporate shareholders, a portion of the distributions may qualify for the intercorporate dividends-received deduction to the extent a Fund designates the amount distributed as eligible for deduction and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to its Fund shares. The aggregate amount so designated to either individuals or corporate shareholders cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of such dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year. In view of each Fund’s investment policies, it is expected that part (but not all) of the distributions by a Fund may be eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment for individual shareholders and the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders. Any distributions to you in excess of a Fund’s investment company taxable income and net capital gains will be treated by you, first, as a tax-deferred return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of your shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital gains.
Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held. Net capital gains distributions are not eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends-received deduction referred to in the previous paragraph.
Any distributions to you in excess of a Fund’s investment company taxable income and net capital gains will be treated by you, first, as a tax-deferred return of capital, which is applied against and will reduce the adjusted tax basis of your shares and, after such adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, will generally constitute capital gains to you.
Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. “qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income) are treated as eligible for a 20% deduction by noncorporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6%
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(37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). A Fund may choose to report the special character of “qualified REIT dividends” to the shareholder, provided both a Fund and a shareholder meet certain holding period requirements with respect to their shares. A noncorporate shareholder receiving such dividends would treat them as eligible for the 20% deduction, provided the RIC shares were held by the shareholder for more than 45 days during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which the shares become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. The amount of a RIC’s dividends eligible for the 20% deduction for a taxable year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s qualified REIT dividends for the taxable year over allocable expenses.
Distributions of any net investment income and net realized capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or in cash. Shareholders who choose to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share on the reinvestment date. Distributions are generally taxable when received. However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31. Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a noncorporate shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Investment income received by a Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Fund. The U.S. has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that entitle each Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other forms to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when a Fund will receive the tax reclaim is within the control of the individual country. Information required on these forms may not be available to a Fund such as shareholder information; therefore, a Fund may not receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing requirements which may cause a Fund not to receive the reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital gains realized by a Fund on sale or disposition of securities of that country to taxation. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of a Fund’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known.
A redemption of Fund shares may result in recognition of a taxable gain or loss and, if held as a capital asset, capital gain or loss. Any loss realized upon a redemption of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long-term capital gains received on those shares. Any loss realized upon a redemption may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of a Fund are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the redemption.
The Funds are required to report to you and the IRS annually on Form 1099-B the cost basis of shares purchased or acquired. However, cost basis reporting is not required for certain shareholders, including shareholders investing a Fund through a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. A Fund will calculate cost basis using the Fund’s default method, unless you instruct the Fund to use a different calculation method. For additional information regarding the Fund’s available cost basis reporting methods, including its default method, please contact the Fund. If you hold your Fund shares through a broker (or other nominee), please contact that broker (nominee) with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.
Except in the case of certain exempt shareholders, if a shareholder does not furnish a Fund with its correct Taxpayer Identification Number and certain certifications or the Fund receives notification from the IRS requiring back-up withholding, the Fund is required by federal law to withhold federal income tax from the shareholder’s distributions and redemption proceeds currently at a rate of 24% for U.S. residents.
Gain or loss recognized by the Fund on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.
As of November 30, 2022, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund and the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund had short-term capital loss carryforwards of $74,983,340 and $151,253,563, respectively, and the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund and Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund had long-term capital loss carryforwards of $878,539,532
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and $163,753,857, respectively, which may be carried forward for an unlimited period under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010. In addition to the total capital loss carryforward, the Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund has a short-term carryforward of $60,744,580 and a long-term carryforward of $72,317,852 that it inherited as the result of the merger with Tortoise MLP & Energy Infrastructure Fund. These capital loss carryforwards are further subject to an initial annual limitation of $147,395 and $175,344 in short-term and long-term carryforwards, respectively, pursuant to Section 382. To the extent the Funds realize future net capital gains, those gains will be offset by any unused capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. Thus, such losses must be used first to offset gains of the same character; for example, long-term loss carryforwards will first offset long-term gains, before they can be used to offset short-term gains. For the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund and Energy Infrastructure and Income Fund, the capital gains and losses have been estimated based on information currently available and are subject to revision upon receipt of the 2022 tax reporting information from the individual MLPs. As of November 30, 2022, the Energy Infrastructure Total Return Fund utilized $70,323,993 of capital loss carryforwards in the current year.
A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to the Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn the Fund, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the corporate income tax rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by the Fund in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the Fund, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The Fund’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the Fund’s return on its investment. The Fund’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”), as discussed below. Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties. Also, the Fund in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.
Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of the Fund’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit (“REMIC”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as the Fund, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. 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 qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) 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 foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the corporate income tax rate. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that the Fund will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.
These rules are potentially applicable to the Fund with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT.
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A Fund potentially could distribute MLP interests. The tax reporting of MLPs may be more complicated than the income tax reporting for stock and debt investments in that you would receive a K-1, the income or loss would be subject to the passive activity loss limitation provisions in the case of an individual or other non-corporate owners, and you may be subject to state income tax filings and unrelated business income tax.
Foreign taxpayers (including nonresident aliens) are generally subject to a flat withholding rate, currently 30% on U.S. source income. This withholding rate may be lower under the terms of a tax treaty.
Federal Income Taxation of MLPs. MLPs are similar to corporations in many respects, but differ in others, especially in the way they are taxed for federal income tax purposes. A corporation is a distinct legal entity, separate from its stockholders and employees and is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes as well. Like individual taxpayers, a corporation must pay a federal income tax on its income. To the extent the corporation distributes its income to its stockholders in the form of dividends, the stockholders must pay federal income tax on the dividends they receive. For this reason, it is said that corporate income is double-taxed, or taxed at two levels.
An MLP that satisfies the Qualifying Income rules described below, and does not elect otherwise, is treated for federal income tax purposes as a pass-through entity. No federal income tax is paid at the partnership level. A partnership’s income is considered earned by all the partners; it is allocated among all the partners in proportion to their interests in the partnership (generally as provided in the partnership agreement), and each partner pays tax on his, her or its share of the partnership’s income. All the other items that go into determining taxable income and tax owed are passed through to the partners as well — capital gains and losses, deductions, credits, etc. Partnership income is thus said to be single-taxed or taxed only at one level — that of the partner.
The Code generally requires “publicly traded partnerships” to be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. However, if the publicly traded partnership satisfies certain requirements and does not elect otherwise, the publicly traded partnership will be taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, referred to herein as an MLP. Under these requirements, an MLP must derive each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from Qualifying Income.
Qualifying Income for MLPs includes interest, dividends, real estate rents, gain from the sale or disposition of real property, certain income and gain from commodities or commodity futures, and income and gain from certain mineral or natural resources activities. Mineral or natural resources activities that generate Qualifying Income include income and gains from 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 resource (including fertilizer, geothermal energy, and timber).
Because the MLP itself does not pay federal income tax, its income or loss is allocated to its investors, irrespective of whether the investors receive any cash payment from the MLP. MLPs generally make quarterly cash distributions. Although they resemble corporate dividends, MLP distributions are treated differently. The MLP distribution is treated as a return of capital to the extent of the investor’s basis in his MLP interest and, to the extent the distribution exceeds the investor’s basis in the MLP interest, capital gain. The investor’s original basis is the price paid for the units. The basis is adjusted downward, but not below zero, with each distribution and allocation of deductions (such as depreciation) and losses, and upwards with each allocation of income.
When the units are sold, the taxable gain or loss associated with such sale is based on the difference between the adjusted cost basis (which was reduced by prior return of capital distributions and allocations of deductions and increased by allocations of income) and the sale price. In certain situations, that may result in a taxable gain on the sale even though the sale price was lower than the original investment. The partner generally will not be taxed as of a result of distributions until (1) he sells his MLP units and pays tax on his gain, which gain may have increased because of basis decreases that were created by prior distributions; or (2) his basis reaches zero.
Certain MLPs in which the Funds invest are permitted to reflect an income tax allowance for taxes borne by their unitholders in setting the maximum applicable rates chargeable to customers by their subsidiaries that are regulated interstate natural gas pipelines. In order to avoid or reverse an adverse determination by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regarding these maximum rates, these MLPs may require a unitholder to certify that the unitholder is an individual or entity subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by the MLP or, if the unitholder is an entity not subject to United States federal income taxation on such income, that all the entity’s owners are subject to United States federal income taxation on such income. Any unitholder that fails to provide such a certification may be subject to adverse consequences under the MLP’s partnership agreement. Certain energy MLPs regulated by
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FERC have the right, but are not obligated, to redeem all of their common units held by an investor who is not subject to U.S. federal income taxation at market value, with the purchase price payable in cash or via a three-year interest-bearing promissory note. In addition, the unitholder may lose the right to any allocations of income or loss, distributions or voting rights with respect to such units. There is little precedent as to how these certification requirements are applied with respect to mutual fund partners, and it is not clear whether a mutual fund would be able to provide a satisfactory certification as to the tax status of its shareholders. In order to avoid the adverse consequences described above the Funds may avoid investing in an MLP that would otherwise be considered attractive.
This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by Fund management, and counsel to the Funds has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.
This section is not intended to be a full discussion of federal tax laws and the effect of such laws on you. There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations to a particular investor. You are urged to consult your own tax adviser.
Each Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities or, for a Fund that invests in MLP companies, operational income from its investments in securities of MLP companies. This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be distributed to the Fund’s shareholders. The amount of each Fund’s distributions is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by that Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed, and is subject to the discretion of the Board. The Funds do not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.
Each Fund may also derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain a Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held less than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short-term capital gains and losses (to the extent not offset by any capital loss carryovers), although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of the distributions of net investment income giving rise to ordinary income. If during any year a Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held for the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long-term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital gain. After deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses carried over from the eight previous taxable years) will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund’s shares may have been held by the shareholders. For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax adviser.
Any distribution paid by a Fund reduces that Fund’s NAV per share on the date paid by the amount of the distribution per share. Accordingly, a distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a partial return of principal (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it would be subject to income taxes.
Distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional common shares, unless the shareholder specifically has indicated otherwise. Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone. However, any such change will be effective only as to distributions for which the record date is five or more calendar days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.
Each Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022 is a separate document, and the financial statements, accompanying notes and report of the independent registered public accounting firm appearing therein are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

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