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CROMWELL CENTERSQUARE REAL ESTATE FUND
Investor Class (MRESX)
Institutional Class (MRASX)
Class Z (MREZX)
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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DATED March 7, 2022
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This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Cromwell CenterSquare Real Estate Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Total Fund Solution Trust (the “Trust”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current prospectus dated March 7, 2022 for its Institutional Class, Investor Class and Class Z shares (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Fund’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 are incorporated herein by reference to the Predecessor Fund’s 2021 Annual Report. A copy of the Fund’s annual report may be obtained without charge by calling the Fund at 1-855-625-7333 toll free or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.thecromwellfunds.com.
On November 1, 2017, the Predecessor Fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to December 31. The Predecessor Fund’s fiscal period ended December 31, 2017 includes only the period from November 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.


 

Table of Contents
Page
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
ROLE OF THE BOARD
BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
MANAGER-OF-MANAGERS ARRANGEMENTS
INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISER
APPENDIX A - PROXY VOTING POLICY
A-1
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The Trust
Total Fund Solution (the “Trust”) is a Delaware statutory trust organized on July 29, 2021 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company. The Fund is one series, or mutual fund, formed by the Trust. The Fund is a non-diversified series and has its own investment objective and policies. Shares of other series of the Trust are offered in separate prospectuses and SAIs. The Trust may register additional series and offer shares of a new fund or share class under the Trust at any time.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of interests (or shares). Interests in the Fund are represented by shares of beneficial interest each with no par value. Each share of the Trust has equal voting rights and liquidation rights, and is voted in the aggregate and not by the series or class of shares 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 interests of a particular series or class of shares. 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. Shares of each series or class generally vote together, except when required under federal securities laws to vote separately on matters that only affect a particular class. The Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Board of Trustees”) shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon removal of any trustee when requested to do so in writing by shareholders holding 10% or more of the Trust’s outstanding shares.

Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to the Fund and is entitled to such distributions out of the income belonging to the Fund as are declared by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees 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 so long as the proportionate beneficial interests in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected. Additionally, in case of any liquidation of a series, the shareholders 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 are borne by that series or class. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series or class are allocated by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees on the basis of relative net assets, the number of shareholders or another equitable method. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.

With respect to the Fund, the Trust may offer more than one class of shares. The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a multiple class plan under Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, detailing the attributes of each Fund’s share classes. Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class. Currently, the Fund offers the following classes of shares: Investor Class, Institutional Class and Class Z.

The assets of the Fund received for the issue or sale of its shares, and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, shall constitute the underlying assets of the Fund. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Fund, the shareholders of the Fund are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

Cromwell Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. Effective on March 7, 2022, AMG Managers CenterSquare Real Estate Fund, a series of AMG Funds I (the “Predecessor Fund”), reorganized into the Fund (the “Reorganization”). Pursuant to the Reorganization, the Fund is the successor to the accounting and performance information of the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund operated for the period from December 31, 1997.

Fund History
Investor Class shares commenced operations (through the Predecessor Fund) on December 31, 1997. Institutional Class and Class Z commenced operations (through the Predecessor Fund) on February 24, 2017. Effective February 27, 2017, AMG Managers CenterSquare Real Estate Fund (formerly AMG Managers Real Estate Securities Fund, which was formerly Managers Real Estate Securities Fund) established three classes of shares:
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Class I, Class N and Class Z shares. Effective April 28, 2014, Managers Real Estate Securities Fund changed its name to AMG Managers Real Estate Securities Fund. Effective October 1, 2016, AMG Managers Real Estate Securities Fund changed its name to AMG Managers CenterSquare Real Estate Fund. Also effective October 1, 2016, AMG Managers CenterSquare Real Estate Fund’s sole class was reclassified and redesignated as Class S shares. Effective February 27, 2017, AMG Managers CenterSquare Real Estate Fund’s Class S shares were renamed Class N shares.

Effective April 28, 2014, Managers Trust I changed its name to AMG Funds I and the Predecessor Fund’s investment manager changed its name from Managers Investment Group LLC to AMG Funds LLC.

On November 1, 2017, the Predecessor Fund changed its fiscal year end from October 31 to December 31.

Investment Policies, Strategies and Associated Risks
The following is additional information regarding the investment policies used by the Fund in an attempt to achieve its investment objective as stated in its Prospectus. The Trust is an open-end management investment company, and the Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust.

Investment Techniques and Associated Risks

The following are descriptions of the types of securities and instruments that may be purchased by the Fund to the extent such investments are permitted by applicable law. The information below does not describe every type of investment, technique or risk to which the Fund may be exposed. The Fund reserves the right, without notice, to make any investment, or use any investment technique, except to the extent that such activity would require a shareholder vote, as discussed below under “Fundamental Investment Restrictions.”

(1)    Asset-Backed Securities

Asset-backed securities directly or indirectly represent a participation interest in, or are secured by and are payable from, a stream of payments generated from particular assets, such as automobile and credit card receivables and home equity loans or other asset-backed securities collateralized by those assets. Asset-backed securities provide periodic payments that generally consist of both principal and interest payments that must be guaranteed by a letter of credit from an unaffiliated bank for a specified amount and time.

Asset-backed securities are subject to certain risks. These risks generally arise out of the security interest in the assets collateralizing the security. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to a number of protections from the state and through federal consumer laws, many of which give the debtor the right to offset certain amounts of credit card debts thereby reducing the amounts due. In general, these types of loans have a shorter life than mortgage loans and are less likely to have substantial prepayments, although in a period of declining interest rates, pre-payments on asset-backed securities may increase and the Fund may be unable to reinvest those prepaid amounts in investments providing the same rate of interest as the pre-paid obligations. Asset-backed securities also involve the risk that borrowers may default on the obligations backing them and that the values of and interest earned on such investments will decline as a result. Loans made to lower quality borrowers, including those of sub-prime quality, involve a higher risk of default. Therefore, the values of asset-backed securities backed by lower quality loans, including those of sub-prime quality, may suffer significantly greater declines in value due to defaults, payment delays or a perceived increased risk of default, especially during periods when economic conditions worsen.

During periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes dramatically, with respect to securitizations involving loans, sales contracts, receivables and other obligations underlying asset-backed securities.

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(2)    Below Investment Grade Debt Securities (“Junk Bonds”)

The Fund may invest in below investment grade debt securities. Bonds rated below BBB by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), or Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or an equivalent rating by another Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) are commonly known as “junk bonds.” Below investment grade securities are deemed by the rating agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal and may involve major risk or exposure to adverse conditions. Below investment grade securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy. The special risk considerations in connection with investments in these securities are discussed below.

Below investment grade securities generally offer a higher yield than that available from higher-rated issues with similar maturities, as compensation for holding a security that is subject to greater risk. Lower-rated securities involve higher risks in that they are especially subject to (1) adverse changes in general economic conditions and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged, (2) adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuers, (3) price fluctuation in response to changes in interest rates and (4) limited liquidity and secondary market support.

Effect of Interest Rates and Economic Changes. All interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of below investment grade securities tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Below investment grade securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of below investment grade securities may experience financial stress which may adversely affect their ability to service their debt obligations, meet projected business goals, and obtain additional financing. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of these securities and thus in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”).

Payment Expectations. Below investment grade securities may contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of such securities to, at its discretion, redeem the securities. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of these securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities, or otherwise redeem them, the Fund may have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security, which would result in a lower return.

Credit Ratings. Credit ratings issued by credit-rating agencies are designed to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market value risk of lower-quality securities and, therefore, may not fully reflect the risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. With regard to an investment in below investment grade securities, the achievement of the Fund’s investment objective may be more dependent on the Sub-Adviser’s own credit analysis than is the case for higher rated securities. Although the Sub-Adviser considers security ratings when making investment decisions, it does not rely solely on the ratings assigned by the rating services. Rather, the Sub-Adviser performs research and independently assesses the value of particular securities relative to the market. The Sub-Adviser’s analysis may include consideration of the issuer’s experience and managerial strength, changing financial condition, borrowing requirements or debt maturity schedules, and the issuer’s responsiveness to changes in business conditions and interest rates. It also considers relative values based on anticipated cash flow, interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage and earnings prospects.

The Sub-Adviser buys and sells debt securities principally in response to its evaluation of an issuer’s continuing ability to meet its obligations, the availability of better investment opportunities, and its assessment of changes in business conditions and interest rates.

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Liquidity and Valuation. Below investment grade securities may lack an established retail secondary market, and to the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it may be less liquid than the secondary market for higher rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolio. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of below investment grade securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

Because of the many risks involved in investing in below investment grade securities, the success of such investments is dependent upon the credit analysis of the Sub-adviser. Although the market for below investment grade securities is not new, and the market has previously weathered economic downturns, the past performance of the market for such securities may not be an accurate indication of its performance during future economic downturns or periods of rising interest rates. Differing yields on debt securities of the same maturity are a function of several factors, including the relative financial strength of the issuers.

(3)    Borrowing

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowings shall be at least 300%. The 1940 Act also permits an open-end investment company to borrow money from a bank or other person provided that such loan is for temporary purposes only and is in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the investment company’s total assets at the time when the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed. Typically, the Fund may pledge up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to secure these borrowings. If the Fund’s asset coverage for borrowings falls below 300%, the Fund will take prompt action to reduce its borrowings even though it may be disadvantageous at that time from an investment point of view. The Fund will incur costs when it borrows, including payment of interest and any fee necessary to maintain a line of credit, and may be required to maintain a minimum average balance. If the Fund is permitted to borrow money to take advantage of investment opportunities, if the income and appreciation on assets acquired with such borrowed funds exceed their borrowing cost, the Fund’s investment performance will increase, whereas if the income and appreciation on assets acquired with borrowed funds are less than their borrowing costs, investment performance will decrease. If the Fund borrows to invest in securities and the related gains from the investment and/or any hedging activity exceed the cost of borrowing and/or losses on hedging, the NAV of the shares will rise more than would otherwise be the case. On the other hand, if the investment performance of the additional securities purchased fails to cover their cost (including any interest paid on the money borrowed) to the Fund, the NAV of the Fund’s shares will decrease faster than would otherwise be the case. This speculative characteristic is known as “leverage.”

(4)    Cash Equivalents

The Fund may invest in cash equivalents to the extent that such investments are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and as discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI. A description of the various types of cash equivalents that may be purchased by the Fund appears below.

Bankers Acceptances. Bankers acceptances are short-term credit instruments used to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods. These instruments become “accepted” when a bank guarantees their payment upon maturity. Eurodollar bankers acceptances are bankers acceptances denominated in U.S. dollars and are “accepted” by foreign branches of major U.S. commercial banks.

Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are issued against money deposited into a bank (including eligible foreign branches of U.S. banks) or a savings and loan association (“S&L”) for a definite period of time. They earn a specified rate of return and are normally negotiable.
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Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase agreement, the Fund buys a security from a bank or a broker-dealer that has agreed to repurchase the same security at a mutually agreed-upon date and price. The resale price normally reflects the purchase price plus a mutually agreed-upon interest rate. This interest rate is effective for the period of time the Fund is invested in the agreement and is not related to the coupon rate on the underlying security. Repurchase agreements are subject to certain risks that may adversely affect the Fund. If a seller defaults, the Fund may incur a loss if the value of the collateral securing the repurchase agreement declines and may incur disposition costs in connection with liquidating the collateral. In addition, if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to a seller of the security, the Fund’s ability to dispose of the collateral may be delayed or limited. Generally, the period of these repurchase agreements will be short, and at no time will the Fund enter into a repurchase agreement for a period of more than seven (7) days.

Short-Term Corporate Debt Securities. Short-term corporate debt securities include bills, notes, debentures, money market instruments and similar instruments and securities, and are generally used by corporations and other issuers to borrow money from investors for such purposes as working capital or capital expenditures. The issuer pays the investor a variable or fixed rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. The investment return of corporate debt securities reflects interest earnings and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate debt obligation may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates generally. In addition to interest rate risk, corporate debt securities also involve the risk that the issuers of the securities may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

Time Deposits. Time deposits in banks or S&Ls are generally similar to certificates of deposit, but are uncertificated.

(5)    Commercial Paper

Commercial paper refers to promissory notes that represent an unsecured debt of a corporation or finance company. They have a maturity of up to nine (9) months. Eurodollar commercial paper refers to promissory notes payable in U.S. dollars by European issuers.

(6)    Collateralized Debt Obligations

The Fund may invest in each of collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), other collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is often backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed-income securities. The collateral can be from many different types of fixed-income securities such as high-yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Other CDOs are trusts backed by other types of assets representing obligations of various parties. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.

For CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected from defaults, senior tranches from a CBO trust, CLO trust or trust of another CDO typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO, CLO or other CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO, CLO or other CDO securities as a class.
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The risks of an investment in a CBO, CLO or other CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities; however, an active dealer market may exist for CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed-income securities discussed elsewhere in this SAI and the Fund’s Prospectus (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs carry additional risks including, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the risk that the Fund may invest in CBOs, CLOs or other CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

(7)    Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, subject to any restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and this SAI. Convertible securities include bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers, but lower than the yield on non-convertible debt. Convertible securities are usually subordinated to comparable tier non-convertible securities but rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure.

The value of a convertible security is a function of (1) its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (2) its worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock. Convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies, whose stock prices may be volatile. The price of a convertible security often reflects such variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt does not. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument, which could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

(8)    Depositary Receipts

Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) are negotiable certificates held in the bank of one country representing a specific number of shares of a stock traded on an exchange of another country. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are negotiable receipts issued by a United States bank or trust company, trade in U.S. markets and evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust’s office or agent in a foreign country. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets and GDRs are receipts that may trade in U.S. or non-U.S. markets. Positions in these securities are not necessarily denominated in the same currency as the common stocks into which they may be converted.

Investing in GDRs and ADRs presents risks not present to the same degree as investing in domestic securities even though the Fund will purchase, sell and be paid dividends on GDRs and ADRs in U.S. dollars. These risks include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; speculation; and other factors. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and political, social and economic instability. The Fund may be required to pay foreign withholding or other taxes on certain of its GDRs or ADRs. Shareholders generally will not be entitled separately to deduct their pro rata shares of the foreign taxes paid or withheld in computing their taxable income, or to take such shares as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax. If shareholders are not so eligible, the foreign taxes paid or withheld will nonetheless reduce the Fund’s taxable income. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters” below. Unsponsored GDRs and
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ADRs are offered by companies which are not prepared to meet either the reporting or accounting standards of the United States. While readily exchangeable with stock in local markets, unsponsored GDRs and ADRs may be less liquid than sponsored GDRs and ADRs. Additionally, there generally is less publicly available information with respect to unsponsored GDRs and ADRs.

(9)    Derivative Instruments

The following describes certain derivative instruments and products in which the Fund may invest and risks associated therewith. The use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks, such as liquidity risk, correlation risk, market risk, credit risk, leveraging risk, counterparty risk, tax risk and management risk, as well as risks arising from changes in applicable requirements.

The Fund might not employ any of the strategies described below or be permitted by applicable law to do so, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. Also, suitable derivative and/or hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify or employ a desirable derivative and/or hedging transaction at any time or from time to time or that any such transactions will be successful.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. To the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts, including futures contracts on global equity and fixed-income securities, interest rate futures contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and futures contracts on security indices (including broad-based security indices), for any purpose. The Fund may invest in foreign currency futures contracts and options thereon (“options on futures”) that are traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system as an adjunct to their securities activities. The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on various securities indices (“Index Futures”), including indices of U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, equity securities or fixed-income securities, and related options. Through the use of Index Futures and related options, the Fund may create economic exposure in its portfolio to long and short positions in the global (U.S. and non-U.S.) equity, bond and currency markets without incurring the substantial brokerage costs which may be associated with investment in the securities of multiple issuers. The Fund may enter into futures contracts for the purchase or sale of fixed-income securities, equity securities or foreign currencies, and may also use options on securities or currency futures contracts.

A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of a financial instrument, foreign currency or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time. An Index Future is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of a securities index (“Index”) at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of an Index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made. A unit is the value of the relevant Index from time to time. Entering into a contract to buy units is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in an Index. Index Futures contracts can be traded through major commodity brokers. As described below, the Fund will be required to segregate initial margin in the name of the futures broker upon entering into an Index Future. Variation margin will be paid to and received from the broker on a daily basis as the contracts are marked to market, as a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. For example, when the Fund has purchased an Index Future and the price of the relevant Index has risen, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will receive from the broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, when the Fund has purchased an Index Future and the price of the relevant Index has declined, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker.

The Fund will ordinarily be able to close open positions on the futures exchanges on which Index Futures are traded at any time up to and including the expiration day. All positions which remain open at the close of the last business day of the contract’s life are required to settle on the next business day (based upon the value of the relevant Index on the expiration day), with settlement made with the appropriate clearing house. However, there can be no
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assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures position, and the Fund would be obligated to meet margin requirements (as discussed below) until the position is closed. Additional or different margin requirements as well as settlement procedures may be applicable to foreign stock Index Futures at the time the Fund purchases such instruments. Positions in Index Futures may be closed out by the Fund only on the futures exchanges upon which the Index Futures are then traded.

The following example illustrates generally the manner in which Index Futures operate. The S&P 100 Index is composed of 100 selected common stocks, most of which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The S&P 100 Index assigns relative weightings to the common stocks included in the Index, and the Index fluctuates with changes in the market values of those common stocks. In the case of the S&P 100 Index, contracts are to buy or sell 100 units. Thus, if the value of the S&P 100 Index were $180, one contract would be worth $18,000 (100 units x $180). The Index Future specifies that no delivery of the actual stocks making up the Index will take place. Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of the contract, with the settlement being the difference between the contract price and the actual level of the Index at the expiration of the contract. For example, if the Fund enters into a futures contract to buy 100 units of the S&P 100 Index at a specified future date at a contract price of $180 and the S&P 100 Index value is $184 on that future date, the Fund will gain $400 (100 units x gain of $4). If the Fund enters into a futures contract to sell 100 units of the Index at a specified future date at a contract price of $180 and the S&P 100 Index value is $184 on that future date, the Fund will lose $400 (100 units x loss of $4). Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.

A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of Indices as well as financial instruments and foreign currencies, including but not limited to: the S&P 500; the S&P Midcap 400; the Nikkei 225; the NYSE Composite; U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British pound; the Japanese yen; the Swiss franc; the Mexican peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the euro. It is expected that other futures contracts in which the Fund may invest will be developed and traded in the future.

The Fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures. Options on futures possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indices (discussed below). An option on a futures contract gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the holder acquires a short position and the writer is assigned the opposite long position. A call option is “in the money” if the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option exceeds the exercise price. A put option is “in the money” if the exercise price exceeds the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option.

When the Fund purchases or sells a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with its futures commission merchant an amount of margin set by the clearing house on which the contract is cleared and the Fund’s futures commission merchant. This amount may be modified by the exchange or the futures commission merchant during the term of the contract. Margin requirements on foreign exchanges may be different than U.S. exchanges. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund may earn interest income on its initial margin deposits. A futures contract held by the Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market” and is generally considered a settlement between the Fund and the exchange of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous. In computing daily NAV, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions, and the Fund would be obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge.
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The Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by the Fund.

Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (i.e., with the same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. Positions in futures and options on futures 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, and the Fund would be obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. The inability to close options and futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to effectively hedge.

Limitations on Use of Futures and Options on Futures. The Fund may only enter into futures contracts or options on futures which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system, or in the case of options on futures, for which an established over-the-counter (“OTC”) option market exists. The Fund may utilize futures contracts and related options for any purpose, including for investment purposes and for “bona fide hedging” purposes (as such term is defined in applicable regulations of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”)), for example, to hedge against changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or securities prices. For instance, the Fund may invest to a significant degree in Index Futures on stock indices and related options (including those which may trade outside of the United States) as an alternative to purchasing individual stocks in order to adjust its exposure to a particular market. The Fund will not enter into futures contracts for speculation.

When purchasing a futures contract, the Fund may segregate or earmark (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract on the Fund’s records. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.

When selling a futures contract, the Fund may segregate or earmark (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees that are equal to the market value of the instruments underlying the contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by owning the instruments underlying the contract (or, in the case of an Index Future, a portfolio with a volatility substantially similar to that of the Index on which the futures contract is based), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the Fund’s custodian).

When selling a call option on a futures contract, the Fund may segregate or earmark (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the total market value of the futures contract underlying the call option. Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by entering into a long position in the same futures contract at a price no higher than the strike price of the call option, by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by holding a separate call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price not higher than the strike price of the call option sold by the Fund.

When selling a put option on a futures contract, the Fund may segregate or earmark (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of
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Trustees that equal the purchase price of the futures contract, less any margin on deposit. Alternatively, the Fund may cover the position either by entering into a short position in the same futures contract, or by owning a separate put option permitting it to sell the same futures contract so long as the strike price of the purchased put option is the same or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Fund.

With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to “cash settle,” the Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or earmarking liquid assets in an amount equal to the market value of the futures contract. With respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, the Fund is permitted to segregate or earmark liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily mark-to-market (i.e., net) obligation, if any, (in other words, the Fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the full notional value of the futures contract. By segregating assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate assets equal to the full notional value of the futures contract.

The CFTC has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies and their investment advisers to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in futures, options on futures or commodities, swaps, or other financial instruments regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act (“commodity interests”), or if the Fund markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund is operated by a person, the Adviser, who has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) pursuant to Rule 4.5 thereunder (the “exclusion”) promulgated by the CFTC (with respect to the Fund). Accordingly, the Adviser (with respect to the Fund) is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use any commodity interests and in the manner in which it holds out its use of such commodity interests. In the event that the Fund’s investments in commodity interests are not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the Adviser may be required to register as a “commodity pool operator” and/or “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. The Adviser’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to the Fund will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of the Fund’s investment in commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of commodity interests. The Fund’s ability to invest in commodity interests (including, but not limited to, futures and swaps on broad-based securities indexes and interest rates) is limited by the Adviser’s intention to operate the Fund in a manner that would permit the Adviser to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the Fund’s total return. In the event the Adviser becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a commodity pool operator with respect to the Fund, the Fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.

Risks Associated with Futures and Options on Futures. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and options on futures as hedging techniques. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. Some of the risk may be caused by an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contract and the price of the security or other investment being hedged. The hedge will not be fully effective where there is such imperfect correlation. Also, an incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the hedged securities in the Fund and the hedging vehicle, so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted. For example, if the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the hedged security, the Fund would experience either a loss or gain on the future which is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for futures and options on futures on securities, including technical influences in futures trading and options on futures, and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities, and creditworthiness of issuers. To compensate for imperfect correlations, the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contracts. Conversely, the Fund may purchase or sell fewer contracts if the volatility of the price of the hedged securities is historically less
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than that of the futures contracts. The risk of imperfect correlation generally tends to diminish as the maturity date of the futures contract approaches. A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends. Also, suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances.

Additionally, the price of Index Futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market 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 relationship between the index and futures markets. Second, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result, the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. Increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions. In addition, trading hours for foreign stock Index Futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock Index Future relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of Index Futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the Index Futures price and the value of the underlying index.

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

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures or a futures option position. If the Fund were unable to liquidate a futures contract or an option on a futures position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market, the imposition of price limits or otherwise, it could incur substantial losses. The Fund would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. Also, 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 a position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account. In addition, many of the contracts discussed above are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

Utilization of futures transactions by the Fund involves the risk of loss by the Fund of margin deposits in the event of bankruptcy of a broker or clearing house with whom the Fund has an open position in a futures contract or related option. See “Derivatives Counterparty Risk” below.

Forward Currency Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts for any purpose, including to attempt to hedge currency exposure or to enhance return. A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a currency against another currency at a future date and price as agreed-upon by the parties. The Fund may either accept or make delivery of the currency at the maturity of the forward contract or, prior to maturity, enter into a closing transaction involving the purchase or sale of an offsetting contract. Secondary markets generally do not exist for forward currency contracts, with the result that closing transactions generally can be made for forward currency contracts only by negotiating directly with the counterparty. Thus, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to close out a forward currency contract at a favorable price prior to maturity.

The Fund may engage in forward currency transactions in anticipation of, or to protect itself against, fluctuations in exchange rates. The Fund might sell a particular currency forward, for example, when it wanted to hold bonds denominated in that currency but anticipated, and sought to be protected against, a decline in the currency against the U.S. dollar. Similarly, the Fund might purchase a currency forward to “lock in” the dollar price of securities
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denominated in that currency which it anticipated purchasing. To avoid leverage in connection with forward currency transactions, the Fund will set aside with its custodian or earmark securities considered to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, or hold a covered position against any potential delivery or payment obligations under any outstanding contracts, in an amount equal to open positions in forwards used for non-hedging purposes.

Forward currency contracts are not traded on regulated exchanges. When the Fund enters into a forward currency contract, it incurs the risk of default by the counterparty to the transaction. See “Derivatives Counterparty Risk” below.

Options. The Fund may purchase and sell both put options and call options on a variety of underlying securities and instruments, including, but not limited to, specific securities, securities indices, futures contracts and foreign currencies. A call option gives the purchaser the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security or instrument at the agreed-upon price during the option period. A put option gives the purchaser the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security or instrument at the agreed-upon price during the option period. Purchasers of options pay an amount, known as a premium, to the option writer in exchange for the right under the option contract.

The Fund can use both European-style and American-style options. A European-style option is only exercisable immediately prior to its expiration. This is in contrast to American-style options, which are exercisable at any time prior to the expiration date of the option.

The Fund may purchase call options for any purpose. For example, a call option may be purchased by the Fund as a long hedge. Call options also may be used as a means of participating in an anticipated price increase of a security or instrument on a more limited risk basis than would be possible if the security or instrument itself were purchased. In the event of a decline in the price of the underlying security or instrument, use of this strategy would serve to limit the Fund’s potential loss to the option premium paid; conversely, if the market price of the underlying security or instrument increases above the exercise price and the Fund either sells or exercises the option, any profit realized would be reduced by the premium. The Fund will commit no more than 5% of its net assets to premiums when purchasing call options. Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.

The Fund may purchase put options for any purpose. For example, a put option may be purchased by the Fund as a short hedge. The put option enables the Fund to sell the underlying security or instrument at the predetermined exercise price; thus the potential for loss to the Fund below the exercise price is limited to the option premium paid. If the market price of the underlying security or instrument is lower than the exercise price of the put option, any profit the Fund realizes on the sale of the security or instrument would be reduced by the premium paid for the put option less any amount for which the put option may be sold. The Fund will commit no more than 5% of its net assets to premiums when purchasing put options.

The Fund may write call or put options for any purpose. For example, writing put or call options can enable the Fund to enhance income or yield by reason of the premiums paid by the purchasers of such options. However, the Fund may also suffer a loss as a result of writing options. For example, if the market price of the security or instrument underlying a put option declines to less than the exercise price of the option, minus the premium received, the Fund would suffer a loss. The Fund will segregate or earmark assets or otherwise “cover” written call or put options in accordance with applicable SEC guidelines.

Writing call options can serve as a limited short hedge, because declines in the value of the hedged security or instrument would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option. However, when securities prices increase, the Fund is exposed to an increased risk of loss, because if the price of the underlying security or instrument exceeds the option’s exercise price, the Fund will suffer a loss equal to the amount by which the market price exceeds the exercise price at the time the call option is exercised, minus the premium received. If the call option is an OTC option, the securities or other assets used as cover may be considered illiquid. Covered call options will generally be written on securities and currencies which, in the opinion of the Sub-Adviser, are not expected to make any major price moves in the near future but which, over the long term, are deemed to be attractive
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investments for the Fund. The aggregate value of the securities underlying call options, as of the date of the sale of options, will not exceed 5% of the Fund’s net assets.

Writing put options can serve as a limited long hedge because declines in the value of the hedged investment would be offset to the extent of the premium received for writing the option. However, if the underlying security or instrument depreciates to a price lower than the exercise price of the put option, it can be expected that the put option will be exercised and the Fund will be obligated to purchase the underlying security or instrument at more than its market value. If the put option is an OTC option, the securities or other assets used as cover may be considered illiquid. The Fund would generally write covered put options in circumstances where the Sub-Adviser wishes to purchase the underlying security or currency for that Fund’s portfolio at a price lower than the current market price of the security or currency.

The value of an option position will be affected by, among other things, the current market value of the underlying security or instrument, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying security or instrument, the historical price volatility of the underlying security or instrument and general market conditions.

The Fund may effectively terminate its right or obligation under an option by entering into a closing transaction. For example, the Fund may terminate its obligation under a call or put option that it had written by purchasing an identical call or put option; this is known as a closing purchase transaction. Conversely, the 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.

Risks of Options. Options offer large amounts of leverage, which will result in the Fund’s NAV being more sensitive to changes in the value of the related instrument. The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and OTC options. Exchange-traded options in the United States are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and its counterparty (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC option, it relies on the counterparty from whom it purchased the option to make or take delivery of the underlying investment upon exercise of the option. Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

The Fund’s ability to establish and close out positions in exchange-listed options depends on the existence of a liquid market. However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Closing transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counterparty or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists. There can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration. In the event of insolvency of the counterparty, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position at any time prior to its expiration, if at all.

If the Fund were unable to effect a closing transaction for an option it had purchased, due to the absence of a counterparty or secondary market, the imposition of price limits or otherwise, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit. The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the option expires or is exercised.

Options have varying expiration dates. The exercise price of the options may be below, equal to or above the current market value of the underlying security or instrument. Options purchased by the Fund that expire unexercised have no value, and the Fund will realize a loss in the amount of the premium paid and any transaction costs. If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. Transaction costs must be included in these calculations.

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Additional risks related to options are discussed below (“Risks Related to OTC Options” and “Derivatives Counterparty Risk”).

Options on Indices. To the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the Fund may invest in options on indices, including broad-based security indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on other investments except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities, futures contracts or other investments. When the Fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When the Fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When the Fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.

Risks of Options on Indices. The risks of investments in options on indices may be greater than options on securities, futures contracts or other investments. Because index options are settled in cash, when the Fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying index. The Fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities or instruments similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, the Fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities or instruments as those that underlie the index and, as a result, the Fund bears a risk that the value of the securities or instruments held will vary from the value of the index.

Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the “timing risk” inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, the Fund as the call writer will not learn of the assignment until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security or instrument, such as common stock, because there the writer’s obligation is to deliver the underlying security or instrument, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying security or instrument, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder. In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds investments that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those investments against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date. By the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This “timing risk” is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding security or instrument positions.

If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

Risks Related to 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
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on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. While this type of arrangement allows the 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. In addition, OTC options are generally considered illiquid by the SEC.

Foreign Currency Options. The Fund may use currency options, for example, to cross-hedge or to increase total return when the Sub-adviser anticipates that the currency will appreciate or depreciate in value. The Fund may additionally buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies as a hedge against changes in the value of the U.S. dollar (or another currency) in relation to a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities may be denominated. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund might purchase a currency put option, for example, to protect itself during the contract period against a decline in the dollar value of a currency in which it holds or anticipates holding securities. If the currency’s value should decline against the dollar, the loss in currency value should be offset, in whole or in part, by an increase in the value of the put. If the value of the currency instead should rise against the dollar, any gain to the Fund would be reduced by the premium paid for the put option. Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. A currency call option might be purchased, for example, in anticipation of, or to protect against, a rise in the value against the dollar of a currency in which the Fund anticipates purchasing securities.

The Fund may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies either on exchanges or in the OTC market. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability of the Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options. Listed options are third party contracts (i.e., performance of the obligations of the purchaser and seller is guaranteed by the exchange or clearing corporation), and have standardized strike prices and expiration dates. OTC options differ from listed options in that they are bilateral contracts with strike prices, expiration dates and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options. Under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many foreign currency options are considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments need to be exchange-traded and centrally cleared, as discussed further in “Risks of Government Regulation of Derivatives” below.

Additional Risks of Futures Contracts, Options on Futures Contracts, Options on Securities and Forward Currency Exchange Contracts and Options thereon. Options on securities, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and options on currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. Some foreign exchanges may be principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and the Fund may look only to the broker with whom a position is held for performance of the contract. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States and (v) lesser trading volume. In addition, unless the Fund hedges against fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which trading is done on foreign exchanges, any profits that the Fund might realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange rate, or the Fund could incur losses as a result of those changes.

The value of some derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Sub-Adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If the Sub-Adviser incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could be exposed to risk of loss. In addition, the Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) than if the Fund had not used such instruments.
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Certain of the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If such a difference arises, and the Fund’s book income is less than its taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment and to avoid an entity-level tax. The Fund may be required to accrue and distribute imputed income from certain derivative investments on a current basis, even though the Fund does not receive the income currently. The Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions, which may reduce the Fund’s assets, increase its expense ratio and decrease its rate of return. For U.S. federal income tax information regarding derivative instruments, see “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters” below.

Swap Agreements. To the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the Fund may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to swap transactions on interest rates, security indices (including broad-based security indices), specific securities and currency exchange rates.

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objectives and policies, such as attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in a more cost-efficient manner.

Swap agreements include two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of types of investments or market factors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” such as the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of a swap transaction is the agreed upon basis for calculating the payments that the parties have agreed to exchange.

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund from the counterparty) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating or earmarking assets determined to be liquid by the Sub-Adviser in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, to avoid any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund may also “cover” swaps in accordance with applicable SEC guidelines. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities. The Fund will not enter into a swap agreement with any single party that is engaged in a securities related business if the net amount owed or to be received under existing contracts with that party, along with investments in other securities issued by such counterparty, would exceed 5% of the Fund’s assets.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on many factors, including the Sub-Adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements.

Because swaps are two-party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven calendar days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. If a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses, and the Fund’s obligation under such agreement, together with other illiquid assets and securities, will not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets.
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Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. Transactions in some types of swaps (including certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps) are required to be centrally cleared. In a transaction involving those swaps, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than the original counterparty to the derivatives transaction (i.e., a bank or broker), so the Fund is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the member of the clearing house (“clearing member”) through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. See also “Derivatives Counterparty Risk” and “Risks of Government Regulation of Derivatives” below.

Many OTC derivatives are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or incorrect valuation. The pricing models used may not produce valuations that are consistent with the values the Fund realizes when it closes or sells an OTC derivative. Valuation risk is more pronounced when the Fund enters into OTC derivatives with specialized terms because the market value of those derivatives in some cases is determined in part by reference to similar derivatives with more standardized terms. Incorrect valuations may result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties, undercollateralization and/or errors in calculation of the Fund’s NAV.

The Fund may enter into interest rate and currency swap transactions and purchase or sell interest rate and currency caps and floors. The Fund will usually enter into interest rate swaps on a net basis (i.e. the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments). The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlement with respect to each interest rate or currency swap will be calculated on a daily basis and an amount of cash or other liquid assets having an aggregate NAV at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. If the Fund enters into an interest rate or currency swap on other than a net basis it will maintain a segregated account in the full amount accrued on a daily basis of its obligations with respect to the swap.

Derivatives Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to derivative contracts. There can be no assurance that a counterparty will be able or willing to meet its obligations. Events that affect the ability of the Fund’s counterparties to comply with the terms of the derivative contracts may have an adverse effect on the Fund. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there can be no assurance that the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund, if any, the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument. If a counterparty becomes insolvent, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding or may obtain a limited or no recovery of amounts due to it under the derivative contract.

Transactions in certain types of derivatives including futures and options on futures as well as some types of swaps are required to be centrally cleared. In a transaction involving such derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house so the Fund is subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the member of the clearing house (the “clearing member”) through which it holds its position. Credit risk of market participants with respect to such derivatives is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member is generally obligated to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers are generally held by the clearing member on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of the Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. In addition, if a clearing
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member does not comply with applicable regulations or its agreement with the Fund, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, the Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.

Risks of Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. Rules and regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. It is impossible to predict fully the effects of legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse.

The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. The CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.

The CFTC and certain futures exchanges have established limits, referred to as “position limits,” on the maximum net long or net short positions which any person may hold or control in particular options and futures contracts. In addition, starting January 1, 2023 federal position limits will apply to swaps that are economically equivalent to futures contracts that are subject to CFTC set speculative limits. All positions owned or controlled by the same person or entity, even if in different accounts, may must be aggregated for purposes of complying with speculative limits. Thus, even if the Fund does not intend to exceed applicable position limits, it is possible that different clients managed by Adviser and its affiliates may be aggregated for this purpose. Although it is possible that the trading decisions of the Adviser (acting in its capacity as investment manager of the Fund) may have to be modified and that positions held by the Fund may have to be liquidated in order to avoid exceeding such limits, the Adviser (acting in its capacity as investment manager of the Fund) believes that this is unlikely. The modification of investment decisions or the elimination of open positions, if it occurs, may adversely affect the profitability of the Fund.

The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S., the European Union (“EU”) and other jurisdictions is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. Recent legislative and regulatory reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), have resulted in new regulation of derivatives, including clearing, margin, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements for certain types of swaps contracts and other derivatives. Because these requirements are relatively new and evolving, and certain of the rules are not yet final, their ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in swap transactions (for example, by making certain types of swap transactions no longer available to the Fund) and/or increase the costs of such swap transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the Fund may as a result be unable to execute its investment strategies in a manner the Sub-Adviser might otherwise choose. 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. Rules adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act require certain OTC derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps (and potentially other types of OTC derivatives in the future), to be executed on a regulated market and cleared through a central counterparty, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. (See “Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions” below.) It is also unclear how the regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk.

Additionally, U.S. regulators, the EU and certain other jurisdictions have adopted minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. These rules impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between the Fund and its swap counterparties. They impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin. The Fund is already subject to variation margin requirements under such rules and may become subject to initial margin requirements under such rules in 2022. Such requirements could increase the
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amount of margin the Fund needs to provide in connection with uncleared derivatives transactions and, therefore, make such transactions more expensive.

Also, as noted above, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, the Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated. New special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the EU and various other jurisdictions provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit the Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institution’s insolvency. In particular, in the EU, governmental authorities could reduce, eliminate or convert to equity the liabilities to the Fund of a counterparty experiencing financial difficulties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”).

The SEC recently finalized new Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act providing for the regulation of registered investment companies’ use of derivatives and certain related instruments. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 to invest in derivatives and certain related instruments will not be required until approximately the middle of 2022. The new rule, among other things, limits derivatives exposure through one of two value-at-risk tests, requires funds to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (including the appointment of a derivatives risk manager and the implementation of certain testing requirements), and subjects funds to certain reporting requirements in respect of derivatives. Limited derivatives users (as determined by Rule 18f-4) are not, however, subject to the full requirements under the rule. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC also eliminated the asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain financial instruments arising from the SEC’s Release 10666 and ensuing staff guidance. As the Fund transitions into reliance on Rule 18f-4, the Fund’s approach to asset segregation and coverage requirements described in this SAI with respect to derivatives may be impacted.

Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions. Transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared, and additional types of swaps may be required to be centrally cleared in the future. In a transaction involving those swaps (“cleared derivatives”), the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of a clearing house and only clearing members can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In cleared derivatives transactions, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.

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

Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility. A swap execution facility is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a swap execution facility can create additional costs and risks for the Fund. For example, swap execution facilities typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, the Fund may be required to indemnify a swap execution facility, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a swap execution facility on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the swap execution facility. If the Fund wishes to execute a package of transactions that include a swap that is required to be executed on a swap execution facility as well as other transactions (for example, a transaction that includes both a security and an interest rate swap that hedges interest rate exposure with respect to such security), it is possible the Fund could not execute all components of the package on the swap execution facility. In that case, the Fund would need to trade certain components of the package on the swap execution facility and other components of the package in another manner, which could subject the Fund to the risk that certain of the components of the package would be executed successfully and others would not, or that the components would be executed at different times, leaving the Fund with an unhedged position for a period of time.

Segregated Accounts or Cover. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding covering certain financial transactions, including options, futures contracts, options on futures, forward contracts, swaps and other derivative transactions, and will, if the guidelines require, segregate or earmark on its books cash or other liquid assets in the prescribed amount as determined daily. In addition to the methods of segregating assets or otherwise “covering” such transactions described in this SAI, the Fund may cover the transactions using other methods currently or in the future permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or orders issued by the SEC thereunder. For these purposes, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff may be taken into account when deemed appropriate by the Fund.

Assets used as cover cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding instrument is open, unless they are replaced with other appropriate assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover in accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

(10)    Emerging Market Securities

The Fund may invest some of its assets in the securities of emerging market countries. Investments in securities in emerging market countries may be considered to be speculative and may have additional risks from those associated with investing in the securities of U.S. issuers. There may be limited information available to investors that is publicly available, and generally emerging market issuers are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial standards and requirements like those required by U.S. issuers.

Investors should be aware that the value of the Fund’s investments in emerging markets securities may be adversely affected by changes in the political, economic or social conditions, embargoes, economic sanctions, expropriation, nationalization, limitation on the removal of funds or assets, controls, tax regulations and other restrictions in emerging market countries. These risks may be more severe than those experienced in non-emerging market countries. Emerging market securities trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and, therefore, may have greater price volatility and lack liquidity. Furthermore, there is often no legal structure governing private or foreign investment or private property in some emerging market countries. This may adversely affect the Fund’s operations and the ability to obtain a judgment against an issuer in an emerging market country.

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(11)    Equity Securities

The Fund may invest in equity securities subject to any restrictions set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI. These securities may include securities listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange and securities traded in the OTC market. More information on the various types of equity investments in which the Fund may invest appears below.

Common Stock. Common stocks are securities that represent a unit of ownership in a corporation. The Fund’s transactions in common stock represent “long” transactions where the Fund owns the securities being sold, or will own the securities being purchased. Prices of common stocks will rise and fall due to a variety of factors, which include changing economic, political or market conditions that affect particular industries or companies.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may purchase securities in IPOs. These securities are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. The prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile. At any particular time or from time to time, the Fund may not be able to invest in securities issued in IPOs, or invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion, if any, of the securities being offered in an IPO may be made available to the Fund. In addition, under certain market conditions, a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. Similarly, as the number of funds to which IPO securities are allocated increases, the number of securities issued to any one fund may decrease. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able to do so. In addition, as the Fund increases in size, the impact of IPOs on the Fund’s performance will generally decrease.

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and generally has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the issuer’s assets but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock are generally payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors, and shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. Preferred shareholders generally have no legal recourse against the issuer if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under ordinary circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights. Prices of preferred stocks may rise and fall rapidly and unpredictably due to a variety of factors, which include changing economic, political or market conditions that affect particular industries or companies. Preferred stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies.

Secondary Offerings. The Fund may invest in secondary offerings. A secondary offering is a registered offering of a large block of a security that has been previously issued to the public. A secondary offering can occur when an investor sells to the public a large block of stock or other securities it has been holding in its portfolio. In a sale of this kind, all of the profits go to the seller rather than the issuer. Secondary offerings can also originate when the issuer issues new shares of its stock over and above those sold in its IPO, usually in order to raise additional capital. However, because an increase in the number of shares devalues those that have already been issued, many companies make a secondary offering only if their stock prices are high or they are in need of capital. Secondary offerings may have a magnified impact on the performance of the Fund with a small asset base. Secondary offering shares frequently are volatile in price. Therefore, the Fund may hold secondary offering shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, secondary offering shares can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price.

(12)    Eurodollar Bonds and Yankeedollar Obligations

Eurodollar obligations are U.S.-dollar obligations issued outside the United States by domestic or foreign entities, while Yankeedollar obligations are U.S.-dollar obligations issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Eurodollar bonds are bonds issued outside the U.S. and are denominated in U.S. dollars.
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(13)    Foreign Securities

The Fund may invest in foreign securities, subject to any restrictions set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI. Investment in securities of foreign entities, whether directly or indirectly in the form of ADRs, GDRs or similar instruments, and securities denominated in foreign currencies involves risks typically not present to the same degree in domestic investments. Such risks include potential future adverse political and economic developments, possible embargoes or economic sanctions on a country, sector or issuer, possible imposition of withholding or other taxes on interest or other income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source, greater fluctuations in value due to changes in exchange rates, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. In addition, there may be less publicly available information about foreign issuers or securities than about U.S. issuers or securities, foreign investments may be effected through structures that may be complex or obfuscatory, and foreign issuers are often subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements and engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. With respect to unsponsored ADRs, these programs cover securities of companies that are not required to meet either the reporting or accounting standards of the United States. Foreign issuers also are usually not subject to the same degree of regulation as domestic issuers, and many foreign financial markets, while generally growing in volume, continue to experience substantially less volume than domestic markets, and securities of many foreign companies are less liquid and their prices are more volatile than the securities of comparable U.S. companies. In addition, brokerage commissions, custodial services and other costs related to investment in foreign markets (particularly emerging markets) generally are more expensive than in the United States. Such foreign markets also may have longer settlement periods than markets in the United States as well as different settlement and clearance procedures. In certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. The inability of the Fund to make intended securities purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of a portfolio security caused by settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of a portfolio security or, if the Fund had entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser. Settlement procedures in certain emerging markets also carry with them a heightened risk of loss due to the failure of the broker or other service provider to deliver cash or securities.

The value of the Fund’s portfolio securities computed in U.S. dollars will vary with increases and decreases in the exchange rate between the currencies in which the Fund has invested and the U.S. dollar. A decline in the value of any particular currency against the U.S. dollar will cause a decline in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s holdings of securities denominated in such currency and, therefore, will cause an overall decline in the Fund’s NAV and net investment income and capital gains, if any, to be distributed in U.S. dollars to shareholders by the Fund. The Fund may be required to liquidate other assets in order to make up the shortfall.

The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is influenced by many factors, including the supply and demand for particular currencies, central bank efforts to support particular currencies, the movement of interest rates, the price of oil, the pace of activity in the industrial countries, including the United States, and other economic and financial conditions affecting the world economy.

The Fund will not invest in a foreign currency or in securities denominated in a foreign currency if such currency is not at the time of investment considered by the Sub-Adviser to be fully exchangeable into U.S. dollars without legal restriction. The Fund may purchase securities that are issued by the government, a corporation, or a financial institution of one nation but denominated in the currency of another nation. To the extent that the Fund invests in ADRs, the depositary bank generally pays cash dividends in U.S. dollars regardless of the currency in which such dividends originally are paid by the issuer of the underlying security.

Several of the countries in which the Fund may invest restrict, to varying degrees, foreign investments in their securities markets. Governmental and private restrictions take a variety of forms, including (i) limitation on the amount of funds that may be invested into or repatriated from the country (including limitations on repatriation of
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investment income and capital gains), (ii) prohibitions or substantial restrictions on foreign investment in certain industries or market sectors, such as defense, energy and transportation, (iii) restrictions (whether contained in the charter of an individual company or mandated by the government) on the percentage of securities of a single issuer which may be owned by a foreign investor, (iv) limitations on the types of securities which a foreign investor may purchase and (v) restrictions on a foreign investor’s right to invest in companies whose securities are not publicly traded. In some circumstances, these restrictions may limit or preclude investment in certain countries. Investments in such countries may only be permitted through foreign government approved or authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. Therefore, the Fund may invest in such countries through the purchase of shares of investment companies organized under the laws of such countries. In addition, it may be less expensive and more expedient for the Fund to invest in a foreign investment company in a country which permits direct foreign investment. Please see “Investment Company Securities” below for more information on the risks of investing in other investment companies.

The Fund’s interest and dividend income from, or proceeds from the sale or other disposition of the securities of, foreign issuers may be subject to non-U.S. withholding and other foreign taxes. The Fund also may be subject to taxes on trading profits in some countries. In addition, certain countries impose a transfer or stamp duties tax on certain securities transactions. The imposition of these taxes may decrease the net return on foreign investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies, and thus increase the cost to the Fund of investing in any country imposing such taxes. Shareholders generally will not be entitled separately to deduct their pro rata shares of such taxes in computing their taxable income, or to take such shares as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax. In such case, the foreign taxes paid or withheld will nonetheless reduce the Fund’s taxable income. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters” below.

Emerging Markets. The risks of foreign investing are of greater concern in the case of investments in emerging markets which may exhibit greater price volatility and risk of principal, have less liquidity and have settlement arrangements which are less efficient than in developed markets. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited. Furthermore, the economies of emerging market countries generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. These emerging market economies also have been and may continue to be adversely affected by economic conditions in the countries with which they trade. See “Emerging Market Securities” above.

(14)    Illiquid Securities, Private Placements and Certain Unregistered Securities

The Fund may invest in privately placed, restricted, Rule 144A or other unregistered securities. Rule 144A securities are securities that are eligible for resale without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund may not acquire illiquid holdings if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be in illiquid investments. If the Fund determines at any time that it owns illiquid securities in excess of 15% of its net assets, it will cease to undertake new commitments to acquire illiquid securities until its holdings are no longer in excess of 15% of its NAV, and, depending on circumstances, may take additional steps to reduce its holdings of illiquid securities. Subject to these limitations, the Fund may acquire investments that are illiquid or have limited liquidity, such as private placements or investments that are not registered under the 1933 Act and cannot be offered for public sale in the United States without first being registered under the 1933 Act. An investment is considered “illiquid” if the Fund reasonably expects the investment cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven (7) calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The price the Fund’s portfolio may pay for illiquid securities or receive upon resale may be lower than the price paid or received for similar securities with a more liquid market. Accordingly, the valuation of these securities will take into account any limitations on their liquidity.
The SEC has adopted a liquidity risk management rule (the “Liquidity Rule”) that requires the Fund to establish a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees,
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have designated the Sub-Adviser to administer the Fund’s LRMP and the Sub-Adviser has formed a Liquidity Risk Management Committee to which it has delegated responsibilities for the ongoing operation and management of the LRMP. Under the LRMP, the Sub-Adviser assesses, manages, and periodically reviews the Fund’s liquidity risk. The Liquidity Rule defines “liquidity risk” as the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments is determined based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the LRMP. To the extent that an investment is deemed to be an illiquid investment or a less liquid investment, the Fund can expect to be exposed to greater liquidity risk.

Rule 144A securities may be determined to be liquid or illiquid in accordance with the guidelines established by the Adviser and approved by the Trustees. The Trustees will monitor compliance with these guidelines on a periodic basis.

Investment in these securities entails the risk to the Fund that there may not be a buyer for these securities at a price that the Fund believes represents the security’s value should the Fund wish to sell the security. If a security the Fund holds must be registered under the 1933 Act before it may be sold, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses. In addition, in these circumstances, a considerable time may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions develop, the Fund may obtain a less favorable price than when it first decided to sell the security.

(15)    Inflation-Linked Bonds

To the extent it may invest in fixed-income securities, the Fund may invest in inflation-linked bonds, which are issued by the United States government and foreign governments with a nominal return indexed to the inflation rate in prices. Governments that issue inflation-indexed bonds may use different conventions for purposes of structuring their bonds and different inflation factors, with the same underlying principal of linking real returns and inflation.

For purposes of explanation, a United States TIPS bond will be used as an example of how inflation-linked bonds work. Inflation-linked bonds, like nominal bonds, pay coupons on a principal amount. For U.S. TIPS, and most inflation-linked bonds, the value of the principal is adjusted for inflation. In the United States the index used to measure inflation is the non-seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”). Interest payments are paid every six months, and are equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted value of the principal. The final payment of principal of the security will not be less than the original par amount of the security at issuance.

The principal of the inflation-linked security is indexed to the non-seasonally adjusted CPI-U. To calculate the inflation-adjusted principal value for a particular valuation date, the value of the principal at issuance is multiplied by the index ratio applicable to that valuation date. The index ratio for any date is the ratio of the reference consumer price index (“CPI”) applicable to such date, to the reference CPI applicable to the original issue date. Semi-annual coupon interest is determined by multiplying the inflation-adjusted principal amount by one-half of the stated rate of interest on each interest payment date.

Inflation-adjusted principal or the original par amount, whichever is larger, is paid on the maturity date as specified in the applicable offering announcement. If at maturity the inflation-adjusted principal is less than the original principal value of the security, an additional amount is paid at maturity so that the additional amount plus the inflation-adjusted principal equals the original principal amount. Some inflation-linked securities may be stripped into principal and interest components. In the case of a stripped security, the holder of the stripped principal component would receive this additional amount. The final interest payment, however, will be based on the final inflation-adjusted principal value, not the original par amount.

If the Fund invests in U.S. Treasury inflation-linked securities, it will be required to treat as original issue discount any increase in the principal amount of the securities that occurs during the course of its taxable year. If the Fund purchases such inflation-linked securities that are issued in stripped form, either as stripped bonds or coupons, it will
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be treated as if it had purchased a newly issued debt instrument having “original issue discount.” If the Fund holds an obligation with original issue discount, it is required to accrue as ordinary income a portion of such original issue discount even though it receives no corresponding interest payment in cash. The Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions, which may reduce the Fund’s assets, increase its expense ratio and decrease its rate of return.

(16)    Inverse Floating Obligations

Inverse floating obligations, also referred to as residual interest bonds, have interest rates that decline when market rates increase and vice versa. They are typically purchased directly from the issuing agency.

These obligations entail certain risks. They may be more volatile than fixed-rate securities, especially in periods where interest rates are fluctuating. In order to limit this risk, the Sub-adviser may purchase inverse floaters that have a shorter maturity or contain limitations on their interest rate movements.

(17)    Investment Company Securities

The Fund may invest some portion of its assets in shares of other investment companies, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and money market funds, to the extent that they may facilitate achieving the investment objective of the Fund or to the extent that they afford the principal or most practical means of access to a particular market or markets or they represent attractive investments in their own right. The Fund’s purchase of shares of investment companies may result in the payment by a shareholder of duplicative management fees. The Adviser and Sub-Adviser to the Fund will consider such fees in determining whether to invest in other investment companies. The Fund will invest only in investment companies, or classes thereof, that do not charge a sales load; however, the Fund may invest in such companies with distribution plans and fees, and may pay customary brokerage commissions to buy and sell shares of closed-end investment companies and ETFs.

The return on the Fund’s investments in investment companies will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory and administrative fees, of such companies. The Fund’s investments in a closed-end investment company may require the payment of a premium above the NAV of the investment company’s shares, and the market price of the investment company thereafter may decline without any change in the value of the investment company’s assets. The Fund, however, will not invest in any investment company or trust unless it is believed that the potential benefits of such investment are sufficient to warrant the payment of any such premium.

The provisions of the 1940 Act may impose certain limitations on the Fund’s investments in other investment companies. In particular, the Fund’s investment in investment companies is limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company, and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate (the “Limitation”). The Fund may be able to rely on an exemption from the Limitation if (i) the investment company in which the Fund would like to invest has received an order for exemptive relief from the Limitation from the SEC that is applicable to the Fund; and (ii) the investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any terms and conditions in such order. In addition, pursuant to rules adopted by the SEC, the Fund may invest (1) in shares issued by money market funds, including certain unregistered money market funds, and (2) in shares issued by affiliated funds in excess of the Limitation.

As an exception to the above, the Fund has the authority to invest all of its assets in the securities of a single open-end investment company with substantially the same fundamental investment objectives, restrictions, and policies as that of the Fund. The Fund will notify its shareholders prior to initiating such an arrangement.

The Fund may seek to invest in ETFs that have received an exemptive order from the SEC permitting investment by other funds in the ETFs in excess of the Limitation, provided that the Fund enters into and complies with the terms and conditions of an agreement with each ETF, and the Fund complies with the ETF’s exemptive order. ETFs that are linked to a specific index may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of investments underlying the applicable index and will incur certain expenses not incurred by their
25


applicable index. Certain investments comprising the index tracked by an ETF may, at times, be temporarily unavailable, which may impede an ETF’s ability to track its index.

The market value of ETF shares may differ from their NAV per share. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETF shares at any point in time is not always identical to the value of the underlying investments that the ETF holds. There may be times when an ETF share trades at a premium or discount to its NAV.

In October 2020, the SEC adopted regulatory changes and took other actions related to the ability of an investment company to invest in the securities of another investment company. These changes include, among other things, (i) the rescission of various SEC exemptive orders permitting investments in excess of the statutory limits and the withdrawal of related SEC staff no-action letters and (ii) the adoption of Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to various conditions. The rescission of the applicable exemptive orders and the withdrawal of the related no-action letters will be effective on January 19, 2022. After that date, an investment company will be subject to Rule 12d1-4 and other applicable rules under Section 12(d)(1). While the impact of these regulatory changes on the Fund is uncertain, the changes could reduce the Fund’s flexibility to make investments in other registered investment companies and require the Fund to modify its investments.

(18)    Mortgage-Related Securities

Mortgage-related securities include collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and “pass-throughs.” “Pass-throughs,” which are certificates that are issued by governmental, government-related or private organizations, are backed by pools of mortgage loans and provide investors with monthly payments. Pools that are created by non-government issuers generally have a higher rate of interest than pools of government and government related issuers. This is because there is no express or implied government backing associated with non-government issuers. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage pass-through securities may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by GNMA), or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”)). Mortgage pass-through securities created by non-governmental issuers (such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers) may be uninsured or may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance, and letters of credit, which may be issued by governmental entities, private insurers or the mortgage poolers.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. CMOs are obligations that are fully collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-related securities. There are different classes of CMOs, and certain classes have priority over others with respect to prepayment on the mortgages. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to greater or lesser prepayment risk depending on the type of CMOs in which the Fund invests. Although the mortgage-related securities securing these obligations may be subject to a government guarantee or third party support, the obligation itself is not so guaranteed. Therefore, if the collateral securing the obligation is insufficient to make payment on the obligation, the Fund could sustain a loss.

Some mortgage-related securities are “Interest Only” or “IOs” which receive only the interest paid on the underlying pools of holders or “Principal Only” or “POs” whose interest in the underlying pools is limited to their principal. In general, the Fund treats IOs and POs as subject to the restrictions that are placed on illiquid investments, except if the IOs or POs are issued by the U.S. government.

Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits. Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits are CMO vehicles that qualify for special tax treatment under the Code and invest in mortgages principally secured by interests in real property and other investments permitted by the Code.

GNMA Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates. GNMA Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (“Ginnie Maes”) are undivided interests in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the Farmers Home
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Administration or the Veterans Administration. They entitle the holder to receive all payments of principal and interest, net of fees due to GNMA and the issuer. Payments are made to holders of Ginnie Maes whether payments are actually received on the underlying mortgages. This is because Ginnie Maes are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States. GNMA has the unlimited authority to borrow funds from the U.S. Treasury to make payments to these holders.

FNMA Guaranteed Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates. FNMA Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates (“Fannie Maes”) are undivided interests in a pool of conventional mortgages. They are secured by the first mortgages or deeds of trust on residential properties. There is no obligation to distribute monthly payments of principal and interest on the mortgages in the pool. They are guaranteed only by FNMA and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

Recent Events Regarding FNMA and FHLMC Securities. On September 6, 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. As the conservator, FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of FNMA and FHLMC. In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase up to an aggregate of $100 billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants, discussed below, that severely limit each enterprise’s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. In 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per enterprise. In 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in FNMA’s and FHLMC’s net worth through the end of 2012. In August 2012, the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement was further amended to, among other things, accelerate the wind down of the retained portfolio, terminate the requirement that FNMA and FHLMC each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment, and require the submission of an annual risk management plan to the U.S. Treasury.

FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remain liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities. The Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is intended to enhance each of FNMA’s and FHLMC’s ability to meet its obligations. The FHFA has indicated that the conservatorship of each enterprise will end when the director of FHFA determines that FHFA’s plan to restore the enterprise to a safe and solvent condition has been completed.

Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”), which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to FHFA’s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver. FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of FNMA or FHLMC because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for FNMA or FHLMC, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s assets available therefor. In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory
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damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such mortgage-backed security holders. Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.

In addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided) that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of FNMA or FHLMC, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the right to replace FNMA or FHLMC as trustee if the requisite percentage of mortgage-backed securities holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. The Reform Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain contracts to which FNMA or FHLMC is a party, or obtain possession of or exercise control over any property of FNMA or FHLMC, or affect any contractual rights of FNMA or FHLMC, without the approval of FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.

In addition, in a February 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Obama administration provided a plan to reform America’s housing finance market. The plan would reduce the role of and eventually eliminate FNMA and FHLMC. Notably, the plan does not propose similar significant changes to GNMA, which guarantees payments on mortgage-related securities backed by federally insured or guaranteed loans such as those issued by the Federal Housing Association or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report also identified three proposals for Congress and the administration to consider for the long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of FNMA and FHLMC, including implementing: (i) a privatized system of housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of creditworthy low- and moderate-income borrowers; (ii) a privatized system with a government backstop mechanism that would allow the government to insure a larger share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis; and (iii) a privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of certain highly-rated mortgage-related securities insured by private insurers and would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage insurers were insolvent.

The conditions attached to the financial contribution made by the Treasury to FHLMC and FNMA and the issuance of senior preferred stock place significant restrictions on the activities of FHLMC and FNMA. FHLMC and FNMA must obtain the consent of the Treasury to, among other things, (i) make any payment to purchase or redeem its capital stock or pay any dividend other than in respect of the senior preferred stock, (ii) issue capital stock of any kind, (iii) terminate the conservatorship of the FHFA except in connection with a receivership, or (iv) increase its debt beyond certain specified levels. In addition, significant restrictions are placed on the maximum size of each of FHLMC’s and FNMA’s respective portfolios of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, and the purchase agreements entered into by FHLMC and FNMA provide that the maximum size of their portfolios of these assets must decrease by a specified percentage each year. The future status and role of FHLMC and FNMA could be impacted by (among other things) the actions taken and restrictions placed on FHLMC and FNMA by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on FHLMC’s and FNMA’s operations and activities as a result of the senior preferred stock investment made by the U.S. Treasury, market responses to developments at FHLMC and FNMA, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership, structure and/or mission of these institutions, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by FHLMC and FNMA, including any such mortgage-backed securities held by the Fund.

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

In January 2021, the Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency reached an agreement to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain more capital. This agreement amended the preferred stock purchase agreements to allow the government-sponsored enterprises to retain all of their earnings until they meet the requirements laid out in the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s capital framework. This framework, which was finalized in November 2020, requires Fannie and Freddie ultimately to hold roughly $275 billion after they have exited conservatorship. It could take more than a decade for Fannie and Freddie to reach this threshold through retained earnings alone.

The Fund’s ability to invest in UMBS to the same degree that the Fund currently invests in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities is uncertain. While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have taken steps for a smooth transition to the issuance of UMBS, there may be factors that affect the timing of the transition to UMBS or the ability of market participants, including the Fund, to adapt to the issuance of UMBS. The Fund may need to consider the tax and accounting issues raised by investments in UMBS and/or the exchange of legacy Freddie Mac securities for UMBS. Additionally, there could be divergence in prepayment rates of UMBS issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could lead to differences in the prices of Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-issued UMBS if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fail to align programs, policies and practices that affect prepayments.

Risks Associated with Mortgage-Related Securities. There are certain risks associated with mortgage-related securities, such as prepayment risk and default risk. Although there is generally a liquid market for these investments, those certificates issued by private organizations may not be readily marketable. The value of mortgage-related securities depends primarily on the level of interest rates, the coupon rates of the certificates and the payment history of the underlying mortgages. The risk of defaults associated with mortgage-related securities is generally higher in the case of mortgage-backed investments that include so-called “sub-prime” mortgages.

The Fund may invest only in mortgage-related (or other asset-backed) securities either (i) issued by U.S. Government sponsored corporations or (ii) having a rating of A or higher by Moody’s or S&P, an equivalent rating by another NRSRO, or, if not rated by an NRSRO, have been determined to be of equivalent investment quality by the Sub-Adviser.

In the case of privately issued mortgage-related and asset-backed securities, the Fund takes the position that such instruments do not represent interests in any particular industry or group of industries. If new types of mortgage-related securities are developed and offered to investors, investments in such securities will be considered.

Ongoing developments in the residential and commercial mortgage markets may have additional consequences for the market for mortgage-backed securities. During the periods of deteriorating economic conditions, such as recessions or periods of rising unemployment, delinquencies and losses generally increase, sometimes dramatically, with respect to securitizations involving mortgage loans. Many sub-prime mortgage pools have become distressed during the periods of economic distress and may trade at significant discounts to their face value during such periods.

(19)    Municipal Securities

Municipal securities, including residual interest bonds, are issued by or on behalf of states, territories, and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and by their political subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities. The interest on these obligations is generally not includable in gross income of most investors for U.S. federal income tax purposes, though interest on certain municipal securities may be included for purposes of the federal Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”). Issuers of municipal obligations do not usually seek assurances from governmental taxing authorities with respect to the tax-free nature of the interest payable on such obligations.
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Rather, issuers seek opinions of bond counsel as to such tax status. The Fund does not anticipate holding municipal securities in sufficient quantities to pay exempt-interest dividends. As a result, distributions by the Fund are expected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as ordinary dividends without regard to the character in the hands of the Fund of any interest it receives on municipal securities.

Securities ratings are the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not absolute standards of quality. Because of the cost of ratings, certain issuers do not obtain a rating for each issue.

Municipal issuers of securities are not usually subject to the securities registration and public reporting requirements of the SEC and state securities regulators. As a result, the amount of information available about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal obligations may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded. The two principal classifications of municipal securities are general obligation securities and limited obligation (or revenue) securities. There are, in addition, a variety of hybrid and special types of municipal obligations as well as numerous differences in the financial backing for the payment of municipal obligations (including general fund obligation leases described below), both within and between the two principal classifications. Long term municipal securities are typically referred to as “bonds” and short term municipal securities are typically called “notes.”

Payments due on general obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith and credit including, if available, its taxing power. Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns and various regional or special districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public facilities such as the construction or improvement of schools, roads and sewer systems.

The principal source of payment for a limited obligation bond or revenue bond is generally the net revenue derived from particular facilities financed with such bonds. In some cases, the proceeds of a special tax or other revenue source may be committed by law for use to repay particular revenue bonds. For example, revenue bonds have been issued to lend the proceeds to a private entity for the acquisition or construction of facilities with a public purpose such as hospitals and housing. The loan payments by the private entity provide the special revenue source from which the obligations are to be repaid.

To the extent the Fund invests in municipal securities, it will limit its investment in municipal leases to no more than 5% of its total assets.

Municipal Notes. Municipal notes generally are used to provide short-term capital funding for municipal issuers and generally have maturities of one year or less. Municipal notes of municipal issuers include tax anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes and bond anticipation notes:

Tax Anticipation Notes are issued to raise working capital on a short-term basis. Generally, these notes are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenues being paid to the issuer, such as property, income, sales, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes.

Revenue Anticipation Notes are issued in anticipation of the receipt of non-tax revenue, such as federal revenues or grants.

Bond Anticipation Notes are issued to provide interim financing until long term financing can be arranged.

Municipal Commercial Paper. Issues of municipal commercial paper typically represent short-term, unsecured, negotiable promissory notes. Agencies of state and local governments issue these obligations in addition to or in lieu of notes to finance seasonal working capital needs or to provide interim construction financing and are paid from revenues of the issuer or are refinanced with long term debt. In most cases, municipal commercial paper is backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or other institutions.

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(20)    Obligations of Domestic and Foreign Banks

The Fund may purchase obligations of domestic and foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Banks are subject to extensive governmental regulations. These regulations place limitations on the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments which may be made by the bank and the interest rates and fees which may be charged on these loans and commitments. The profitability of the banking industry depends on the availability and costs of capital funds for the purpose of financing loans under prevailing money market conditions. General economic conditions also play a key role in the operations of the banking industry. Exposure to credit losses arising from potential financial difficulties of borrowers may affect the ability of the bank to meet its obligations under a letter of credit.

(21)    Pay-In-Kind Bonds

The Fund may invest in pay-in-kind bonds. These bonds pay “interest” through the issuance of additional bonds, thereby adding debt to the issuer’s balance sheet. The market prices of these securities are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than the prices of securities paying interest currently. Pay-in-kind bonds carry additional risk in that, unlike bonds that pay interest throughout the period to maturity, the Fund will realize no cash until the cash payment date and the Fund may obtain no return at all on its investment if the issuer defaults. The holder of a pay-in-kind bond must accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments thereon. The Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions, which may reduce the Fund’s assets, increase its expense ratio and decrease its rate of return.

(22)    Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

The Fund may invest in REITs, which are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest. The Fund will concentrate its investments (i.e., invest more than 25% of its net assets) in companies engaged in the real estate industry, including, REITs.

REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Like regulated investment companies such as the Fund, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided that they comply with certain requirements under the Code. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risk of financing projects. During periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, and such prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such mortgage REITs. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded REITs under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from the 1940 Act. REITs, and mortgage REITs in particular, are also subject to interest rate risk.

(23)    Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with commercial banks and registered broker-dealers. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells a security and agrees to repurchase the same security at a price and on a date mutually agreed-upon by the parties. The difference between the repurchase price and the original price is the reverse repurchase agreement rate, which reflects the interest rate in effect for the term of the agreement. The Fund will invest the proceeds of borrowings under reverse repurchase agreements. In addition, the Fund will enter into
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reverse repurchase agreements only when the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds is more than the interest expense of the transaction. The Fund will not invest the proceeds of a reverse repurchase agreement for a period that is longer than the term of the reverse repurchase agreement itself.

The Fund will earmark or establish a segregated account with its custodian in which it will maintain liquid assets equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities retained by the Fund may decline below the price of the securities the Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase under the agreement. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the other party, or its trustee or receiver, whether or not to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities. For the purposes of the 1940 Act, reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowings by the Fund and, therefore, a form of leverage which may magnify any gains or losses for the Fund, but for which the Fund is not required to have 300% asset coverage.

(24)    Rights and Warrants

Rights are short-term obligations issued in conjunction with new stock issues. Warrants give the holder the right to buy an issuer’s securities at a stated price for a stated time. The holder of a right or warrant has the right to purchase a given number of shares of a security of a particular issuer at a specified price until expiration of the right or warrant. Such investments provide greater potential for profit than a direct purchase of the same amount of the securities. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, and warrants are considered speculative investments. They pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. If a warrant or right is not exercised by the date of its expiration, the Fund would lose its entire investment in such warrant or right.

It is the present intention of the Fund to limit its investments in warrants or rights, valued at the lower of cost or market, to no more than 5% of the value of its net assets. Warrants or rights acquired by the Fund in units or attached to securities will be deemed to be without value for purposes of this restriction.

(25)    Securities Lending

Although there is no present intent to do so, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to realize additional income. This lending is subject to the Fund’s policies and restrictions. The Fund may lend its investment securities so long as (i) the loan is secured by collateral having a market value at all times not less than 102% (105% in the case of certain foreign securities) of the value of the securities loaned, (ii) such collateral is marked to market on a daily basis, (iii) the loan is subject to termination by the Fund at any time, and (iv) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan. When cash is received as collateral, the Fund will invest the cash received in short-term instruments to earn additional income. The Fund will bear the risk of any loss on any such investment; however, the Fund’s securities lending agent has agreed to indemnify the Fund against loss on the investment of the cash collateral. The Fund may pay reasonable finders, administrative and custodial fees to persons that are unaffiliated with the Fund for services in connection with loans of portfolio securities. While voting rights may pass with the loaned portfolio securities, to the extent possible, the loan will be recalled on a reasonable efforts basis and the securities voted by the Fund.

(26)    Short Sales

The Fund may engage in short selling. The Fund may engage in “short sales against the box,” which involve selling short a security in which the Fund currently holds a position or that the Fund has a right to acquire, while at the same time maintaining its current position in that security or retaining the right to acquire the security. In order to engage in a short sale against the box, the Fund arranges with a broker to borrow the security being sold short. The Fund must deposit with or for the benefit of the broker collateral, consisting of cash, or marketable securities, to secure the Fund’s obligation to replace the security and segregate liquid assets, so that the total of the amounts deposited with the broker and segregated is equal to the current value of the securities sold short. In addition, the Fund must pay the broker any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed security during the time the short position is open. In
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order to close out its short position, the Fund will replace the security by purchasing the security at the price prevailing at the time of replacement or taking the security the Fund otherwise holds and delivering it to the broker. If the price of the security sold short has increased since the time of the short sale, the Fund will incur a loss in addition to the costs associated with establishing, maintaining and closing out the short position. The Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited because there is no upward limit on the price the security sold short could attain. If the price of the security sold short has decreased since the time of the short sale, the Fund will experience a gain to the extent the difference in price is greater than the costs associated with establishing, maintaining and closing out the short position. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

The SEC and other (including non-U.S.) regulatory authorities have imposed, and may in the future impose, restrictions on short selling, either on a temporary or permanent basis, which may include placing limitations on specific companies and/or industries with respect to which the Fund may enter into short positions. Any such restrictions may hinder the Fund in, or prevent it from, fully implementing its investment strategies, and may negatively affect performance.

(27)    U.S. Treasury and Government Securities and Securities of International Organizations

The Fund may invest in direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury. These obligations include Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which have their principal and interest payments backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

The Fund may invest in obligations issued by the agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government. These obligations may or may not be backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. Securities which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States include obligations of the GNMA, the Farmers Home Administration and the Export-Import Bank. For those securities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the Fund must principally look to the federal agency guaranteeing or issuing the obligation for ultimate repayment and therefore may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself for repayment in the event that the issuer does not meet its commitments. The securities in which the Fund may invest that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States include, but are not limited to: (a) obligations of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the FHLMC, the Federal Home Loan Banks and the U.S. Postal Service, each of which has the right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations; (b) securities issued by the FNMA, which are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and (c) obligations of the Federal Farm Credit System and the Student Loan Marketing Association, each of whose obligations may be satisfied only by the individual credits of the issuing agency. Such securities may involve increased risk, including loss of principal and interest, compared to government debt securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.

(28)    Variable and Floating Rate Securities and Participation Interests

Variable rate securities provide for automatic establishment of a new interest rate at fixed intervals (i.e., daily, monthly, semi-annually, etc.). Floating rate securities provide for automatic adjustment of the interest rate whenever some specified interest rate index changes. The amount of interest to be paid to the holder is typically contingent on another rate (“contingent security”) such as the yield on 90-day Treasury bills. Variable rate securities may also include debt securities which have an interest rate which resets in the opposite direction of the rate of the contingent security.

The Fund may invest in participation interests purchased from banks in variable rate obligations owned by banks. A participation interest gives the Fund an undivided interest in the obligation in the proportion that the Fund’s participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the obligation, and provides a demand repayment feature.
Each participation is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank (which may be the bank issuing the participation interest or another bank). The bank letter of credit or guarantee must meet the prescribed investment quality standards for the Fund. The Fund has the right to sell the participation instrument back to the
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issuing bank or draw on the letter of credit on demand for all or any part of the Fund’s participation interest in the underlying obligation, plus accrued interest.

(29)    When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. The purchase price and the interest rate payable, if any, on the securities are fixed on the purchase commitment date or at the time the settlement date is fixed. The value of these securities is subject to market fluctuation. For fixed-income securities, no interest accrues to the Fund until a settlement takes place. At the time the Fund makes a commitment to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, it will record the transaction, reflect the daily value of the securities when determining its NAV, and if applicable, calculate the maturity for the purposes of determining its average maturity from the date of the transaction. At the time of settlement, a when-issued or delayed-delivery security may be valued below the amount of its purchase price.

In connection with these transactions, the Fund will earmark or maintain a segregated account with the custodian containing liquid assets in an amount which is at least equal to the commitments. On the delivery dates of the transactions, the Fund will meet its obligations from maturities or sales of the securities held in the segregated account and/or from cash flow. If the Fund chooses to dispose of the right to acquire a when-issued or delayed-delivery security prior to its acquisition, it could incur a loss or a gain due to market fluctuation. Furthermore, the Fund may be at a disadvantage if the other party to the transaction defaults. When-issued or delayed-delivery transactions may allow the Fund to hedge against changes in interest rates.

The Fund may enter into contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time (“forward commitments”) if the Fund holds until the settlement date, in a segregated account, cash or liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, or if the Fund enters into offsetting contracts for the forward sale of other securities it owns. Forward commitments may be considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date. Where such purchases are made through dealers, the Fund relies on the dealer to consummate the sale. The dealer’s failure to do so may result in a loss to the Fund of an advantageous return or price. Although the Fund will generally enter into a forward commitment with the intention of acquiring securities for its portfolio or for delivery pursuant to options contracts it has entered into, the Fund may dispose of a commitment prior to settlement if the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser deem it appropriate to do so. The Fund may realize short-term profits or losses upon the sale of forward commitments.

The Fund will not purchase securities the value of which is greater than 5% of its net assets on a when-issued or firm commitment basis.

(30)    Zero Coupon Securities

“Zero coupon” securities are issued at a significant discount from face value and pay interest only at maturity rather than at intervals during the life of the security. Zero coupon securities tend to be more volatile than other securities with similar stated maturities, but which make regular payments of either principal or interest.

The Fund is required to accrue and distribute imputed income from zero coupon securities on a current basis, even though it does not receive the income currently. The Fund may have to sell other investments to obtain cash needed to make income distributions, which may reduce the Fund’s assets, increase its expense ratio and decrease its rate of return.

Additional Risks

Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk

The Fund is subject to the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt securities markets and adversely affect global economies and markets. War, terrorism, and related geopolitical events (and their aftermath) have led, and in the
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future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Likewise, natural and environmental disasters, such as, for example, earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and weather-related phenomena generally, as well as the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, including widespread epidemics or pandemics such as the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, and systemic market dislocations can be highly disruptive to economies and markets. Those events as well as other changes in non-U.S. and domestic economic and political conditions also could adversely affect individual issuers or related groups of issuers, securities markets, interest rates, credit ratings, inflation, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Fund’s investments.

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in travel restrictions and disruptions, closed borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations or reductions, disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, lower consumer demand for goods and services, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. The impact of this outbreak and any other epidemic or pandemic that may arise in the future could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of capital markets and other markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. This crisis or other public health crises may also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally. The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its effects cannot be determined with certainty. The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Fund’s investments, the Fund and your investment in the Fund.

Given the increasing interdependence between global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region might adversely impact markets, issuers and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, including the U.S. Continuing uncertainty as to the status of the Euro and the European Monetary Union (the “EMU”) has created significant volatility in currency and financial markets generally. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU, or any continued uncertainty as to its status, could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s investments. At a referendum in June 2016, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) voted to leave the EU thereby initiating the British exit from the EU (commonly known as “Brexit”). In March 2017, the UK formally notified the European Council of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This formal notification began a multi-year period of negotiations regarding the terms of the UK’s exit from the EU, which formally occurred on January 31, 2020. A transition period is taking place following the UK’s exit where the UK remains subject to EU rules but has no role in the EU law-making process. During this transition period, UK and EU representatives are negotiating the precise terms of their future relationship. There is still considerable uncertainty relating to the potential consequences associated with the exit, how the negotiations for the withdrawal and new trade agreements will be conducted, and whether the UK’s exit will increase the likelihood of other countries also departing the EU. Brexit may have a significant impact on the UK, Europe, and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth in markets in the UK, Europe and globally, which may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.

Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On March 5, 2021, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), announced that most LIBOR settings will no longer be published after the end of 2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. It is possible that the FCA may compel the IBA to publish a subset of LIBOR settings after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The transition away from and eventual elimination of LIBOR may adversely affect the interest rates on, and liquidity and value of, certain assets and liabilities of the Fund that are tied to LIBOR. These may include bank loans, floating rate securities, structured securities (including asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities), other debt securities, derivatives, and other assets or liabilities tied to LIBOR, particularly insofar as the documentation governing such instruments does not include “fall back”
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provisions addressing the transition from LIBOR. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing a Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) that is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of overnight borrowing of cash collateralized by Treasury securities. SOFR is intended to serve as a reference rate for U.S. dollar-based debt and derivatives and ultimately reduce the markets’ dependence on LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies, such as the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate, have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates. Questions around liquidity of investments impacted by these rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, remain a concern for the Fund. The effect of any changes to, or discontinuation of, LIBOR on the Fund will vary depending, among other things, on (1) existing fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts and (2) the extent to which industry participants adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products and instruments. The Sub-Adviser may have discretion to determine a successor or substitute reference rate, including any price or other adjustments to account for differences between the successor or substitute reference rate and previous rate. Such successor or substitute reference rate and any adjustments selected may negatively impact the Fund’s investments, performance or financial condition, and may expose the Fund to additional tax, accounting and regulatory risks. The elimination of LIBOR may affect the value, liquidity or return on certain Fund investments and may result in costs incurred in connection with closing out positions and entering into new trades, adversely impacting the Fund’s overall financial condition or results of operations. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund.

Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. The current political climate and the further escalation of a trade war between China and the United States may have an adverse effect on both the U.S. and Chinese economies, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed a “Phase 1” trade agreement that reduced some U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods while boosting Chinese purchases of American goods. However, this agreement left in place a number of existing tariffs, and it is unclear whether further trade agreements may be reached in the future. Events such as these and their impact on the Fund are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

Cyber Security Risk

With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform business and operational functions, investment companies (such as the Fund) and their service providers (including the Adviser) may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks and/or technological malfunctions. In general, cyber-attacks are deliberate, but unintentional events may have similar effects. Cyber-attacks include, among others, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, preventing legitimate users from accessing information or services on a website, releasing confidential information without authorization, and causing operational disruption. Successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund, the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser, or a custodian, transfer agent, or other affiliated or third-party service provider may adversely affect the Fund or its shareholders. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, affect the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential Fund information, impede trading, cause reputational damage, and subject the Fund to regulatory fines, penalties or financial losses, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and additional compliance costs. Cyber-attacks may render records of Fund assets and transactions, shareholder ownership of Fund shares, and other data integral to the functioning of the Fund inaccessible or inaccurate or incomplete. The Fund may also incur substantial costs for cyber security risk management in order to prevent cyber incidents in the future. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result. While the Adviser has established business continuity plans and systems designed to prevent cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified. The Fund relies on third-party service providers for many of its day-to-day operations, and is subject to the risk that the protections and protocols implemented by
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those service providers will be ineffective to protect the Fund from cyber-attack. The Adviser does not control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by third-party service providers and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to the Adviser or the Fund. Similar types of cyber security risks also are present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.

Diversification Requirements for the Fund

The Fund does not intend to meet the diversification requirements of the 1940 Act as in effect from time to time. Currently under the 1940 Act, a “diversified” fund generally may not, with respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer or own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer (except, in each case, U.S. Government securities, cash, cash items and the securities of other investment companies). The remaining 25% of a fund’s total assets is not subject to this limitation. A fund that is non-diversified can invest a greater percentage of its assets in a single issuer or a group of issuers, and, as a result, may be subject to greater credit, market, and other risks than a diversified fund. The poor performance by a single issuer may have a greater impact on the performance of a non-diversified fund. A non-diversified fund’s shares tend to be more volatile than shares of a diversified fund and are more susceptible to the risks of focusing investments in a small number of issuers or industries, and the risks of a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence.

Industry Concentration

The 1940 Act requires the Fund to state the extent, if any, to which it intends to concentrate investments in a particular industry. While the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry, the staff of the SEC takes the position that, in general, investments of more than 25% of a fund’s assets in an industry constitutes concentration. The SEC staff has also taken the position that a policy relating to industry concentration does not apply to investments in “government securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) or in tax-exempt securities issued by U.S. federal, state and municipal governments or political subdivisions of U.S. federal, state and municipal governments.

Unless otherwise provided, for purposes of determining whether the Fund’s investments are concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries, the term “industry” shall be defined by reference to the Global Industry Classification Standard put forth by S&P and Morgan Stanley Capital International.

Investment Restrictions

Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The following investment restrictions have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund. Except as otherwise stated, these investment restrictions are “fundamental” policies. A “fundamental” policy is defined in the 1940 Act to mean that the restriction cannot be changed without the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund. A majority of the outstanding voting securities is defined in the 1940 Act as the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities.

The Fund:

(1)    May issue senior securities to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(2)    May borrow money to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or
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interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(3)    May lend money to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(4)    May underwrite securities to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(5)    May purchase and sell commodities to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(6)    May purchase and sell real estate to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the rules or regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, or by regulatory guidance or interpretations of, or any exemptive order or other relief issued by the SEC or any successor organization or their staff under, such Act, rules or regulations.
(7)    Will concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined or interpreted under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended from time to time, and under regulatory guidance or interpretations of such Act, rules or regulations. The Fund will concentrate investments in stocks of companies principally engaged in the real estate industry, including Real Estate Investment Trusts.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to issuing senior securities set forth above, “senior securities” are defined as fund obligations that have a priority over the fund’s shares with respect to the payment of dividends or the distribution of fund assets. The 1940 Act prohibits a fund from issuing senior securities, except that the fund may borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the fund’s total assets from banks for any purpose. A fund also may borrow up to 5% of the fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes, and these borrowings are not considered senior securities. The issuance of senior securities by a fund can increase the speculative character of the fund’s outstanding shares through leveraging. Leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio through the issuance of senior securities magnifies the potential for gain or loss on monies, because even though the Fund’s net assets remain the same, the total risk to investors is increased to the extent of the Fund’s gross assets. The policy above will be interpreted not to prevent collateral arrangements with respect to swaps, options, forward or futures contracts or other derivatives, or the posting of initial or variation margin.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to borrowing money set forth above, the 1940 Act permits a fund to borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the fund’s total assets from banks for any purpose, and to borrow up to 5% of the fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes. (A fund’s total assets include the amounts being borrowed.) To limit the risks attendant to borrowing, the 1940 Act requires a fund to maintain an “asset coverage” of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings, provided that in the event that the fund’s asset coverage falls below 300%, the fund is required to reduce the amount of its borrowings so that it meets the 300% asset coverage threshold within three days (not including Sundays and holidays). Asset coverage means the ratio that the value of a fund’s total assets (including amounts borrowed), minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all borrowings. Certain trading practices and investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, may be considered to be borrowings, and thus subject to the 1940 Act restrictions. Borrowing money to increase portfolio holdings is known as “leveraging.” Borrowing, especially when used for leverage, may cause the value of the Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not borrow. This is because borrowing tends to magnify the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Borrowed money thus creates an opportunity for greater gains, but also greater losses. To repay borrowings, the Fund may have to sell
38


securities at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the Fund. There also are costs associated with borrowing money, and these costs would offset and could eliminate the Fund’s net investment income in any given period. Currently, the Fund does not have any intention of borrowing money for leverage. The policy above will be interpreted to permit the Fund to engage in trading practices and investments that may be considered to be borrowing to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Short-term credits necessary for the settlement of securities transactions and arrangements with respect to securities lending will not be considered to be borrowings under the policy. Practices and investments that may involve leverage but are not considered to be borrowings are not subject to the policy.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to lending set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from making loans; however, SEC staff interpretations currently prohibit funds from lending more than one-third of their total assets, except through the purchase of debt obligations or the use of repurchase agreements. (A repurchase agreement is an agreement to purchase a security, coupled with an agreement to sell that security back to the original seller on an agreed-upon date at a price that reflects current interest rates. The SEC frequently treats repurchase agreements as loans.) While lending securities may be a source of income to the Fund, as with other extensions of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the underlying securities should the borrower fail financially. However, loans would be made only when the Fund’s Sub-Adviser believes the income justifies the attendant risks. The Fund also will be permitted by this policy to make loans of money, including to other funds. The Fund would have to obtain exemptive relief from the SEC to make loans to other funds. The policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from purchasing or investing in debt obligations and loans. In addition, collateral arrangements with respect to options, forward currency and futures transactions and other derivative instruments, as well as delays in the settlement of securities transactions, will not be considered loans.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to underwriting set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from engaging in the underwriting business or from underwriting the securities of other issuers; in fact, the 1940 Act permits a fund to have underwriting commitments of up to 25% of its assets under certain circumstances. Those circumstances currently are that the amount of the fund’s underwriting commitments, when added to the value of the fund’s investments in issuers where the fund owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of those issuers, cannot exceed the 25% cap. A fund engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act. Under the 1933 Act, an underwriter may be liable for material omissions or misstatements in an issuer’s registration statement or prospectus. Securities purchased from an issuer and not registered for sale under the 1933 Act are considered restricted securities. There may be a limited market for these securities. If these securities are registered under the 1933 Act, they may then be eligible for sale but participating in the sale may subject the seller to underwriter liability. These risks could apply to a fund investing in restricted securities. Although it is not believed that the application of the 1933 Act provisions described above would cause the Fund to be engaged in the business of underwriting, the policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving the acquisition or disposition of portfolio securities, regardless of whether the Fund may be considered to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to commodities set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning commodities, whether physical commodities and contracts related to physical commodities (such as oil or grains and related futures contracts), or financial commodities and contracts related to financial commodities (such as currencies and, possibly, currency futures). However, a fund is limited in the amount of illiquid assets it may purchase. To the extent that investments in commodities are considered illiquid, an SEC rule limits a fund’s purchases of illiquid securities to 15% of net assets. If the Fund were to invest in a physical commodity or a physical commodity-related instrument, the Fund would be subject to the additional risks of the particular physical commodity and its related market. The value of commodities and commodity-related instruments may be extremely volatile and may be affected either directly or indirectly by a variety of factors. There also may be storage charges and risks of loss associated with physical commodities. The policy above will be interpreted to permit investments in exchange traded funds that invest in physical and/or financial commodities.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to real estate set forth above, the 1940 Act does not prohibit a fund from owning real estate; however, a fund is limited in the amount of illiquid assets it may purchase. Investing in real
39


estate may involve risks, including that real estate is generally considered illiquid and may be difficult to value and sell. Owners of real estate may be subject to various liabilities, including environmental liabilities. To the extent that investments in real estate are considered illiquid, an SEC rule limits a fund’s purchases of illiquid securities to 15% of net assets. The policy above will be interpreted not to prevent the Fund from investing in real estate-related companies, companies whose businesses consist in whole or in part of investing in real estate, instruments (like mortgages) that are secured by real estate or interests therein, or real estate investment trust securities.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to concentration set forth above, the 1940 Act does not define what constitutes “concentration” in an industry. The SEC staff has taken the position that investment of 25% or more of a fund’s total assets in one or more issuers conducting their principal activities in the same industry or group of industries constitutes concentration. It is possible that interpretations of concentration could change in the future. A fund that invests a significant percentage of its total assets in a single industry may be particularly susceptible to adverse events affecting that industry and may be more risky than a fund that does not concentrate in an industry. The policy above will be interpreted to refer to concentration as that term may be interpreted from time to time. The policy also will be interpreted to permit investment without limit in the following: securities of the U.S. government and its agencies or instrumentalities; securities of state, territory, possession or municipal governments and their authorities, agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions; and repurchase agreements collateralized by any such obligations. Accordingly, issuers of the foregoing securities will not be considered to be members of any industry. There also will be no limit on investment in issuers domiciled in a single jurisdiction or country. The policy also will be interpreted to give broad authority to the Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries or groups of industries.

The Fund’s fundamental policies will be interpreted broadly. For example, the policies will be interpreted to refer to the 1940 Act and the related rules as they are in effect from time to time, and to interpretations and modifications of or relating to the 1940 Act by the SEC and others as they are given from time to time. When a policy provides that an investment practice may be conducted as permitted by the 1940 Act, the policy will be interpreted to mean either that the 1940 Act expressly permits the practice or that the 1940 Act does not prohibit the practice.

Any restriction on investments or use of assets, including, but not limited to, market capitalization, geographic, rating and/or any other percentage restrictions, set forth in this SAI or the Fund’s Prospectus shall be measured only at the time of investment, and any subsequent change, whether in the value, market capitalization, rating, percentage held or otherwise, will not constitute a violation of the restriction, other than with respect to investment restriction (2) above related to borrowings by the Fund.
Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions
The following restrictions are designated as non-fundamental with respect to the Fund and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

The Fund may not (except as noted):

(1)    Purchase securities on margin, provided that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities, except that the Fund may make margin deposits in connection with futures contracts;
(2)    Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may sell short “against the box.”
Management of the Fund
Board of Trustees
The management and affairs of the Fund are supervised by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of four individuals. The Trustees are fiduciaries for the Fund’s shareholders and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard. The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.

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Trustees and Officers
The Trustees and the 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
R. Alastair Short
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1953		 Trustee and Lead Independent Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 2 President, Apex Capital Corporation (personal investment vehicle). Trustee (2004 to present) and Audit Committee Chairman (2004 to 2019), VanEck Funds (mutual fund, 13 series); Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman, VanEck Vectors ETF Trust (mutual fund, 98 series) from 2006 to present; Trustee, VanEck VIP Trust (mutual fund, 7 series) from 2004 to present; Chairman and Independent Director, EULAV Asset Management; Trustee, Kenyon Review; Trustee, Children's Village.
Thomas F. Mann
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1950		 Trustee Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 2 Private Investor (2012 to present). Director, Virtus Global Multi‑Sector Income Fund from 2011 to 2016; Director, Virtus Total Return Fund and Virtus Alternative Solutions Fund from 2012 to 2016; Trustee, Trust for Advisor Solutions/ Hatteras Alternative Mutual Funds Trust (mutual fund) from 2002 to 2019.
Julie T. Thomas, CPA
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1962		 Trustee Indefinite Term; Since September 2021
 2 Chief Compliance Officer, Fund Evaluation Group, LLC (investment advisory firm) from 2015 to present.
 None.
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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
Interested Trustee and Officers
Michael Weckwerth
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1973
 Trustee. Chairman, and President Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 N/A Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (1996 - present).
 N/A
Elaine E. Richards
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1968
 Secretary and Vice President Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 N/A Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2007 - present).
 N/A
Michael J. Cyr, II CPA
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1992
 Treasurer and Vice President Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 N/A Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2013-present).
 N/A
Michael L. Ceccato
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Year of Birth: 1957		 Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Vice President Indefinite Term; Since September 2021 N/A Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank Global Fund Services and Vice President, U.S. Bank N.A. (2008 to present). N/A

Role of the Board
The Board of Trustees 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, Sub-Adviser, and the Funds’ distributor, administrator, custodian, and transfer agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. The Board approves all significant agreements with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser and the Funds’ 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 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 generally held four times per year, 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 perform its oversight function effectively. It has established three standing committees, a Nominating and Governance Committee, an Audit Committee, which
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also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee, and the Valuation Committee, which are discussed in greater detail below under “Trust Committees.” The Board is comprised of four Trustees, three of whom are Independent Trustees, which are Trustees that are not affiliated with the Adviser, the principal underwriter, or their affiliates. The Nominating and Governance Committee, Audit Committee and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee are comprised of all of the Independent Trustees. The Chairperson of the Board is an Interested Trustee. The Board has also appointed a Lead Independent Trustee. The Board has determined not to combine the Chairperson position and the principal executive officer position and has appointed a Vice President of the U.S. Bank Global Fund Services as the President of the Trust. The Board reviews its structure and the structure of its committees annually. The Board has determined that the structure and composition of the Board, and the function and composition of its various committees are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.

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 composed of many elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, 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, the Independent Trustee designated as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert” meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function. The full Board receives reports from the investment advisers to the underlying funds and the portfolio managers as to investment risks as well as other risks that may be discussed during Audit Committee meetings.

Trustee Qualifications
The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills appropriate to his continued service as a Trustee 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. In conducting its annual self-assessment, the Board has determined that the Trustees have the appropriate attributes and experience to continue to serve effectively as Trustees of the Trust.

R. Alastair Short. Mr. Short’s Trustee Attributes include his experience as an investor in structured, negotiated deals. He is a co-founder of two private equity investment firms and has financial, operational, and transactional experience with a legal background. He is an experienced director, executive and investor, with strong strategic, financial and analytical skills and substantial asset management and Board industry experience. He currently serves on the Board of Van Eck Global Fund and ETFs. The Board believes Mr. Short’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees led to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.

Thomas F. Mann. Mr. Mann’s Trustee Attributes include 45 years of experience in various senior strategic and operational management positions in large, global, financial institutions and small, entrepreneurial environments. He was the Founder of MannMaxx Management, LLC, providing Institutional Asset Solutions as a director and banker to a broad range of asset managers, global banks and Fintech companies. He is an experienced, independent director
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of diversified mutual fund complexes; chaired the valuation committee with for Hatteras Funds; chaired the nominating and governance committee for VIRTUS; and served on two audit committees qualifying as a “financial expert” under the SEC definition. He has also served as an advisory board member of a boutique asset management M&A advisory firm as well as Amundi North America, AnchorPath Financial Wavelength Capital Management. He has prior experience serving as a director of multiple, privately owned asset management and technology companies; trustee of a corporate pension and 401(k) plans and multiple non-profits organizations. The Board believes Mr. Mann’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees led to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.

Julie T. Thomas, CPA. Ms. Thomas’ Trustee Attributes include has approximately 15 years of compliance experience, including Chief Compliance Officer experience for a registered fund and investment adviser. She is knowledgeable of regulatory requirements and securities laws, including the Investment Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act. Her prior background consists of 15 years of accounting experience including, four years in the public accounting arena (specializing in insurance and retail) and nearly 20 years within the life insurance industry with a broad spectrum of responsibilities. Ms. Thomas has been determined to qualify as an Audit Committee financial expert for the Trust. The Board believes Ms. Thomas’ experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees led to the conclusion that she possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.

Michael J. Weckwerth. Mr. Weckwerth’s Trustee Attributes include his 25 years of experience in servicing registered and private investment companies, including more than 15 years as a senior vice president of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“Fund Services”). The Board believes Mr. Weckwerth’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees led to the conclusion that he possesses the requisite skills and attributes as a Trustee to carry out oversight responsibilities with respect to the Trust.

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares
The following table shows the amount of shares in the Fund and the amount of shares in other portfolios of the Trust owned by the Trustees as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2021.

Name Dollar Range of
Fund Shares		 Aggregate Dollar Range of
Fund and other portfolio
Shares in the Trust
Independent Trustees
R. Alastair Short None None
Thomas F. Mann
 None None
Julie T. Thomas
 None None
Interested Trustee
Michael J. Weckwerth None None

As of the date of this SAI, no Trustee or officer of the Trust beneficially owned shares of the Fund or any other series of the Trust.

Furthermore, as of the date of this SAI, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund, nor members of their immediate families, own securities beneficially, or of record, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates. Accordingly, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund nor members of their immediate families, have a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates. In addition, during the two most recently completed years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate families have had a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000 in (i) the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates, or (ii) any transaction or relationship in which such entity, the Fund, any officer of the Trust, or any of their affiliates was a party.
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Board Committees

Audit Committee. The Trust has an Audit Committee, which is composed of all of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund. The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Fund’s independent auditor concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence. Ms. Thomas is designated as the Audit Committee chairperson and serves as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert,” as stated in the annual reports relating to the series of the Trust.

Nominating and Governance Committee. The Trust has a Nominating and Governance Committee, which is composed of all of the Independent Trustees. Mr. Mann is designated as the Nominating and Governance Committee chairperson. The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary. As part of this process, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers criteria for selecting candidates sufficient to identify a diverse group of qualified individuals to serve as trustees.

The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders for vacancies on the Board of Trustees. Recommendations for consideration by the Nominating and 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 Nominating and Governance Committee Charter. 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 60 days prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board of Trustees will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration when there is a vacancy on the Board of Trustees.

Valuation Committee. The Trust has a Valuation Committee that is not comprised of Trustees, but rather is comprised of officers of the Adviser. The Valuation Committee is responsible for the following: (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, for determining the fair value of illiquid securities and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board. The Valuation Committee meets as necessary when a price for a portfolio security is not readily available.

Trustee Compensation
The Independent Trustees receive from the Trust a retainer fee of $40,000 per year, $1,500 for each regular Board meeting of the Trust attended and $500 for each special Board meeting attended telephonically, as well as reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings. Members of the Audit Committee receive $1,500 for each meeting of the Audit Committee attended. The chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer of $2,500. Interested Trustees do not receive any compensation for their service as Trustee. Because the Fund has recently commenced operations, the following compensation figures represent estimates for the current fiscal year:

Name of Person/Position
Aggregate Compensation From the Fund(1)
 Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
Total Compensation from the Fund and the Trust(2) Paid to Trustees
R. Alastair Short
Independent Trustee(3)
 $16,167 None None $48,500
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Name of Person/Position
Aggregate Compensation From the Fund(1)
 Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
Total Compensation from the Fund and the Trust(2) Paid to Trustees
Thomas F. Mann
Independent Trustee(3)
 $15,333 None None $46,000
Julie Thomas
Independent Trustee(3)(4)
 $15,833 None None $47,500
Michael J. Weckwerth
Interested Trustee		 None None None None
(1)Trustees’ fees and expenses are allocated among the Fund and the other series comprising the Trust.
(2)There is currently one other series comprising the Trust.
(3)Audit Committee member.
(4)Audit Committee chairman.


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 the Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control. A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund. The Fund commenced operations following the completion of the Reorganization on March 7, 2022. As of February 22, 2022, the following shareholders were considered to be principal shareholders of the Predecessor Fund:

Investor Class Shares (formerly Class N Shares of the Predecessor Fund)
Name and Address % Ownership Type of Ownership Parent Company Jurisdiction
National Financial Services LLC
499 Washington Boulevard, FL 5
Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010
 27.38% Record Fidelity Global Brokerage Group, Inc. DE
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Special Custody Acct for the Exclusive Benefit of Our Customers
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94104-4122
 26.15% Record The Charles Schwab Corporation DE
Pershing, LLC
1 Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399-0002
 13.92% Record N/A N/A
TD Ameritrade, Inc.
P.O. Box 2226
Omaha, NE 68103-2226
 7.24% Record N/A N/A
Great-West Trust Company LLC
TTEE for Employee Benefits Clients 401K
8515 East Orchard Road 2T2
Greenwood Village, CO 80111		 5.97% Record N/A N/A

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Institutional Class Shares (formerly Class I Shares of the Predecessor Fund)
Name and Address % Ownership Type of Ownership Parent Company Jurisdiction
National Financial Services LLC*
499 Washington Boulevard, FL 5
Jersey City, NJ 07310-2010
 72.89% Record Fidelity Global Brokerage Group, Inc. DE
Pershing, LLC
1 Pershing Plaza
Jersey City, NJ 07399-0002		 5.52% Record N/A N/A

Class Z Shares (formerly Class Z Shares of the Predecessor Fund)
Name and Address % Ownership Type of Ownership Parent Company Jurisdiction
CF REIT Portfolio, LLC
15 Old Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897		 99.02% Record N/A DE

* Denotes persons or entities that owned 25% or more of the outstanding shares of beneficial interest of the Predecessor Fund as of February 22, 2022, and therefore may be presumed to “control” the Predecessor Fund under the 1940 Act. Except for these persons or entities, to the knowledge of the Predecessor Fund, no entity or person “controlled” (within the meaning of the 1940 Act) the Predecessor Fund, or owned beneficially 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the Predecessor Fund, as of February 22, 2022. An entity or person that “controls” the Predecessor Fund could have effective voting control over the Predecessor. It may not be possible for matters subject to a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Predecessor Fund to be approved without the affirmative vote of such “controlling” shareholders, and it may be possible for such matters to be approved by such shareholders without the affirmative vote of any other shareholders.

Investment Adviser
As stated in the Prospectus, investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by Cromwell Investment Advisors, LLC, located at 810 Gleneagles Court, Suite 106, Baltimore, Maryland 21286, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Brian Nelson is a control person of the Adviser. Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Adviser is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund and performing oversight of the Fund’s sub-adviser as described below. Pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments.

After an initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement continues in effect from year to year with respect to the Fund, only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by: (i) the Board of Trustees or the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities; and (ii) the vote of a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement. The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser when authorized by either: (i) a majority vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by the Adviser upon 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” 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 the 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 services provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund a management fee which is calculated daily and paid monthly. For its services, the Fund
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will pay the Adviser a management fee that is calculated at the annual rate of 0.60% of its average daily net assets, to be paid monthly.

The Adviser may voluntarily agree to waive a portion of the management fees payable to it.

For the fiscal years indicated below, the Predecessor Fund paid AMG Funds LLC, the investment adviser to the Predecessor Fund, the following amounts of advisory fees pursuant to a previous advisory agreement between AMG Funds LLC and AMG Funds I, on behalf of the Predecessor Fund.

Fiscal Year Ended Advisory Fee Recoupment / (Waiver)* Advisory Fee
After Recoupment / (Waiver)
December 31, 2021 $1,224,130 $0 $1,224,130
December 31, 2020 $982,532 $0 $982,532
December 31, 2019 $1,452,678 $0 $1,452,678

*The Predecessor Fund’s investment adviser had arrangements whereby it received a cash payment from certain service providers that compensated for providing, directly or through an agent, administrative, sub-transfer agent and other shareholder services. Additionally, the Predecessor Fund’s investment adviser voluntarily agreed to waive or reimburse a portion of its management fee in the amount of the cash payments it received under these agreements, amounts which are reflected in the table as amounts waived/reimbursed. Such voluntary waiver or reimbursement was not recoverable .

Fund Expenses.
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement, the Adviser has agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of contingent deferred loads, taxes, leverage, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividends or interest expenses on short positions, acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses, shareholder servicing fees and any other class-specific expenses) to 1.12%, 1.02% and 0.87% of average daily net assets for the Investor Class, Institutional Class and Class Z shares, respectively, through at least March 7, 2024. The operating expense limitation agreement can be terminated only by, or with the consent of, the Board of Trustees. The Adviser may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for up to 36 months from the date such fees and expenses were waived or paid, subject to the operating expense limitation agreement, if such reimbursement will not cause the Fund’s expense ratio, after recoupment has been taken into account, to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time of the waiver and/or expense payment; or (2) the expense limitation in place at the time of the recoupment.

All fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to (or repayments by) the Predecessor Fund for the three fiscal years indicated below were as follows:

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021 $(22,376)
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020 $ 46,645
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019 $ 0

Manager-of-Managers Arrangement
Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act requires that all contracts pursuant to which persons serve as investment advisers to investment companies be approved by shareholders. This requirement also applies to the appointment of sub-advisers to the Fund. The Trust and the Adviser have applied for exemptive relief from the SEC (the “Order”), which will permit the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund and subject to the approval of the Board, including a majority of the independent members of the Board, to hire, and to modify any existing or future subadvisory agreement with, unaffiliated sub-advisers and affiliated sub-advisers, including sub-advisers that are wholly-owned subsidiaries (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser or its parent company and sub-advisers that are partially-owned by, or otherwise affiliated with, the Adviser or its parent company (the “Manager-of-Managers Structure”). The Adviser
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has the ultimate responsibility for overseeing the Fund’s sub-advisers and recommending their hiring, termination and replacement, subject to oversight by the Board. Assuming the Order is granted, it will also provide relief from certain disclosure obligations with regard to sub-advisory fees. With this relief, a Fund may elect to disclose the aggregate fees payable to the Adviser and wholly-owned sub-advisers and the aggregate fees payable to unaffiliated sub-advisers and sub-advisers affiliated with Adviser or its parent company, other than wholly-owned sub-advisers. The Order is subject to various conditions, including that a Fund will notify shareholders and provide them with certain information required by the exemptive order within 90 days of hiring a new sub-adviser. The Fund may also rely on any other current or future laws, rules or regulatory guidance from the SEC or its staff applicable to the Manager-of-Managers Structure. The sole initial shareholder of the Fund has approved the operation of the Fund under a Manager-of-Managers Structure with respect to any affiliated or unaffiliated sub-adviser, including in the manner that is permitted by the Order.

The Manager-of-Managers Structure will enable the Trust to operate with greater efficiency by not incurring the expense and delays associated with obtaining shareholder approvals for matters relating sub-advisers or sub-advisory agreements. Operation of the Funds under the Manager-of-Managers Structure will not permit management fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser to be increased without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be notified of any changes made to sub-advisers or material changes to sub-advisory agreements within 90 days of the change. There is no assurance the Order will be granted.

The Adviser and its affiliates may have other relationships, including significant financial relationships, with current or potential sub-advisers or their affiliates, which may create a conflict of interest. However, in making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a sub-adviser, or to change the terms of a sub-advisory agreement, the Adviser considers the sub-adviser’s investment process, risk management, and historical performance with the goal of retaining sub-advisers for the Fund that the Adviser believes are skilled and can deliver appropriate risk-adjusted returns over a full market cycle. The Adviser does not consider any other relationship it or its affiliates may have with a sub-adviser or its affiliates, and the Adviser discloses to the Board the nature of any material relationships it has with a sub-adviser or its affiliates when making recommendations to the Board to appoint or to change a sub-adviser, or to change the terms of a sub-advisory agreement.

Investment Sub-Adviser
CenterSquare Investment Management LLC serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund (“CenterSquare” or the “Sub-Adviser”). CenterSquare, which is headquartered at 630 West Germantown Pike, Suite 300, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 19462, is a Delaware limited liability company and is 100% owned by CenterSquare Investment Management Holdings LLC (“CSIM Holdings LLC”). The majority partners of CSIM Holdings include a private equity fund sponsored and managed by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC along with a limited liability company holding the investments of over 30 employees of CenterSquare. The Sub-Adviser is an employee-owned firm, with no one individual owning 25% or more of the Sub-Adviser’s voting securities. Subject to such policies as the Board of Trustees may determine, the Sub-Adviser is ultimately responsible for investment decisions for the Fund. Pursuant to the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser provides the Fund with such investment advice and supervision as it deems necessary for the proper supervision of the Fund’s investments.

The Adviser provides investment management evaluation services by performing initial due diligence on the Sub-Adviser and thereafter monitoring the Sub-Adviser’s performance for compliance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies, as well as adherence to its investment style. The Adviser also conducts performance evaluations through in-person, telephonic and written consultations. In evaluating the Sub-Adviser, the Adviser considers, among other factors: their level of expertise; relative performance and consistency of performance over a minimum period of time; level of adherence to investment discipline or philosophy; personnel, facilities and financial strength; and quality of service and client communications.

The Adviser has the responsibility for communicating performance expectations and evaluations to the Sub-Adviser and ultimately recommending to the Board of Trustees whether its sub-advisory agreement should be renewed, modified or terminated. The Adviser provides written reports to the Board of Trustees regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. The Trust will apply for an exemptive order with respect to the Fund that will permit the Adviser, subject to certain conditions, to hire new sub-advisers or to continue the employment of the
49


existing Sub-Adviser after events that would otherwise cause an automatic termination of a sub-advisory agreement. This arrangement has been approved by the Board of Trustees and the Fund’s initial shareholder. Within 90 days of retaining a new sub-adviser, shareholders of the Fund will receive notification of the change.

The Adviser pays the Sub-Adviser out of the advisory fee paid by the Fund to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies. For its services, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser a management fee. The management fee paid to the Sub-Adviser is paid by the Adviser and not the Fund. The Fund is not responsible for the payment of the sub-advisory fees.

The investment adviser to the Predecessor Fund paid the Sub-Adviser out of its own pockets the following fees shown for the three years indicated below:

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021 $771,563
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020 $642,590
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019 $888,842

The Adviser is also responsible for conducting all operations of the Fund, except those operations contracted to the Sub-Adviser, the Custodian, the Administrator or the Fund’s transfer agent. Although the Sub-Adviser’s activities are subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees and the officers of the Trust, the Board of Trustees, the officers and the Adviser do not evaluate the investment merits of the Sub-Adviser’s individual security selections. The Sub-Adviser has complete discretion to purchase, manage and sell portfolio securities for the portions of the Fund’s portfolios that it manages, subject to the Fund’s investment objective, policies and limitations. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by several portfolio managers (each, a “Portfolio Manager”) as discussed in the Fund’s prospectus.

The manager of managers exemptive order, if received by the Trust, will permit the Fund to disclose, in aggregate, the sub-advisory fees paid to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser. The exemptive order will apply to Sub-Advisers that are affiliated persons of the Trust or the Adviser (“Affiliated Sub-Advisers”).

Portfolio Managers
As disclosed in the Prospectus, Dean Frankel, CFA® and Eric Rothman, CFA® (the “Portfolio Managers”) are the portfolio managers for the Fund and are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers
The table below identifies, for each Portfolio Manager of the Fund, the number of accounts managed (excluding the Fund) and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. To the extent that any of these accounts are subject to an advisory fee which is based on account performance, this information is reflected in a separate table below. Asset amounts have been rounded as of December 31, 2021:

Category of Account Total Number of Accounts Managed*
Total Assets in Accounts Managed
(in millions)
 Number of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance Assets in Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance
Dean Frankel
Registered Investment Companies 4 $956 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 5 $617 0 $0
Other Accounts 4 $6,319 5** $893
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Category of Account Total Number of Accounts Managed*
Total Assets in Accounts Managed
(in millions)
 Number of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance Assets in Accounts for which Advisory Fee is Based on Performance
Eric Rothman
Registered Investment Companies 3 $1,668 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 5 $402 0 $0
Other Accounts 4 $65 0 $0

*Each Portfolio Manager is a listed co-manager of multiple Registered Investment Company accounts. The accounts and their assets have been counted in the number and the total assets for both Portfolio Managers. The accounts and assets are thus duplicated in the totals.

** These accounts, which are a subset of the accounts in the totals columns, are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. Each of the five accounts has a different performance hurdle due to the specificity of the underlying mandate. Performance for fee purposes is measured on a one-year period from the anniversary of account inception and is always measured pre-tax.

Portfolio Manager Compensation
CenterSquare’s compensation structure is comprised of base pay and annual incentive compensation. Individuals’ packages are designed with the appropriate component combinations to match specific positions.

•Base pay: salary is competitive and base pay levels link pay with performance and reflect the market value of the position, individual performance and company business results.
•Annual Cash Bonus: the annual cash bonus plan is based on individual performance, including individual contribution to meeting business unit goals, career development goals and adherence to corporate values. The annual cash bonus plan pool is computed based on the profitability of the firm.
•Equity Treasury Units: management has reserved treasury units to incentivize new employees and potentially to award to existing employees based on a number of factors including exemplary performance and contributions to the company.

CenterSquare utilizes a comprehensive evaluation system for evaluating all of its professionals. For investment professionals, specific performance targets are established as goals for each calendar year. When evaluating contributions to investment performance, CenterSquare looks at performance on both an annual and rolling 3-year basis. Achieving the performance target objective is the single most important goal for senior investment professionals and may represent 30-60% of their overall performance evaluation score. The investment performance portion of the employee evaluation is based on excess return relative to the benchmark. For certain individuals, regional and property type relative performance is measured.

In addition to evaluating investment performance, CenterSquare establishes specific annual goals for each individual and assesses every individual based on standard factors that reflect the firm’s values, strategic objectives and culture. Specific goals may include personal training objectives, project-specific goals, adoption of new responsibilities, and development of new products/strategies/techniques/personnel. Broader firm-wide factors include risk management, compliance and ethics, client focus, trust, teamwork, overall outperformance, global competency, development of strategic relationships and corporate inclusion.

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CenterSquare does not have a current deferred bonus compensation plan. However, as part of the acquisition of RCG Longview Management, LLC (“RCG”) in 2019, CenterSquare assumed restricted cash and related deferred incentive liabilities relating to RCG’s legacy deferred compensation plan. There are no new awards to be made under this plan and CenterSquare will administer the remaining deferred payouts under the plan. The remaining awards vest over the next 2 years. In order to align the interests of its employees with the strategic goals of the firm, over 30 employees invested in the firm upon the separation from CenterSquare’s former parent company in 2018. As part of this investment, employees have certain economic ownership interests that vest over time. Additionally, employees have the ability to invest, with carried interest ownership, in various private funds sponsored by the firm.

CenterSquare’s total compensation pool is determined based on CenterSquare profitability. Allocation of awards to employees are ultimately determined based on a combination of factors, including seniority, job responsibilities, and current year performance. CenterSquare also understands that employee satisfaction is not based solely on financial rewards. Considerable attention is placed on creating an environment where employees are challenged and provided opportunities to grow their careers.

Material Conflicts of Interest
From time to time, potential conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of the Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. The portfolio managers oversee the investment of various types of accounts in the same strategy, such as mutual funds, pooled investment vehicles and separate accounts for individuals and institutions. Investment decisions generally are applied to all accounts utilizing that particular strategy, taking into consideration client restrictions, instructions and individual needs. A portfolio manager may manage an account whose fees may be higher or lower than the fee charged to the Fund to provide for varying client circumstances. Management of multiple funds and accounts may create potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities, and the aggregation and allocation of client trades. Additionally, the management of the Fund and other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of the Fund or other accounts.

During the normal course of managing assets for multiple clients of varying types and asset levels, the portfolio managers may encounter conflicts of interest, that could, if not properly addressed, be harmful to one or more of our clients. Those of a material nature that are encountered most frequently involve security selection, employee personal securities trading, proxy voting and the allocation of securities. To mitigate these conflicts and ensure its clients are not impacted negatively by the adverse actions of the Sub-Adviser or its employees, the Sub-Adviser has implemented a series of policies including, but not limited to, its Code of Ethics, which addresses avoidance of conflicts of interest; policies included in the Code of Ethics including the Personal Security Trading Policies, which addresses personal security trading and requires the use of approved brokers; Trade Allocation/Aggregation Policy, which addresses fairness of trade allocation to client accounts, and the Proxy and Trade Error Policies, which are designed to prevent and detect conflicts when they occur. The Sub-Adviser reasonably believes that these and other policies combined with the periodic review and testing performed by its compliance professionals adequately protects the interest of its clients. A portfolio manager may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict of interest that could be deemed to exist in managing both the Fund and the other accounts listed above.

Ownership of Securities in the Fund by the Portfolio Managers
As of December 31, 2021, the Portfolio Managers beneficially owned shares of the Predecessor Fund as shown below:

Name of Portfolio Manager Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Dean Frankel None
Eric Rothman $10,001 to $50,000
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Service Providers

Fund Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant
Pursuant to a fund administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) between the Trust and Fund Services, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, Fund Services acts as the Fund’s administrator. Fund Services provides certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust all of the documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and regulations excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund, 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 management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares.

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, as compensation for its services, Fund Services receives from the Fund a combined fee for fund administration and fund accounting services based on the Fund’s current average daily net assets. Fund Services is also entitled to be reimbursed for certain out-of-pocket expenses. In addition to its role as administrator, Fund Services also acts as fund accountant, transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”) and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements with the Trust.

Prior to March 7, 2022, the Predecessor Fund made no payments to Fund Services, because it was serviced by AMG Funds LLC—a different administrator.

For the fiscal years indicated below, the Predecessor Fund paid the following fees to AMG Funds LLC, the Predecessor Fund’s administrator:

Administration Fees
Paid During Fiscal Years Ended December 31,
2021 2020 2019
$306,032 $245,633 $363,170

Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association, an affiliate of Fund Services (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the assets of the Fund pursuant to a custody agreement between the Custodian and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, whereby the Custodian charges fees on a transactional basis plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Custodian has custody of all assets and securities of the Fund, delivers and receives payments for securities sold, receives and pays for securities purchased, collects income from investments and performs other duties, all as directed by the officers of the Trust. The Custodian’s address is 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212. The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund. The Custodian and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with the service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.

Legal Counsel
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ legal counsel.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
BBD, LLP, 1835 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

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Distribution and Servicing of Fund Shares
The Trust has entered into a distribution agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with the Distributor, Foreside Fund Services, LLC, Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter, provides certain administration services and promotes and arranges for the sale of the Fund’s shares. The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous, and the Distributor distributes the Fund’s shares on a best efforts basis. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any certain number of shares of the Fund. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

After an initial two-year period, the Distribution Agreement continues in effect only if its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Distribution Agreement or “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any such party. The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund on 60 days’ written notice when authorized either by a majority vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The Distribution Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Distributor upon 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Distribution Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Distribution Arrangements
Under a Distribution Agreement between the Trust and the Distributor (the “Distribution Agreement”), the Distributor serves as the principal distributor and underwriter for the Fund. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (“FINRA”). Shares of the Fund will be continuously offered and will be sold directly to prospective purchasers and through brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries who have executed selling agreements with the Distributor. Subject to the compensation arrangements discussed below, generally the Distributor bears all or a portion of the expenses of providing services pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, including the payment of the expenses relating to the distribution of the Fund’s Prospectus for sales purposes and any advertising or sales literature. Any costs and expenses not allocated to the Distributor shall be borne by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser as agreed-upon between the Distributor and the Adviser from time to time. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of shares of the Fund.
The Distribution Agreement may be terminated by either party under certain specified circumstances and will automatically terminate on assignment in the same manner as the Management Agreement. The Distribution Agreement remains in effect for an initial two-year term from the date of its execution and thereafter from year to year, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by vote of the Trustees of the Trust and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement, cast at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Distribution Agreement, as required by applicable law.
For sales of Fund shares, the Distributor may provide promotional incentives including cash compensation to certain brokers, dealers, or financial intermediaries whose representatives have sold or are expected to sell significant amounts of shares of the Fund. Other programs may provide, subject to certain conditions, additional compensation to brokers, dealers, or financial intermediaries based on a combination of aggregate shares sold and increases of assets under management. All of the above payments will be made only by the Distributor or its affiliates out of their own assets.
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Sub-Accounting Service Fees
In addition to the fees that the Fund may pay to its Transfer Agent, the Board of Trustees has authorized the Fund to pay service fees to certain intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisers or other financial institutions for sub‑administration, sub-transfer agency, recordkeeping (collectively, “sub-accounting services”) and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, networked, or other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents, up to 0.25% for Investor Class shares and 0.15% for Institutional Class shares. Class Z shares do not impose shareholder servicing fees.

Unless the Fund has adopted a specific shareholder servicing plan which is broken out as a separate expense, a sub-accounting fee paid by the Fund is included in the total amount of “Other Expenses” listed in the Fund’s Fees and Expenses table in the Prospectus.

Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser, together with the Sub-Adviser determines which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Fund’s portfolio transactions. Purchases and sales of securities in the OTC market will generally be executed directly with a “market-maker” unless, in the opinion of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, a better price and execution can otherwise be obtained by using a broker for the transaction.

Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund will be effected through broker-dealers (including banks) that specialize in the types of securities that the Fund will be holding, unless the Adviser believes that better executions are available elsewhere. Dealers usually act as principal for their own accounts. Purchases from dealers will include a spread between the bid and the asked price. If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer that has provided research or other services as discussed below.

In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser will use reasonable efforts to choose broker-dealers capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable price and execution available. The full range and quality of services available will be considered in making these determinations, such as the size of the order, the difficulty of execution, the operational facilities of the firm involved, the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities and other factors. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more than one broker-dealer can offer the services needed to obtain the most favorable price and execution available, consideration may be given to those broker-dealers that furnish or supply research and statistical information to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser that it may lawfully and appropriately use in its investment advisory capacities, as well as provide other brokerage services in addition to execution services. The Adviser considers such information, which is in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by it under its Advisory Agreement with the Fund, to be useful in varying degrees, but of indeterminable value. Portfolio transactions may be placed with broker-dealers who sell shares of the 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 the Fund and/or client accounts.

While it is the Fund’s general policy to first seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or to the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Adviser in advising other clients. In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Adviser to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer. The standard of reasonableness is to be measured in light of the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to the Fund.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other client accounts. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for the Fund and one or more of such client accounts. In such event, the position of the Fund and such client account(s) in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to
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acquire as large a portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time. If one or more of such client accounts simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing or selling, each day’s transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts in a manner deemed equitable by the Adviser, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount being purchased or sold. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned. In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund. Notwithstanding the above, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser may execute buy and sell orders for accounts and take action in performance of its duties with respect to any of its accounts that may differ from actions taken with respect to another account, so long as the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser shall, to the extent practicable, allocate investment opportunities to accounts, including the Fund, over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis and in accordance with applicable law.

The Fund is required to identify any securities of its regular broker-dealers that the Fund has acquired during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Predecessor Fund did not acquire any such securities.

The Fund is also required to identify any brokerage transactions during its most recent fiscal year that were directed to a broker-dealer because of research services provided, along with the amount of any such transactions and any related commissions paid by the Fund. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the Predecessor Fund had no such transactions.

The following table shows the amounts paid by the Predecessor Fund in brokerage commissions for the fiscal years indicated below:

Brokerage Commissions Paid During
Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
2021 2020 2019
$178,694 $268,710 $258,247

Brokerage Recapture Arrangements
The Fund has entered or may enter into arrangements with various brokers pursuant to which a portion of the commissions paid by the Fund may be directed by the Fund to pay expenses of the Fund. Consistent with its policy and principal objective of seeking best price and execution, the Sub-Adviser may consider these brokerage recapture arrangements in selecting brokers to execute transactions for the Fund. There is no specific amount of brokerage that is required to be placed through such brokers. In all cases, brokerage recapture arrangements relate solely to expenses of the Fund and not to expenses of the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser.

Portfolio Turnover
Although the Fund 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 and the Sub-Adviser, investment considerations 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 the 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 and brokerage commission costs and may generate capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxable to shareholders at ordinary income rates. To the extent that the 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 by the Fund. Furthermore, a high portfolio turnover rate may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
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The following table shows the portfolio turnover rates for the Predecessor Fund for the fiscal years indicated below:

Portfolio Turnover During
Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
2021 2020
68%(1)
131%(1)
(1)The decrease in the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate from 2020 to 2021 is attributable to the lower market volatility in 2021 compared to 2020.

Code of Ethics
The Trust, the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have each adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The Adviser’s Code of Ethics permits, subject to certain conditions, personnel of the Adviser to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The Distributor relies on the principal underwriters exception under Rule 17j-1(c)(3) from the requirement to adopt a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 because the Distributor is not affiliated with the Trust or the Adviser, and no officer, director, or general partner of the Distributor serves as an officer or director of the Trust or the Adviser.

Proxy-Voting Procedures
The Board of Trustees has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Proxy Policies”) on behalf of the Trust which has delegated to the Sub-Adviser, subject to the Board of Trustee’s continuing oversight the responsibility for voting proxies. The Proxy Policies require that the Sub-Adviser vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Proxy Policies also require the Sub-Adviser to present to the Board of Trustees, at least annually, the Sub-Adviser’s Proxy Policies and a record of each proxy voted by the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the Fund, including a report on the resolution of all proxies identified by the Sub-Adviser as involving a conflict of interest.

In the event of a conflict between the interests of the Sub-Adviser and the Fund, the Proxy Policies provide that the conflict may be disclosed to the Board of Trustees or its delegate, who shall provide direction on how to vote the proxy. The Board of Trustees has delegated this authority to the Independent Trustees, and the proxy voting direction in such a case shall be determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees.

The Fund’s actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, 1-855-625-7333 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program
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 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”) and related anti-money laundering laws and regulations. To ensure compliance with these laws, the 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. Michael L. Ceccato 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; and a complete and thorough review of all new account applications. The Fund 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.

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As a result of the Program, the Fund 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 Fund may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

Portfolio Holdings Information
The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted portfolio holdings disclosure policies (the “Disclosure Policies”) that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund. Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with these Disclosure Policies. The Board of Trustees considered the circumstances under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Disclosure Policies, considering 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, Sub-Adviser, Distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund. After due consideration, the Board determined that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in these Disclosure Policies.

Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except as described below:

•the disclosure is required to respond to a regulatory request, court order or other legal proceeding;
•the disclosure is to a mutual fund rating or evaluation services organization (such as Morningstar, Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters), or statistical agency or person performing similar functions, or due diligence department of a broker-dealer or wirehouse, who has, if necessary, signed a confidentiality agreement, or is bound by applicable duties of confidentiality imposed by law, with the Fund;
•the disclosure is made to the Fund’s service providers who generally need access to such information in the performance of their contractual duties and responsibilities, and who are subject to duties of confidentiality imposed by law and/or contract, such as the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Board of Trustees, the Fund’s independent registered public accountants, regulatory authorities, counsel to the Fund or the Board of Trustees, proxy voting service providers, financial printers involved in the reporting process, the fund administrator, fund accountant, transfer agent, or custodian of the Fund;
•the disclosure is made by the Sub-Adviser’s trading desk to broker-dealers in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities or so that such brokers can provide the Sub-Adviser with natural order flow;
•the disclosure is made to institutional consultants evaluating the Fund on behalf of potential investors;
•the disclosure is (a) in connection with a quarterly, semi-annual or annual report that is available to the public or (b) relates to information that is otherwise available to the public; or
•the disclosure is made pursuant to prior written approval of the Trust’s CCO, or other person so authorized, is for a legitimate business purpose and is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.

For purposes of the Disclosure Policies, portfolio holdings information does not include descriptive information if that information does not present material risks of dilution, arbitrage, market timing, insider trading or other inappropriate trading for the Fund. Information excluded from the definition of portfolio holdings information generally includes, without limitation: (i) descriptions of allocations among asset classes, regions, countries or industries/sectors; (ii) aggregated data such as average or median ratios, or market capitalization, performance attributions by industry, sector or country; or (iii) aggregated risk statistics. It is the policy of the Trust to prohibit any person or entity from receiving any direct or indirect compensation or consideration of any kind in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

The Trust’s CCO must document any decisions regarding non-public disclosure of portfolio holdings and the rationale therefor. In connection with the oversight responsibilities by the Board of Trustees, any documentation regarding decisions involving the non-public disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund to third parties must be provided to the full Board of Trustees or its authorized committee.

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The Fund may disclose its portfolio holdings on a fiscal quarterly basis on or about the 60th day following the quarter end by posting this information on the Fund’s website. The Trust’s CCO may designate an earlier or later date for public disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. In addition, the Fund (i) may disclose the top 10 portfolio holdings at any time following the disclosure of portfolio holdings and (ii) may disclose statistical information regarding the Fund’s portfolio allocation characteristics on or about 10 business days after each month-end, or may disclose such information if it is derived from publicly available portfolio holdings, in each case, by posting the information on the Fund’s website. Disclosure of the 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 Part F of 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.

Any suspected breach of this policy must be reported immediately to the Trust’s CCO, or to the chief compliance officer of the Adviser who is to report it to the Trust’s CCO. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to amend the Disclosure Policies at any time without prior notice in its sole discretion.

Determination of Net Asset Value
The NAV of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate and is determined as of the close of trading on 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 the NYSE 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. If the NYSE closes early, the Fund will calculate the NAV as of the close of trading on the NYSE on that day. If an emergency exists as permitted by the SEC, the NAV may be calculated at a different time.

The NAV per share is computed by dividing the value of the securities held by the Fund plus any cash or other assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus all liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares in the Fund outstanding at such time.

Net Assets = Net Asset Value Per Share
Shares Outstanding

Generally, the Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the Sub-Adviser and the Valuation Committee pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Each equity security owned by the Fund, including depositary receipts, that is traded on a national securities exchange, except for securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), is valued at its last sale price on the exchange on which such security is traded, as of the close of business on the day the security is being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the most recent bid and asked price. All equity securities that are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sales price at the close of the OTC market. If a non-exchange listed security does not trade on a particular day, then the mean between the last quoted bid and the asked prices will be used as long as it continues to reflect the value of the security.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued using the price of the exchange that the Fund generally considers to be the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Fund securities listed on NASDAQ will be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the last sales price. If there has been no sale on such exchange or on NASDAQ on such day, the security will be valued at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices at the close of the exchange on such day, or the security shall be valued at the latest sales price on the “composite market” for the day such security is being valued. The composite market is defined as a consolidation of the trade information provided by a national securities and foreign exchange and OTC markets as published by an approved pricing service (“Pricing Service”).
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Money market funds, demand notes and repurchase agreements are valued at cost. If cost does not represent current market value the securities will be priced at fair value.

Debt securities, including short-term instruments having a maturity of 60 days or less, are valued at the mean in accordance with prices provided by a Pricing Service. Pricing Services may use various valuation methodologies such as the mean between the bid and ask prices, matrix pricing method or other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations. If a price is not available from a Pricing Service, the most recent quotation obtained from one or more broker-dealers known to follow the issue will be obtained. Fixed income securities purchased on a delayed-delivery basis are typically marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Quotations will be valued at the mean between the bid and the offer. Fixed income securities purchased on a delayed-delivery basis are typically marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Any discount or premium is accrued or amortized using the constant yield method until maturity.

Exchange traded options are 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.

All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board of Trustees in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.

Additional Purchase and Redemption Information
The information provided below supplements the information contained in the Prospectus regarding the purchase and redemption of Fund shares.

How to Purchase Shares
You may purchase shares of the Fund directly from the Fund, or from securities brokers, dealers or other financial intermediaries (collectively, “Financial Intermediaries”). Investors should contact their Financial Intermediary directly for appropriate instructions, as well as information pertaining to accounts and any service or transaction fees that may be charged. The Fund may enter into arrangements with certain Financial Intermediaries whereby such Financial Intermediaries (and their authorized designees) are authorized to accept your order on behalf of the Fund (each an “Authorized Intermediary”). If you transmit your purchase request to an Authorized Intermediary before the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on a day that the NYSE is open for business, shares will be purchased at the next calculated NAV, after the Financial Intermediary receives the request. Investors should check with their Financial Intermediary to determine if it is an Authorized Intermediary.

Investors wishing to purchase Fund shares should contact the Fund toll free at 1-855-625-7333. If you are purchasing shares through a Financial Intermediary, you must follow the procedures established by your Financial Intermediary. Your Financial Intermediary is responsible for sending your purchase order and wiring payment to the Transfer Agent. Your Financial Intermediary holds the shares in your name and receives all confirmations of purchases and sales.

Shares are purchased at the next calculated NAV, after the Transfer Agent or Authorized Intermediary receives your purchase request in good order. In most cases, in order to receive that day’s NAV, the Transfer Agent must receive your order in good order before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time).

The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion: (i) to suspend the continued offering of the Fund’s shares; (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in part when in the judgment of the Adviser or the Distributor such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund; and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund’s shares.
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The Adviser reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investments.

How to Redeem Shares and Delivery of Redemption Proceeds
You may redeem your Fund shares any day the NYSE is open for regular trading, either directly with the Fund or through your Financial Intermediary.

Payments to shareholders for shares of the Fund redeemed directly from the Fund will be made as promptly as possible, but no later than seven days after receipt by the Transfer Agent of the written request in proper form, with the appropriate documentation as stated in the Prospectus, except that the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment during any period when: (a) trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC or the NYSE is closed for other than weekends and holidays; (b) an emergency exists as determined by the SEC making disposal of portfolio securities or valuation of net assets of the Fund not reasonably practicable; or (c) for such other period as the SEC may permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.

The value of shares on redemption or repurchase may be more or less than the investor’s cost, depending upon the market value of the Fund’s portfolio securities at the time of redemption or repurchase.

Telephone Redemptions
Shareholders with telephone transaction privileges established on their account may redeem Fund shares by telephone. Upon receipt of any instructions or inquiries by telephone from the shareholder, the Fund or its authorized agents may carry out the instructions and/or respond to the inquiry consistent with the shareholder’s previously established account service options. For joint accounts, instructions or inquiries from either party will be carried out without prior notice to the other account owners. In acting upon telephone instructions, the Fund and its agents use procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that such instructions are genuine. These include recording all telephone calls, requiring pertinent information about the account and sending written confirmation of each transaction to the registered owner.

The Transfer Agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. If the Transfer Agent fails to employ reasonable procedures, the Fund and the Transfer Agent may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. If these procedures are followed, however, to the extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Fund nor its agents will be liable for any loss, liability, cost or expense arising out of any redemption request, including any fraudulent or unauthorized request. For additional information, contact the Transfer Agent.

Redemption in Kind
The Fund does 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 the Fund to redeem in-kind redemption requests of a certain amount. Specifically, if the amount you are redeeming during any 90-day period is in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund, valued at the beginning of such period, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the Fund in securities instead of cash. If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and you will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash. For federal income tax purposes, redemptions made in-kind are taxed in the same manner to a redeeming shareholder as redemptions made in cash. In addition, sales of securities received in kind may generate taxable gains.

Federal Income Tax Matters
This section is not intended to be a full discussion of federal income tax laws and the effect of such laws on you.

This section is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations, judicial decisions, and IRS guidance on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, and possibly with retroactive effect. These changes could impact the Fund’s investments or the tax consequences to you of investing in the Fund. Some of the changes could affect the timing,
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amount and tax treatment of Fund distributions made to shareholders. There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations to a particular shareholder. No assurance can be given that legislative, judicial, or administrative changes will not be forthcoming which could affect the accuracy of any statements made in this section. Please consult your tax advisor before investing.

Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. The Fund, as a series of the Trust, intends 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 and amount of its distributions. The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net capital gain for each taxable 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 on amounts distributed. However, the Fund can give no assurances that its anticipated distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all Fund level taxes. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC and is unable to obtain relief from such failure, it would be taxed as a regular 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 them through the Fund.

To qualify as a RIC, the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income from “good income,” which includes: (1) dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies; (2) other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities or foreign currencies; and (3) net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Although Code Section 851(b) authorizes the U.S. Treasury Department to issue Treasury Regulations excluding “foreign currency gains” that are not directly related to a RIC’s principal business of investing in stock or securities from qualifying income, Treasury Regulations currently provide that gains from the sale or other disposition of foreign currencies is qualifying income. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that future Treasury Regulations will not come to a different conclusion or that the Fund will satisfy all requirements to be taxed as a RIC.

Furthermore, the Fund must diversify its holdings such that at the end of each fiscal quarter, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other acceptable securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs), or of any two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable Code rules, by the Fund and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or of certain qualified publicly traded partnerships.

The Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income for either the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year, or, if the Fund makes an election under Section 4982(e)(4) of the Code, the Fund’s fiscal year end, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year’s distribution. The Fund has a Section 4982(e)(4) election currently in effect. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of the excise tax, but can make no assurances that all such tax liability will be eliminated.

Investment company taxable income generally consists of interest, dividends, net short-term capital gain, and net gain from foreign currency transactions, less expenses. Net capital gain is the excess of the net long-term gain from the Fund’s sales or exchanges of capital assets over the net short-term loss from such sales or exchanges, taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund. Net capital losses not used during any year may be carried forward indefinitely until used, and will retain their character as short-term or long-term. The Fund may also elect to defer certain losses for tax purposes.

Distributions of investment company taxable income are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For a non-corporate shareholder, a portion of the Fund’s distributions of investment company taxable income may consist of
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“qualified dividend income” eligible for taxation at the reduced federal income tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains to the extent that the amount distributed is attributable to and reported as “qualified dividend income” and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to its Fund shares. For a corporate shareholder, a portion of the Fund’s distributions of investment company taxable income may qualify for the intercorporate dividends received deduction to the extent the Fund receives dividends directly or indirectly from U.S. corporations, reports the amount distributed as eligible for deduction and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to its shares. The aggregate amount so reported to either non-corporate or corporate shareholders as applicable, cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of such dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year.

Distributions of net capital gain are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain regardless of the length of time that a shareholder has owned Fund shares. Distributions of net capital gain are not eligible for “qualified dividend income” treatment or the dividends-received deduction referred to in the previous paragraph.

Distributions of investment company taxable income and net capital gain will be taxable as described above whether received in additional Fund shares or in cash. Shareholders who choose to receive distributions in the form of additional Fund 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 and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31. Distributions are generally includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a non-corporate shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.

Certain individuals, trusts and estates may be subject to a Net Investment Income (“NII”) tax of 3.8% (in addition to the regular income tax). The NII tax is imposed on the lesser of: (i) a taxpayer’s investment income, net of deductions properly allocable to such income; or (ii) the amount by which such taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds ($250,000 for married individuals filing jointly, $200,000 for unmarried individuals and $125,000 for married individuals filing separately). The Fund’s distributions are includable in a shareholder’s investment income for purposes of this NII tax. In addition, any capital gain realized by a shareholder upon the sale or redemption of Fund shares is includable in such shareholder’s investment income for purposes of this NII tax.

A sale or redemption of Fund shares, whether for cash or in kind proceeds, may result in recognition of a taxable capital gain or loss. Gain or loss realized upon a sale or redemption of Fund shares will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year, and, if held for one year or less, as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a sale or redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net capital gain received or deemed to be received with respect to such shares. In determining the holding period of such shares for this purpose, any period during which your risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales, or similar transactions is not counted. Any loss realized upon a sale or redemption of Fund shares may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of the Fund are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the sale or redemption. If a shareholder’s loss is disallowed under the wash sale rules, the basis of the new shares will be increased to preserve the loss until a future sale or redemption of the shares.

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock and securities in foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to, and may, file an election with the IRS that would enable the Fund’s shareholders, in effect, to receive the benefit of the foreign tax credit with respect to any income taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries and U.S. possessions. Pursuant to the election, the Fund would treat those foreign taxes as distributions paid to its shareholders, and each shareholder would be required to (i)  include in gross income, and treat as paid by him, his proportionate share of those taxes, (ii) treat his share of those taxes and of any distribution paid by the Fund that represents income from foreign countries or U.S. possessions as his own income from those sources, and (iii) either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him in computing his taxable income or, alternatively, claim the foreign tax credit against his federal income tax. If the Fund makes this election, it will report to its shareholders shortly after each taxable year their respective share of income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. The Code may limit a shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign
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tax credit. Shareholders who elect to deduct their portion of the Fund’s foreign taxes rather than take the foreign tax credit must itemize deductions on their income tax returns.

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), the Fund may be required to withhold a generally nonrefundable 30% tax on (i) distributions of investment company taxable income, and (ii) distributions of net capital gain and the gross proceeds of a sale or redemption of Fund shares paid to (A) certain “foreign financial institutions” unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, monitor, and report to the IRS the identity of certain of its accountholders, among other items (unless such entity is otherwise deemed compliant under the terms of an intergovernmental agreement with the United States), and (B) certain “non-financial foreign entities” unless such entity certifies to the Fund that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner, among other items. In December 2018, the IRS and Treasury Department released proposed Treasury Regulations that would eliminate FATCA withholding on Fund distributions of net capital gain and the gross proceeds from a sale or redemption of Fund shares. Although taxpayers are entitled to rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued, these proposed Treasury Regulations have not been finalized, may not be finalized in their proposed form, and are potentially subject to change. This FATCA withholding tax could also affect the Fund’s return on its investments in foreign securities or affect a shareholder’s return if the shareholder holds its Fund shares through a foreign intermediary. You are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding the application of this FATCA withholding tax to your investment in the Fund and the potential certification, compliance, due diligence, reporting, and withholding obligations to which you may become subject in order to avoid this withholding tax.

The Fund’s transactions, if any, in forward contracts, options, futures contracts, swaps and other investments may be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may accelerate recognition of income to the Fund, defer the Fund’s losses, and affect whether capital gain and loss is characterized as long-term or short-term. These provisions could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund to “mark-to-market” certain positions (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out). This “mark-to-market” requirement may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash, and the Fund may have difficulty making distributions to its shareholders in the amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirements for maintaining the Fund’s status as a RIC and avoiding any income and excise taxes at the Fund level. Accordingly, the Fund may have to dispose of its investments under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate sufficient cash to satisfy the distribution requirements of the Code.

Except in the case of certain exempt shareholders, if a shareholder does not furnish the Fund with its correct Social Security Number or other taxpayer identification number and certain certifications or the Fund receives notification from the IRS requiring backup withholding, the Fund is required by federal law to withhold federal income tax from the shareholder’s distributions and redemption proceeds at a rate set under Section 3406 of the Code for U.S. residents.

Foreign taxpayers (including nonresident aliens) are generally subject to a tax withholding at a flat rate of 30% on U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. This withholding rate may be lower under the terms of a tax treaty or convention.

Foreign Income Tax. Investment income received, and gains realized, by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withholding at the source, and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Fund. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries that entitle the Fund to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. Some countries require the filing of a tax reclaim or other form(s) to receive the benefit of the reduced tax rate; whether or when the Fund will receive a tax reclaim is within the control of the individual country. Information required on those forms may not be available, such as certain shareholder information; therefore, the Fund may not receive one or more reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries have conflicting and changing instructions and restrictive timing requirements that also may cause the Fund to not receive one or more reduced treaty rates or potential reclaims. Other countries may subject capital gains realized by the Fund on the sale or other 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 the Fund’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known.
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The Fund may elect to pass through to you your pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Fund if more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of foreign stocks and securities. The Fund will notify you if it is eligible to and makes such an election.

Taxation of the Fund’s Investments
Certain Debt Obligations; Original Issue Discount; Market Discount. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) will be treated as having original issue discount (“OID”). OID is, very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a debt obligation over the issue price. OID is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as interest income earned by the Fund, which will comprise a part of the Fund’s investment company taxable income or net tax-exempt income, if any, required to be distributed to shareholders as described above, whether or not cash on the debt obligation is actually received. Generally, the amount of OID accrued each year is determined on the basis of a constant yield to maturity which takes into account the compounding of interest (as potentially reduced by any amortizable bond premium—see below).

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

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance may be treated as having OID or, in certain cases, “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). Generally, the Fund will be required to include the acquisition discount or OID in income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligation. The Fund may make one or more of the elections applicable to debt obligations having acquisition discount or OID, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income.

Pay-in-kind bonds also will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the obligation receives no interest payment in cash on the obligation during the year.

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

Securities Issued or Purchased at a Premium. Very generally, where the Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the stated principal amount (or revised issue price)—that is, at a premium—the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if the Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortizable premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond (or the upward basis
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adjustment attributable to any OID) by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct, against stated interest from other bonds, any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require the Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortizable premium.

Junk Bonds. To the extent such investments are permissible, the Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. If the Fund invests in high-yield OID obligations issued by corporations (including tax-exempt obligations), a portion of the OID accruing on the obligation may be treated as taxable dividend income. In such cases, if the issuer of the high-yield discount obligation is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund attributable to such portion of accrued OID may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether or to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

REITs. Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of REITs qualifying as real estate investment trusts under Subchapter M of the Code may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income (see “Federal Income Taxation of Shareholders,” below).

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

Issuer Deductibility of Interest. A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations owned by the Fund may not be deductible to (and thus, may affect the cash flow of) the issuer and will instead be treated as a dividend paid by the issuer for purposes of the dividends-received deduction (described below). In such cases, if the issuer of the high-yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction (described below) to the extent attributable to the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.

Mortgage-Related Securities. The Fund may invest directly or indirectly (e.g., through REITs) in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”), including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or
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other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that 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 interest directly. As a result, the Fund, if investing in such interests, may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts (see “Tax-Exempt Shareholders” below).

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

Options, Futures, Foreign Currencies, Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, and Other Derivatives. The Fund’s use of options contracts, futures contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, swaps and other derivatives, if any, may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such instruments. As a result, the Fund could be required at times to sell other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements under the Code. The Fund’s use of derivatives might also affect the amount, timing, or character of the Fund’s distributions. The character of the Fund’s taxable income will, in some cases, be determined on the basis of reports made to the Fund by the issuers of the securities in which they invest. In addition, because the tax rules applicable to such investments may be uncertain under current U.S. federal income tax law, an adverse determination or future IRS guidance with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has derived its income from the proper sources, made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification and eligibility for treatment as a regulated investment company and avoid a Fund-level tax.

Certain of the Fund’s investments may be subject to provisions of the Code that (i) require inclusion of unrealized gains in the Fund’s income for purposes of the excise tax and the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies; (ii) defer recognition of realized losses; (iii) cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities; (iv) convert capital gains into ordinary income; (v) characterize both realized and unrealized gains or losses as short-term or long-term, irrespective of the holding period of the investment; and (vi) require inclusion of unrealized gains or losses in the Fund’s income for purposes of determining whether 90% of the Fund’s gross income is Qualifying Income. Such provisions may apply to, among other investments, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options on securities, options on security indices, forward contracts, swaps, credit default swaps, short sales, securities loans or other similar transactions and foreign securities. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections available to it in order to mitigate the impact of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

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

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

The timing and character of income and losses arising in respect of swap contracts are, in many instances, unclear. In addition, the tax treatment of a payment made or received on a swap contract held by the Fund, and in particular, whether such payment is, in whole or in part, capital or ordinary in character, will vary depending upon the terms of the particular swap contract.

Transactions in options, futures and forward contracts, and swaps undertaken by the Fund may result in “straddles” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character of gains (or losses) realized by the Fund, and losses realized by the Fund on positions that are part of a straddle may be deferred under the straddle rules, rather than being taken into account in calculating the taxable income for the taxable year in which the losses are realized. In addition, certain carrying charges (including interest expenses) associated with positions in a straddle may be required to be capitalized rather than deducted currently. Certain elections that the Fund may make with respect to its straddle positions may also affect the amount, character, and timing of the recognition of gains or losses from the affected positions.

The straddle rules may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Because application of the straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses, defer losses and/or accelerate the recognition of gains or losses from the affected straddle positions, the amount which must be distributed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not engage in such transactions. The consequences to the Fund of certain transactions under the straddle rules remain unclear.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Hedging. Any transaction by the Fund in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations or certain foreign currency options, futures contracts or forward contracts (or similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses will generally reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years. However, in certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat gains or losses from certain foreign currency positions as capital gains or losses.

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

Repurchase Agreements and Securities Loans. Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction or (ii) dividend income received by the Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders, in each case as described below. In addition, withholding taxes accrued on dividends during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not qualify as a foreign tax paid by the Fund and therefore cannot be passed through to shareholders even if the Fund were otherwise to meet the requirements described in “Foreign Taxes,” below.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Under the Code, investments in certain foreign investment companies that qualify as “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) are subject to special tax rules. A PFIC is any foreign corporation in which (i) 75% or more of the gross income for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, “passive income” for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active business and certain income received from related persons.

Equity investments by the Fund in certain PFICs could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax or other charge (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to the Fund’s shareholders. However, in certain circumstances, the Fund may avoid this tax treatment by electing to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF” election), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in its PFIC holdings “to the market” as though it had sold (and repurchased) its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may have the effect of accelerating the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increasing the amount required to be distributed for the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to sell other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. If the Fund indirectly invests in PFICs by virtue of the Fund’s investment in underlying U.S. funds, it may not make such elections; rather, the underlying U.S. funds directly investing in PFICs would decide whether to make such elections.

Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.” See “Federal Income Taxation of Shareholders,” below.

Investments in Other RICs. The Fund’s investments in shares of other mutual funds, ETFs or other companies that are treated as regulated investment companies (each, an “underlying RIC”), can cause the Fund to be required to distribute greater amounts of net investment income or net capital gain than the Fund would have distributed had it invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC, rather than in shares of the underlying RIC. Further, the amount or timing of distributions from the Fund qualifying for treatment as a particular character (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying RIC. If the Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC, and the underlying RIC reports such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying RIC.

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If the Fund receives dividends from an underlying RIC and the underlying RIC reports such dividends as eligible for the “dividends-received deduction,” then the Fund is permitted in turn to report its distributions derived from those dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction as well, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying RIC. (Qualified dividend income and the dividends-received deduction are described below.)

Taxation of Certain Investments. Including as described above, certain of the Fund’s investments will create taxable income in excess of the cash they generate. In such cases, the Fund may be required to sell assets (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to generate the cash necessary to distribute to its shareholders all of its income and gains and therefore to eliminate any tax liability at the Fund level. These dispositions may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below) than if the Fund had not held such investments. The character of the Fund’s taxable income will, in many cases, be determined on the basis of reports made to the Fund by the issuers of the securities in which they invest. The tax treatment of certain securities in which the Fund may invest is not free from doubt and it is possible that an IRS examination of the issuers of such securities could result in adjustments to the income of the Fund.

Foreign Taxes. Income, proceeds and gains received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. This will decrease the Fund’s return on securities subject to such taxes. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance because the amount of the Fund’s assets to be invested within various countries is not known. Shareholders generally will not be entitled separately to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. If shareholders are not so entitled, the Fund’s taxable income will be reduced by the foreign taxes paid or withheld. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the treatment of foreign source income and foreign taxes under the U.S. federal income tax laws.
Distributions
The Fund will receive income primarily in the form of dividends and interest earned on the Fund’s investments in securities. 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 the Fund’s distributions is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees. The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in its shares.

The Fund may realize capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Any net gain that the 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 (taking into account any capital loss carryforward), will comprise part of net investment income. If during any year the 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 generally 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 loss carryforward) will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time that the Fund shares may have been held by the shareholder. Net capital losses realized by the Fund may be carried forward indefinitely, and will generally retain their character as short-term or long-term capital losses. For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, please consult your tax adviser.

Any distribution paid by the Fund reduces the 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
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represent, in substance, a partial return of capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it would be subject to federal income taxes.
Distributions will be reinvested in additional Fund shares unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated. Shareholders have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing, by telephone at 1-855-625-7333 (toll-free) or by contacting an Authorized Intermediary. 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.

Cost Basis Reporting
The Fund is required to report to certain shareholders and the IRS the cost basis of Fund shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, by such shareholders (“covered shares”) when the shareholder sells or redeems such shares. This reporting requirement does not apply to shares acquired prior to January 1, 2012 or to shares held through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA, or to shares held by tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, corporations (other than S corporations), banks, credit unions and certain other entities and governmental bodies (“non-covered shares”). The Fund is not required to determine or report a shareholder’s cost basis in non-covered shares and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information provided for non-covered shares.

The cost basis of a share is generally its purchase price adjusted for distributions, returns of capital, and other corporate actions. Cost basis is used to determine whether the sale or redemption of a share results in a capital gain or loss. If you sell or redeem covered shares during any year, then the Fund will report the gain or loss, cost basis, and holding period of such covered shares to the IRS and you on Form 1099.

A cost basis method is the method by which the Fund determines which specific covered shares are deemed to be sold or redeemed when a shareholder sells or redeems less than its entire holding of covered shares and has made multiple purchases of covered shares on different dates at differing NAVs. If a shareholder does not affirmatively elect a cost basis method, the Fund will use the average cost method, which averages the basis of all Fund shares in an account regardless of holding period, and shares sold or redeemed are deemed to be those with the longest holding period first. Each shareholder may elect in writing (and not over the telephone) any alternate IRS-approved cost basis method to calculate the cost basis in its covered shares. The default cost basis method applied by the Fund or the alternate method elected by a shareholder may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale or redemption of Fund shares.

If you hold Fund shares through a broker (or another nominee), please contact that broker or nominee with respect to the reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.

You are encouraged to consult your tax adviser regarding the application of these cost basis reporting rules and, in particular, which cost basis calculation method you should elect.

Financial Statements
The financial statements of the Predecessor Fund and the Predecessor Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm’s report appearing in the Predecessor Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are incorporated herein by reference.
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APPENDIX A




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Proxy Voting Policy

Effective October 15, 2021

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I.Introduction
Pursuant to the adoption by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”), it is a fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act, practice or course of business, within the meaning of Section 206(4) of the Advisers Act, for a registered investment adviser to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, unless: (1) the adviser has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients; (2) the adviser describes its proxy voting procedures to its clients and provides copies of the procedures on request; and (3) the adviser discloses to the clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted their proxies. This proxy voting policy (“Proxy Voting Policy”) documents CenterSquare’s proxy voting policies and procedures.

II.Statement of Policy
Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders and duties of care and loyalty must be undertaken by CenterSquare Investment Management LLC (“CenterSquare”) to ensure that such rights are properly and timely exercised in accordance with CenterSquare’s fiduciary duty to its clients. To satisfy its fiduciary duty in making any voting determination, CenterSquare must make the determination in the best interest of the client and must not place its own interests ahead of the interests of the client. Therefore, all proxies received by CenterSquare should be voted in accordance with these procedures which are intended to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act. This Proxy Voting Policy applies only to those CenterSquare clients who, in their investment management agreement (“IMA”), have chosen to give us discretion to vote their proxies. At account start-up, upon amendment of the IMA, or upon a letter of instruction, the applicable documentation is reviewed to determine whether CenterSquare has discretionary authority to vote client proxies.

As a UNPRI Signatory, CenterSquare has chosen to use the Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) Sustainability Proxy Voting Guidelines as the default proxy policy for its clients. A client of CenterSquare may elect to use other general or customized proxy voting guidelines through ISS. However, CenterSquare does not attempt to reconcile individual client proxy policies to the ISS Sustainability policy. A client may change their decision with regards to proxy voting authority or guidelines at any time. Clients who have delegated proxy voting responsibilities to CenterSquare with respect to their account may direct CenterSquare to vote in a particular manner for a specific ballot. CenterSquare will use reasonable efforts to vote in accordance with the client’s request in these circumstances, however our ability to implement such voting instructions will be dependent on operational matters such as the timing of the request.

III.Retention and Oversight of Proxy Service Provider
CenterSquare’s proxy voting policies and procedures are intended to meet the objective to act in its clients’ best interests. The sheer number of proxy votes related to client holdings makes it impossible for CenterSquare to research each and every proxy issue. Recognizing the importance of informed and responsible proxy voting, CenterSquare has retained an independent third party service provider, ISS, to analyze proxy issues, provide proxy research and recommendations on how to vote those issues, and provide assistance in the administration of the proxy process, including maintaining complete proxy voting records.

CenterSquare monitors the capacity, competency, and conflicts of interest of ISS to ensure that CenterSquare continues to vote proxies in the best interest of its clients. On an annual basis, CenterSquare conducts a due diligence review of ISS regarding their proxy voting services as part of its duty to perform oversight over the proxy voting firm. This review includes updates and discussion about the following areas of ISS:

•The adequacy and quality of staffing, personnel and/or technology;
•Whether ISS has an effective process for seeking timely input from issuers and ISS clients with respect to, among other things, its proxy voting policies, methodologies, and peer group constructions;
•Whether ISS has adequately disclosed to CenterSquare its methodologies in formulating voting recommendations, such that CenterSquare understands the factors underlying ISS’ recommendations;
•The nature of any third-party information sources that ISS uses as a basis for its voting recommendations; and
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•ISS policies and procedures regarding how it identifies and addresses conflicts of interest.

Conflicts of Interest of ISS

•CenterSquare Compliance will examine information provided by ISS that describes conflicts to which it is subject or otherwise obtained by CenterSquare. CenterSquare will seek to require that ISS promptly provide updates of business changes that might affect or create conflicts and of changes to ISS’ conflict policies and procedures.
•If, as a result of CenterSquare Compliance’s examination of ISS’ conflicts of interest, a determination is made that a material conflict of interest exists, CenterSquare will determine whether to follow the ISS’ recommendation with respect to the proxy or take other action with respect to the proxy.
•CenterSquare Compliance will periodically review ISS’ policies and procedures for:
•Adequacy in identifying, disclosing and addressing actual and potential conflicts of interest, including conflicts relating to the provision of proxy voting recommendations and proxy voting services generally, conflicts relating to activities other than providing proxy voting recommendations and proxy voting services, and conflicts presented by certain affiliations;
•Adequate disclosure of ISS’ actual and potential conflicts of interest with respect to the services ISS provides to CenterSquare; and
•Adequacy in utilizing technology in delivering conflicts disclosures that are readily accessible.

Periodic Review of ISS’ Policies and Procedures and Continued Retention of ISS

CenterSquare will periodically review the proxy voting policies, procedures and methodologies, conflicts of interest and competency of ISS. CenterSquare will also review the continued retention of ISS, including whether any relevant credible potential factual errors, incompleteness or methodological weaknesses in ISS’ analysis that CenterSquare is aware of materially affected the research and recommendations used by the Firm. In addition, CenterSquare will also consider the effectiveness of ISS’ policies and procedures for obtaining current and accurate information relevant to matters included in its research and on which it makes voting recommendations. This will include the ISS’:

•engagement with issuers, including the ISS process for ensuring that it has complete and accurate information about the issuer and each particular matter;
•process, if any, for CenterSquare to access the issuer's views about ISS’ voting recommendations in a timely and efficient manner;
•efforts to correct any identified material deficiencies in its analysis;
•disclosure to CenterSquare regarding sources of information and methodologies used in formulating voting recommendations or executing voting instructions;
•consideration of factors unique to a specific issuer or proposal when evaluating a matter subject to a shareholder vote; and
•updates to its methodologies, guidelines and voting recommendations on an ongoing basis, including in response to feedback from issuers and their shareholders.

CenterSquare will seek to require ISS to update the Firm regarding business changes that are material to the services provided by ISS to CenterSquare. CenterSquare will consider whether the bases on which it made its initial decision to retain ISS has materially changed, and will document such review.

IV.Decision Methods
ISS Global Voting Principles, launched in December 2013, provide for four key tenets on accountability, stewardship, independence, and transparency, which underlie their approach to developing recommendations on management and shareholder proposals at publicly traded companies.1 ISS uses a bottom-up policy formulation process which collects feedback from a diverse range of market participants through multiple channels including an annual Policy Survey. The ISS Policy Board uses the input to develop its draft policy updates each year. Before finalizing these updates, ISS publishes draft updates for an open review and comment period. Beginning in 2008, all comments received are posted verbatim to the Policy Gateway, in order to provide additional transparency into the
1 https://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/iss-global-voting-principles/
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feedback ISS has received. Final updates are published in November, to apply to meetings held after February of the following year. ISS research analysts apply more than 400 policies to shareholder meetings. As part of the research process, ISS analysts interact with company representatives, institutional shareholders, shareholder proponents and other parties to gain deeper insight into key issues.2 ISS reviews and updates their proxy polices on an annual basis. The ISS Policy Information is located under Policy Gateway at https://www.issgovernance.com.

When determining whether to invest in a company, one of the many factors CenterSquare may consider is the quality and depth of the company’s management. As a result, CenterSquare believes that recommendations of management on any issue (particularly routine issues) should be given a fair amount of weight in determining how proxy issues should be voted. Thus, on many issues, votes are cast in accordance with the recommendations of the company’s management. CenterSquare reviews all ballot items where ISS recommends voting against the management of the issuer. Generally, CenterSquare will not override the ISS specific policy vote recommendations but reserves the right to change that vote when a CenterSquare Portfolio Manager disagrees with an ISS recommendation and feels it is in the best interest of all clients to change the proxy vote. CenterSquare Compliance is notified when an override of the ISS vote is proposed by a CenterSquare Portfolio Manager. CenterSquare Compliance will ascertain that appropriate justification for the override is reasonable and appropriately documented in the ISS voting records contemporaneous to the actual proxy vote. A rationale of our decision is noted within the ISS system when we override ISS’ specific policy recommendation and is included in the ballot summary reports. Proxy voting reports are available to clients upon request. For clients that have provided CenterSquare authority to vote proxies and have not otherwise selected other ISS general or customized proxy voting guidelines, proxy voting will be made on behalf of all client accounts in accordance with ISS Sustainability Proxy Voting Guidelines.

V.CenterSquare Conflicts of Interest
In certain instances, a conflict of interest may arise when CenterSquare votes a proxy. CenterSquare will deem to have a potential conflict of interest when voting proxies including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

•CenterSquare or one of its affiliates manages assets for that issuer or an affiliate of that issuer and also recommends that its other client’s investment in such issuer’s securities.
•A director, trustee or officer of the issuer or affiliate of the issuer is an employee of CenterSquare or a director of CenterSquare or its affiliates, or a fund sub-advised by CenterSquare.
•CenterSquare is actively soliciting that issuer or an affiliate of the issuer as a client
•A director or executive officer of the issuer has a personal relationship with a member of the relevant investment team or other employee of CenterSquare that may affect the outcome of the proxy vote.

Each person who is a member of the Proxy Administrator, as further defined below, is a member of the investment team, or serves on the Proxy Voting Committee shall, on at least an annual basis, certify:

•a list of any portfolio companies, including entities raising capital as part of a PIPE (“Private Investments in Public Equity”) transaction, with or in which he or she has a relationship or could otherwise be deemed to have a conflict and;
•They have not been unduly influenced by an issuer or other third party to vote in a particular manner.

In situations where CenterSquare perceives a material conflict of the interest, the conflict is reported to the Chief Compliance Officer. It is expected that CenterSquare will abstain from making a vote decision and allow ISS to vote to mitigate the material conflict of interest.

VI.Securities Lending
Some clients have, at their discretion, elected to participate in security lending programs. CenterSquare is unable to vote securities that are on loan under this type of arrangement.
2 https://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/policy-formulation-application/
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VII. Decisions to not Vote Proxies
CenterSquare fully recognizes its responsibility to vote proxies and maintain proxy records pursuant to applicable rules and regulations. CenterSquare will therefore attempt to vote every proxy it receives for all domestic and foreign securities. There may be situations in which CenterSquare cannot vote proxies. For example, the client or custodian does not forward the ballots in a timely manner.

Proxy voting in certain countries requires shareblocking. Shareblocking in general refers to restrictions on the sale or transfer of securities between the execution of the vote instruction and the tabulation of votes at the shareholder meeting. During the blocking period, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the client’s custodian bank. The blocking period may last from several days to several weeks depending upon the market, the security and the custodian. CenterSquare believes that in these situations, the benefit of maintaining liquidity during the share blocking period outweighs the benefit of exercising our right to vote. In order to preserve the account’s liquidity, CenterSquare will generally instruct ISS to “DO NOT VOTE” these shares.

Proxies relating to foreign securities may also be subject to additional documentation. Such documentation may be difficult to obtain or produce as a condition of voting or requires additional costs that generally outweigh the benefit to be gained by voting. Therefore, in some cases, those shares will not be voted.

VIII.Reporting
ISS provides CenterSquare on-line access to client proxy voting records. A summary of the proxy votes cast by CenterSquare is available to clients upon request for their specific portfolio. Due to confidentially and conflict of interest concerns, CenterSquare does not disclose to third parties how it votes client proxies.

CenterSquare’s proxy voting policies are disclosed in the Form ADV Part 2A. A copy of this Proxy Voting Policy and the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines are available to our clients, without charge, upon request. All requests may be sent to Liz Conklin, Director, Head of Securities Operations, CenterSquare Investment Management LLC, 630 West Germantown Pike, Suite 300, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 or to lconklin@centersquare.com.

IX.Proxy Committee
CenterSquare’s Proxy Committee (“Proxy Committee”) is responsible for overseeing the proxy voting process and for establishing and maintaining the Proxy Voting Policy, which is reviewed and updated annually. The Proxy Committee is comprised of the Chief Operating Officer, Director, Head of Securities Operations, and designated members of CenterSquare’s investment teams. CenterSquare Compliance will participate as a non-voting member of the Committee. At a minimum, the Proxy Committee will meet no less than annually to review and update the Proxy Voting Policy, if necessary, and to review other proxy voting topics as needed.

X.Proxy Administration and Recordkeeping
The administration of the proxy voting process is the responsibility of CenterSquare’s securities operations department (“Proxy Administrator”). Both ISS and each client’s custodian monitor corporate events for CenterSquare. CenterSquare gives an authorization and letter of instruction to the client’s custodian who then forwards the proxy material it receives to ISS so that ISS may vote the proxies. On a regular basis, CenterSquare sends ISS an updated list of client accounts and the security holdings in those accounts so that ISS can update its database and is aware of which proxies it will need to vote.

The Proxy Administrator is responsible for:

•monitoring reports identifying pending meetings and due dates for ballots
•monitoring reports to ensure that clients are coded to the appropriate ISS policy
•ensuring ballots are voted according to the ISS policy assigned to the client
•monitoring for shareblocking ballots
•monitoring reports for votes against management
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•reviewing user access and new / close account setups
•performing vote overrides as required by Portfolio Managers and document changes and rationale for each vote override

CenterSquare or ISS also maintains the following records:

•ballot summary reports for each client indicating which ballots were votes, number of shares voted, description of the proposal, how the shares were voted and the date on which the proxy was returned, and the policy applied
•ballot summary reports for vote overrides with the Portfolio Managers rationale
•meeting-level statistical reports
•copy of each proxy statement received, provided that no copy needs to be retained of a proxy statement found on the SEC’s EDGAR website

XI.CenterSquare Compliance Annual Review
CenterSquare Compliance will review and document no less frequently than annually, the adequacy of the proxy voting policies and procedures to make sure they have been implemented effectively, including whether the policies and procedures continue to be reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of CenterSquare’s clients. As part of this review, CenterSquare Compliance will review:

•the Proxy Voting Policy
•CenterSquare’s client disclosures regarding its proxy voting policies and procedures in the ADV Form Part 2A, due diligence questionnaires, and other relevant materials
•a sampling of proxy voting records to ensure voting was completed in the best interests of clients and in accordance with the ISS Sustainability Proxy Voting Guidelines
•a sampling of proxy vote overrides and the documentation supporting such overrides
•the Firm’s annual due diligence over the third-party proxy voting firm, ISS




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