Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBRVX; Institutional - SBHVX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTSGX; Institutional - WISGX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBHCX; Institutional - SBASX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBRAX; Institutional - SBHAX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBHEX; Institutional - SBEMX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBHSX; Institutional - SBSIX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - CIQRX; Institutional - CIEQX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTMVX; Institutional - WIMVX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SBHPX; Institutional - SBAPX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTIBX; Institutional - WIIBX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Quality High Yield Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTLTX; Institutional - WILTX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Municipal Opportunities Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTTAX; Institutional - WITAX)
Segall Bryant & Hamill Colorado Tax Free Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - WTCOX; Institutional - WICOX)
Barrett Growth Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - BGRWX)
Barrett Opportunity Fund
(Ticker Symbol: Retail - SAOPX)
PROSPECTUS
April
29, 2024
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY SECTIONS | 1 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund | 1 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund | 6 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund | 11 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund | 16 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund | 21 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund | 27 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund | 33 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund | 39 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund | 44 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund | 50 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Quality High Yield Fund | 55 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Municipal Opportunities Fund | 60 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Colorado Tax Free Fund | 65 | |
Barrett Growth Fund | 70 | |
Barrett Opportunity Fund | 75 | |
Summary of Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares | 80 | |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS | 81 | |
Additional Investment Strategies and General Portfolio Policies | 81 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Equity Funds | 81 | |
Segall Bryant & Hamill Bond Funds | 82 | |
GENERAL PORTFOLIO POLICIES | 83 | |
Principal and Non-Principal Risks of Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds | 84 | |
HOW TO INVEST AND OBTAIN INFORMATION | 97 | |
How to Contact Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds | 97 | |
Purchasing Shares | 98 | |
Exchanging Shares | 100 | |
Redeeming Shares | 101 | |
Additional Information on Telephone and Online Services | 102 | |
GENERAL ACCOUNT POLICIES | 105 | |
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES | 112 | |
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS | 116 | |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | 123 | |
APPENDIX - BOND RATING CATEGORIES | 151 |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.80% | 0.80% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.34% | 0.19% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.09% | 0.09% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.14% | 0.99% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $116 | $362 | $628 | $1,386 |
Institutional Class | $101 | $315 | $547 | $1,213 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 35% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities of small-capitalization companies. |
● | The Fund currently considers “small-capitalization companies” to be those included in, or similar in size to, those included in its benchmark index, the Russell 2000® Value Index, at the time of purchase. As of February 29, 2024, the benchmark capitalization range was $28.3 million to $9.0 billion. As of February 29, 2024, the weighted average market capitalization of the benchmark index was approximately $2.7 billion as compared to approximately $3.9 billion for the companies within the Fund’s portfolio. Please note that these market capitalization measures will fluctuate over time. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | The Fund will primarily invest in common stock. The Fund is not limited to the stocks included in the Russell 2000® Value Index. |
● | With respect to portfolio structure, the Adviser maintains exposure to most sectors within the benchmark; however, with an active management process, there will be variances in sector exposure relative to the benchmark index. The Adviser maintains guidelines to monitor this variance. |
● | The investment process used by the Fund’s Adviser is driven by a combination of quantitative analysis (which may encompass techniques such as evaluation of financial data or statistical/mathematical modeling), fundamental analysis (which may include assessments of a company’s holdings or key characteristics, as well as broader economic factors) and experienced judgment. |
● | The Adviser seeks to invest in companies the stocks of which the Adviser believes are trading below the Adviser’s estimate of their intrinsic values. The Adviser searches for companies it believes are attractively priced relative to historical valuation, peer groups, and the market, concentrating most on cash flow capability over time. |
● | The team seeks to identify companies that have the potential for significant improvement in return on invested capital (“ROIC”), with the idea being that, as ROIC improves, each dollar invested in the business earns an incrementally higher return. The team requires that management is ROIC-focused, financially incentivized to improve returns through appropriate capital allocation, and able to articulate an appropriate returns-based strategy to improve profitability. |
● | The Fund expects to only invest in securities of companies whose stock is traded on U.S. markets, including depositary receipts or shares issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States (e.g., ADRs). |
● | SBH also utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes ESG factors may be important drivers of value in conjunction with the underlying strength and potential of a business, however its consideration of these factors would not necessarily result in a company being included or excluded from the evaluation process but rather would contribute to the overall evaluation of that company. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Small Company Risk: The Fund is subject to the general risk that the stocks of smaller and newer companies can involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. Small company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements due to a number of reasons, including that the stocks are traded in lower volume and that the issuers are more sensitive to changing conditions and have less certain growth prospects. Small companies in which the Fund may invest typically lack the financial resources, product diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies which may cause the value of the Fund to be more volatile. Small companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies. |
● | Value Investing Risk: The value approach carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s intrinsic value for a long time, or that a stock considered to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced. A portfolio may underperform other equity portfolios that use different investing styles. A portfolio may also underperform other equity portfolios using the value style. Value stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “growth” stocks. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited.
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Industrial Sector Risk: The industrial sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economic growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, environmental issues, tariffs and trade barriers, and tax and governmental regulatory policies. As the demand for, or prices of, industrials increase, the value of the Fund’s investments generally would be expected to also increase. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or prices of, industrials generally would be expected to contribute to declines in the value of such securities. Such declines may occur quickly and without warning and may negatively impact the value of the Fund and your investment. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Indirect Foreign Exposure Risk: Investments in U.S.-traded securities that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or have significant business operations abroad may be impacted by certain foreign exposure risks indirectly. This includes securities in the form of sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts. Unsponsored depositary receipts may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the depositary facility and the bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the Depository’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders. Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The Fund acquired the assets of the Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund, a series portfolio of Investment Managers Series Trust, on December 9, 2019 (the “Predecessor Fund”). The Predecessor Fund was also advised by Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC. Performance results shown for the Institutional Class in the bar chart and the performance table below for periods prior to the reorganization reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. Institutional Class shares’ returns of the Fund will be different from the Predecessor Fund as they have different expenses.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-, five-, and ten-years for the Fund (including performance of the Predecessor Fund, as described above), compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (including the Predecessor Fund’s past performance), before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 12/31/2020 | 27.38% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (30.92)% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Institutional Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Class, after-tax returns for the Retail Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Value Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 11.95% | 8.09% | 6.66% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 11.35% | 7.15% | 5.36% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 7.08% | 6.11% | 4.87% |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 11.84% | 7.96%* | 6.52%* |
Russell
2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
14.65% | 10.00% | 6.76% |
* | Retail Class commenced operations on December 9, 2019 and Institutional Class commenced operations on July 31, 2013. The five- and ten-years performance figures for Retail Class include the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Mark T. Dickherber, CFA, CPA Director of Small Cap Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 31, 2013* |
Shaun P. Nicholson Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 31, 2013* |
* | Since inception of the Predecessor Fund. |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the extent to which future sales of shares are limited, including closing the Fund to any subsequent purchases by any investor. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.65% | 0.65% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.39% | 0.24% | ||
Shareholder Service Fees(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All Other Expenses | 0.14% | 0.14% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.04% | 0.89% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $106 | $331 | $574 | $1,271 |
Institutional Class | $91 | $284 | $493 | $1,096 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 36% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | The Fund emphasizes investments in small companies that the portfolio management team believes to have attractive growth prospects for earnings and/or cash flows. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in small-cap companies. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | The Fund currently considers “small-capitalization companies” to be those included in, or similar in size to, those included in its benchmark index, the Russell 2000® Growth Index, at the time of purchase. As of February 29, 2024, the benchmark capitalization range was $22.0 million to $48.4 billion. As of February 29, 2024, the weighted average market capitalization of the benchmark index was approximately $5.4 billion as compared to approximately $6.3 billion for the companies within the Fund’s portfolio. Please note that these market capitalization measures will fluctuate over time. |
● | The team implements an investment strategy primarily through independent “bottom-up” fundamental research. The team constructs a portfolio designed to generate alpha, or risk-adjusted excess return relative to the Fund’s benchmark, primarily through stock selection. |
● | The team uses a proprietary discounted cash flow (DCF) model for purposes of valuing and generating price targets for individual stocks. The DCF model is utilized for two primary purposes – to understand what assumptions are implied in a stock’s current price, and to generate an expected value for each stock, based on the team’s internally generated forecasts. |
● | With respect to portfolio structure, the team typically maintains exposure to most sectors within the benchmark; however, with an active management process, there will be variances in sector exposure relative to the benchmark index. The team maintains guidelines to monitor this variance. |
● | The Fund expects to only invest in securities of companies whose stock is traded on U.S. markets, including depositary receipts or shares issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States (e.g., ADRs). |
● | SBH also utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes ESG factors may be important drivers of value in conjunction with the underlying strength and potential of a business, however its consideration of these factors would not necessarily result in a company being included or excluded from the evaluation process but rather would contribute to the overall evaluation of that company. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target, certain objective criteria are met or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Small Company Risk: The Fund is subject to the general risk that the stocks of smaller and newer companies can involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. Small company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements due to a number of reasons, including that the stocks are traded in lower volume and that the issuers are more sensitive to changing conditions and have less certain growth prospects. Small companies in which the Fund may invest typically lack the financial resources, product diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies which may cause the value of the Fund to be more volatile. Small companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies. |
● | Growth Investing Risk: The Fund invests in companies that appear to be growth-oriented companies. If the Adviser’s perceptions of a company’s growth potential are wrong, the securities purchased may not perform as expected, causing losses that will reduce the Fund’s return. A portfolio may underperform other equity portfolios that use different investing styles. A portfolio may also underperform other equity portfolios using the growth style. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “value” stocks. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Indirect Foreign Exposure Risk: Investments in U.S.-traded securities that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or have significant business operations abroad may be impacted by certain foreign exposure risks indirectly. This includes securities in the form of sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts. Unsponsored depositary receipts may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the depositary facility and the bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the Depository’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders. Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Retail Class performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-, five- and ten-years for both the Retail Class and the Institutional Class compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund
Retail Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2020 | 32.80% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2022 | (22.34)% |
The returns above are for the Retail Class of the Fund. The Institutional Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Retail Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
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Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Retail Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Retail Class; after-tax returns for the Institutional Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Growth Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 18.10% | 12.47% | 9.67% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 18.10% | 12.47% | 8.81% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 10.71% | 9.99% | 7.61% |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 18.32% | 12.65% | 9.92% |
Russell
2000® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
18.66% | 9.22% | 7.16% |
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Brian C. Fitzsimons, CFA Director of Small Cap Growth Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 20, 2013 |
Mitch S. Begun, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 20, 2013 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation – Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.80% | 0.80% | ||
Other Expenses | 0.55% | 0.40% | ||
Shareholder Service Fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All Other Expenses | 0.30% | 0.30% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.35% | 1.20% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.21)% | (0.21)% | ||
Total
Annual Fund Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
1.14% | 0.99% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 1.14% and 0.99% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Retail Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for the three-year, five-year, and ten-year periods.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $116 | $407 | $719 | $1,606 |
Institutional Class | $101 | $360 | $639 | $1,436 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 41% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in small-cap companies. The Fund currently considers “small-capitalization companies” to be those included in, or similar in size to, those included in its benchmark index, the Russell 2000® Index, at the time of purchase. As of February 29, 2024, the benchmark capitalization range was $22.0 million to $48.4 billion. As of February 29, 2024, the weighted average market capitalization of the benchmark index was approximately $4.1 billion as compared to approximately $6.3 billion for the companies within the Fund’s portfolio. Please note that these market capitalization measures will fluctuate over time. |
● | The Fund is not limited to the stocks included in the Russell 2000® Index. With respect to portfolio structure, the Adviser maintains exposure to most sectors within the benchmark; however, with an active management process, there will be variances in sector exposure relative to the benchmark index. The Adviser maintains guidelines to monitor this variance. |
● | The investment process used by the Fund’s Adviser is driven by a combination of quantitative analysis (which may encompass techniques such as evaluation of financial data or statistical/mathematical modeling), fundamental analysis (which may include assessments of a company’s holdings or key characteristics, as well as broader economic factors) and experienced judgment. The Adviser searches for companies it believes are attractively priced relative to historical valuation, peer groups, and the market, concentrating most on cash flow capability over time. |
● | The Fund expects to only invest in securities of companies whose stock is traded on U.S. markets, including depositary receipts or shares issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States (e.g., ADRs). |
● | SBH also utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes ESG factors may be important drivers of value in conjunction with the underlying strength and potential of a business, however its consideration of these factors would not necessarily result in a company being included or excluded from the evaluation process but rather would contribute to the overall evaluation of that company. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Small Company Risk: The Fund is subject to the general risk that the stocks of smaller and newer companies can involve greater risks than those associated with larger, more established companies. Small company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements due to a number of reasons, including that the stocks are traded in lower volume and that the issuers are more sensitive to changing conditions and have less certain growth prospects. Small companies in which the Fund may invest typically lack the financial resources, product diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies which may cause the value of the Fund to be more volatile. Small companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
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● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Industrial Sector Risk: The industrial sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economic growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, environmental issues, tariffs and trade barriers, and tax and governmental regulatory policies. As the demand for, or prices of, industrials increase, the value of the Fund’s investments generally would be expected to also increase. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or prices of, industrials generally would be expected to contribute to declines in the value of such securities. Such declines may occur quickly and without warning and may negatively impact the value of the Fund and your investment. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Indirect Foreign Exposure Risk: Investments in U.S.-traded securities that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or have significant business operations abroad may be impacted by certain foreign exposure risks indirectly. This includes securities in the form of sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts. Unsponsored depositary receipts may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the depositary facility and the bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the Depository’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders. Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Table
For periods prior to December 31, 2019, the performance shown below is for the Lower Wacker Small Cap Investment Fund, LLC, an unregistered limited partnership managed by the portfolio managers of the Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund (the “Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund”). The Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund was reorganized into the Institutional Class shares on December 31, 2019, the date that the Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund commenced operations. The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund has been managed in the same style since the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund’s inception on December 15, 2003. The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund’s investment goals, policies, guidelines and restrictions are, in all material respects, equivalent to the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund’s investment goals, policies, guidelines and restrictions. The Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund’s annual returns and long-term performance reflect the actual fees and expenses that were charged when the Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund was a limited partnership. The Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund’s performance is net of management fees and other expenses. From its inception on December 15, 2003, through December 31, 2019, the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund was not subject to certain investment restrictions, diversification requirements and other restrictions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which, if they had been applicable, might have adversely affected the Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund’s performance.
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund’s past performance (including the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund), before and after taxes, does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 12/31/2020 | 24.17% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (23.70)% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Institutional Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Class, after-tax returns for the Retail Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Small Cap Core Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 13.94% | 13.81% | 8.66% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 12.86% | 12.49% | 8.03% |
Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares | 8.83% | 10.93% | 7.02% |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 13.67% | 13.61%* | 8.48%* |
Russell
2000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
16.93% | 9.97% | 7.16% |
* | Retail Class commenced operations on December 31, 2019. The five- and ten-years performance figures for Retail Class include the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Jeffrey C. Paulis, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 31, 2019* |
Mark T. Dickherber, CFA, CPA Director of Small Cap Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 31, 2019* |
* | The Fund’s inception date is December 31, 2019; however, Mr. Paulis began managing the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund on October 1, 2017, and Mr. Dickherber began managing the Small Cap Core Predecessor Fund on July 1, 2013. |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation – Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.65% | 0.65% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.42% | 0.26% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.17% | 0.16% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.07% | 0.91% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.08)% | (0.07)% | ||
Total
Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
0.99% | 0.84% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.99% and 0.84% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $101 | $332 | $582 | $1,298 |
Institutional Class | $86 | $283 | $497 | $1,113 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies of any size, including small- and mid-capitalization companies. The Fund will primarily invest in common stock of companies traded on U.S. exchanges with market capitalization in excess of $1 billion. The Russell 3000® Index is the Fund’s benchmark which represents a broad-based U.S. equity index. The Russell Midcap® Index and the Russell 2000® Index are indices which include companies with market capitalizations within the mid-cap and small-cap universe. The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 35% of its net assets in common stock of companies with market capitalizations similar in size to companies within the Russell Midcap® Index and Russell 2000® Index. |
● | The Adviser invests the Fund’s assets opportunistically based on market information and does not limit its investment analysis approach to value, growth, or core investment styles. |
● | The Adviser believes that returns in excess of general market returns can be achieved by actively managing investment portfolios. The Fund invests in companies that the Adviser believes have superior growth potential and are trading at a discount to the Adviser’s estimate of the companies’ intrinsic value. |
● | The Adviser’s investment process is driven by fundamental research utilizing a combination of external and proprietary research in its selection process. Through a combination of quantitative analysis (which may encompass techniques such as evaluation of financial data or statistical/mathematical modeling), fundamental analysis (which may include assessments of a company’s holdings or key characteristics, as well as broader economic factors) and experienced judgment, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that have historically generated, or are positioned to generate, superior returns on investments. |
● | The Fund expects to only invest in securities of companies whose stock is traded on U.S. markets, including depositary receipts or shares issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States (e.g., ADRs). |
● | SBH also utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes ESG factors may be important drivers of value in conjunction with the underlying strength and potential of a business, however its consideration of these factors would not necessarily result in a company being included or excluded from the evaluation process but rather would contribute to the overall evaluation of that company. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Market Capitalization Risk: To the extent a Fund invests in securities issued by small-, medium- or large capitalization companies, it will be subject to the risks associated with securities issued by companies of the applicable market capitalization. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization underperform other types of investments, a Fund’s performance could be adversely impacted. The small- and medium-sized companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small- and medium-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets, and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small- and medium-sized stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Small- and medium-sized companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments.
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Indirect Foreign Exposure Risk: Investments in U.S.-traded securities that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or have significant business operations abroad may be impacted by certain foreign exposure risks indirectly. This includes securities in the form of sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts. Unsponsored depositary receipts may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the depositary facility and the bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Under an unsponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes no obligations and the Depository’s transaction fees are paid directly by the ADR holders. Because unsponsored ADR arrangements are organized independently and without the cooperation of the issuer of the underlying securities, available information concerning the foreign issuer may not be as current as for sponsored ADRs and voting rights with respect to the deposited securities are not passed through. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The Fund acquired the assets of the Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund, a series portfolio of Investment Managers Series Trust, on December 9, 2019 (the “Predecessor Fund”). The Predecessor Fund was also advised by Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC. Performance results shown for the Institutional Class in the bar chart and the performance table below for periods prior to the reorganization reflect the performance of the Predecessor Fund. Institutional Class shares’ returns of the Fund will be different from the Predecessor Fund as they have different expenses. The Fund’s past performance (including the Predecessor Fund’s past performance), before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-, five-, and ten-years for the Fund (including performance of the Predecessor Fund, as described above), compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities.
Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2020 | 24.00% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (17.65)% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Institutional Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Class, after-tax returns for the Retail Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill All Cap Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 14.48% | 14.58% | 9.98% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 13.09% | 13.13% | 9.04% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 9.33% | 11.61% | 8.07% |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 14.38% | 14.50%* | 9.86%* |
Russell
3000® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
25.96% | 15.16% | 11.48% |
* | Retail Class commenced operations on December 9, 2019. Institutional Class commenced operations on July 31, 2013. The five- and ten-years performance figures for Retail Class include the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Ralph M. Segall, CFA, CIC Chief Investment Officer – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 31, 2013* |
Suresh Rajagopal, CFA Director All/Mid Cap Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 31, 2013* |
* | Since inception of the Predecessor Fund. |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the extent to which future sales of shares are limited, including closing the Fund to any subsequent purchases by any investor. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, OH 45246-0707, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually).
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.90% | 0.90% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 1.24% | 1.09% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.99% | 0.99% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 2.14% | 1.99% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.76)% | (0.76)% | ||
Total
Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
1.38% | 1.23% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 1.38% and 1.23% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $140 | $597 | $1,080 | $2,412 |
Institutional Class | $125 | $551 | $1,002 | $2,256 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 85% of the average value of its portfolio.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities, primarily common stock, of companies tied economically to emerging markets countries. The Fund’s Adviser considers emerging markets countries to be those countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which, as of February 29, 2024, consisted of Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. If the countries composing the MSCI Emerging Markets Index change, the Fund’s Adviser will similarly adjust its criteria to reflect any such change. The Fund’s Adviser considers a company to be tied economically to a particular country if: (i) it is organized under the laws of that country or maintains its principal offices or headquarters in that country; (ii) its securities are principally traded in that country; or (iii) it derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in that country, or has at least 50% of its assets in that country. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries. The Fund may invest in companies of any size market capitalization. |
● | The Fund may purchase equity securities on exchanges where companies are located, and on exchanges other than where companies are domiciled (often traded as dual listed securities) or in the form of Depository Receipts, which include American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”) or similar securities. |
● | The Fund may also purchase participatory notes (commonly known as “P-notes”) issued by foreign banks or brokers evidencing ownership of underlying stocks issued by a foreign company. This type of investment allows the Fund to have exposure to foreign securities without trading directly in the local market. |
● | The Fund’s Adviser uses proprietary quantitative models to evaluate and select countries and securities for the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s Adviser evaluates and selects securities based on value, momentum and profitability models. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading. |
● | The team utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices within its investment processes. The quantitative strategies utilize a top-down approach for assessing ESG characteristics of the portfolio. Specifically, the team controls the aggregate ESG exposure relative to the benchmark similar to other risk factors such as country or sector. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Country Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, focus its investments in companies that are in a single country or a small number of countries. Focusing investments in a small number of countries may make the Fund more susceptible to currency fluctuations and adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that country or group of countries. If an economic downturn occurs in a country in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Currency Risk: The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. Dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. |
● | Emerging Market Risk: Many of the risks with respect to foreign investments are more pronounced for investments in issuers in developing or emerging market countries. Emerging market countries tend to have more government exchange controls, more volatile interest and currency exchange rates, less market regulation, and less developed economic, political and legal systems than those of more developed countries. In addition, emerging market countries may experience high levels of inflation and may have less liquid securities markets and less efficient trading and settlement systems. |
● | China Risk: Investments in Chinese issuers subject the Fund to risks specific to the China region. Political, social or economic disruptions in China and surrounding countries, even in countries in which the Fund is not invested, may adversely affect security values in China and thus the Fund’s investments. At times, religious, cultural and military disputes within and outside China have caused volatility in the China securities markets and such disputes could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. China remains a totalitarian country with continuing risk of nationalization, expropriation, or confiscation of property. Each of these risks could increase the Fund’s volatility. |
● | Value Investing Risk: The value approach carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s intrinsic value for a long time, or that a stock considered to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced. A portfolio may underperform other equity portfolios that use different investing styles. A portfolio may also underperform other equity portfolios using the value style. Value stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “growth” stocks. |
● | Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in non-U.S.-traded securities. There are risks and costs involved in investing in non-U.S.-traded securities which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in securities that trade on a U.S. exchange. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country, especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country and may be different from or greater than the risks associated with investing in developed countries. These risks may include, but are not limited to, higher transaction costs, the imposition of additional foreign taxes, less market liquidity, security registration requirements, and less comprehensive security settlement procedures and regulations, significant currency devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar, restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital, less government regulation and supervision, less public information, less economic, political and social stability, and adverse changes in diplomatic relations between the United States and that foreign country. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Non-Diversification Risk: The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"). As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that it may be more volatile than a diversified fund because the Fund may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers or may invest a larger proportion of its assets in a single issuer. As a result, the gains and losses on a single investment may have a greater impact on the Fund’s NAV and may make the Fund more volatile than more diversified funds. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends. GDRs can involve currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The Fund acquired the assets of the Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund, a series portfolio of Investment Managers Series Trust, on December 9, 2019, (the “Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund”). The Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund was also advised by Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC. On October 30, 2015, the Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Philadelphia Emerging Markets Fund (the “Philadelphia Predecessor Fund”) (together, with the Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund, the “Predecessor Funds”).
For periods from October 31, 2015, to December 9, 2019, performance results shown in the bar chart and the performance table below for the Fund’s Retail Class shares and Institutional Class shares reflect the performance of the Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund. For periods prior to October 30, 2015, performance results shown in the bar chart and the performance table below for the Fund’s Class I shares and Class A shares reflect the performance of the Philadelphia Predecessor Fund’s Class IV shares and Class I shares, respectively.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-, five-, and ten-years for the Fund (including performance of the Predecessor Funds, as described above), compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities.
The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2020 | 16.82% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (26.12)% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Institutional Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Class, after-tax returns for the Retail Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Emerging Markets Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 20.60% | 6.34% | 3.41% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 18.96% | 5.54% | 2.45% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 13.17% | 5.06% | 2.53% |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 20.35% | 6.12% | 3.22%* |
MSCI
Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
9.83% | 3.68% | 2.66% |
* | The Institutional Class commenced operations on June 30, 2011. Retail Class (previously known as Class A of the Emerging Markets Predecessor Fund) started on June 30, 2014. The ten-years performance figure for Retail Class includes the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Scott E. Decatur, Ph.D. Director of Quantitative International Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
June 30, 2011* |
Nicholas C. Fedako, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
June 30, 2011* |
* | Since Inception of the Philadelphia Predecessor Fund |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the extent to which future sales of shares are limited, including closing the Fund to any subsequent purchases by any investor. The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, OH 45246-0707, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually).
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.90% | 0.90% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.73% | 0.57% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses(2) | 0.48% | 0.47% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.63% | 1.47% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(3) | (0.38)% | (0.37)% | ||
Total
Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(3) |
1.25% | 1.10% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Other Expenses includes 0.07% of tax reclaim fees which are excluded from the contractual expense limitation agreement between the Trust and Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, as detailed in footnote (3) below. |
(3) | The Adviser has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 1.18% and 1.03% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $127 | $477 | $851 | $1,901 |
Institutional Class | $112 | $428 | $768 | $1,726 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 106% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities, primarily common stock, of small capitalization companies located outside of the United States, including those in emerging markets. |
● | The Fund’s Adviser considers small capitalization companies to be companies with market capitalizations within the range of those companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index at the time of purchase. Investments in companies that move above or below the capitalization range of the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index may continue to be held by the Fund in the Fund adviser’s sole discretion. As of February 29, 2024, the market capitalization of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index was between $81.7 million and $10.2 billion. The Fund’s Adviser will consider the market capitalization range by country. |
● | The Fund’s Adviser considers a company to be outside of the United States if: (i) it is organized under the laws of a foreign country or maintains its principal offices or headquarters in a foreign country; (ii) its securities are principally traded in a foreign country; or (iii) it derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in a foreign country, or has at least 50% of its assets in a foreign country. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries including those in emerging markets. |
● | The Fund may purchase equity securities on exchanges where the companies are located, on exchanges other than where companies are domiciled (often traded as dual listed securities) or in the form of Depository Receipts, which include American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”) or similar securities. The Fund may also purchase participatory notes (commonly known as “P-notes”) issued by foreign banks or brokers evidencing ownership of underlying stocks issued by a foreign company. This type of investment allows the Fund to have exposure to foreign securities without trading directly in the local market. |
● | The Fund’s Adviser uses proprietary quantitative models to evaluate and select countries and securities for the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s Adviser evaluates and selects securities based on value, momentum and profitability models. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading. |
● | The team utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices within its investment process. The quantitative strategies utilize a top-down approach for assessing ESG characteristics of the portfolio. Specifically, the team controls the aggregate ESG exposure relative to the benchmark similar to other risk factors such as country or sector. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Country Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, focus its investments in companies that are in a single country or a small number of countries. Focusing investments in a small number of countries may make the Fund more susceptible to currency fluctuations and adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that country or group of countries. If an economic downturn occurs in a country in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Currency Risk: The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. Dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. |
● | Small Company Risk: Small company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements due to a number of reasons, including that the stocks are traded in lower volume and that the issuers are more sensitive to changing conditions and have less certain growth prospects. Small companies in which the Fund may invest typically lack the financial resources, product diversification, and competitive strengths of larger companies which may cause the value of the Fund to be more volatile. Small companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies. |
● | Value Investing Risk: The value approach carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s intrinsic value for a long time, or that a stock considered to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced. A portfolio may underperform other equity portfolios that use different investing styles. A portfolio may also underperform other equity portfolios using the value style. Value stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “growth” stocks. |
● | Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in non-U.S.-traded securities. There are risks and costs involved in investing in non-U.S.-traded securities which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in securities that trade on a U.S. exchange. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country, especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country and may be different from or greater than the risks associated with investing in developed countries. These risks may include, but are not limited to, higher transaction costs, the imposition of additional foreign taxes, less market liquidity, security registration requirements, and less comprehensive security settlement procedures and regulations, significant currency devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar, restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital, less government regulation and supervision, less public information, less economic, political and social stability, and adverse changes in diplomatic relations between the United States and that foreign country. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Japan Risk: The growth of Japan’s economy has historically lagged behind that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japan’s aging and shrinking population increases the cost of the country’s pension and public welfare system and lowers domestic demand, making Japan more dependent on exports to sustain its economy. Therefore, any developments that negatively affect Japan’s exports could present risks to a fund’s investments in Japan. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | Portfolio Turnover Risk: Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The Fund acquired the assets of the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund, a series portfolio of Investment Managers Series Trust on December 9, 2019, (the “International Small Cap Predecessor Fund”). The International Small Cap Predecessor Fund was also advised by Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC.
On October 30, 2015, the International Small Cap Predecessor Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Philadelphia International Small Cap Fund (the “Philadelphia International Small Cap Predecessor Fund”) (together, with the International Small Cap Predecessor Fund, the “Predecessor Funds”).
For periods from October 31, 2015, to December 31, 2018, performance results shown in the bar chart and the performance table below for the Fund’s Retail Class shares and Institutional Class shares reflect the performance of the International Small Cap Predecessor Fund. For periods prior to October 30, 2015, performance results shown in the bar chart and the performance table below for the Fund’s Retail Class shares and Institutional Class shares reflect the performance of the Philadelphia International Small Cap Predecessor Fund’s Class IV shares and Class I shares, respectively.
Performance results shown in the bar chart and the performance table below for periods prior to the reorganization reflect the performance of the Predecessor Funds. Performance returns of the Fund will be different from the Predecessor Funds as they have different expenses. The Predecessor Funds’ past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-, five-, and ten-years for the Fund (including performance of the Predecessor Funds, as described above), compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities.
The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 12/31/2022 | 17.46% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (34.51)% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Institutional Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Institutional Class, after-tax returns for the Retail Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Small Cap Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 17.24% | 4.94% | 3.23% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 16.11% | 4.02% | 2.22% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 11.31% | 3.89% | 2.41% |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 17.09% | 4.78% | 3.03%* |
MSCI
EAFE Small Cap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
13.16% | 6.58% | 4.80% |
* | Institutional Class (previously known as Class I of the Predecessor Funds) started on May 31, 2011. Retail Class (previously known as Class A of the International Small Cap Predecessor Fund) started on June 30, 2014. The ten-years performance figure for Retail Class includes the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Scott E. Decatur, Ph.D. Director of Quantitative International Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
May 31, 2011* |
Nicholas C. Fedako, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
May 31, 2011* |
* | Since inception of the Philadelphia International Small Cap Predecessor Fund |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 |
|
— |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.75% | 0.75% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses(1) | 4.52% | 4.37% | ||
Shareholder service fee(2) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 4.27% | 4.27% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 5.27% | 5.12% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(3) | (4.13)% | (4.13)% | ||
Total
Annual Fund Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(3) |
1.14% | 0.99% |
(1) | Because the Fund has a limited operating history, Other Expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year. |
(2) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(3) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 1.14% and 0.99% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $116 | $1,208 | $2,294 | $4,983 |
Institutional Class | $101 | $1,165 | $2,226 | $4,868 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. For the fiscal period December 8, 2023 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2023, the portfolio turnover rate of the Fund was 0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities, primarily common stock, of companies located outside of the United States, |
● | The Fund’s Adviser considers a company to be international (that is outside of the United States) if: (i) it is organized under the laws of a foreign country or maintains its principal offices or headquarters in a foreign country; (ii) its securities are principally traded in a foreign country; or (iii) it derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in a foreign country, or has at least 50% of its assets in a foreign country. The Fund will allocate its assets among various regions and countries, with a minimum of ten countries. |
● | The Fund may purchase equity securities on exchanges where the companies are located, on exchanges other than where companies are domiciled (often traded as dual listed securities) or in the form of Depository Receipts, which include American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”) or similar securities. The Fund may also purchase participatory notes (commonly known as “P-notes”) issued by foreign banks or brokers evidencing ownership of underlying stocks issued by a foreign company. This type of investment allows the Fund to have exposure to foreign securities without trading directly in the local market. |
● | The Fund’s Adviser uses proprietary quantitative models to evaluate and select countries and securities for the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s Adviser evaluates and selects securities based on value, momentum and profitability models. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading. |
● | The team utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices within its investment process. The quantitative strategies utilize a top-down approach for assessing ESG characteristics of the portfolio. Specifically, the team controls the aggregate ESG exposure relative to the benchmark similar to other risk factors such as country or sector. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Country Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, focus its investments in companies that are in a single country or a small number of countries. Focusing investments in a small number of countries may make the Fund more susceptible to currency fluctuations and adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that country or group of countries. If an economic downturn occurs in a country in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Currency Risk: The values of investments in securities denominated in foreign currencies increase or decrease as the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. Dollar change. Currency conversion costs and currency fluctuations could erase investment gains or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by factors such as general economic conditions, the actions of the United States and foreign governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation. |
● | Value Investing Risk: The value approach carries the risk that the market will not recognize a security’s intrinsic value for a long time, or that a stock considered to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced. A portfolio may underperform other equity portfolios that use different investing styles. A portfolio may also underperform other equity portfolios using the value style. Value stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “growth” stocks. |
● | Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in non-U.S.-traded securities. There are risks and costs involved in investing in non-U.S.-traded securities which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in securities that trade on a U.S. exchange. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country, especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country and may be different from or greater than the risks associated with investing in developed countries. These risks may include, but are not limited to, higher transaction costs, the imposition of additional foreign taxes, less market liquidity, security registration requirements, and less comprehensive security settlement procedures and regulations, significant currency devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar, restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital, less government regulation and supervision, less public information, less economic, political and social stability, and adverse changes in diplomatic relations between the United States and that foreign country. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Japan Risk: The growth of Japan’s economy has historically lagged behind that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies. The Japanese economy is heavily dependent on international trade and has been adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies and the economic conditions of its trading partners. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times and any increase in its value may cause a decline in exports that could weaken the Japanese economy. Japan has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen. Japan’s aging and shrinking population increases the cost of the country’s pension and public welfare system and lowers domestic demand, making Japan more dependent on exports to sustain its economy. Therefore, any developments that negatively affect Japan’s exports could present risks to a fund’s investments in Japan. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | Portfolio Turnover Risk: Active and frequent trading of the Fund’s portfolio securities may lead to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions than would otherwise be the case, which could negatively affect the Fund’s performance. A high rate of portfolio turnover is 100% or more. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
For periods prior to December 8, 2023, the performance shown below is for the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Fund, LP (the “Predecessor Fund”), an unregistered limited partnership managed by the portfolio managers of the Fund. The Predecessor Fund was reorganized into the Institutional Class shares on December 8, 2023, the date that the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund commenced operations. The Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund has been managed in the same style and by the same portfolio managers since the Predecessor Fund’s inception on October 27, 2021. The Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund’s investment goals, policies, guidelines and restrictions are, in all material respects, equivalent to the Predecessor Fund’s investment goals, policies, guidelines and restrictions. The Predecessor Fund’s annual returns and long-term performance reflect the actual fees and expenses that were charged when the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund was a limited partnership. The Predecessor Fund’s performance is net of management fees and other expenses. From its inception on October 27, 2021, through December 7, 2023, the Predecessor Fund was not subject to certain investment restrictions, diversification requirements and other restrictions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which, if they had been applicable, might have adversely affected the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund’s performance.
Retail Class shares would have similar annual returns to Institutional Class shares and the Predecessor Fund because they are invested in the same portfolio of securities, however, the returns for Retail Class shares would be different from the Institutional Class shares and the Predecessor Fund because Retail Class shares have different expenses than Institutional Class shares and the Predecessor Fund. Performance information for Retail Class shares will be included after the share class has been in operation for one complete calendar year.
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance (including that of the Predecessor Fund as described above) from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one-year and since inception periods compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes and including the past performance of the Predecessor Fund) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund
Institutional Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: |
12/31/2022 |
19.20% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2022 | (14.16)% |
The returns above are for the Institutional Class of the Fund. The Retail Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Institutional Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
The Predecessor Fund was an unregistered limited partnership and, therefore, did not qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes and was not required to make regular distributions of income or capital gains. As a result, after-tax returns for the Predecessor Fund are not shown.
Segall Bryant & Hamill International Equity Fund | 1 Year | Since Inception* |
Institutional Class | ||
Return Before Taxes | 21.23% | 4.06% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 21.23% | 4.06% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 12.57% | 3.11% |
Retail Class | ||
Return Before Taxes | 21.06% | 3.92% |
MSCI EAFE Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
18.24% | 0.50% |
* | Institutional Class and Retail Class of the Fund commenced operations on December 8, 2023. For periods prior to December 8, 2023, the Institutional Class performance shown includes the Predecessor Fund which commenced operations on October 27, 2021. The performance figures for Retail Class includes the performance for Institutional Class for the periods prior to the start date of Retail Class, adjusted for the difference in Retail Class and Institutional Class expenses. Retail Class imposes higher expenses than Institutional Class. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Scott E. Decatur, Ph.D. Director of Quantitative International Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
Since inception on
December 8, 2023 |
Nicholas C. Fedako, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
Since inception on
December 8, 2023 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.65% | 0.65% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.84% | 0.70% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.59% | 0.60% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.49% | 1.35% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.60)% | (0.61)% | ||
Total Annual Fund
Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
0.89% | 0.74% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.89% and 0.74% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $91 | $412 | $756 | $1,728 |
Institutional Class | $76 | $367 | $681 | $1,571 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 24% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its net assets (including amounts borrowed for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies of any size, including small- and mid-capitalization companies as measured at the time of purchase. The Fund will primarily invest in common stock of companies traded on U.S. exchanges with market capitalization in excess of $1 billion. The MSCI World Mid Cap Index and the MSCI World Small Cap Index are indices which include companies with market capitalizations within the mid-cap and small-cap universe. The Fund will, under normal circumstances, invest at least 35% of its net assets in common stock of companies with market capitalizations similar in size to companies within the MSCI World Mid Cap Index and the MSCI World Small Cap Index. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 40% of its net assets in stocks of foreign companies drawn from at least three different countries (and at least 30% of its net assets in stocks of foreign companies if market conditions are not favorable). |
● | The Adviser invests the Fund’s assets opportunistically based on market information and does not limit its investment analysis approach to value, growth, or core investment styles. |
● | The Adviser believes that returns in excess of general market returns can be achieved by actively managing investment portfolios. The Fund invests in companies that the Adviser believes have superior growth potential and are trading at a discount to the Adviser’s estimate of the companies’ intrinsic value. |
● | The Adviser’s investment process is driven by fundamental research utilizing a combination of external and proprietary research in its selection process. Through a combination of quantitative analysis (which may encompass techniques such as evaluation of financial data or statistical/mathematical modeling), fundamental analysis (which may include assessments of a company’s holdings or key characteristics, as well as broader economic factors) and experienced judgment, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that have historically generated, or are positioned to generate, superior returns on investments. |
● | The Fund can invest in securities of companies whose stock is traded on U.S. or foreign markets, including depositary receipts or shares issued by companies incorporated outside of the United States (e.g., ADRs). |
● | The Fund considers “foreign companies” to include those domiciled outside of the United States or with the principal trading market of their securities outside of the United States. |
● | SBH also utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes ESG factors may be important drivers of value in conjunction with the underlying strength and potential of a business, however its consideration of these factors would not necessarily result in a company being included or excluded from the evaluation process but rather would contribute to the overall evaluation of that company. |
● | Stocks may be sold when conditions have changed and the company’s prospects are no longer attractive, its stock price has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Market Capitalization Risk: To the extent a Fund invests in securities issued by small-, medium- or large capitalization companies, it will be subject to the risks associated with securities issued by companies of the applicable market capitalization. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization underperform other types of investments, a Fund’s performance could be adversely impacted. |
The small- and medium-sized companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small-and medium-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets, and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small- and medium-sized stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Small- and medium-sized companies may be more thinly traded than larger, more established companies.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the stock market. Further, investments in common stocks tend to be more volatile than many other investment choices. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Equity Securities Risk: Investments in common stocks and other equity securities are particularly subject to the risk of changing economic, stock market, industry and company conditions and the risks inherent in the ability to anticipate such changes that can adversely affect the value of portfolio holdings. Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities held by the Fund will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Foreign Securities Risk: The Fund may invest in non-U.S.-traded securities. There are risks and costs involved in investing in non-U.S.-traded securities which are in addition to the usual risks inherent in securities that trade on a U.S. exchange. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country, especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country and may be different from or greater than the risks associated with investing in developed countries. These risks may include, but are not limited to, higher transaction costs, the imposition of additional foreign taxes, less market liquidity, security registration requirements, and less comprehensive security settlement procedures and regulations, significant currency devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar, restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investment income or capital, less government regulation and supervision, less public information, less economic, political and social stability, and adverse changes in diplomatic relations between the United States and that foreign country. |
● | ADR and GDR Risk: ADRs and GDRs may be subject to some of the same risks as direct investment in foreign companies, which includes international trade, currency, political, regulatory and diplomatic risks. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the foreign issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the Depository’s transaction fees. Unsponsored ADRs and GDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities, and involve additional risks because U.S. reporting requirements do not apply. In addition, the issuing bank may deduct shareholder distribution, custody, foreign currency exchange, and other fees from the payment of dividends. GDRs can involve additional currency risk since, unlike ADRs, they may not be U.S. Dollar-denominated. |
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, focus its investments in companies that are in a single sector or related sector, due to reasons such as a rebalancing or reconstitution of a benchmark index. Focusing investments in a single sector may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Country Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, focus its investments in companies that are in a single country or a small number of countries. Focusing investments in a small number of countries may make the Fund more susceptible to currency fluctuations and adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that country or group of countries. If an economic downturn occurs in a country in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Currency Risk: The Fund’s exposure to foreign markets may affect the net asset value and total return of the Fund due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Retail Class performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one, five, and ten years for both the Retail Class and the Institutional Class compared with those of unmanaged indexes of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Please note that for longer term performance numbers, prior to April 29, 2016 the Fund was known as the Westcore Blue Chip Dividend Fund, prior to April 30, 2018 the Fund was known as the Westcore Global Large-Cap Dividend Fund, and prior to September 19, 2020 the Fund was known as the Segall Bryant & Hamill Global Large Cap Fund.
Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund
Retail Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 6/30/2020 | 16.21% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (23.72)% |
The returns above are for the Retail Class of the Fund. The Institutional Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Retail Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Retail Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Retail Class; after-tax returns for the Institutional Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Global All Cap Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 21.62% | 9.94% | 7.05% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 20.49% | 7.82% | 5.17% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 13.34% | 7.46% | 5.21% |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 21.87% | 10.09% | 7.21% |
MSCI World
Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes, except foreign withholding taxes) |
23.79% | 12.80% | 8.60% |
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Suresh Rajagopal, CFA Director All/Mid Cap Strategies – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 23, 2020 |
Ralph M. Segall, CFA, CIC Chief Investment Officer – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
July 23, 2020 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
SEGALL BRYANT & HAMILL SHORT TERM PLUS FUND
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide current income and competitive total return.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.25% | 0.25% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.98% | 0.88% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.19% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.79% | 0.78% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.23% | 1.13% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.74)% | (0.73)% | ||
Total Annual Fund
Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
0.49% | 0.40% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.49% and 0.40% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense wavers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $50 | $317 | $604 | $1,423 |
Institutional Class | $41 | $287 | $552 | $1,309 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | The Fund invests 80% or more of its assets in investment-grade debt securities–those rated in the top four rating categories by at least one nationally recognized rating agency, such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (a “Rating Agency”). The dollar-weighted average quality is expected to be “Baa” or better. A “Baa” rating typically is the lowest of the four investment-grade categories. |
● | The Fund may invest up to twenty percent (20%) of its assets in high yield securities. The Fund considers “high yield” securities to include securities rated, at the time of purchase, below investment grade by at least one Rating Agency or are unrated and determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and may include securities that are already in default. |
● | The Fund expects to maintain an effective duration of between 0 and 2 years and an effective maturity of between 0 and 3 years, under normal circumstances. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in investment-grade securities with average maturities of five years or less and the dollar weighted average maturity will be three years or less. Investment-grade securities for purposes of this limitation include corporate bonds, government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, mortgage pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, taxable municipal bonds, bonds issued in the U.S. by foreign entities, and zero coupon bonds. |
● | Although the Fund normally focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated securities, the Fund may invest up to ten percent (10%) in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities. |
● | The portfolio management team implements an investment strategy that is based on bottom up research and security selection. The team opportunistically seeks inefficiencies within the bond market created by the size of the market, behaviors of large investors and the nature of over-the-counter trading. The team also opportunistically focuses on discrepancies in credit ratings provided by different credit rating agencies to provide income. |
● | The team uses a multiple step screening process and internally built modeling to identify suitable investments, taking into account financial and credit strength, operating cash flow, free cash flow stability, interest coverage and leverage ratios. The team typically focuses on publicly available data and company data rather than third-party research. The team also meets with company management teams in a variety of venues, including direct phone contact, conferences, one-on-one meetings at conferences, visits to our offices, company-site analyst days and quarterly earnings calls, to better understand potential investments. |
● | SBH utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes responsible corporate citizenship is additive to the creditworthiness of underlying issuers and contributes to our quality determination and assessment of risks, however consideration of ESG factors would not necessarily result in an issuer being included or excluded from the evaluation process. |
● | Using a collaborative approach grounded in proprietary research, the team constructs a diversified portfolio by issuer to seek to minimize issuer-specific credit risk. Potential transactions are analyzed to evaluate impact on the entire portfolio. |
● | Securities may be sold when conditions have changed, and the security’s prospects are no longer attractive, the security has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Fixed Income Securities Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund’s income may decline due to a decrease in interest rates. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the market. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that particular types of securities held will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Credit Risk: An issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when due or that the price of the security changes due to a downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer. In such cases, the value of the Fund’s portfolio could fall. |
● | Corporate Bond Risk: The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest earned on the security and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by changes in interest rates, the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates. The market value of intermediate and longer-term corporate bonds is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than is the market value of shorter-term corporate bonds. Corporate bonds are also subject to the credit risk of the issuer, as the issuer of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. |
● | Interest Rate Risk: A principal risk of investing in the Fund is that the value of a fixed income portfolio will generally decrease when interest rates rise, which means the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) will likewise decrease. Generally, debt securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with longer-term securities being more sensitive than shorter- term securities. For example, the approximate percentage change in the price of a security with a two -year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 2% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. |
● | Prepayment Risk: A general decline in interest rates may result in prepayments of certain obligations the Fund will acquire. These prepayments may require the Fund to reinvest at a lower rate of return. They may also reduce the Fund’s share price because the value of those securities may depreciate or may not appreciate as rapidly as debt securities, which cannot be prepaid. |
● | Industrial Sector Risk: The industrial sector can be significantly affected by, among other things, worldwide economic growth, supply and demand for specific products and services, rapid technological developments, international political and economic developments, environmental issues, tariffs and trade barriers, and tax and governmental regulatory policies. As the demand for, or prices of, industrials increase, the value of the Fund’s investments generally would be expected to also increase. Conversely, declines in the demand for, or prices of, industrials generally would be expected to contribute to declines in the value of such securities. Such declines may occur quickly and without warning and may negatively impact the value of the Fund and your investment. |
46
SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Sector Focus Risk: The Fund may, for finite periods and from time to time, make significant investments in a particular sector which may make the Fund more susceptible to adverse economic, business, regulatory or other developments affecting that sector. If an economic downturn occurs in a sector in which the Fund’s investments are focused, the Fund may perform poorly during that period. |
● | Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities, and by extension, the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often-complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. |
● | Below-Investment Grade Securities Risk: High-yield fixed income securities, sometimes referred to as “junk” bonds, are considered speculative. While generally providing greater income than investments in higher-quality securities, these lower quality securities involve greater risk to principal and income than higher-quality securities, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of the security. Like other fixed income securities, the value of high-yield securities will also fluctuate as interest rates rise. |
● | U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Performance Information
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Retail Class performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one - and five-years and since inception for both the Retail Class and the Institutional Class compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund
Retail Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: |
6/30/2020 |
3.41% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2020 | (2.65)% |
The returns above are for the Retail Class of the Fund. The Institutional Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Retail Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Retail Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Retail Class, after-tax returns for the Institutional Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Short Term Plus Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | Since Inception |
Inception Date |
Retail Class | ||||
Return Before Taxes | 5.09% | 1.65% | 1.67% | 12/14/18 |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 4.05% | 0.97% | 1.00% | 12/14/18 |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 3.00% | 0.97% | 0.99% | 12/14/18 |
Institutional Class | ||||
Return Before Taxes | 5.17% | 1.76% | 1.78% | 12/14/18 |
Bloomberg U.S.
Government/Credit 1-3 Year Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
4.61% | 1.51% | 1.60% |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
James D. Dadura, CFA Director of Fixed Income – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 14, 2018 |
Gregory C. Hosbein, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
December 14, 2018 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
49
SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total rate of return consistent with preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.35% | 0.35% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.35% | 0.20% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.10% | 0.10% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 0.70% | 0.55% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | ||
Total Annual Fund
Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
0.55% | 0.40% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.55% and 0.40% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $56 | $209 | $375 | $856 |
Institutional Class | $41 | $161 | $292 | $675 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 39% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | The Fund invests 65% or more of its assets in investment-grade debt securities–those rated in the top four rating categories by at least one nationally recognized rating agency, such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (a “Rating Agency”). The dollar-weighted average quality is expected to be “Baa” or better. A “Baa” rating typically is the lowest of the four investment-grade categories. The Fund may invest up to thirty-five percent (35%) of its assets in below investment-grade securities, (also known as “junk” bonds), which are securities rated below investment-grade by a Rating Agency or are unrated and determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and may include bonds that are already in default. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in bonds of varying maturities. Bonds for purposes of this limitation include corporate bonds, convertible bonds, government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and zero coupon bonds. |
● | The Fund may invest up to twenty percent (20%) in equity securities, generally in preferred stocks, but common stocks are allowed. |
● | Although the Fund normally focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated securities, the Fund may invest up to twenty-five percent (25%) in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities. |
● | The portfolio management team implements an investment strategy that is based on the belief that consistently strong risk-adjusted returns are best achieved through an emphasis on securities with higher income streams (typically non-Treasury sectors). The team seeks to deliver alpha, or risk-adjusted excess return, relative to the Fund’s benchmark, primarily through security and sector selection. However, the team opportunistically uses top-down strategies, such as increasing or decreasing exposure to interest rate changes, when market conditions are compelling. |
● | Credit analysis is at the core of the investment process, as the team believes valuation anomalies between sectors and securities are most effectively captured through proprietary fundamental research and a long-term investment orientation. The process also leverages the resources of the Adviser’s equity research teams, providing diverse perspectives and added knowledge about the securities the team analyzes. |
● | The Fund expects to maintain an effective duration of between 4 and 7 years and an effective maturity of between 7 and 12 years, under normal circumstances. |
● | Using a collaborative approach grounded in proprietary research, the team constructs a diversified portfolio by issuer to seek to minimize issuer-specific credit risk. |
● | SBH utilizes an “integrated” approach to a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) practices within its investment process alongside other non-ESG factors. SBH believes responsible corporate citizenship is additive to the creditworthiness of underlying issuers and contributes to our quality determination and assessment of risks, however consideration of ESG factors would not necessarily result in an issuer being included or excluded from the evaluation process. |
● | Securities may be sold when conditions have changed and the security’s prospects are no longer attractive, the security has achieved the team’s valuation target or better relative investment opportunities have been identified. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Risk is inherent in all investing and you could lose money by investing in the Fund. A summary description of certain principal risks of investing in the Fund is set forth below. Before you decide whether to invest in the Fund, carefully consider these risk factors associated with investing in the Fund, which may cause investors to lose money. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
● | Fixed Income Securities Risk: Fixed income securities markets may, in response to governmental intervention, economic or market developments (including potentially a reduction in the number of broker-dealers willing to engage in market-making activity), or other factors, experience periods of increased volatility and reduced liquidity. Additionally, there is a possibility that the Fund’s income may decline due to a decrease in interest rates. |
● | Market Risk: As with any fund, the value of your investment will fluctuate over time in response to overall movements in the market. The value of a security or other asset may decline due to changes in general market conditions, economic trends or events that are not specifically related to the issuer of the security or other asset, or factors that affect a particular issuer or issuers, country, group of countries, region, market industry, group of industries, sector or asset class. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infections, illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Fund and its investments. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments. |
● | Issuer Risk: The value of a security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. The value of an issuer’s security may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, disappointing earnings reports by the issuer, unsuccessful products or services, loss of major customers, major litigation against the issuer or changes in government regulations affecting the issuer or the competitive environment. |
● | Portfolio Management Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that particular types of securities held will underperform other securities and/or may decline in value. |
● | Credit Risk: An issuer may be unable to make principal and interest payments when due or that the price of the security changes due to a downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer. In such cases, the value of the Fund’s portfolio could fall. |
● | Corporate Bond Risk: The investment return of corporate bonds reflects interest earned on the security and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate bond may be affected by changes in interest rates, the credit rating of the corporation, the corporation’s performance and perceptions of the corporation in the marketplace. The market value of a corporate bond generally may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates. The market value of intermediate and longer-term corporate bonds is generally more sensitive to changes in interest rates than is the market value of shorter-term corporate bonds. Corporate bonds are also subject to the credit risk of the issuer, as the issuer of corporate bonds may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. |
● | Interest Rate Risk: A principal risk of investing in the Fund is that the value of a fixed income portfolio will generally decrease when interest rates rise, which means the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) will likewise decrease. Generally, debt securities decrease in value if interest rates rise and increase in value if interest rates fall, with longer term securities being more sensitive than shorter-term securities. For example, the approximate percentage change in the price of a security with a two-year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 2% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. |
● | Prepayment Risk: A general decline in interest rates may result in prepayments of certain obligations the Fund will acquire. These prepayments may require the Fund to reinvest at a lower rate of return. They may also reduce the Fund’s share price because the value of those securities may depreciate or may not appreciate as rapidly as debt securities, which cannot be prepaid. |
● | Extension Risk: The Fund is subject to the risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as a mortgage or asset-backed security) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. These events may lengthen the duration and potentially reduce the value of these securities. |
● | Below-Investment Grade Securities Risk: High-yield fixed income securities, sometimes referred to as “junk” bonds, are considered speculative. While generally providing greater income than investments in higher-quality securities, these lower quality securities involve greater risk to principal and income than higher-quality securities, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of the security. Like other fixed income securities, the value of high-yield securities will also fluctuate as interest rates rise. |
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
● | Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk: Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of mortgage-backed securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates, and may reduce the market value of the securities, and by extension, the value of the Fund’s portfolio. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to pre-payment risk. Due to their often-complicated structures, various mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may be difficult to value and may constitute illiquid securities. Furthermore, debtors may be entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer protection credit laws with respect to these securities, which may give the debtor the right to avoid or reduce payment. |
● | U.S. Government Securities Risk: The Fund invests in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac securities). Although U.S. government securities issued directly by the U.S. government are guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, other U.S. government securities issued by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government may not be. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. |
● | ESG Risk: The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors as part of its investment strategy may limit the types and number of investment opportunities available to the Fund and, as a result, the Fund may underperform other funds that do not consider ESG factors. The Fund’s consideration of ESG factors may result in the Fund investing in securities or industry sectors that underperform the market as a whole, or forgoing opportunities to invest in securities that might otherwise be advantageous to buy. The Fund may also underperform other funds that apply different ESG standards. |
● | Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. |
Bar Chart and Performance Tables
The following bar chart and table provide an indication of the risk of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Retail Class performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for one -, five-, and ten-years for both the Retail Class and the Institutional Class compared with those of an unmanaged index of securities. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how it will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on www.sbhfunds.com or call toll-free (800) 392-2673.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund
Retail Class - Calendar Year Total Returns as of December 31 (%)
Highest Quarterly Return: | 12/31/2023 | 7.24% |
Lowest Quarterly Return: | 3/31/2022 | (5.85)% |
The returns above are for the Retail Class of the Fund. The Institutional Class would have substantially similar annual returns to the Retail Class because the classes are invested in the same portfolio securities. The Institutional Class’ returns will be higher over the long-term when compared to the Retail Class’ returns to the extent that the Retail Class has higher expenses.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023)
After-tax returns for the Retail Class are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown only for the Retail Class, after-tax returns for the Institutional Class will be different. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Segall Bryant & Hamill Plus Bond Fund | 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years |
Retail Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 7.47% | 1.84% | 2.33% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions | 5.83% | 0.44% | 0.89% |
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 4.38% | 0.87% | 1.19% |
Institutional Class | |||
Return Before Taxes | 7.59% | 1.99% | 2.49% |
Bloomberg U.S.
Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
5.53% | 1.10% | 1.81% |
Management
Investment Adviser
Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC
Portfolio Managers
Name(s) of Portfolio Manager(s) and Title(s) | Date Began Managing the Fund |
Troy A. Johnson, CFA Director of Fixed Income Research – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
April 30, 2014 |
Darren G. Hewitson, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
March 31, 2018 |
Gregory M. Shea, CFA Senior Portfolio Manager – Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC Portfolio Manager of the Fund |
March 31, 2018 |
Other Important Information Regarding Fund Shares
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The minimum initial purchase is $2,500 for the Retail Class and $250,000 for the Institutional Class. The minimum subsequent purchase is $25 for the Retail Class (or $25 per month for automatic investment). There is no minimum subsequent purchase for the Institutional Class. You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day through the Fund’s website at www.sbhfunds.com, by telephone at (800) 392-2673, or by a systematic withdrawal plan (must be multiples of $25, and can be accomplished monthly, quarterly, or annually). You may redeem shares of the Fund on any business day by regular mail at Segall Bryant & Hamill Funds, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707.
Tax Information
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gains, qualified dividend income, or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.
Financial Intermediary Compensation - Payments to Broker-Dealers and other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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SUMMARY SECTIONS
Segall Bryant & Hamill Quality High Yield Fund
Investment Objective
The Segall Bryant & Hamill Quality High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total rate of return consistent with preservation of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Retail Class | Institutional Class | ||
Annual Account Maintenance Fee (for Retail Class accounts under $750) | $12.00 | — |
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) | ||||
Management Fees | 0.45% | 0.45% | ||
Distribution (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.55% | 0.40% | ||
Shareholder service fee(1) | 0.25% | 0.10% | ||
All other expenses | 0.30% | 0.30% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.00% | 0.85% | ||
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) | (0.15)% | (0.15)% | ||
Total Annual Fund
Operations Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements(2) |
0.85% | 0.70% |
(1) | The Retail Class and the Institutional Class of the Fund may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% and 0.10%, respectively, of average daily net assets to shareholder servicing agents. The amount listed represents the maximum fee that the Fund may pay. Refer to the “Shareholder Service Fee” section in the prospectus. |
(2) | Segall Bryant & Hamill, LLC (“SBH” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, has contractually agreed until at least April 30, 2025, to waive the investment advisory and/or administration fees and/or to reimburse other expenses (not including acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, redemption in kind processing fees, brokerage expenses, class action claim fees, tax reclaim fees, and extraordinary expenses), so that the ratio of expenses of average net assets as reported in the Fund’s Financial Highlights will be no more than 0.85% and 0.70% to the Fund’s Retail Class and Institutional Class, respectively, for such period. This agreement may not be terminated or modified by the Adviser prior to the termination date without the approval of the Board of Trustees. |
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in either the Retail Class shares or the Institutional Class shares of the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses remain the same. This Example reflects the net operating expenses with expense waivers for the one-year contractual period and the total operating expenses without expense waivers for years two through ten.
Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: | One Year | Three Years | Five Years | Ten Years |
Retail Class | $87 | $303 | $538 | $1,211 |
Institutional Class | $72 | $256 | $457 | $1,035 |
Your expenses would be the same if you did not redeem your shares.
55
SUMMARY SECTIONS
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. A higher turnover rate may also result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
● | The Fund invests in a wide variety of income-producing securities, primarily through investments in bonds (which includes, but is not limited to, corporate bonds, government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and zero coupon bonds), and to a lesser extent, through convertible bonds and equity securities, including both convertible and non-convertible preferred stock and common stock. |
● | Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least eighty percent (80%) of the value of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes in “high yield” securities. |
● | The Fund considers “high yield” securities to include securities rated, at the time of purchase, below investment grade by at least one nationally recognized rating agency, such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s (a “Rating Agency”) or are unrated and determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser and may include securities that are already in default. |
● | Although the Fund normally focuses on U.S. dollar-denominated securities, the Fund may invest up to twenty-five percent (25%) in non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities. |
● | The Fund emphasizes investments in corporate bonds, which may generate more income than government securities. Corporate bonds also provide opportunities for the portfolio management team’s research to identify companies with stable or improving credit characteristics, which may result in price appreciation. |
● | The Fund may invest in other securities, including equity securities, primarily common and preferred stock, trust preferred securities, debt issued by REITs, mortgage-backed, and asset-backed securities, which may also offer higher yield than government securities. |
● | The Fund’s portfolio management team implements an investment strategy that is based on the belief that consistently strong risk-adjusted returns are best achieved through an emphasis on securities with higher income streams (typically non-Treasury sectors). The portfolio management team seeks to deliver alpha, or risk-adjusted excess return, relative to the Fund’s benchmark, primarily through security and sector selection and, secondarily, through portfolio level decisions. |
● | Using a collaborative approach grounded in proprietary research, the team constructs a diversified portfolio with a “quality” focus by issuer to seek to minimize issuer-specific credit risk. |
● | Credit analysis is at the core of the investment process, as the team believes valuation anomalies between sectors and securities are most effectively captured through proprietary fundamental research and a long-term investment orientation. The process also leverages the resources of the Adviser’s equity research teams, providing diverse perspectives and added knowledge |