485APOS 1 scarf_485a.htm POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT RULE 485A scarf_485a.htm  

Filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2015
 
1933 Act Registration File No. 333-17391
1940 Act File No. 811-07959
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
x
Pre-Effective Amendment No.         
¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. 672  
x
and
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
x
Amendment No. 674 
x
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
 
 
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(Registrant’s Telephone Numbers, Including Area Code) (414) 765-6609
 
Douglas G. Hess, President
Advisors Series Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 5th Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
Copies to:
 
Domenick Pugliese, Esq.
Paul Hastings LLP
75 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
 
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
 
[  ]
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[  ]
on _____________ pursuant to paragraph (b)
[  ]
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[  ]
On ____________ pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ x ]
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[  ]
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box

[   ]
this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

Explanatory Note:  This Post-Effective Amendment No. 672 to the Registration Statement of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is being filed for the purpose of adding a new series to the Trust: Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund.
 
 
 

 
 
Subject to Completion October 16, 2015
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission becomes effective.  This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
 
 
 
PROSPECTUS
December [  ], 2015

 
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
 
Retail Class – [            ]
 
Institutional Class – [            ]




The Fund is a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”)







The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Investment Objective
The Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund (the “Alpha Opportunity Fund” or the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation and to provide returns above inflation while exposing investors to less volatility than typical equity investments.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Alpha Opportunity Fund.

   
Retail
Class
 
Institutional
Class
SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held for 15 days or less)
 
2.00%
 
2.00%
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees
 
0.99%
 
0.99%
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees
 
0.25%
 
None
Other Expenses (includes Interest Expense and Dividends on Securities Sold Short and Shareholder Servicing Plan Fees)(1)
 
5.97%
 
5.97%
      Interest Expense and Dividends on Securities Sold Short
  1.24%
     
  1.24%
   
      Shareholder Servicing Plan Fee
  0.10%
     
  0.10%
   
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(1)
 
0.03%
 
0.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
 
7.24%
 
6.99%
      Less: Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(2)
 
-4.97%
 
-4.97%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Waiver and Expense Reimbursement
 
2.27%
 
2.02%
(1)  
Other expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses (“AFFE”) are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. AFFE are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.
(2)  
Scharf Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest expense, dividends on securities sold short, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.00% of average daily net assets of the Retail Class shares and 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares (the “Expense Caps”).  The Expense Caps will remain in effect through January 27, 2017, after which the Expense Caps will increase to 1.50% of average daily net assets of the Retail Class shares and 1.25% of average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares through at least  January 27, 2018. The Expense Caps may be terminated only by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust.  The Adviser may request recoupment of previously waived fees and expenses from the Alpha Opportunity Fund for three years from the date they were waived or paid, subject to the Expense Caps.

Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Alpha Opportunity Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in 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 operating expenses remain the same (taking into account the Expense Caps only in the first year).  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:
 
 
 
1 Year
3 Years
Retail Class
$230
$812
Institutional Class
$205
$737

Portfolio Turnover
The Alpha Opportunity 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 and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  As the Fund is new, it does not have any portfolio turnover as of the date of this Prospectus.

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Under normal market conditions, the Alpha Opportunity Fund primarily invests in equity securities that the Adviser believes have significantly more appreciation potential than downside risk over the long term.  Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, common and preferred stock of companies of all market capitalizations, rights and warrants.  There are no geographic limits on the Fund’s investments, and the Fund may invest without limit in securities of companies located both in the U.S. and abroad and in developed or emerging markets. Such foreign securities may be listed on foreign exchanges as well as in the form of depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”).

The Alpha Opportunity Fund also takes short positions in one or more exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that mimic broad market indices such as the Standards and Poor's ("S&P") 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index, or a narrower market index such as the S&P 100® Index. Under normal market conditions, the net long exposure of the Fund (gross long exposures minus gross short exposures) is expected to range between +30% and +70% net long.  Through this short position in ETFs, the Fund may utilize leverage of no more than 30% of the Fund’s total assets as part of the portfolio management process.

In general, the Adviser utilizes five key elements in its equity investment philosophy: low valuation, discount to fair value, investment flexibility, focus and long-term perspective.  Through a proprietary screening process, the Adviser seeks to identify investments with low valuations combined with growing earnings, cash flow and/or book value which the Adviser describes as “growth stocks at value prices.”  The Alpha Opportunity Fund may also invest in “special situations,” which may occur when the securities of a company are affected by circumstances, including, but not limited to, hidden assets (i.e., assets that may be undervalued on a company’s balance sheet or otherwise difficult to value and therefore not properly reflected in the company’s share price), spinoffs, liquidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations, mergers, management changes and technological changes.

In addition, the Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in fixed-income securities.  Fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, those of domestic and foreign governments, government agencies, inflation-protected securities, asset-backed securities, exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), money market instruments, convertible securities, bank debt, limited partnerships, municipalities and companies across a wide range of industries, market capitalizations and maturities and may include those that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”).

The Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities, money market mutual funds and money market instruments due to a lack of suitable investment opportunities or for temporary defensive purposes.

When selling securities, the Adviser considers the same factors it uses in evaluating a security for purchase and generally sells securities that it believes no longer have sufficient upside potential. 
 
 
The Alpha Opportunity Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund.  Investing in fewer issuers makes a fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuers and may cause the Fund’s share price to be more volatile than the share price of a diversified fund.

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Losing all or a portion of your investment is a risk of investing in the Alpha Opportunity Fund.  The following additional risks could affect the value of your investment:
 
·
Market Risk. The prices of the securities in which the Alpha Opportunity Fund invests may decline for a number of reasons.  These reasons may include changing economic circumstances and/or perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers.
 
·
Management Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund is an actively managed portfolio.  The Adviser’s management practices and investment strategies might not produce the desired results.  The Adviser may be incorrect in its assessment of a stock’s appreciation potential.
 
·
Leverage Risk.  Leverage is investment exposure which exceeds the initial amount invested.  Leverage can cause the portfolio to lose more than the principal amount invested.  Leverage can magnify the portfolio’s gains and losses and therefore increase its volatility.
 
·
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund is non-diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  To the extent that the Fund invests its assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities become permanently impaired.
 
·
Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk.  The risks of investing in the securities of foreign issuers can include fluctuations in foreign currencies, foreign currency exchange controls, political and economic instability, differences in securities regulation and trading, and foreign taxation issues.  These risks are greater in emerging markets.
 
·
Foreign Currency Risk.  Currency movements may negatively impact value even when there is no change in value of the security in the issuer’s home country.  Currency management strategies may substantially change the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s exposure to currency exchange rates and could result in losses to the Fund if currencies do not perform as the Adviser expects.
 
·
Short Sales Risk.  A short sale is the sale by the Alpha Opportunity Fund of a security which it does not own in anticipation of purchasing the same security in the future at a lower price to close the short position.  A short sale will be successful if the price of the shorted security decreases.  However, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period in which the short position is outstanding, the Fund will realize a loss.  The risk on a short sale is unlimited because the Fund must buy the shorted security at the higher price to complete the transaction.  Therefore, short sales may be subject to greater risks than investments in long positions.
 
·
Small- and Medium-Sized Company Risk.  Small- and medium-sized companies often have less predictable earnings, more limited product lines, markets, distribution channels or financial resources and the management of such companies may be dependent upon one or few key people.  The market movements of equity securities of small- and medium-sized companies may be more abrupt and volatile than the market movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the stock market in general and small-sized companies in particular, are generally less liquid than the equity securities of larger companies.
 
·
Investment Style Risk.  The Adviser follows an investing style that favors relatively low valuations.  At times when this style is out of favor, the Alpha Opportunity Fund may underperform funds that use different investing styles.
 
·
Investment Company Risk.  When the Alpha Opportunity Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees.  The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds.  The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs.
 
 
·
Fixed-Income Securities Risk.  The following risks are associated with the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s investment in fixed-income securities.
 
o
Prepayment and Extension Risk.  The risk that the securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected.  Either situation could cause securities to pay lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s yield or share price.
 
o
Interest Rate Risk.  Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed-income securities will decline in value because of changes in interest rates.  It is likely there will be less governmental action in the near future to maintain low interest rates.  The negative impact on fixed-income securities from the resulting rate increases for that and other reasons could be swift and significant.
 
o
Credit Risk.  Credit risk is the risk of loss on an investment due to the deterioration of an issuer’s financial health.  Such a deterioration of financial health may result in a reduction of the credit rating of the issuer’s securities and may lead to the issuer’s inability to honor its contractual obligations including making timely payment of interest and principal.
 
o
High-Yield Securities Risk.  Fixed-income securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors due to the speculative nature of these securities, such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.
 
o
Municipal Securities Risk.  Municipal securities rely on the creditworthiness or revenue production of their issuers or auxiliary credit enhancement features.  Municipal securities may be difficult to obtain because of limited supply, which may increase the cost of such securities and effectively reduce a portfolio’s yield.  Typically, less information is available about a municipal issuer than is available for other types of securities issuers.
 
o
Asset-Backed Securities Risk.  Asset-Backed Securities Risk includes Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, and Prepayment Risk (i.e., homeowners whose mortgages collateralize the securities held by the Alpha Opportunity Fund may be able to prepay principal due on these mortgages, which could cause the Fund to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields).
 
o
Exchange-Traded Note Risk.  The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced index.  In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by the Alpha Opportunity Fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.
 
o
Bank Debt Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund’s investments in secured and unsecured assignments of bank debt may create substantial risk.  In making investments in such debt, which are loans made by banks or other financial intermediaries to borrowers, the Fund will depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest.
 
o
Inflation Protected Securities Risk.  Inflation protected securities include the risk that the rate of inflation will be lower than expected or that the relevant index intended to measure the rate of inflation will be accurately measure the rate of inflation and the securities will not work as intended.
 
o
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the liquidity of these securities may become impaired, making it more difficult for the Alpha Opportunity Fund to sell these securities.
 
o
Convertible Bond Risk.  Convertible bonds are hybrid securities that have characteristics of both bonds and common stocks and are therefore subject to both debt security risks and equity risk.  Convertible bonds are subject to equity risk especially when their conversion value is greater than the interest and principal value of the bond.  The prices of equity securities may rise or fall because of economic or political changes and may decline over short or extended periods of time.
 
 
·
Special Situations Risk.  There is a risk that the special situation (i.e., spin-off, liquidation, merger, etc.) might not occur, which could have a negative impact on the price of the issuer’s securities and fail to produce gains or produce a loss for the Alpha Opportunity Fund.  In addition, investments in special situation companies may be illiquid and difficult to value, which will require the Fund to employ fair value procedures to value its holdings in such investments.

Performance
When the Fund has been in operation for a full calendar year, performance information will be shown here.  Updated performance information will be available on the Fund’s website at www.scharffunds.com or by calling the Fund toll-free at 866-5SCHARF.

Management
Investment Adviser:  Scharf Investments, LLC is the investment adviser of the Alpha Opportunity Fund.

Portfolio Manager: Brian A. Krawez, CFA (President and Lead Equity Manager) is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and he has managed the Fund since its inception in [December 2015].

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701), by telephone at 866-5SCHARF or through a financial intermediary.  You may also purchase or redeem Fund shares by wire transfer.  Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly.  The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are shown below.

Type of Account
To Open Your Account
To Add to Your Account
Retail Class
   
Regular
$10,000
$500
Automatic Investment Plan
$5,000
$100
Retirement Accounts
$5,000
$500
Institutional Class
$5,000,000
Any amount

Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you invest through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account (“IRA”).  Distributions on investments made through tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of assets from those accounts.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary the Fund and/or the Adviser 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.
 
 

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Alpha Opportunity Fund primarily invests in equity securities that the Adviser believes have significantly more appreciation potential than downside risk over the long term.  Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, common and preferred stocks of companies of all market capitalizations, convertible securities, rights and warrants.  The Fund may invest without limit in securities of foreign issuers, including in issuers in emerging markets.  Such foreign securities may be listed on foreign exchanges as well in the form of depositary receipts, such as ADRs, EDRs and GDRs.

The Alpha Opportunity Fund also takes short positions in one or more  ETFs that mimic broad market indices such as the Standards and Poor's ("S&P") 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index, or a narrower market index such as the S&P 100® Index.  Under normal market conditions, the net long exposure of the Fund (gross long exposures minus gross short exposures) is expected to range between +30% and +70% net long.  Through this short position in ETFs, the Fund may utilize leverage of no more than 30% of the Fund’s total assets as part of the portfolio management process.

In addition, the Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in fixed-income securities.  Fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, those of domestic and foreign governments, government agencies, inflation-protected securities, asset-backed securities, ETNs, money market instruments, convertible securities, bank debt, limited partnerships, municipalities and companies across a wide range of industries, market capitalizations and maturities and may include those that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”).

Through a proprietary screening process, the Adviser seeks to identify investments with low valuations combined with growing earnings, cash flow and/or book value which the Adviser describes as “growth stocks at value prices.”  The Adviser regularly screens for stocks that satisfy its criteria.  Generally only a small fraction of the stocks screened meet the Adviser’s criteria and qualify for further fundamental research.  Such research consists of qualitative confirmation of the potential identified by the screen.  This may include examination of a company’s annual reports and other shareholder materials as well as contacting the company’s management.

In general, the Adviser utilizes five key elements in its investment philosophy:

1.  
Low Valuation – The Adviser employs a bottom-up, valuation-oriented investment strategy.  The Adviser believes that companies with low valuation ratios (low price to earnings, low price to cash and low price to book value) outperform stocks with higher valuations over the long term.
2.
Discount to Fair Value – Because value may not be easy to discern and may not be precisely quantifiable, the Adviser attempts to purchase securities trading at a significant discount to what the Adviser believes to be fair value.  By purchasing securities only when they are at a significant discount to fair value, the Adviser hopes to mitigate downside risk.
3.  
Investment Flexibility - Opportunities are not confined within style boxes.  The Adviser searches for compelling investments in companies large and small, foreign and domestic.  The Adviser’s proprietary screen applies across the investment spectrum.
4.  
Focus – The Alpha Opportunity Fund will typically be constructed with only the Adviser’s top ideas at the time of purchase.  The Adviser believes that owning too many stocks can be counterproductive to enhancing the risk/reward profile of the Fund.
5.  
Long-Term Perspective – The Adviser believes that the appropriate measurement period for the success of its investment strategy is a complete market cycle; that is, from peak to the succeeding peak or a trough to the succeeding trough.  This may enable the Adviser to take advantage of opportunities that investors with shorter time horizons may overlook.
 
 
The Alpha Opportunity Fund may also invest in “special situations,” which may occur when the securities of a company are affected by circumstances including, but not limited to, hidden assets (i.e., assets that may be undervalued on a company’s balance sheet or otherwise difficult to value and therefore not properly reflected in the company’s share price), spinoffs, liquidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations, mergers, management changes and technological changes.  Valuation of securities experiencing special situations may include, but is not limited to, sum-of-the-parts analysis, comparables and liquidation value.

When selling securities, the Adviser considers the same factors it uses in evaluating a security for purchase and generally sells securities that it believes no longer have sufficient upside potential. 

The Alpha Opportunity Fund is non-diversified, which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund.  Investing in fewer issuers makes a fund more susceptible to financial, economic or market events impacting such issuers and may cause the Fund’s share price to be more volatile than the share price of a diversified fund.

Cash and Cash Equivalent Holdings
The Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities, money market mutual funds and money market instruments due to a lack of suitable investment opportunities or for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions.  This may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective and the Fund’s performance may be negatively affected as a result.

To the extent that the Alpha Opportunity Fund uses a money market fund or an exchange-traded fund for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s or exchange-traded fund’s management fees and operational expenses.

The Alpha Opportunity Fund may also use other investment strategies and invest its assets in other types of investments, which are described in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
The principal risks of investing in the Alpha Opportunity Fund that may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) or total return were previously summarized and are discussed in more detail below.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

Market Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund is designed for long-term investors who can accept the risks of investing in a portfolio with significant common stock holdings.  Common stocks tend to be more volatile than other investment choices such as bonds and money market instruments.  The value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate as a result of the movement of the overall stock market or of the value of the individual securities held by the Fund, and you could lose money.

Management Risk.  Management risk describes the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s ability to meet investment objectives based on the Adviser’s success or failure at implementing investment strategies for the Fund.  The value of your investment is subject to the effectiveness of the Adviser’s research, analysis, asset allocation among portfolio securities and ability to identify a stock’s appreciation potential.  If the Adviser’s investment strategies do not produce the expected results, your investment could be diminished.

Leverage Risk. Leverage is the practice of borrowing money to purchase securities.  Leverage can increase the investment returns of the Alpha Opportunity Fund if the securities purchased increase in value in an amount exceeding the cost of the borrowing.  However, if the securities decrease in value, the Fund will suffer a greater loss than would have resulted without the use of leverage.  Leverage can magnify the portfolio’s gains and losses and therefore increase its volatility.
 
 
Non-Diversification Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund intends to invest in a limited number of securities.  Accordingly, the Fund may have more volatility and is considered to have more risk than a fund that invests in a greater number of securities because changes in the value of a single security may have a more significant effect, either negative or positive, on the Fund’s NAV.  To the extent that the Fund invests in assets in fewer securities, the Fund is subject to greater risk of loss if any of those securities become permanently impaired.

Because the Alpha Opportunity Fund is considered to be “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may also have a greater percentage of its assets invested in any single company or any single industry than a diversified fund, exposing the Fund to risks particular to such a company or industry.  Additionally, the NAV of a non-diversified fund generally is more volatile.  Lack of broad diversification also may cause the Fund to be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory, liquidity or other events than a diversified fund.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest a portion of its total assets in securities of foreign issuers.  Securities of foreign issuers may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in currencies other than U.S. dollars.  Investments in securities of foreign issuers present certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers.  These risks include fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, political, economic or legal developments (including war or other instability, expropriation of assets, nationalization and confiscatory taxation), the imposition of foreign exchange limitations (including currency blockage), withholding taxes on income or capital transactions or other restrictions, higher transaction costs (including higher brokerage, custodial and settlement costs and currency conversion costs) and possible difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations or taking judicial action.  Securities of foreign issuers may not be as liquid and may be more volatile than comparable securities of domestic issuers.
 
In addition, there often is less publicly available information about many foreign issuers, and issuers of foreign securities are subject to different, often less comprehensive, auditing, accounting and financial reporting disclosure requirements than domestic issuers.  There is generally less government regulation of exchanges, brokers and listed companies abroad than in the United States and, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, or diplomatic developments which could affect investment in those countries.  Because there is usually less supervision and governmental regulation of foreign exchanges, brokers and dealers than there is in the United States, the Alpha Opportunity Fund may experience settlement difficulties or delays not usually encountered in the United States.
 
Delays in making trades in securities of foreign issuers relating to volume constraints, limitations or restrictions, clearance or settlement procedures, or otherwise, could impact returns and result in temporary periods when assets of the Alpha Opportunity Fund are not fully invested or attractive investment opportunities are foregone.
 
The Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest in securities of issuers determined by the Adviser to be in developing or emerging market countries.  Investments in securities of issuers in developing or emerging market countries are subject to greater risks than investments in securities of developed countries since emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature and political systems that are less stable than developed countries.
 
The Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest in securities of foreign issuers in the form of depositary receipts.  Depositary receipts involve substantially identical risks to those associated with direct investment in securities of foreign issuers.  In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.
 
 
Foreign Currency Risk.  Since the Alpha Opportunity Fund may invest in securities denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Fund may be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates (and exchange control regulations) which affect the value of investments in the Fund and the accrued income and appreciation or depreciation of the investments.  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in that currency and the Fund’s return on such assets as well as any temporary un-invested reserves in bank deposits in foreign currencies.  In addition, the Fund will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.

Short Sales Risk. A short sale will be successful if the price of the shorted security decreases.  However, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period in which the short position is outstanding, the Alpha Opportunity Fund will realize a loss.  The risk on a short sale is unlimited because the Fund must buy the shorted security at the higher price to complete the transaction.  Therefore, short sales may be subject to greater risks than investments in long positions.  With a long position, the maximum sustainable loss is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum attainable price of the shorted security.  The Fund would also incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short.  In addition, if the Fund sells securities short, it must maintain a segregated account with its custodian containing cash or high-grade securities equal to (i) the greater of the current market value of the securities sold short or the market value of such securities at the time they were sold short, less (ii) any collateral deposited with the Fund’s broker (not including the proceeds from the short sales).  The Fund may be required to add to the segregated account as the market price of a shorted security increases.  As a result of maintaining and adding to its segregated account, the Fund may maintain higher levels of cash or liquid assets (for example, U.S. Treasury bills, repurchase agreements, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions) for collateral needs thus reducing its overall managed assets available for trading purposes.  In lieu of maintaining cash or liquid assets in a segregated account to cover a Fund’s short sale obligations, the Fund may earmark cash or liquid assets on the Fund’s records or hold offsetting positions.

Small- and Medium-Sized Company Risk.  The securities of smaller or medium-sized companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger-sized companies or the market averages in general.  In addition, such companies typically are subject to a greater degree of change in earnings and business prospects than are larger companies.  Thus, to the extent the Alpha Opportunity Fund invests in smaller or medium-sized companies, the Fund may be subject to greater investment risk than that assumed through investment in the equity securities of larger-sized companies.

Investment Style Risk.  Stocks with relatively low valuations may perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks.  At times when these securities are out of favor, the Alpha Opportunity Fund may underperform funds that use different investing styles. Investing in such undervalued securities involves risks that such securities may never reach their expected market value, either because the market fails to recognize a security’s intrinsic worth or the expected value is overestimated.  Such securities may decline in value even though they are already undervalued.

Investment Company Risk.  If the Alpha Opportunity Fund invests in shares of another mutual fund, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.  The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs.  Furthermore, investments in other mutual funds could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to shareholders and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by investors in the Fund.
 
 
When the Alpha Opportunity Fund invests in an ETF, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees.  The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities it holds.  Many ETFs seek to replicate a specific benchmark index.  However, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index for many reasons.  These reasons include the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of stocks held.  Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in an ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities it holds.  In addition, because of ETF expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly, it may be more costly to own an ETF.

Fixed-Income Securities Risk.  The following risks are associated with the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s investment in fixed-income securities:

·
Prepayment and Extension Risk.  Subject to the risk that the securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected.  Either situation could cause securities to pay lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s yield or share price.  In addition, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of certain fixed-income securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates.  As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, the Fund may exhibit additional volatility.  When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their fixed-income securities sooner than expected.  This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates.

·
Interest Rate Risk.   Bond prices generally rise when interest rates decline and decline when interest rates rise.  The longer the duration of a bond, the more a change in interest rates affects the bond’s price.  Short-term and long-term interest rates may not move the same amount and may not move in the same direction.  It is likely there will be less governmental action in the near future to maintain low interest rates, or that governmental actions will be less effective in maintaining low interest rates.  The negative impact on fixed income securities from the resulting rate increases for that and other reasons could be swift and significant, including falling market values and reduced liquidity.  Substantial redemptions from bond and other income funds may worsen that impact.  Other types of securities also may be adversely affected from an increase in interest rates.

·
Credit Risk.  Credit risk is the risk of loss on an investment due to the deterioration of an issuer’s financial health.  Such a deterioration of financial health may result in a reduction of the credit rating of the issuer’s securities and may lead to the issuer’s inability to honor its contractual obligations including making timely payment of interest and/or principal.  There is also the risk that the securities could lose value because of a loss of confidence in the ability of the issuer to pay back interest and/or principal.  Lower rated fixed-income securities involve greater credit risk, including the possibility of default or bankruptcy.

·
High-Yield Securities Risk.  Fixed-income securities receiving below investment grade ratings (i.e., “junk bonds”) may have speculative characteristics, and, compared to higher-grade securities, may have a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments due to adverse economic conditions or other circumstances.  High-yield, high risk, and lower-rated securities are subject to additional risk factors due to the speculative nature of these securities, such as increased possibility of default, decreased liquidity, and fluctuations in value due to public perception of the issuer of such securities.  These securities are almost always uncollateralized and subordinate to other debt that an issuer may have outstanding.  In addition, both individual high-yield securities and the entire high-yield bond market can experience sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, or, a higher profile default.
 
 
·
Municipal Securities Risk.  Municipal securities rely on the creditworthiness or revenue production of their issuers or auxiliary credit enhancement features.  Municipal securities may be difficult to obtain because of limited supply, which may increase the cost of such securities and effectively reduce a portfolio’s yield.  Typically, less information is available about a municipal issuer than is available for other types of securities issuers.  Failure of a municipal security issuer to comply with applicable tax requirements may make income paid thereon taxable, resulting in a decline in the security’s value.  In addition, there could be changes in applicable tax laws or tax treatments that reduce or eliminate the current federal income tax exemption on municipal securities or otherwise adversely affect the current federal or state tax status of municipal securities.

·
Asset-Backed Securities Risk.   Asset-Backed Securities Risk includes Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Prepayment Risk (i.e., homeowners whose mortgages collateralize the securities held by the Alpha Opportunity Fund may be able to prepay principal due on these mortgages, which could cause the Fund to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields), as well as the risk that the structure of certain mortgage-backed securities may make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, making their prices very volatile.  Under certain adverse market conditions, asset-backed securities may have more limited liquidity than usual.

·
Exchange-Traded Note Risk.  ETNs are subject to the credit risk of the issuer.  The value of an ETN will vary and will be influenced by its time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities, currency and commodities markets as well as changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index.  There may be restrictions on the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which is meant to be held until maturity.  The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.

·
Bank Debt Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund’s investments in assignments of secured and unsecured bank debt may create substantial risk.  In making investments in such debt, which are loans made by banks or other financial intermediaries to borrowers, the Fund will depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest.  If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price could be adversely affected.  The Fund may invest in debt that is rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or are unrated, and may invest in debt of any credit quality, including “distressed” companies with respect to which there is a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.  In addition, certain bank debt in which the Fund may invest may be illiquid and, therefore, difficult to value and/or sell at a price that is beneficial to the Fund.

·
Inflation Protected Securities Risk.  Inflation protected securities are intended to protect against inflation by adjusting the interest or principal payable on the security by an amount based upon an index intended to measure the rate of inflation.  There is always the risk that the rate of inflation will be lower than expected or that the relevant index intended to measure the rate of inflation will not accurately measure the rate of inflation and the securities will not work as intended.

·
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities.  Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the trading market may not continue and the Alpha Opportunity Fund might be unable to dispose of these securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requirements.
 
 
·
Convertible Bond Risk.  Convertible bonds are hybrid securities that have characteristics of both bonds and common stocks and are therefore subject to both debt security risk and conversion value-related equity risk.  Convertible bonds are similar to other fixed-income securities because they usually pay a fixed interest rate and are obligated to repay principal on a given date in the future.  The market value of fixed-income securities tends to decline as interest rates increase.  Convertible bonds are particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates when their conversion to equity feature is small relative to the interest and principal value of the bond.  Convertible issuers may not be able to make principal and interest payments on the bond as they become due.  Convertible bonds may also be subject to prepayment or redemption risk.  If a convertible bond held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Alpha Opportunity Fund will be required to surrender the security for redemption and convert it into the issuing company’s common stock or cash at a time that may be unfavorable to the Fund.  Convertible securities have characteristics similar to common stocks especially when their conversion value is greater than the interest and principal value of the bond.  The prices of equity securities may rise or fall because of economic or political changes.  Stock prices in general may decline over short or even extended periods of time.  Market prices of equity securities in broad market segments may be adversely affected by a prominent issuer having experienced losses or by the lack of earnings or such an issuer’s failure to meet the market’s expectations with respect to new products or services, or even by factors wholly unrelated to the value or condition of the issuer, such as changes in interest rates.  When a convertible bond’s value is more closely tied to its conversion to stock feature, it is sensitive to the underlying stock’s price.

Special Situations Risk.   Investments in special situations may involve greater risks when compared to the Alpha Opportunity Fund’s other strategies due to a variety of factors.  Mergers, reorganizations, liquidations, or recapitalizations may not be completed on the terms originally contemplated, or may fail.  Expected developments may not occur in a timely manner, or at all.  Transactions may take longer than originally anticipated, resulting in lower annualized returns than contemplated at the time of investment.  Furthermore, failure to anticipate changes in the circumstances affecting these types of investments may result in permanent loss of capital, where the Fund may be unable to recoup some or all of its investment, producing a loss for the Fund.  In addition, investments in special situation companies may be illiquid and difficult to value, which will require the Fund to employ fair value procedures to value its holdings in such investments.

New Fund Risk.  The Alpha Opportunity Fund is new with no operating history.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund.  The Board can liquidate the Fund without shareholder vote and, while shareholder interests will be the paramount consideration, the timing of any liquidation may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.


A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s SAI.  Currently, disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual report and semi-annual report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  The annual and semi-annual reports are available by contacting the Scharf Funds, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701, or calling 866-5SCHARF and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  A complete description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.
 
 

Investment Adviser
Scharf Investments, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser and is located at 5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140, Scotts Valley, California 95066.  The Adviser is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm which was established in 2009 when it succeeded the investment advisory business founded by Jeffrey Scharf in 1983.  The Adviser provides investment management services to individuals, high net worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations.

The Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.  The Adviser also furnishes the Fund with office space and certain administrative services and provides most of the personnel needed to fulfill its obligations under its advisory agreement.  For its services, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual management fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to a rate of 0.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

A discussion regarding the basis of the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2016.

The Fund, as a series of the Trust, does not hold itself out as related to any other series of the Trust for purposes of investment and investor services, other than the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund (collectively, the “Scharf Funds”), nor does it share the same investment adviser with any other series other than the Scharf Funds.

Portfolio Manager
Brian A. Krawez, CFA, is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.  Mr. Krawez is President and Lead Equity Manager of the Adviser.  He has been with the Adviser since 2007.  Mr. Krawez earned both his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley.

The SAI provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and his ownership of securities in the Fund.

Fund Expenses
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  However, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and pay Fund expenses through at least January 27, 2017, to limit Annual Fund Operating Expenses of the Fund (excluding AFFE, interest expense, dividend on securities sold short, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to 1.00% of average daily net assets of the Retail Class shares and 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares. After January 27, 2017, the Expense Caps will increase to 1.50% of average daily net assets of the Retail Class shares and 1.25% of average daily net assets of the Institutional Class shares through at least January 27, 2018.

The term of the Fund’s operating expenses limitation agreement, subject to its annual approval by the Board, is indefinite, and it can only be terminated by the Board.  Any waiver in management fees or payment of Fund expenses made by the Adviser may be recouped by the Adviser in subsequent fiscal years if the Adviser so requests.  This recoupment may be requested if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the recoupment) does not exceed the Expense Cap.  The Adviser may request recoupment for management fee waivers and Fund expense payments made in the prior three fiscal years from the date the fees were waived and expenses were paid.  Any such recoupment is contingent upon the subsequent review and approval of the recouped amounts by the Board.
 
 
Similarly Managed Account Performance
The Fund is managed in a manner that is substantially similar to certain other accounts managed by the Adviser.  The Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite has investment objectives, policies, strategies and risks substantially similar to those of the Alpha Opportunity Fund. Scharf Investments, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the individual responsible for the management of the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite is the same individual responsible for the management of the Fund.  You should not consider the past performance of the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite as indicative of the future performance of the Fund.

The following table sets forth performance data relating to the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite which represents all of the accounts managed by the Adviser in a substantially similar manner to the Fund.  The data is provided to illustrate the past performance of the Adviser in managing substantially similar accounts as measured against an appropriate index, and does not represent the performance of the Fund.  The Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite is not subject to the same types of expenses to which the Fund is subject, the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite is rebalanced differently and less frequently than the Fund which will affect, among other things, transaction costs and may affect the comparability of performance, nor is the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Consequently, the performance results for the Scharf Hedged Strategy Composite expressed below could have been adversely affected if it had been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws.

Scharf Investments, LLC
Hedged Strategy Composite(1)

 
YTD as of
9/30/15(2)
As of 12/31/14 (annualized)(2)
One Year
Three Years
Five Years
Since
9/30/2009
Hedged Strategy Composite (Gross)
1.88%
9.87%
11.16%
8.85%
9.44%
Hedged Strategy Composite (Net)(2)
0.95%
8.95%
10.29%
8.06%
8.69%
HFRX Equity Hedge Index(3)
-3.13%
1.42%
5.71%
0.81%
1.04%
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index(4)
1.13%
5.97%
2.66%
4.45%
4.27%
S&P 500® Index(5)
-5.29%
13.68%
20.41%
15.45%
15.94%
(1)  
As of December 31, 2014, the Hedged Strategy Composite was comprised of 8 accounts with approximately $9.3 million in assets.
(2)  
Performance shown is net of actual fees paid by clients.
(3)  
The HFRX Equity Hedge Index strategies maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities. A wide variety of investment processes can be employed to arrive at an investment decision, including both quantitative and fundamental techniques; strategies can be broadly diversified or narrowly focused on specific sectors and can range broadly in terms of levels of net exposure, leverage employed, holding period, concentrations of market capitalizations and valuation ranges of typical portfolios. Equity Hedge managers would typically maintain at least 50%, and may in some cases be substantially entirely invested in equities, both long and short.
(4)  
The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad based index composed of U.S. dollar denominated, investment grade, fixed-rate taxable bonds which includes treasuries, government-related securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
(5)  
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to represent the broad domestic market.  You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
The Hedged Strategy Composite includes fully discretionary fee paying equity accounts.  Returns of the Hedged Strategy Composite are presented gross and net of management fees.  Performance includes the reinvestment of dividends and other income and the deduction of trading commissions and other costs.
 
 
The fees and expenses associated with an investment in the Hedged Strategy Composite are lower than the fees and expenses (after taking into account the Expense Cap) associated with an investment in the Fund, so that if the Hedged Strategy Composite’s expenses were adjusted for these Fund expenses, its performance would have been slightly lower during the periods shown.

Scharf Investments, LLC claims compliance with Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®).  The GIPS® method of calculating performance differs from the SEC’s standardized method of calculating performance and may produce different results.  The U.S. dollar is the currency used to express performance of the Equity Composite.  The Adviser’s compliance with GIPS® standards has been verified for the period January 1, 1997 through December 31, 2014.

To obtain a compliant presentation and/or the firm’s list of composite descriptions, please contact Scharf Investments, LLC at 1-831-429-6513.


Pricing of Fund Shares
Shares of the Fund are sold at NAV per share, which is calculated as of the close of regular trading (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for unrestricted business.  However, the Fund’s NAV may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the SEC.  The NYSE is closed on weekends and most national holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  The NAV will not be calculated on days when the NYSE is closed for trading.

Purchase and redemption requests are priced based on the next NAV per share calculated after receipt of such requests.  The NAV is the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets, minus all expenses and liabilities (assets – liabilities = NAV).  NAV per share is determined by dividing NAV by the number of shares outstanding (NAV/ # of shares = NAV per share).  The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management and administration fees, which are accrued daily.

In calculating the NAV, portfolio securities are valued using current market values or official closing prices, if available.  Each security owned by the Fund that is listed on a securities exchange, including ADRs, EDRs, and GDRs, is valued at its last sale price on that exchange on the date as of which assets are valued.  Where the security is listed on more than one exchange, the Fund will use the price of the exchange that the Fund generally considers to be the principal exchange on which the security is traded.

When market quotations are not readily available, a security or other asset is valued at its fair value as determined under procedures approved by the Board.  These fair value procedures will also be used to price a security when corporate events, events in the securities market and/or world events cause the Adviser to believe that a security’s last sale price may not reflect its actual market value.  The intended effect of using fair value pricing procedures is to ensure that the Fund is accurately priced.  The Board will regularly evaluate whether the Fund’s fair valuation pricing procedures continue to be appropriate in light of the specific circumstances of the Fund and the quality of prices obtained through its application by the Trust’s Valuation Committee.

Trading in Foreign Securities
In the case of foreign securities, the occurrence of certain events after the close of foreign markets, but prior to the time the Fund’s NAV per share is calculated (such as a significant surge or decline in the U.S. or other markets) often will result in an adjustment to the trading prices of foreign securities when foreign markets open on the following business day.  If such events occur, the Fund will value foreign securities at fair value, taking into account such events, in calculating the NAV per share.  In such cases, use of fair valuation can reduce an investor’s ability to seek to profit by estimating the Fund’s NAV per share in advance of the time the NAV per share is calculated.  The Adviser anticipates that the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be fair valued when market quotations for those holdings are considered unreliable.
 
 
Description of Classes
The Trust has adopted a multiple class plan that allows the Fund to offer one or more classes of shares of the Fund.  The Fund offers two classes of shares – Retail Class and Institutional Class.  This Prospectus offers a Retail Class and Institutional Class of the Fund.  The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses and may have different share prices as outlined below:

·
Retail Class shares are charged a 0.25% Rule 12b-1 fee and a 0.10% shareholder servicing plan fee, have no sales load, and have a $10,000 minimum initial investment;
 
·
Institutional Class shares have no Rule 12b-1 fee but charge a 0.10% shareholder servicing plan fee and have a $5,000,000 minimum initial investment.

How to Purchase Shares

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are shown below.
Type of Account
To Open
Your Account
To Add to
Your Account
Retail Class
Regular
$10,000
$500
Automatic Investment Plan
$5,000
$100
Retirement Accounts
$5,000
$500
 
Institutional Class
$5,000,000
Any amount

The Fund’s minimum investment requirements may be waived from time to time by the Adviser, and for the following types of shareholders:

·
current and retired employees, directors/trustees and officers of the Trust, the Adviser and its affiliates and certain family members of each of them (i.e., spouse, domestic partner, child, parent, sibling, grandchild and grandparent, in each case including in-law, step and adoptive relationships);
 
·
any trust, pension, profit sharing or other benefit plan for current and retired employees, directors/trustees and officers of the Adviser and its affiliates;
 
·
current employees of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the Fund’s “Transfer Agent”), broker-dealers who act as selling agents for the Fund, intermediaries that have marketing agreements in place with the Adviser and the immediate family members of any of them;
 
·
existing clients of the Adviser, their employees and immediate family members of such employees;
 
·
registered investment advisers who buy through a broker-dealer or service agent who has entered into an agreement with Quasar Distributors, LLC (the Fund’s “Distributor”); and
 
·
qualified broker-dealers who have entered into an agreement with the Distributor.

You may purchase shares of the Fund by check, by wire transfer, via electronic funds transfer through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network, by telephone, through the Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”), or through a bank or through one or more brokers authorized by the Fund to receive purchase orders.  Please use the appropriate account application when purchasing by mail or wire.  If you have any questions or need further information about how to purchase shares of the Fund, you may call a customer service representative of the Fund toll-free at 866-5SCHARF.  The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.  For example, a purchase order may be refused if, in the Adviser’s opinion, it is so large that it would disrupt the management of the Fund.  Orders may also be rejected from persons believed by the Fund to be “market timers.”
 
 
All purchase checks must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a domestic institution.  The Fund will not accept payment in cash or money orders.  To prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.  The Fund is unable to accept post-dated checks or any conditional order or payment.

To buy shares of the Fund, complete an account application and send it together with your check for the amount you wish to invest in the Fund to the address below.  To make additional investments once you have opened your account, write your account number on the check and send it together with the most recent confirmation statement received from the Fund’s Transfer Agent.  If your payment is returned for any reason, your purchase will be canceled and a $25 fee will be assessed against your account by the Transfer Agent.  You may also be responsible for any loss sustained by the Fund.

In addition to cash purchases, Fund shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of shares of stock, bonds or other securities.  Any securities used to buy Fund shares must be readily marketable, their acquisition consistent with the Fund’s objective and otherwise acceptable to the Adviser and the Board.  For further information, you may call a customer service representative of the Fund toll-free at 866-5SCHARF.

In compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, please note that the Transfer Agent will verify certain information on your account application as part of the Trust’s Anti-Money Laundering Program. As requested on the account application, you should supply your full name, date of birth, social security number and permanent street address.  Mailing addresses containing only a P. O. Box will not be accepted.  Please contact the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF if you need additional assistance when completing your account application.

If the Transfer Agent does not have a reasonable belief of the identity of an investor, the account application will be rejected or the investor will not be allowed to perform a transaction on the account until such information is received.  The Fund may also reserve the right to close the account within five business days if clarifying information/documentation is not received.

Shares of the Fund have not been registered for sale outside of the United States.  The Trust generally does not sell shares to investors residing outside of the United States, even if they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents, except to investors with United States military APO or FPO addresses.

Purchasing Shares by Mail
Please complete the account application and mail it with your check, payable to the Scharf Funds, to the Transfer Agent at the following address:

Regular Mail
Overnight Delivery
Scharf Funds
Scharf Funds
[Name of Fund]
[Name of Fund]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
615 East Michigan Street, Third Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
 
 
NOTE:
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.  Therefore, a deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC’s post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Transfer Agent.

Purchasing Shares by Telephone
If you have accepted telephone options on your account application and if your account has been open for 15 calendar days, you may purchase additional Fund shares by calling the Fund toll-free at 866-5SCHARF.  You may not make your initial purchase of Fund shares by telephone.  Telephone orders will be accepted via electronic funds transfer from your pre-designated bank account through the ACH network.  Your account must be open for at least 15 calendar days and you must have banking information established on your account prior to making a telephone purchase.  Only bank accounts held at domestic institutions that are ACH members may be used for telephone transactions.  If your order is received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, shares will be purchased at the appropriate share price next calculated.  For security reasons, requests by telephone may be recorded.  Once a telephone transaction has been placed, it cannot be cancelled or modified.

Purchasing Shares by Wire
If you are making your initial investment in the Fund, before wiring funds, the Transfer Agent must have a completed account application.  You can mail or deliver overnight your account application to the Transfer Agent at the above address.  Upon receipt of your completed account application, the Transfer Agent will establish an account on your behalf.  Once your account is established, you may instruct your bank to send the wire.  Your bank must include the name of the Fund, your name and your account number so that monies can be correctly applied.  Your bank should transmit immediately available funds by wire to:

U.S. Bank National Association
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
ABA No.: 075000022
Credit: U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account No.: 112-952-137
Further Credit: [Name of Fund]
Shareholder Registration
Shareholder Account Number

If you are making a subsequent purchase, your bank should wire funds as indicated above.  Before each wire purchase, you should be sure to notify the Transfer Agent.  It is essential that your bank include complete information about your account in all wire transactions.  If you have questions about how to invest by wire, you may call the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF.  Your bank may charge you a fee for sending a wire payment to the Fund.

Wired funds must be received prior to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time to be eligible for same day pricing.  Neither the Fund nor U.S. Bank N.A. are responsible for the consequences of delays resulting from the banking or Federal Reserve wire system or from incomplete wiring instructions.

Automatic Investment Plan
You may open your Retail Class account with a reduced minimum initial investment of $5,000 if you also make additional purchases of Fund shares at regular intervals through the AIP.  Otherwise, once your account has been opened with the initial minimum investment of $10,000, you may make additional purchases of Fund shares at regular intervals through the AIP.  The AIP provides a convenient method to have monies deducted from your bank account, for investment into the Fund, on a monthly or quarterly basis.  In order to participate in the AIP, each purchase must be in the amount of $100 or more, and your financial institution must be a member of the ACH network.  If your bank rejects your payment, the Transfer Agent will charge a $25 fee to your account.  To begin participating in the AIP, please complete the “Automatic Investment Plan” section on the account application or call the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF for additional information.  Any request to change or terminate your AIP should be submitted to the Transfer Agent at least five business days prior to the automatic investment date.
 
 
Retirement Accounts
The Fund offers prototype documents for a variety of retirement accounts for individuals and small businesses.  Please call 1-866-5SCHARF for information on:

·
Individual Retirement Plans, including Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.
·
Small Business Retirement Plans, including Simple IRAs and SEP IRAs.

There may be special distribution requirements for a retirement account, such as required distributions or mandatory Federal income tax withholdings.  For more information, call the number listed above.  You may be charged a $15 annual account maintenance fee for each retirement account up to a maximum of $30 annually (per social security number) and a $25 fee for transferring assets to another custodian or for closing a retirement account.  Fees charged by institutions may vary.

Purchasing and Selling Shares through a Broker
You may buy and sell shares of the Fund through certain brokers and financial intermediaries (and their agents) (collectively, “Brokers”) that have made arrangements with the Fund to sell their shares.  When you place your order with such Broker, your order is treated as if you had placed it directly with the Transfer Agent, and you will pay or receive the next applicable price calculated by the Fund.  The Broker holds your shares in an omnibus account in the Broker’s name, and the Broker maintains your individual ownership records.  The Adviser may pay the Broker for maintaining these records as well as providing other shareholder services.  The Broker may charge you a fee for handling your order.  The Broker is responsible for processing your order correctly and promptly, keeping you advised regarding the status of your individual account, confirming your transactions and ensuring that you receive copies of the Fund’s Prospectus.

Conversion Feature
Subject to meeting the minimum investment amount for Institutional Class shares, investors currently holding Retail Class shares may convert to Institutional Class shares, without incurring redemption fees.  A conversion from Retail Class or Investor Class shares of the Fund to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund is not expected to result in realization of a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.  Call the Fund (toll-free) at 1-866-5SCHARF to learn more about conversions of Fund shares.

How to Redeem Shares
You may sell (redeem) your Fund shares on any day the Fund and the NYSE are open for business either directly to the Fund or through your financial intermediary.

By Mail
You may redeem your shares by simply sending a written request to the Transfer Agent.  You should provide your account number and state whether you want all or some of your shares redeemed.  The letter should be signed by all of the shareholders whose names appear on the account registration and include a signature guarantee(s), if necessary.  You should send your redemption request to:

Regular Mail
Overnight Delivery
Scharf Funds
Scharf Funds
[Name of Fund]
[Name of Fund]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
 
 
NOTE:
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.  Therefore, a deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC’s post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Transfer Agent.

By Telephone
If you accepted telephone options on your account application, you may redeem all or some of your shares, up to $100,000, by calling the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF before the close of trading on the NYSE.  This is normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time.  Redemption proceeds will be processed on the next business day and sent to the address that appears on the Transfer Agent’s records or via ACH to a previously established bank account.  If you request, redemption proceeds will be wired on the next business day to the bank account you designated on the account application.  The minimum amount that may be wired is $1,000.  A wire fee of $15 will be deducted from your redemption proceeds for complete and share certain redemptions.  In the case of a partial redemption, the fee will be deducted from the remaining account balance.  Telephone redemptions cannot be made if you notified the Transfer Agent of a change of address within 15 calendar days before the redemption request.  If you have a retirement account, you may not redeem your shares by telephone.

Prior to executing an instruction received by telephone, the Fund and the Transfer Agent will use reasonable procedures to confirm that the telephone instructions are genuine.  These procedures may include recording the telephone call and asking the caller for a form of personal identification.  If the Fund and the Transfer Agent follow these procedures, they will not be liable for any loss, expense, or cost arising out of any telephone request that is reasonably believed to be genuine.  This includes any fraudulent or unauthorized request.  If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, the Fund will accept telephone instructions from any one owner or authorized person.  The Fund may change, modify or terminate these telephone privileges at any time upon at least a 60-day notice to shareholders.  You may request telephone redemption privileges after your account is opened by calling the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF for instructions.

You may encounter higher than usual call wait times during periods of high market activity.  Please allow sufficient time to ensure that you will be able to complete your telephone transaction prior to market close.  If you are unable to contact the Fund by telephone, you may mail your redemption request in writing to the address noted above.  Once a telephone transaction has been accepted, it may not be canceled or modified.

Exchange Privilege
As a shareholder, you have the privilege of exchanging shares of one Scharf fund for shares of the other Scharf Funds.  However, you should note the following:

·
Exchanges may only be made between like share classes;
·
You may only exchange between accounts that are registered in the same name, address, and taxpayer identification number;
·
Before exchanging into the other Scharf Funds, read the Fund’s description in this prospectus;
·
Exchanges between Funds are considered a sale and purchase of Fund shares for tax purposes and may be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the period shares are held;
·
The Funds reserve the right to refuse exchange purchases by any person or group if, in the Adviser’s judgment, the Fund would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies, or would otherwise potentially be adversely affected;
·
The minimum exchange amount between the Funds is $10,000 for regular accounts and $5,000 for retirement accounts.
 
 
·
Redemption fees will not be assessed when an exchange occurs between the Funds; and
·
If you accepted telephone options on your account application, you may make a telephone request to exchange your shares for an additional $5.00 fee.

You may make exchanges of your shares between the Funds by telephone, in writing or through your Broker.  Note that only four exchanges are permitted per calendar year.

Payment of Redemption Proceeds
Payment of your redemption proceeds will be made promptly and no later than seven days after the receipt of your written request in good order.  If you did not purchase your shares with a wire payment, the Fund may delay payment of your redemption proceeds for up to 15 calendar days from purchase or until your check has cleared, whichever occurs first.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan
As another convenience, you may redeem the Fund’s shares through the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”).  Under the SWP, shareholders or their financial intermediaries may request that a payment drawn in a predetermined amount be sent to them on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis.  In order to participate in the SWP, your account balance must be at least $100,000 and each withdrawal amount must be for a minimum of $3,000.  If you elect this method of redemption, the Fund will send a check directly to your address of record or will send the payment directly to your bank account via electronic funds transfer through the ACH network.  For payment through the ACH network, your bank must be an ACH member and your bank account information must be previously established on your account.  The SWP may be terminated at any time by the Fund.  You may also elect to terminate your participation in the SWP by communicating in writing or by telephone to the Transfer Agent no later than five days before the next scheduled withdrawal at:

Regular Mail
Overnight Delivery
Scharf Funds
Scharf Funds
[Name of Fund]
[Name of Fund]
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

A withdrawal under the SWP involves a redemption of shares and may result in a gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.  In addition, if the amount withdrawn exceeds the dividends credited to your account, the account ultimately may be depleted.  To establish a SWP, an investor must complete the appropriate sections of the account application.  For additional information on the SWP, please call the Transfer Agent at 866-5SCHARF.

Redemption “In-Kind”
The Fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds to you in whole or in part by a distribution of securities from the Fund’s portfolio (a “redemption in-kind”).  A redemption, whether in cash or in-kind, is a taxable event for you.  It is not expected that the Fund would do so except during unusual market conditions.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.

Signature Guarantees
Signature guarantees will generally be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.  A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor.
 
 
 
A signature guarantee, from either a Medallion program member or non-Medallion program member, is required to redeem shares in the following situations:
 
·
When ownership is being changed on your account;
·
When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
·
If a change of address was received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 calendar days; and
·
For all redemptions in excess of $100,000 from any shareholder account.

Non-financial transactions, including establishing or modifying certain services on an account, may require a signature guarantee, signature verification from a Signature Validation Program member or other acceptable form of authentication from a financial institution source.
In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and/or the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee or signature validation program stamp in other instances.

Other Information about Redemptions
The Fund may redeem the shares in your account if the value of your account is less than $10,000 as a result of redemptions you have made.  This does not apply to retirement plan accounts, Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act accounts, or accounts with an active AIP.  You will be notified that the value of your account is less than $10,000 before the Fund makes an involuntary redemption.  You will then have 30 days in which to make an additional investment to bring the value of your account to at least $10,000 before the Fund takes any action.  The Fund will not require you to redeem your shares if the value of your account drops below the investment minimum due to fluctuations in NAV.

Shareholders who have an IRA or other retirement plan must indicate on their redemption request whether or not to withhold federal income tax.  Redemption requests failing to indicate an election not to have tax withheld will generally be subject to 10% withholding.


The Fund will make distributions of dividends and capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December. The Fund may make an additional payment of dividends or distributions of capital gains if it deems it desirable at any other time of the year.

All distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares unless you choose one of the following options: (1) receive dividends in cash while reinvesting capital gain distributions in additional Fund shares; (2) reinvest dividends in additional Fund shares and receive capital gains in cash; or (3) receive all distributions in cash.  Dividends will be taxable whether received in cash or in additional shares.

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the check, or if a check remains outstanding for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account, at the Fund’s current NAV per share, and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.  If you wish to change your distribution option, notify the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone in advance of the payment date for the distribution.

Any dividend or capital gain distribution paid by the Fund has the effect of reducing the NAV per share on the ex-dividend date by the amount of the dividend or capital gain distribution.  You should note that a dividend or capital gain distribution paid on shares purchased shortly before that dividend or capital gain distribution was declared will be subject to income taxes even though the dividend or capital gain distribution represents, in substance, a partial return of capital to you.
 
 

The Board has adopted policies and procedures to prevent frequent transactions in the Fund.  The Fund discourages excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm the Fund’s performance.  The Fund takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in the Fund.  These steps include imposing a redemption fee, monitoring trading practices and using fair value pricing.  Although these efforts (which are described in more detail below) are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity may occur.  Further, while the Fund makes efforts to identify and restrict frequent trading, the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries and cannot always know or detect frequent trading that may be facilitated by the use of intermediaries or the use of group or omnibus accounts by those intermediaries.  The Fund seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of their abilities in a manner that the Fund believes is consistent with shareholder interests.

Redemption Fees.  The Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on the redemption of Fund shares held for 15 days or less.  This fee (which is paid into the Fund) is imposed in order to help offset the transaction costs and administrative expenses associated with the activities of short-term “market timers” that engage in the frequent purchase and sale of Fund shares.  The “first in, first out” (“FIFO”) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of determining whether the redemption fee applies.  The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of its long-term shareholders.  Redemption fees will not apply to shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends.  Although the Fund has the goal of applying the redemption fee to most redemptions, the redemption fee may not be assessed in certain circumstances where it is not currently practicable for the Fund to impose the fee, such as redemptions of shares held in certain omnibus accounts or retirement plans.

The Fund’s redemption fee will not apply to broker wrap-fee program accounts.  Additionally, the Fund’s redemption fee will not apply to the following types of transactions:

·
premature distributions from retirement accounts due to the disability or health of the shareholder;
·
minimum required distributions from retirement accounts;
·
redemptions resulting in the settlement of an estate due to the death of the shareholder;
·
shares acquired through reinvestment of distributions (dividends and capital gains); and
·
redemptions initiated through the systematic withdrawal plan.

Monitoring Trading Practices. The Fund monitors selected trades in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities.  If, as a result of this monitoring, the Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading, it may, in its discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities or refuse to process purchases in the shareholder’s accounts.  In making such judgments, the Fund seeks to act in a manner that the Fund believes is consistent with the best interests of shareholders.  Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Fund handles, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive.  In addition, the Fund’s ability to monitor trades that are placed by individual shareholders within group or omnibus accounts maintained by financial intermediaries is limited because the Fund does not have simultaneous access to the underlying shareholder account information.

In compliance with Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act, Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), on behalf of the Fund, has entered into written agreements with each of the Fund’s financial intermediaries, under which the intermediary must, upon request, provide the Fund with certain shareholder and identity trading information so that the Fund can enforce its market timing policies.
 
 
Fair Value Pricing. The Fund employs fair value pricing selectively to ensure greater accuracy in its daily NAV and to prevent dilution by frequent traders or market timers who seek to take advantage of temporary market anomalies.  The Board has developed procedures which utilize fair value pricing when reliable market quotations are not readily available or the Fund’s pricing service does not provide a valuation (or provides a valuation that in the judgment of the Adviser to the Fund does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Adviser, events have rendered the market value unreliable.  Valuing securities at fair value involves reliance on judgment.  Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board and are reviewed annually by the Board.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV per share.

Fair value pricing may be applied to non-U.S. securities.  The trading hours for most non-U.S. securities end prior to the close of the NYSE, the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated.  The occurrence of certain events after the close of non-U.S. markets, but prior to the close of the NYSE (such as a significant surge or decline in the U.S. market) often will result in an adjustment to the trading prices of non-U.S. securities when non-U.S. markets open on the following business day.  If such events occur, the Fund may value non-U.S. securities at fair value, taking into account such events, when it calculates its NAV.  Other types of securities that the Fund may hold for which fair value pricing might be required include, but are not limited to: (a) investments which are frequently traded and/or the market price of which the Adviser believes may be stale; (b) illiquid securities, including “restricted” securities and private placements for which there is no public market; (c) securities of an issuer that has entered into a restructuring; (d) securities whose trading has been halted or suspended; and (e) fixed-income securities that have gone into default and for which there is not a current market value quotation.

More detailed information regarding fair value pricing can be found under the heading titled, “Pricing of Fund Shares.”


Some of the following policies are mentioned above.  In general, the Fund reserves the right to:

Refuse, change, discontinue, or temporarily suspend account services, including purchase, or telephone redemption privileges, for any reason;
Reject any purchase request for any reason.  Generally, the Fund does this if the purchase is disruptive to the efficient management of the Fund (due to the timing of the investment or an investor’s history of excessive trading);
Delay paying redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days after receiving a request, if an earlier payment could adversely affect the Fund; and
Reject any purchase or redemption request that does not contain all required documentation.

Your financial intermediary may establish policies that differ from those of the Fund.  For example, the organization may charge transaction fees, set higher minimum investments, or impose certain limitations on buying or selling shares in addition to those identified in this Prospectus.  Contact your financial intermediary for details.

Inactive Accounts
Your mutual fund account may be transferred to your state of residence if no activity occurs within your account during the “inactivity period” specified in your state’s abandoned property laws.
 
 
Fund Mailings
Statements and reports that the Fund sends to you include the following:

·
Confirmation statements (after every transaction that affects your account balance or your account registration);
·
Annual and semi-annual shareholder reports (every six months); and
·
Quarterly account statements.

Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund intends to reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other similar documents you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shared by two or more accounts and to shareholders the Transfer Agent reasonably believes are from the same family or household.  Once implemented, if you would like to discontinue householding for your accounts, please call toll-free at 866-5SCHARF to request individual copies of these documents.  Once the Transfer Agent receives notice to stop householding, the Transfer Agent will begin sending individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.  This policy does not apply to account statements.


The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax if it distributes its income as required by the tax law and satisfies certain other requirements that are described in the SAI.

The Fund typically makes distributions of dividends and capital gains.  Dividends are taxable to you as ordinary income or, in some cases as qualified dividend income, depending on the source of such income to the distributing Fund and the holding period of the Fund for its dividend-paying securities and of you for your Fund shares.  The rate you pay on capital gain distributions will depend on how long the Fund held the securities that generated the gains, not on how long you owned your Fund shares.  You will be taxed in the same manner whether you receive your dividends and capital gain distributions in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.  A portion of ordinary income dividends paid by the Fund may be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain rates for individual investors, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met.  Qualified dividend income, the amount of which will be reported to you by the Fund, is taxed at a maximum federal rate of 20%.  An additional federal Medicare contribution tax at the rate of 3.8% applies to net investment income (which generally will include dividends and capital gains from the Fund) of shareholders with adjusted gross incomes over $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married joint filers.  Although distributions are generally taxable when received, certain distributions declared in October, November, or December to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month but made in the following January are taxable as if received the prior December.

By law, the Fund must withhold as backup withholding a percentage (currently 28%) of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds if you do not provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or if the Internal Revenue Service instructs the Fund to do so.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s ultimate federal income tax liability if proper documentation is timely provided.

If you sell or exchange your Fund shares, it is a taxable event for you.  Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell or exchange, you may have a gain or a loss on the transaction.  You are responsible for any tax liabilities generated by your transaction and your investment in the Fund.  The Code limits the deductibility of capital losses in certain circumstances.
The Fund’s distributions, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal, state and local income tax.  In managing the Fund, the Adviser considers the tax effects of its investment decisions to be of secondary importance.
 
 
Additional information concerning taxation of the Fund and its shareholders is contained in the SAI.  You should consult your own tax adviser concerning federal, state and local taxation of distributions from the Fund.

Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC (“Quasar” or “Distributor”), an affiliate of the Fund’s transfer agent, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, is located at 615 East Michigan Street, 4th floor, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, and is the Distributor for the shares of the Fund.  Quasar is a registered broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.  Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.

Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan
The Trust has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 that allows the Retail Class to pay distribution and service fees for the sale, distribution and servicing of its shares.  The plan provides for the payment of a distribution and service fee at the annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Fund’s shares.  Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Shareholder Servicing Plan
Under a Shareholder Servicing Plan, the Fund will pay service fees of up to 0.10% of average daily net assets to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisers or other financial institutions, for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other shareholder services associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents.  As these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

Service Fees – Other Payments to Third Parties
The Adviser, out of its own resources, and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or non-cash compensation to intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund.  These additional cash payments are generally made to intermediaries that provide shareholder servicing, marketing support and/or access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the intermediary.  Cash compensation may also be paid to intermediaries for inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, in other sales programs or as an expense reimbursement in cases where the intermediary provides shareholder services to the Fund’s shareholders.  The Adviser may also pay cash compensation in the form of finder’s fees that vary depending on the Fund and the dollar amount of the shares sold.


Financial highlights are not available at this time because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
 
 
Investment Adviser
Scharf Investments, LLC
5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140
Scotts Valley, California 95066


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
Custody Operations
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212


Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[          ]
[          ]
[          ]


Legal Counsel
Paul Hastings LLP
75 East 55th Street
New York, New York 10022
 
 

 
The Fund collects non-public information about you from the following sources:

·
Information we receive about you on applications or other forms;
·
Information you give us orally; and/or
·
Information about your transactions with us or others.

We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers without the customer’s authorization, except as permitted by law or in response to inquiries from governmental authorities.  We may share information with affiliated and unaffiliated third parties with whom we have contracts for servicing the Fund.  We will provide unaffiliated third parties with only the information necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.  We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your non-public personal information and require third parties to treat your personal information with the same high degree of confidentiality.

In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared by those entities with unaffiliated third parties.

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION

You can find more information about the Alpha Opportunity Fund in the following documents:

Statement of Additional Information
The SAI provides additional details about the investments and techniques of the Fund and certain other additional information.  A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.  This means that the SAI is legally considered a part of this Prospectus even though it is not physically within this Prospectus.

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports (collectively, the “Shareholder Reports”) provide the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings.  The annual report contains a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that affected the Fund’s performance during the Fund’s last fiscal year.

The SAI and the Shareholder Reports are available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.scharffunds.com.  You can obtain a free copy of the SAI and Shareholder Reports, request other information, or make general inquires about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at 866-5SCHARF or by writing to:

SCHARF FUNDS
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701

You may review and copy information including the Shareholder Reports and SAI at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.  You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling (202) 551-8090.  Reports and other information about the Fund are also available:

·  
Free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov;
·  
For a fee, by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520; or
·  
For a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.
 





(The Trust’s SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-07959.)

 
 
Subject to Completion—Dated October 16, 2015
 
The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 

 
 
 
 


STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
December [   ], 2015


Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
Retail Class – [             ]
Institutional Class – [             ]



The Fund is a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
866-5SCHARF

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated December [    ], 2015, as may be revised, of the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund (the “Alpha Opportunity Fund” or the “Fund”), a series of the Trust.  Scharf Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser.  A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number above or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.scharffunds.com.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on October 3, 1996, and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company.  The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) permits the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, which may be issued in any number of series.  The Trust consists of various series that represent separate investment portfolios.  The Board may from time to time issue other series, the assets and liabilities of which will be separate and distinct from any other series.  This SAI relates only to the Fund.

The Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI.

Registration with the SEC does not involve supervision of the management or policies of the Fund.  The Prospectus of the Fund and this SAI omit certain of the information contained in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC.  Copies of such information may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee or may be accessed free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 

The discussion below supplements information contained in the Fund’s Prospectus as to the investment policies and risks of the Fund.

Non-Diversification of Investments
The Fund is non-diversified under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that there is no restriction as to how much the Fund may invest in the securities of any one issuer.  However, to qualify for tax treatment as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Fund intends to comply, as of the end of each taxable quarter, with certain diversification requirements imposed by the Code.  Pursuant to these requirements, at the end of each taxable quarter, the Fund, among other things, will not have investments in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities) of more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets.  In addition, the Fund, with respect to 50% of its total assets, will not have investments in the securities of any issuer equal to 5% of the Fund’s total assets, and will not purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer.  As a non-diversified investment company, the Fund may be subject to greater risks than diversified companies because of the larger impact of fluctuation in the values of securities of fewer issues.

Risks Associated with Recent Economic Events
The U.S. credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than five years.  Instability in the credit markets has made it more difficult for a number of issuers of debt securities to obtain financing or refinancing for their investment or lending activities or operations.  In particular, because of volatile conditions in the credit markets, issuers of debt securities may be subject to increased cost for debt, tightening underwriting standards and reduced liquidity for loans they make, securities they purchase and securities they issue.  These developments may increase the volatility of the value of securities owned by the Fund.  These developments may also make it more difficult for the Fund to accurately value its securities or to sell its securities on a timely basis.  These developments may also adversely affect the broader economy, which in turn may adversely affect the ability of issuers of securities owned by the Fund to make payments of principal and interest when due, lead to lower credit ratings of issuers and increased defaults by issuers.  Such developments could, in turn, reduce the value of securities owned by the Fund and adversely affect the net asset value (“NAV”) of its shares.
 
 
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators.  It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund.  Possible regulatory actions taken under these revised and expanded powers may include actions related to financial consumer protection, proprietary trading and derivatives.  There is a risk that new and additional government regulation authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act could result in higher Fund costs and expenses.  Legislators and regulators in the United States are currently considering a wide range of proposals in addition to the Dodd-Frank Act that, if enacted, could result in major changes to the way banking operations are regulated.  In addition, the recent European debt crisis and related financial restructuring efforts have contributed to the instability in global credit markets.  The strength and duration of any economic recovery will be impacted by the European debt crisis and the reaction to any efforts to address the crisis.

Government Intervention in Financial Markets Risk
The recent instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government and foreign governments to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity.  U.S. federal and state governments and foreign governments, their regulatory agencies or self-regulatory organizations may take additional actions that affect the regulation of the securities in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such securities, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Issuers of corporate securities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws.  Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Exclusion from Definition of Commodity Pool Operator
Pursuant to amendments by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) to Rule 4.5 under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), the Adviser has filed a notice of exemption from registration as a “commodity pool operator” with respect to the Fund.  The Fund and the Adviser are therefore not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.  In order to claim the Rule 4.5 exemption, the Fund is significantly limited in its ability to invest in commodity futures, options and swaps (including securities futures, broad-based stock index futures and financial futures contracts).  As a result, in the future the Fund will be more limited in its ability to use these instruments than in the past and these limitations may have a negative impact on the ability of the Adviser to manage the Fund, and on the Fund’s performance.

Percentage Limitations
Whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition or sale of such security or other asset.  Accordingly, except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether an investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.  In addition, if a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular investment by the Fund, the Fund may receive stock, real estate or other investments that the Fund would not, or could not buy.  If this happens, the Fund would sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize the return to its shareholders.

The Fund may invest in the following types of investments, each of which is subject to certain risks, as discussed below.
 
 
Equity Securities
Common stocks, convertible securities, rights, warrants and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are examples of equity securities in which the Fund may invest.

All investments in equity securities are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time.  Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles and the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio may fluctuate substantially from day to day.  Owning an equity security can also subject the Fund to the risk that the issuer may discontinue paying dividends.

Common Stocks.  A common stock represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company and its value is based on the success of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market conditions.  In addition to the general risks set forth above, investments in common stocks are subject to the risk that in the event a company in which the Fund invests is liquidated, the holders of preferred stock and creditors of that company will be paid in full before any payments are made to the Fund as a holder of common stock.  It is possible that all assets of that company will be exhausted before any payments are made to the Fund.

Preferred Stocks.  Preferred stocks are equity securities that often pay dividends at a specific rate and have a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and liquidation of assets.  A preferred stock has a blend of the characteristics of a bond and common stock.  It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership, but does not have the seniority of a bond and, unlike common stock, its participation in the issuer’s growth may be limited.  Although the dividend is set at a fixed annual rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer.

Convertible Securities.  The Fund may invest in convertible securities.  Traditional convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes and preferred stocks that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock, and other securities that also provide an opportunity for equity participation.  These securities are convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security).  As with other fixed-income securities, the price of a convertible security generally varies inversely with interest rates.  While providing a fixed-income stream, a convertible security also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible.  As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock.  When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible security tends to rise as a reflection of higher yield or capital appreciation.  In such situations, the Fund may have to pay more for a convertible security than the value of the underlying common stock.

Rights and Warrants.  The Fund may invest in rights and warrants.  A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock and it is issued at a predetermined price in proportion to the number of shares already owned.  Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the current market.  Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specific price for a specific period of time.  They do not represent ownership of the securities, but only the right to buy them.  Hence, warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them.  The value of warrants is derived solely from capital appreciation of the underlying equity securities.  Warrants differ from call options in that the underlying corporation issues warrants, whereas call options may be written by anyone.

An investment in rights and warrants may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments.  Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer.  In addition, although their value is influenced by the value of the underlying security, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date.  Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.
 
 
Small- and Medium-Sized Companies
To the extent the Fund invests in the equity securities of small- and medium-sized companies, it will be exposed to the risks of smaller sized companies.  Small- and medium-sized companies may have narrower markets for their goods and/or services and may have more limited managerial and financial resources than larger, more established companies.  Furthermore, such companies may have limited product lines, services, markets, or financial resources or may be dependent on a small management group.  In addition, because these stocks may not be well-known to the investing public, do not have significant institutional ownership or are typically followed by fewer security analysts, there will normally be less publicly available information concerning these securities compared to what is available for the securities of larger companies.  Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, can decrease the value and liquidity of securities held by the Fund.  As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio.

Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), money market mutual funds and other mutual funds in pursuit of its investment objective, in accordance with the limitations established under the 1940 Act.  This may include investments in money market mutual funds in connection with the Fund’s management of daily cash positions and for temporary defensive purposes.  Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses.  By investing in another investment company, the Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company.  As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear the Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations.

Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a fund from purchasing (1) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of another fund; (2) securities of another fund having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the acquiring fund; and (3) securities of the other fund and all other funds having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the acquiring fund.  There are some exceptions, however, to these limitations pursuant to various rules promulgated by the SEC.

In accordance with Section 12(d)(1)(F) and Rule 12d1-3 of the 1940 Act, the provisions of Section 12(d)(1) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such registered investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price including a sales load that exceeds the limits set forth in rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) applicable to a fund of funds (i.e., 8.5%).  In accordance with Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act, the provisions of Section 12(d)(1) shall not apply to shares of affiliated or unaffiliated money market funds purchased by the Fund, provided that the Fund does not pay a sales charge, distribution fee or service fee as defined in rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of FINRA on acquired fund shares (or the Adviser must waive its advisory fees in an amount necessary to offset any sales charge, distribution fee or service fee).
 
 
Exchange-Traded Funds.  ETFs are open-end investment companies whose shares are listed on a national securities exchange.  An ETF is similar to a traditional mutual fund, but trades at different prices during the day on a security exchange like a stock.  Similar to investments in other investment companies discussed above, the Fund’s investments in ETFs will involve duplication of advisory fees and other expenses since the Fund will be investing in another investment company.  In addition, the Fund’s investment in ETFs is also subject to its limitations on investments in investment companies discussed above.  To the extent the Fund invests in ETFs which focus on a particular market segment or industry, the Fund will also be subject to the risks associated with investing in those sectors or industries.  The shares of the ETFs in which the Fund will invest will be listed on a national securities exchange and the Fund will purchase or sell these shares on the secondary market at its current market price, which may be more or less than its net asset value (“NAV”) per share.
As a purchaser of ETF shares on the secondary market, the Fund will be subject to the market risk associated with owning any security whose value is based on market price.  ETF shares historically have tended to trade at or near their NAV, but there is no guarantee that they will continue to do so.  Unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of an ETF may be purchased and redeemed directly from the ETFs only in large blocks (typically 50,000 shares or more) and only through participating organizations that have entered into contractual agreements with the ETF.  The Fund does not expect to enter into such agreements and therefore will not be able to purchase and redeem its ETF shares directly from the ETF.

Foreign Investments
The Fund may make investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (“foreign securities”).  The Fund reserves the right to an unlimited amount of its total assets, in Depositary Receipts (“DRs”), U.S. dollar-denominated securities, foreign securities and securities of companies incorporated outside the U.S., including securities listed on foreign exchanges.

Depositary Receipts. Depositary Receipts include ADRs, European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) or other forms of DRs.  DRs are receipts typically issued in connection with a U.S. or foreign bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. company.

ADRs are depositary receipts for foreign securities denominated in U.S. dollars and traded on U.S. securities markets.  These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities for which they may be exchanged.  These are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign-based issuer held in trust by a bank or similar financial institutions.  Designed for use in U.S. securities markets, ADRs are alternatives to the purchase of the underlying securities in their national market and currencies.  ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities.  A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the depositary security.  Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts of the deposited securities.

Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund may invest in foreign currency exchange transactions.  Exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies are a function of such factors as supply and demand in the currency exchange markets, international balances of payments, governmental intervention, speculation and other economic and political conditions.   Foreign exchange dealers may realize a profit on the difference between the price at which the Fund buys and sells currencies.
 
 
Risks of Investing in Foreign Securities.  Investments in foreign securities involve certain inherent risks, including the following:

Political and Economic Factors.  Individual economies of certain countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States’ economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position.  The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of the United States.  Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies.  Action by these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of interest.  The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading partners.  Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of such countries.

Legal and Regulatory Matters.  Certain foreign countries may have less supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities, and less financial information available to issuers, than is available in the United States.  Additionally, the rights of investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those of shareholders of U.S. issuers and the Fund may have greater difficulty taking appropriate legal action to enforce its rights in a foreign court than in a U.S. court.

Market Characteristics. The Adviser expects that some foreign securities in which the Fund invests will be purchased in over-the-counter markets or on exchanges located in the countries in which the principal offices of the issuers of the various securities are located, if that is the best available market.  Foreign exchanges and markets may be more volatile than those in the United States.  Though growing, they usually have substantially less volume than U.S. markets, and the Fund’s foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities.  Also, settlement practices for transactions in foreign markets may differ from those in United States markets, and may include delays beyond periods customary in the United States.  Foreign security trading practices, including those involving securities settlement where Fund assets may be released prior to receipt of payment or securities, may expose the Fund to increased risk in the event of a failed trade or the insolvency of a foreign broker-dealer.

Currency Fluctuations.  A change in the value of any foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of an ADR’s underlying portfolio securities denominated in that currency.  Such changes will affect the Fund to the extent that the Fund is invested in ADRs comprised of foreign securities.

To the extent the Fund invests in securities denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the Fund will be affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates (and exchange control regulations) which affect the value of investments in the Fund and the income and appreciation or depreciation of the investments.  Changes in foreign currency exchange ratios relative to the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in that currency and the Fund’s yield on such assets.  In addition, the Fund will incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
 
The Fund’s foreign currency exchange transactions may be conducted on a spot basis (that is, cash basis) at the spot rate for purchasing or selling currency prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market.  The Fund also may enter into contracts with banks, brokers or dealers to purchase or sell securities or foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”).  A foreign currency forward contract is a negotiated agreement between the contracting parties to exchange a specified amount of currency at a specified future time at a specified rate.  The rate can be higher or lower than the spot rate between the currencies that are the subject of the contract.
 
 
Taxes.  The interest and dividends payable to the Fund on certain of the Fund’s foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes or withholding, thus reducing the net amount of income available for distribution to Fund shareholders.  The Fund may not be eligible to pass through to its shareholders any tax credits or deductions with respect to such foreign taxes or withholding.

In considering whether to invest in the securities of a non-U.S. company, the Adviser considers such factors as the characteristics of the particular company, differences between economic trends and the performance of securities markets within the U.S. and those within other countries, and also factors relating to the general economic, governmental and social conditions of the country or countries where the company is located.  The extent to which the Fund will be invested in non-U.S. companies, foreign countries and depositary receipts will fluctuate from time to time within any limitations described in the Prospectus, depending on the Adviser’s assessment of prevailing market, economic and other conditions.

Emerging Markets. The Fund may invest an unlimited amount of its total assets in foreign securities that may include securities of companies located in developing or emerging markets, which entail additional risks, including: less social, political and economic stability; smaller securities markets and lower trading volume, which may result in less liquidity and greater price volatility; national policies that may restrict an underlying fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investments in issuers or industries, or expropriation or confiscation of assets or property; and less developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment.

Derivative Securities
The Fund may invest in a wide range of derivatives, including call and put options, futures, credit default swaps, equity swaps and forward contracts, for hedging purposes as well as direct investment.  There are risks involved in the use of options and futures, including the risk that the prices of the hedging vehicles may not correlate perfectly with the securities held by the Fund.  This may cause the futures or options to react differently from the Fund’s securities to market changes.  In addition, the Adviser could be incorrect in its expectations for the direction or extent of market movements.  In these events, the Fund could lose money on the options of futures contracts.  It is also not certain that a secondary market for positions in options or futures contracts will exist at all times in which event the Fund will not be able to liquidate its positions without potentially incurring significant transactions costs.

The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts.  A forward currency contract is an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  For example, the Fund might purchase a particular currency or enter into a forward currency contract to preserve the U.S. dollar price of securities it intends to or has contracted to purchase.  Alternatively, it might sell a particular currency on either a spot or forward basis to hedge against an anticipated decline in the dollar value of securities it intends to or has contracted to sell.  Although this strategy could minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, it could also limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the currency.

Options on Securities.  The Fund may purchase and write call and put options on securities and securities indices.

Call Options. The Fund may write (sell) covered call options to on its portfolio securities (“covered options”) in an attempt to enhance gain and protect the Fund from downside market risk.  The Fund may write (sell) call options on individual stocks to protect against possible price declines in the securities held or to extend a holding period to achieve long-term capital gain status.
 
 
When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right, upon exercise of the option, to buy the underlying security at the price specified in the option (the “exercise price”) at any time during the option period, generally ranging up to nine months.  If the option expires unexercised, the Fund will realize income to the extent of the amount received for the option (the “premium”).  If the call option is exercised, a decision over which the Fund has no control, the Fund must sell the underlying security to the option holder at the exercise price.  By writing a covered option, the Fund forgoes, in exchange for the premium less the commission (“net premium”) the opportunity to profit during the option period from an increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price.

The Fund may terminate its obligation as writer of a call option by purchasing an option with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option previously written.  This transaction is called a “closing purchase transaction.”

Closing sale transactions enable the Fund immediately to realize gains or minimize losses on its option positions.  There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market may exist.  If the Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to options it has written, it will not be able to terminate its obligations or minimize its losses under such options prior to their expiration.  If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded.  To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets.  The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Put Options. The Fund may write and purchase put options (“puts”).  If the Fund purchases a put option, the Fund acquires the right to sell the underlying security at a specified price at any time during the term of the option (for “American-style” options) or on the option expiration date (for “European-style” options).  Purchasing put options may be used as a portfolio investment strategy when the Adviser perceives significant short-term risk but substantial long-term appreciation for the underlying security.  The put option acts as an insurance policy, as it protects against significant downward price movement while it allows full participation in any upward movement less the premium paid to purchase the option.  If the Fund is holding a security which the Adviser feels has strong fundamentals, but for some reason may be weak in the near term, the Fund may purchase a put option on such security, thereby giving the Fund the right to sell such security at a certain strike price throughout the term of the option.  Consequently, the Fund will exercise the put only if the price of such security falls below the strike price of the put.  The difference between the put’s strike price and the market price of the underlying security on the date the Fund exercises the put, less transaction costs, will be the amount by which the Fund will be able to hedge against a decline in the underlying security.  If during the period of the option the market price for the underlying security remains at or above the put’s strike price, the put will expire worthless, representing a loss of the price the Fund paid for the put, plus transaction costs.  If the price of the underlying security increases, the profit the Fund realizes on the sale of the security will be reduced by the premium paid for the put option less any amount for which the put may be sold.

When the Fund writes a put, it receives a premium and gives the purchaser of the put the right to sell the underlying security to the Fund at the exercise price at any time during the option period.  If the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date.  The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written.  Similarly, the Fund may cancel an over-the-counter option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counter-party to the option.
 
 
Options on Securities Indices.  The Fund may write (sell) covered call options on securities indices in an attempt to increase gain.  A securities index option written by the Fund would obligate it, upon exercise of the options, to pay a cash settlement, rather than to deliver actual securities, to the option holder.  Although the Fund will not ordinarily own all of the securities comprising the stock indices on which it writes call options, such options will usually be written on those indices which correspond most closely to the composition of the Fund’s portfolio.  As with the writing of covered call options on securities, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium received upon writing an option if the value of the underlying index increases above the exercise price and the option is exercised, the Fund will be required to pay a cash settlement that may exceed the amount of the premium received by the Fund.  The Fund may purchase call options in order to terminate its obligations under call options it has written.

The Fund may purchase and/or write (sell) call and put options on securities indices for the purpose of hedging against the risk of unfavorable price movements adversely affecting the value of the Fund’s securities or securities the Fund intends to buy.  Unlike an option on securities, which gives the holder the right to purchase or sell specified securities at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder the right, upon the exercise of the option, to receive a cash “exercise settlement amount” equal to (i) the difference between the exercise price of the option and the value of the underlying securities index on the exercise date multiplied by (ii) a fixed “index multiplier.”

A securities index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the securities included in the index.  For example, some securities index options are based on a broad market index such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index, or a narrower market index such as the Standard & Poor’s 100® Index.  Indices may also be based on industry or market segments.

The Fund may purchase put options in order to hedge against an anticipated decline in stock market prices that might adversely affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.  If the Fund purchases a put option on a stock index, the amount of payment it receives on exercising the option depends on the extent of any decline in the level of the stock index below the exercise price.  Such payments would tend to offset a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.  If, however, the level of the stock index increases and remains above the exercise price while the put option is outstanding, the Fund will not be able to profitably exercise the option and will lose the amount of the premium and any transaction costs.  Such loss may be partially offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.  The Fund may write put options on stock indices in order to close out positions in stock index put options which it has purchased.

The Fund may purchase call options on stock indices in order to participate in an anticipated increase in stock market prices or to lock in a favorable price on securities that it intends to buy in the future.  If the Fund purchases a call option on a stock index, the amount of the payment it receives upon exercising the option depends on the extent of any increase in the level of the stock index above the exercise price.  Such payments would in effect allow the Fund to benefit from stock market appreciation even though it may not have had sufficient cash to purchase the underlying stocks.  Such payments may also offset increases in the price of stocks that the Fund intends to purchase.  If, however, the level of the stock index declines and remains below the exercise price while the call option is outstanding, the Fund will not be able to exercise the option profitably and will lose the amount of the premium and transaction costs.  Such loss may be partially offset by a reduction in the price the Fund pays to buy additional securities for its portfolio.  The Fund may write call options on stock indices in order to close out positions in stock index call options that it has purchased.
 
 
The effectiveness of hedging through the purchase of options on securities indices will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with price movements in the selected stock index.  Perfect correlation is not possible because the securities held or to be acquired by the Fund will not exactly match the composition of the stock indices on which the options are available.  In addition, the purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.

The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling) and purchasing options on indices involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses the Fund realizes in connection therewith.  Options on indices may be governed by Section 1256 of the Code and are treated partly as a long-term gain or loss (60% of the gain or loss) and partly as a short-term gain or loss (40% of the gain or loss).

Credit Default Swaps.  The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements.  The credit default swap agreement may have as a reference obligation one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund.  The buyer in a credit default swap agreement is obligated to pay the seller a periodic fee, typically expressed in basis points on the principal amount of the underlying obligation (the “notional” amount), over the term of the agreement in return for a contingent payment upon the occurrence of a credit event with respect to the underlying reference obligation.  A credit event is typically a default, restructuring or bankruptcy.

The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction.  As a seller, the Fund receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the agreement, which typically is between one month and five years, provided that no credit event occurs.  If a credit event occurs, the Fund typically must pay the contingent payment to the buyer, which is typically the par value (full notional value) of the reference obligation.  The contingent payment may be a cash settlement or by physical delivery of the reference obligation in return for payment of the face amount of the obligation.  If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may lose its investment and recover nothing.  However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer typically receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value.

Credit default swaps may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly.  Credit default swaps are subject to general market risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.  If the Fund is a buyer in a credit default swap agreement and no credit event occurs, then it will lose its investment.  In addition, the value of the reference obligation received by the Fund as a seller if a credit event occurs, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.

The Fund may also invest in credit default swap index products and in options on credit default swap index products.  The individual credits underlying these credit default swap indices may be rated investment grade or non-investment grade.  These instruments are designed to track representative segments of the credit default swap market and provide investors with exposure to specific “baskets” of issuers of bonds or loans.  Such investments are subject to liquidity risks as well as other risks associated with investments in credit default swaps discussed above.  The Fund reserves the right to invest in similar instruments that may become available in the future.
 
 
Equity Swap Agreements.  The Fund may enter into equity swap agreements for the purpose of attempting to obtain a desired return or exposure to certain equity securities or equity indices in an expedited manner or at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in such securities.

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year.  In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments.  The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on, or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of particular securities or securities representing a particular index.

Forms of swap agreements include:
 
(1)  
equity or index caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payment to the other to the extent that the return on securities exceeds a specified rate, or “cap;”
 
(2)  
equity or index floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that the return on securities fall below a specified level, or “floor;” and
 
(3)  
equity or index collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.
 
Parties may also enter into bilateral swap agreements, which obligate one party to pay the amount of any net appreciation in a basket or index of securities while the counterparty is obligated to pay the amount of any net depreciation.

The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange.  Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”).  The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of liquid assets.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments.  Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.  Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Code may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements.  The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Debt Futures. The Fund may invest in futures contracts on debt securities (“Debt Futures” or “Futures”) or options on Debt Futures.
 
 
A futures contract is a commitment to buy or sell a specific product at a currently determined market price, for delivery at a predetermined future date.  The futures contract is uniform as to quantity, quality and delivery time for a specified underlying product.  The commitment is executed in a designated contract market – a futures exchange – that maintains facilities for continuous trading.  The buyer and seller of the futures contract are both required to make a deposit of cash or U.S. Treasury Bills with their brokers equal to a varying specified percentage of the contract amount; the deposit is known as initial margin.  Since ownership of the underlying product is not being transferred, the margin deposit is not a down payment; it is a security deposit to protect against nonperformance of the contract.  No credit is being extended, and no interest expense accrues on the non-margined value of the contract.  The contract is marked to market every day, and the profits and losses resulting from the daily change are reflected in the accounts of the buyer and seller of the contract.  A profit in excess of the initial deposit can be withdrawn, but a loss may require an additional payment, known as variation margin, if the loss causes the equity in the account to fall below an established maintenance level.  The Fund will maintain cash or liquid securities sufficient to cover its obligations under each futures contract that it has entered into.

To liquidate a futures position before the contract expiration date, a buyer simply sells the contract, and the seller of the contract simply buys the contract, on the futures exchange.  However, the entire value of the contract does not change hands; only the gains and losses on the contract since the preceding day are credited and debited to the accounts of the buyers and sellers, just as on every other preceding trading day, and the positions are closed out.

One risk in employing Futures to attempt to protect against declines in the value of the securities held by the Fund is the possibility that the prices of Futures will correlate imperfectly with the behavior of the market value of the Fund’s securities.  The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to differences in those markets, are subject to distortions.  First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements.  Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through off-setting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets.  Second, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants entering into offsetting transactions rather than making or taking delivery.  To the extent participants decide to make or take delivery, liquidity in the futures market could be reduced, thus producing distortion.  Third, from the point of view of speculators the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market.  Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market may cause temporary price distortions.

It is possible that, where the Fund has sold Futures in a short hedge, the market may advance but the value of the securities held by the Fund may decline.  If this occurred, the Fund would lose money on the Future and also experience a decline in the value of its securities.  Where Futures are purchased in a long hedge, it is possible that the market may decline; if the Fund then decides not to invest in securities at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the Future that is not offset by a reduction in the price of any securities purchased.

Government Obligations
The Fund may make short term investments in U.S. Government obligations.  Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds, and issues of such entities as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Export Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and the Student Loan Marketing Association.
 
 
Some of these obligations, such as those of the GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury Department; others, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law.

The Fund may invest in sovereign debt obligations of foreign countries.  A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest in a timely manner may be affected by a number of factors, including its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward principal international lenders and the political constraints to which it may be subject.  Emerging market governments could default on their sovereign debt.  Such sovereign debtors also may be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and other entities abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt.  The commitments on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a sovereign debtor’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations.  Failure to meet such conditions could result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debt in a timely manner.

When-Issued Securities
The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis, for payment and delivery at a later date, generally within one month.  The price and yield are generally fixed on the date of commitment to purchase, and the value of the security is thereafter reflected in the Fund’s NAV.  During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund and no interest accrues to the Fund.  At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price.  When the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis, it maintains liquid assets in a segregated account with its custodian in an amount equal to the purchase price as long as the obligation to purchase continues.

Corporate Debt Securities
The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities of any maturity including fixed income securities rated below “investment grade” by one or more recognized statistical ratings organizations, such as Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”).  Bonds rated below BBB by S&P or Baa by Moody’s, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” typically carry higher coupon rates than investment grade bonds, but also are described as speculative by both S&P and Moody’s and may be subject to greater market price fluctuations, less liquidity and greater risk of income or principal including greater possibility of default and bankruptcy of the issuer of such securities than more highly rated bonds.  Lower-rated bonds also are more likely to be sensitive to adverse economic or company developments and more subject to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates.  The market for lower-rated debt issues generally is thinner and less active than that for higher quality securities, which may limit the Fund’s ability to sell such securities at fair value in response to changes in the economy or financial markets.  During periods of economic downturn or rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of lower-rated securities may experience financial stress which could adversely affect their ability to make payments of interest and principal and increase the possibility of default.

Ratings of debt securities represent the rating agencies’ opinions regarding their quality, are not a guarantee of quality and may be reduced after the Fund has acquired the security.  If a security’s rating is reduced while it is held by the Fund, the Adviser will consider whether the Fund should continue to hold the security but is not required to dispose of it.  Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value.  Also, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to subsequent events, so that an issuer’s current financial conditions may be better or worse than the rating indicates.  The ratings for corporate debt securities are described in Appendix A.
 
 
Short-Term, Temporary, and Cash Investments
When the Adviser believes market, economic or political conditions are unfavorable for investors, the Adviser may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s net assets in a temporary defensive manner or hold a substantial portion of its net assets in cash, cash equivalents or other short-term investments.  Unfavorable market or economic conditions may include excessive volatility or a prolonged general decline in the securities markets, or the U.S. economy.  Temporary defensive investments generally may include U.S. Government securities, certificates of deposit, high-grade commercial paper, repurchase agreements, money market mutual funds shares and other money market equivalents.  The Adviser also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity.  The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

Money Market Mutual Funds.  The Fund may invest in money market mutual funds in connection with its management of daily cash positions or as a temporary defensive measure.  Generally, money market mutual funds seek to earn income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.  It primarily invests in high quality money market obligations, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations and high-grade corporate instruments.  These investments generally mature within 397 days from the date of purchase.  An investment in a money market mutual fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any government agency.  The Fund’s investments in money market mutual funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.

Your cost of investing in the Fund will generally be higher than the cost of investing directly in the underlying money market mutual fund shares.  You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying money market mutual funds in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.  Furthermore, the use of this strategy could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you.

Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits.  The Fund may acquire bank certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits.  Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.  Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.  Certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances acquired by the Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. Government.  If the Fund holds instruments of foreign banks or financial institutions, it may be subject to additional investment risks that are different in some respects from those incurred by a fund that invests only in debt obligations of U.S. domestic issuers.  Such risks include future political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes by the particular country in which the issuer is located on interest income payable on the securities, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on these securities.

 
Domestic banks and foreign banks are subject to different governmental regulations with respect to the amount and types of loans that may be made and interest rates that may be charged.  In addition, the profitability of the banking industry depends largely upon the availability and cost of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.  General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operations of the banking industry.

As a result of federal and state laws and regulations, domestic banks are, among other things, required to maintain specified levels of reserves, limited in the amount which they can loan to a single borrower, and subject to other regulations designed to promote financial soundness.  However, such laws and regulations do not necessarily apply to foreign bank obligations that the Fund may acquire.

In addition to purchasing certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances, to the extent permitted under its investment objectives and policies stated above and in the Prospectus, the Fund may make interest-bearing time or other interest-bearing deposits in commercial or savings banks.  Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained at a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate.

Savings Association Obligations.  The Fund may invest in certificates of deposit (interest-bearing time deposits) issued by savings banks or savings and loan associations that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million, based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such obligations is fully insured by the U.S. Government.

Commercial Paper, Short-Term Notes and Other Corporate Obligations.  The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in commercial paper and short-term notes.  Commercial paper consists of unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations.  Issues of commercial paper and short-term notes will normally have maturities of less than nine months and fixed rates of return, although such instruments may have maturities of up to one year.

Commercial paper and short-term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” or “Prime-2” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.  These rating symbols are described in Appendix B.

Corporate obligations include bonds and notes issued by corporations to finance longer-term credit needs than supported by commercial paper.  While such obligations generally have maturities of ten years or more, the Fund may purchase corporate obligations which have remaining maturities of one year or less from the date of purchase and which are rated “AA” or higher by S&P or “Aa” or higher by Moody’s.

Illiquid Securities
As a non-principal strategy, the Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid at the time of purchase, which means that there may be legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, or that there are no readily available market quotations for such a security.  Illiquid securities present the risks that the Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired.  There are generally no restrictions on the Fund’s ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid.  Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act (“Rule 144A securities”) will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.  The Adviser is responsible for making the determination as to the liquidity of restricted securities (pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees).  The Fund will determine a security to be illiquid if it cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at the value at which the Fund has valued the security.  Factors considered in determining whether a security is illiquid may include, but are not limited to: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of the security, including whether it is registered or unregistered, and the market place; whether the security has been rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”); the period of time remaining until the maturity of a debt instrument or until the principal amount of a demand instrument can be recovered through demand; the nature of any restrictions on resale; and with respect to municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, there is reasonable assurance that the obligation will remain liquid throughout the time the obligation is held and, if unrated, an analysis similar to that which would be performed by an NRSRO is performed.  If a restricted security is determined to be liquid, it will not be included within the category of illiquid securities.  Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that the Fund, at a particular point in time may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the securities.  The Fund is permitted to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.
 
 
Restricted Securities
The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act.  These securities are sometimes referred to as private placements.  Although securities which may be resold only to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144A under the Securities Act are technically considered “restricted securities,” the Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities without regard to the limitation on investments in illiquid securities described above in the “Illiquid Securities” section, provided that a determination is made that such securities have a readily available trading market.  The Fund may also purchase certain commercial paper issued in reliance on the exemption from regulations in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act (“4(2) Paper”).  The Adviser will determine the liquidity of Rule 144A securities and 4(2) Paper under the supervision of the Board.

Limitations on the resale of restricted securities may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and the Fund might be unable to dispose of restricted securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemption requirements.  The Fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

Initial Public Offerings
The Fund may purchase shares in initial public offerings (“IPOs”).  Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the Fund, such as brokerage commissions and transaction costs.  By selling shares, the Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.  Investing in IPOs increases risk because IPO shares are frequently volatile in price.  As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio.

Securities Lending
The Fund may lend its portfolio securities in order to generate additional income.  Securities may be loaned to broker-dealers, major banks or other recognized domestic institutional borrowers of securities.  Generally, the Fund may lend portfolio securities to securities broker-dealers or financial institutions if:  (1) the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements including collateralization continuously at no less than 100% by marking to market daily; (2) the loan is subject to termination by the Fund at any time; (3) the Fund receives reasonable interest or fee payments on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the loaned securities; (4) the Adviser is able to call loaned securities in order to exercise all voting rights with respect to the loaned securities; and (5) the loan will not cause the value of all loaned securities to exceed one-third of the value of the Fund’s assets.  As part of participating in a lending program, the Fund will invest its cash collateral only in investments that are consistent with the investment objectives, principal investment strategies and investment policies of the Fund.  All investments made with the cash collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments.  If such investments lose value, the Fund will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.  Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower shall be at the Fund’s risk.
 
 
Royalty Trusts
The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in royalty trusts.  Royalty trusts are established to receive the royalties or net profit interests in a specific group of assets and to pay out those royalties to their unit holders.  To do this, royalty trusts buy the right to royalties (income) on the production and sales of a natural resource company.  The yield generated by a royalty trust is not guaranteed and because developments in the oil, gas and natural resources markets will affect payouts, can be volatile.  For example, the yield on an oil royalty trust can be affected by changes in production levels, natural resources, political and military developments, regulatory changes and conservation efforts.  In addition, natural resources are depleting assets.  Eventually, the income-producing ability of the royalty trust will be exhausted.  Generally, higher yielding trusts have less time until depletion of proven reserves.  Depending on the U.S. federal income tax classification of the royalty trusts in which the Fund invests, securities issued by certain royalty trusts (such as royalty trusts which are grantor trusts for U.S. federal income tax purposes) may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the income requirements of the Code.  Additionally, the Fund may be deemed to directly own the assets of each royalty trust, and would need to look to such assets when determining its compliance with the diversification requirements under the Code.  The Fund will monitor its investments in royalty trusts with the objective of maintaining its continued qualification as a regulated investment company under the Code.  

Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”)
The Fund may invest in publicly traded Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”).  MLPs are businesses organized as limited partnerships that trade their proportionate shares of the partnership (units) on a public exchange.  MLPs are required to pay out most or all of their earnings in distributions.  Generally speaking, MLP investment returns are enhanced during periods of declining or low interest rates and tend to be negatively influenced when interest rates are rising.  As an income vehicle, the unit price may be influenced by general interest rate trends independent of specific underlying fundamentals.  In addition, most MLPs are fairly leveraged and typically carry a portion of “floating” rate debt.  As such, a significant upward swing in interest rates would drive interest expense higher.  Furthermore, most MLPs grow by acquisitions partly financed by debt, and higher interest rates could make it more difficult to make acquisitions.

Short Sales
The Fund is authorized to make short sales of securities.  In a short sale, the Fund sells a security, which it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security.  To complete the sale, the Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made) in order to make delivery to the buyer.  The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.  The Fund is said to have a “short position” in the securities sold until it delivers them to the broker.  The period during which the Fund has a short position can range from as little as one day to more than a year.  Until the security is replaced, the proceeds of the short sale are retained by the broker, and the Fund is required to pay to the broker a negotiated portion of any dividends or interest which accrues during the period of the loan.  To meet current margin requirements, the Fund is also required to deposit with the broker cash or securities in excess of the current market value of the securities sold short as security for its obligation to cover its short position.  The Fund is also required to segregate or earmark liquid assets on its books to cover its obligation to return the security.
 
 
Short sales by the Fund create opportunities to increase the Fund’s return but, at the same time, involve specific risk considerations and may be considered a speculative technique.  Since the Fund in effect profits from a decline in the price of the securities sold short without the need to invest the full purchase price of the securities on the date of the short sale, the Fund’s NAV per share will tend to increase more when the securities it has sold short decrease in value, and to decrease more when the securities it has sold short increase in value, than would otherwise be the case if it had not engaged in such short sales.  The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale.  Furthermore, under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have difficulty purchasing securities to meet its short sale delivery obligations, and might have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

Borrowing
Though the Fund does not currently intend to borrow money, the Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes or for clearance of transactions, in amounts not to exceed at any time 33-1/3% of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowings, as allowed under the 1940 Act.  The Fund may sell securities short in an amount not to exceed 30% of the Fund’s net assets.  Short selling is a form of leverage.  Borrowing, especially when used for leverage, may cause the value of the Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not borrow.  This is because borrowing tends to magnify the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.  Borrowed money thus creates an opportunity for greater gains, but also greater losses.  To repay borrowings, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the Fund.  There also are costs associated with borrowing money, and these costs would offset and could eliminate the Fund’s net investment income in any given period.  Currently, the Fund’s does not contemplate borrowing money for investment purposes.  The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies.  Since substantially all of the Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of the Fund’s agreement with its lender, the NAV per share of the Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when its portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if the Fund did not borrow.  In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds.  Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

Loan Assignments and Participations
The Fund may purchase corporate loans through assignment or participation.  Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured.  Loan participations typically represent only a right to participate in the repayment of the loan by the corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates.  In purchasing participations, the Fund will usually have a contractual relationship only with the selling institution, and not the corporate borrower.  Consequently, the Fund generally will have no right directly to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the commercial loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, nor will it have the right to object to certain changes to the loan agreement agreed to by the selling institution.  The Fund may also buy part of a loan through an assignment, thereby becoming a direct lender to the corporate borrower.  When purchasing loan participations or assignments, the Fund assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower.  When purchasing loan participations, the Fund assumes both the credit risk of the borrower and the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary.  The participation interests and bank loans in which the Fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.
 
 
Asset-Backed Securities 
The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities.  Asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust.  Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of these securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates.  As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, these securities may exhibit additional volatility.  This is known as extension risk.  In addition, these securities are subject to prepayment risk, which is the risk that when interest rates decline or are low but are expected to rise, borrowers may pay off their debts sooner than expected.  This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates.  This is also known as contraction risk.  These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying assets, particularly during period of economic downturn.

Municipal Securities
The Fund may invest in municipal securities.  Municipal securities are debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories, and possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia, and any political subdivisions or financing authority of any of these, the income from which is, the opinion of qualified legal counsel, exempt from federal regular income tax (“Municipal Securities”).

Municipal Securities are generally issued to finance public works such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation projects, schools, and water and sewer works.  They are also issued to repay outstanding obligations, to include industrial development bonds issued by or on behalf of public authorities to provide financing aid to acquire sites or construct and equip facilities for privately or publicly owned corporations.  The availability of this financing encourages these corporations to locate within the sponsoring communities and thereby increases local employment.

Municipal Securities Risks.  Municipal Securities prices are interest rate sensitive, which means that their value varies inversely with market interest rates.  Thus, if market interest rates have increased from the time a security was purchased, the security, if sold, might be sold at a price less than its cost.  Similarly, if market interest rates have declined from the time a security was purchased, the security, if sold, might be sold at a price greater than its cost.  (In either instance, if the security was held to maturity, no loss or gain normally would be realized as a result of interim market fluctuations.)  Yields on Municipal Securities depend on a variety of factors, including: the general conditions of the money market and the taxable and Municipal Securities market; the size of the particular offering; the maturity of the obligations; and the credit quality of the issue.  Further, any adverse economic conditions or developments affecting the states or municipalities could impact municipal securities.

Special Risks Related to Cyber Security
The Fund and its service providers are susceptible to cyber security risks that include, among other things, theft, unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential and highly restricted data; denial of service attacks; unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations; or operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers.  Cyber attacks against or security breakdowns of the Fund or its service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses; the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and the Fund to process transactions; inability to calculate the Fund’s NAV; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs; and/or additional compliance costs.  The Fund may incur additional costs for cyber security risk management and remediation purposes.  In addition, cyber security risks may also impact issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which may cause the Fund’s investment in such issuers to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund or its service providers will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.
 
 

The Trust (on behalf of the Fund) has adopted the following restrictions as fundamental policies, which may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities” as defined in the 1940 Act.  Under the 1940 Act, the “vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the vote of the holders of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of its outstanding shares are represented or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The Fund may not:

1.  
With respect to 50% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of a single issuer or hold more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer.  (Does not apply to investments in the securities of other investment companies or securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.)

2.  
Borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

3.  
Issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

4.  
Engage in the business of underwriting securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in the disposition of restricted securities.

5.  
Invest 25% or more of the market value of its total assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry.  (Does not apply to investments in the securities of other investment companies or securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.)

6.  
Purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate and/or mortgages or investments secured by real estate, or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities.

7.  
Purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.  This limitation shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling, or entering into futures contracts, or acquiring securities or other instruments and options thereon backed by, or related to, physical commodities.

8.  
Make loans to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

The Fund observes the following policies, which are not deemed fundamental and which may be changed without shareholder vote.  The Fund may not:
 
 
1.  
Invest in any issuer for purposes of exercising control or management.

2.  
Invest in securities of other investment companies, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

3.  
Hold, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
 

Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action.  Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year.  A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year.  A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.
 

The Adviser and the Fund maintain portfolio holdings disclosure policies that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the portfolio investments held by the Fund.  These portfolio holdings disclosure policies have been approved by the Board.  Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual report and semi-annual report to the Fund’s shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  The Fund’s top ten holdings as of each calendar quarter-end may be made available on the Fund’s website at www.scharffunds.com within five to ten business days after the calendar quarter-end at the Adviser’s discretion.  If posted, the top ten holdings for the Fund will remain posted on the website until updated with the next required regulatory filings with the SEC.  These reports are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Pursuant to the Trust’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies, information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are not distributed to any person unless:

·
The disclosure is required pursuant to a regulatory request, court order or is legally required in the context of other legal proceedings;
 
· 
The disclosure is made to a mutual fund rating and/or ranking organization, or person performing similar functions, who is subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on any non-public information;
 
·
The disclosure is made to internal parties involved in the investment process, administration, operation or custody of the Fund, including, but not limited to USBFS and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, attorneys, auditors or accountants;
 
·
The disclosure is made: (a) in connection with a quarterly, semi-annual or annual report that is available to the public; or (b) relates to information that is otherwise available to the public; or
 
·
The disclosure is made with the prior written approval of either the Trust’s CCO or his or her designee.
 
 
Certain of the persons listed above receive information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings on an ongoing basis.  The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information and operate in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders.  These persons include:

·
A mutual fund rating and/or ranking organization, or person performing similar functions, who is subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on any non-public information;
 
·
Rating and/or ranking organizations, specifically: Lipper; Morningstar; Standard & Poor’s; Bloomberg; Vickers-Stock Research Corporation; Thomson Financial; and Capital-Bridge, all of which currently receive such information 60 days following the end of a calendar quarter; or
 
·
Internal parties involved in the investment process, administration, operation or custody of the Fund, specifically: USBFS; the Trust’s Board of Trustees; and the Trust’s attorneys and independent registered public accounting firm (currently, Paul Hastings LLP and Tait, Weller & Baker LLP, respectively), all of which typically receive such information after it is generated.

Any disclosures to additional parties not described above is made with the prior written approval of either the Trust’s CCO or his or her designee, pursuant to the Trust’s Policy and Procedures Regarding Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings.

The CCO or designated officer of the Trust will approve the furnishing of non-public portfolio holdings to a third party only if they consider the furnishing of such information to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders and if no material conflict of interest exists regarding such disclosure between shareholders interest and those of the Adviser, Distributor or any affiliated person of the Fund.  No consideration may be received by the Fund, the Adviser, any affiliate of the Adviser or their employees in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.  The Board receives and reviews annually a list of the persons who receive non-public portfolio holdings information and the purpose for which it is furnished.
 

The overall management of the Trust’s business and affairs is invested with its Board.  The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and persons or companies furnishing services to it, including the agreements with the Adviser, Administrator, Custodian and Transfer Agent, each as defined below.  The day-to-day operations of the Trust are delegated to its officers, subject to the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and policies and to the general supervision of the Board.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust, their ages and positions with the Trust, terms of office with the Trust and length of time served, their business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years and other directorships held are set forth in the table below.

Independent Trustees(1)
Name, Address
and Age
Position
Held
with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Principal
Occupation
During Past Five
Years
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(2)
Other
Directorships
Held During
Past Five
Years(3)
Gail S. Duree
(age 69)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Trustee
Indefinite term since March 2014.
Director, Alpha Gamma Delta Housing Corporation (collegiate housing management) (2012 to present); Trustee and Chair (2000 to 2012), New Covenant Mutual Funds (1999-2012); Director and Board Member, Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation (philanthropic organization) (2005 to 2011).
4
Trustee, Advisors Series Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds); Independent Trustee from 1999 to 2012, New Covenant Mutual Funds.
 
 
 
Name, Address
and Age
Position
Held
with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Principal
Occupation
During Past Five
Years
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(2)
Other
Directorships
Held During
Past Five
Years(3)
Donald E. O’Connor
(age 79)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Trustee
Indefinite
term since
February
1997.
Retired; former Financial Consultant and former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ICI Mutual Insurance Company (until January 1997).
4
Trustee, Advisors Series Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds); Trustee, The Forward Funds (26 portfolios).
George J. Rebhan
(age 81)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Trustee
Indefinite
term since
May 2002.
Retired; formerly President, Hotchkis and Wiley Funds (mutual funds) (1985 to 1993).
4
Trustee, Advisors Series Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds); Independent Trustee from 1999 to 2009, E*TRADE Funds.
George T. Wofford
(age 76)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Trustee
Indefinite
term since
February 1
997.
Retired; formerly Senior Vice President, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.
4
Trustee, Advisors Series Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds).
 
 
Interested Trustee
Name, Address
and Age
Position
Held
with
the Trust
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served
Principal
Occupation
During Past Five
Years
Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee(2)
Other
Directorships
Held During
Past Five
Years(3)
Joe D. Redwine(4)
(age 68)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Interested
Trustee
Indefinite
term since
September
2008.
President, CEO, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (May 1991 to present).
4
Trustee, Advisors Series Trust (for series not affiliated with the Funds).

Officers of the Trust
Name, Address
and Age
Position Held with
the Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation
During Past Five
Years
Joe D. Redwine
(age 68)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
Indefinite
term since
September
2007.
President, CEO, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (May 1991 to present).
Douglas G. Hess
(age 48)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
President and
Principal Executive Officer
Indefinite term
since June 2003.
Senior Vice President, Compliance and Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (March 1997 to present).
Cheryl L. King
(age 54)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Treasurer and
Principal Financial Officer
Indefinite term
since December
2007.
Vice President, Compliance and Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (October 1998 to present).
 
 
Name, Address
and Age
Position Held with
the Trust
Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served
Principal Occupation
During Past Five
Years
Kevin J. Hayden
(age 44)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Assistant Treasurer
Indefinite term
since September
2013.
Assistant Vice President, Compliance and Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (June 2005 to present).
Albert Sosa
(age 45)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Assistant Treasurer
Indefinite term
since September
2013.
Assistant Vice President, Compliance and Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (June 2004 to present).
Michael L. Ceccato
(age 58)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Vice President, Chief
Compliance Officer and
AML Officer
Indefinite term
since September 2
009.
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (February 2008 to present).
Jeanine M. Bajczyk, Esq.
(age 50)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
Secretary
Indefinite term
since September
2015.
Senior Vice President and Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (November 2013 to present).
Emily R. Enslow, Esq.
(age 28)
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Assistant Secretary
Indefinite term
since September
2015.
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (July 2013 - present); Proxy Voting Coordinator and Class Action Administrator, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (September 2012 – July 2013); Legal Internship, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (February 2012 – September 2012); J.D. Graduate, Marquette University Law School (2009-2012).
(1)  
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
 
 
(2)  
As of November 30, 2015, the Trust is comprised of 47 active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund, the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund and the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund.  The Fund does not hold itself out as related to any other series within the Trust for investment purposes, nor does it share the same investment adviser with any other series other than the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund and the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund.
(3)  
“Other Directorships Held” includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Act, as amended, (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
(4)  
Mr. Redwine is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined by the 1940 Act.  Mr. Redwine is an interested Trustee of the Trust by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC which acts as principal underwriter to the series of the Trust.

Additional Information Concerning Our Board of Trustees

The Role of the Board
The Board provides oversight of the management and operations of the Trust.  Like all mutual funds, the day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of various service providers to the Trust, such as the Trust’s investment advisers, distributor, administrator, custodian, and transfer agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI.  The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and its service providers, including the agreements with the advisers, distributor, administrator, custodian and transfer agent.  The Board has appointed various senior individuals of certain of these service providers as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s day-to-day operations.  In conducting this oversight, the Board receives regular reports from these officers and service providers regarding the Trust’s operations.  The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters.  Some of these reports are provided as part of formal “Board Meetings” which are typically held quarterly, in person, and involve the Board’s review of recent Trust operations.  From time to time one or more members of the Board may also meet with Trust officers in less formal settings, between formal “Board Meetings,” to discuss various topics.  In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.

Board Leadership Structure
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to effectively perform its oversight function.  It has established three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee, and a Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (the “QLCC”), which are discussed in greater detail under “Board Committees,” below.  Currently, more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the Board are Independent Trustees, which are Trustees that are not affiliated with the Adviser or its affiliates or any other investment adviser in the Trust, and each of the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and QLCC are comprised entirely of Independent Trustees.  The Independent Trustees have engaged their own independent counsel to advise them on matters relating to their responsibilities in connection with the Trust.

The Chairman of the Board is the Chief Executive Officer of the Trust and a Trustee; he is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined by the 1940 Act, by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Trust’s “Distributor” and principal underwriter.  He is also the President and CEO of the Administrator to the Trust.  The President and Principal Executive Officer of the Trust is not a Trustee, but rather is a senior employee of the Administrator who routinely interacts with the unaffiliated investment advisers of the Trust and comprehensively manages the operational aspects of the funds in the Trust.  The Trust has appointed George J. Rebhan as lead Independent Trustee, who acts as a liaison with the Trust’s service providers, officers, legal counsel, and other Trustees between meetings, helps to set Board meeting agendas, and serves as chair during executive sessions of the Independent Trustees.
 
 
The Board reviews its structure annually.  The Trust has determined that it is appropriate to separate the Principal Executive Officer and Board Chairman positions because the day-to-day responsibilities of the Principal Executive Officer are not consistent with the oversight role of the Trustees and because of the potential conflict of interest that may arise from the Administrator’s duties with the Trust.  The Board has also determined that the appointment of a lead Independent Trustee, the function and composition of the Audit Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the QLCC are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the Chairman’s status as an Interested Trustee.  Given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust as described above, the Trust has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate.

Board Oversight of Risk Management
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel.  Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, etc.) the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways.  For example, the Audit Committee meets regularly with the CCO to discuss compliance and operational risks.  The Audit Committee also meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function.  The full Board receives reports from the Adviser and portfolio managers as to investment risks as well as other risks that may be also discussed in Audit Committee.

Information about Each Trustee’s Qualification, Experience, Attributes or Skills
The Board believes that each of the Trustees has the qualifications, experience, attributes and skills (“Trustee Attributes”) appropriate to their continued service as Trustees of the Trust in light of the Trust’s business and structure.  Each of the Trustees has substantial business and professional backgrounds that indicate they have the ability to critically review, evaluate and access information provided to them.  Certain of these business and professional experiences are set forth in detail in the table above.  In addition, the majority of the Trustees have served on boards for organizations other than the Trust, as well as having served on the Board of the Trust for a number of years.  They therefore have substantial board experience and, in their service to the Trust, have gained substantial insight as to the operation of the Trust.  The Board annually conducts a ‘self-assessment’ wherein the effectiveness of the Board and individual Trustees is reviewed.

In addition to the information provided in the table above, below is certain additional information concerning each particular Trustee and certain of their Trustee Attributes.  The information provided below, and in the table above, is not all-inclusive.  Many Trustee Attributes involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, integrity, work ethic, the ability to work together, the ability to communicate effectively, the ability to exercise judgment, the ability to ask incisive questions, and commitment to shareholder interests.  In conducting its annual self-assessment, the Board has determined that the Trustees have the appropriate attributes and experience to continue to serve effectively as Trustees of the Trust.

Gail S. Duree.  Ms. Duree has served as a trustee and chair on a mutual fund board and is experienced in financial, accounting and investment matters through her experience as past audit committee chair of a mutual fund complex as well as through her service as Treasurer of a major church from 1999 to 2009.  Ms. Duree also serves as director of a collegiate housing management company and has served as a director of a philanthropic organization where she sat as chair of the finance committee.  Ms. Duree serves as the Trust’s Audit Committee Financial Expert.
 
 
Donald E. O’Connor.  Mr. O’Connor has served on a number of mutual fund boards and is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his prior service as a trustee of The Forward Funds, Inc. and his prior position as Chief of the Branch of Market Surveillance at the SEC.  Mr. O’Connor also has substantial experience in mutual fund operations through senior positions at industry trade associations, including Vice President of Operations for the Investment Company Institute covering accounting, transfer agent and custodian industry functions and Chief Operating Officer of ICI Mutual, a captive insurance company focused exclusively on the insurance needs of mutual funds, their directors, officers, and advisers.

George J. Rebhan.  Mr. Rebhan has served on a number of mutual fund boards and is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his prior service as a trustee of E*Trade Funds and as President of the Hotchkis and Wiley mutual fund family.  Mr. Rebhan also has substantial investment experience through his former association with a registered investment adviser.

Joe D. Redwine.  Mr. Redwine has substantial mutual fund experience and is experienced with financial, accounting, investment and regulatory matters through his position as President and CEO of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, a full service provider to mutual funds and alternative investment products.  In addition, he has extensive experience consulting with investment advisers regarding the legal structure of mutual funds, distribution channel analysis and actual distribution of those funds.

George T. Wofford.  Mr. Wofford is experienced in financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters through his executive experience as a Senior Vice President of Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (“FHLB-SF”) where he was involved with the development of FHLB-SF’s information technology infrastructure as well as legal and regulatory financial reporting.

Board Committees
The Trust has established the following three standing committees and the membership of each committee to assist in its oversight functions, including its oversight of the risks the Trust faces: the Audit Committee, the QLCC, and the Nominating Committee.  There is no assurance, however, that the Board’s committee structure will prevent or mitigate risks in actual practice.  The Trust’s committee structure is specifically not intended or designed to prevent or mitigate each Fund’s investment risks.  The Fund is designed for investors that are prepared to accept investment risk, including the possibility that as yet unforeseen risks may emerge in the future.

The Audit Committee is comprised of all of the Independent Trustees.  It does not include any interested Trustees.  Ms. Duree is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee meets regularly with respect to the various series of the Trust.  The function of the Audit Committee, with respect to each series of the Trust, is to review the scope and results of the audit and any matters bearing on the audit or the Fund’s financial statements and to ensure the integrity of the Fund’s pricing and financial reporting.

The Audit Committee also serves as the QLCC for the Trust for the purpose of compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of the Code of Federal Regulations, regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys retained or employed by an issuer who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the issuer (the “issuer attorneys”).  An issuer’s attorney who becomes aware of evidence of a material violation by the Trust, or by any officer, director, employee, or agent of the Trust, may report evidence of such material violation to the QLCC as an alternative to the reporting requirements of Rule 205.3(b) (which requires reporting to the chief legal officer and potentially “up the ladder” to other entities.
 
 
The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Trustees as is considered necessary from time to time and meets only as necessary.  Ms. Duree, Rebhan and Wofford comprise the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations for consideration by the Nominating Committee should be sent to the President of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed Nominee, and such recommendation must comply with the notice provisions set forth in the Trust’s By-Laws.  In general, to comply with such procedures, such nominations, together with all required biographical information, must be delivered to and received by the President of the Trust at the principal executive offices of the Trust between 120 and 150 days prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on.

Additionally, the Trust’s Board has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee that is comprised of representatives from the Administrator’s staff.  The function of the Valuation Committee is to value securities held by any series of the Trust for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available.  Such securities are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee and the actions of the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.  The Valuation Committee meets as needed.  
 
Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests
No Trustee beneficially owned shares of the Fund as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2014, which is prior to the inception date of the Fund.

As of December 31, 2014, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Adviser, the Distributor, as defined below, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor.  Accordingly, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates.  In addition, during the  two most recently completed calendar years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate families have conducted any transactions (or series of transactions) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and to which the Adviser, the Distributor or any affiliate thereof was a party.

Compensation
The Independent Trustees each receive an annual retainer of $70,000 allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust, an additional $5,000 per regularly scheduled Board meeting, and an additional $500 per special telephonic meeting, paid by the Trust or applicable advisers/portfolios, as well as reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings.  The lead Independent Trustee and chair of the Audit Committee each receive a separate annual fee of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, provided that the separate fee for the chair of the Audit Committee will be waived if the same individual serves as both lead Independent Trustee and Audit Committee chair.  The Trust has no pension or retirement plan.  No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation to the Trustees.

Set forth below is the anticipated compensation to be received by the Independent Trustees from the Fund for the fiscal period ending September 30, 2016.
 
 
 
Anticipated
Aggregate
Compensation
from the Fund(1)
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of Fund
Expenses
Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
Anticipated Total
Compensation
from Fund
Complex Paid to
Trustees(1)(2)
Name of Independent Trustee
Gail S. Duree
$1,347
None
None
$6,099
Donald E. O’Connor
$1,275
None
None
$5,777
George J. Rebhan
$1,417
None
None
$6,419
George T. Wofford
$1,275
None
None
$5,777
 
Name of Interested Trustee
Joe D. Redwine
$0
None
None
$0
(1)
For the Fund’s fiscal period ending September 30, 2016.
(2)
There are currently numerous portfolios comprising the Trust.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Scharf Funds.  For the fiscal period ending September 30, 2016, aggregate Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses for the Trust are estimated in an amount of $281,250.

 

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor, as defined below, have each adopted separate Codes of Ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act.  These Codes permit, subject to certain conditions, access persons of the Adviser and Distributor to invest in securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.
 

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

The Adviser will vote all proxies after making the determination that the vote is in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders.  In determining whether a proposal serves the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, the Adviser will consider a number of factors, including the economic effect of the proposal on shareholder value, the threat posed by the proposal to existing rights of shareholders, the dilution of existing shares that would result from the proposal, the effect of the proposal on management or director accountability to shareholders, and, if the proposal is a shareholder initiative, whether it wastes time and resources of the company or reflects the grievance of one individual.  The Adviser will abstain from voting proxies when it believes it is appropriate to do so.

The Adviser has established a Proxy Voting Committee which is comprised of employees separate from those persons responsible for the Fund’s portfolio management.  If a material conflict of interest over proxy voting arises between the Adviser and the Fund, such proxy votes will be referred to the Proxy Voting Committee and the Committee will vote all such proxies in accordance with the policy described above.  The goal of the Proxy Voting Committee is to ensure that all proxy votes serve the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
The Trust is required to file a Form N-PX, with the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year.  The Fund’s proxy voting records will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free 866-5SCHARF and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.  Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of voting or the direction of management of the Fund.

Since the Fund was not operational prior to the date of this SAI, there were no principal shareholders or control persons and the Trustees and officers of the Trust as a group did not own more than 1% of any class of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

Management Ownership Information.  As of December 31, 2014, no Trustees or officers of the Trust, as a group, beneficially owned any of the outstanding shares of any class of the Fund as it had not commenced operations.

 

Scharf Investments, LLC, 5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, acts as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust (the “Advisory Agreement”).  The control persons of the Adviser are Brian A. Krawez, CFA, President of the Adviser and portfolio manager to the Fund, who is the majority owner, and Jeffrey R. Scharf, Chairman of the Adviser, who is the minority owner.  As the managing member of Scharf Investments, LLC, Mr. Krawez has the full, exclusive and complete authority in the management and control of the business of Scharf Investments and makes all decisions affecting Scharf Investments.

In consideration of the services to be provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund an investment advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly, based on a rate equal to 0.99% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

After its initial two year term with respect to the Fund, the Advisory Agreement continues in effect for successive annual periods so long as such continuation is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of (1) the Board (or a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund), and (2) a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of any party to the Advisory Agreement, in each case, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.  The Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either party to the Advisory Agreement upon a 60-day written notice and is automatically terminated in the event of its “assignment,” as defined in the 1940 Act.

In addition to the management fees payable to the Adviser, the Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses, including: fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, registration and transfer of its shares; brokerage and commission expenses; all expenses of transfer, receipt, safekeeping, servicing and accounting for the cash, securities and other property of the Trust for the benefit of the Fund including all fees and expenses of its custodian and accounting services agent; interest charges on any borrowings; costs and expenses of pricing and calculating its daily NAV per share and of maintaining its books of account required under the 1940 Act; taxes, if any; a pro rata portion of expenditures in connection with meetings of the Fund’s shareholders and the Trust’s Board that are properly payable by the Fund; salaries and expenses of officers and fees and expenses of members of the Board or members of any advisory board or committee who are not members of, affiliated with or interested persons of the Adviser or Administrator; insurance premiums on property or personnel of the Fund which inure to their benefit, including liability and fidelity bond insurance; the cost of preparing and printing reports, proxy statements, prospectuses and the statement of additional information of the Fund or other communications for distribution to existing shareholders; legal counsel, auditing and accounting fees; trade association membership dues (including membership dues in the Investment Company Institute allocable to the Fund); fees and expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining registration of its shares for sale under federal and applicable state and foreign securities laws; all expenses of maintaining shareholder accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping, dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of the Fund, if any; and all other charges and costs of its operation plus any extraordinary and non-recurring expenses, except as otherwise prescribed in the Advisory Agreement.
 
 
Though the Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of the management fees payable to it by the Fund and to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to the limits set forth in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables of the Prospectus.  Any such waivers made by the Adviser in its management fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund, if so requested by the Adviser, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the recoupment) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Adviser is permitted to recoup only for management fee waivers and expense payments made in the previous three fiscal years.  Any such recoupment is also contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review and ratification of the recouped amounts.  Such recoupment may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses.
 

Fund Administrator, Transfer Agent and Fund Accountant
Pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS” or the “Administrator”), 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, acts as the Administrator to the Fund.  USBFS provides certain services to the Fund including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and regulations, excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including NAV per share and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties.  In this capacity, USBFS does not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares.

USBFS also acts as fund accountant, transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements.  Additionally, the Administrator provides CCO services to the Trust under a separate agreement.  The cost of the CCO services is charged to the Fund and approved by the Board annually.
 
 
32

 
 
Custodian
Pursuant to a Custody Agreement between the Trust and U.S. Bank National Association, located at 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 (the “Custodian”), the Custodian serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets, holds the Fund’s portfolio securities in safekeeping, and keeps all necessary records and documents relating to its duties.  The Custodian is compensated with an asset-based fee plus transaction fees and is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.
The Custodian and Administrator do not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.  The Administrator, Transfer Agent, Custodian and the Fund’s Distributor (as defined below) are affiliated entities under the common control of U.S. Bancorp.   The Custodian and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with the service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and Legal Counsel
[                                                 ], is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund, whose services include auditing the Fund’s financial statements and the performance of related tax services.

Paul Hastings LLP (“Paul Hastings”), 75 East 55th Street, New York, New York 10022, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.  Paul Hastings also serves as independent legal counsel to the Board of Trustees.
 

Brian A. Krawez, CFA, is the portfolio manager principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolios.  The following table shows the number of other accounts (not including the Fund) managed by Mr. Krawez and the total assets in the accounts managed within various categories as of September 30, 2015.

       
Type of Accounts
Number of
Accounts
(Excluding
the Fund)
Total Assets
Number of
Accounts with
Advisory Fee
based on
Performance
Total Assets
 of Accounts
 with
Advisory
Fee based on
Performance
Registered Investment Companies
4
$547 million
0
$0
Other Pooled Investments
0
$0
0
$0
Other Accounts
2604
$4,130 million
54
$128 million

Material Conflicts of Interest.  Mr. Krawez has portfolio management responsibility for all the investment accounts of the Adviser.  There is a potential conflict should one of these accounts be favored over another, but the intention of the Adviser is to treat all accounts equally.  The investment accounts are expected to hold generally the same securities in the same proportions.  Buy and/or sell orders will normally be placed concurrently for each account.  Any differences between the investment accounts would be expected to arise from differential cash flows and investment restrictions.

Compensation.  Mr. Krawez receives a fixed base salary and a share of the profits of the Adviser equal in proportion to his ownership of the firm.

Securities Owned in the Fund by the Portfolio Manager.  As of the date of this SAI, the portfolio manager did not beneficially own any shares of the Fund as it had not commenced operations.
 
 

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

Purchases of portfolio securities for the Fund also may be made directly from issuers or from underwriters.  Where possible, purchase and sale transactions will be effected through dealers (including banks) which specialize in the types of securities which the Fund will be holding, unless better executions are available elsewhere.  Dealers and underwriters usually act as principal for their own accounts.  Purchases from underwriters will include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and purchases from dealers will include the spread between the bid and the asked price.  If the execution and price offered by more than one dealer or underwriter are comparable, the order may be allocated to a dealer or underwriter that has provided research or other services as discussed below.

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

While it is the Fund’s general policy to first seek to obtain the most favorable price and execution available in selecting a broker-dealer to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund, in accordance with Section 28(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, when it is determined that more than one broker can deliver best execution, weight is also given to the ability of a broker-dealer to furnish brokerage and research services to the Fund or to the Adviser, even if the specific services are not directly useful to the Fund and may be useful to the Adviser in advising other clients.  In negotiating commissions with a broker or evaluating the spread to be paid to a dealer, the Fund may therefore pay a higher commission or spread than would be the case if no weight were given to the furnishing of these supplemental services, provided that the amount of such commission or spread has been determined in good faith by the Adviser to be reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such broker-dealer.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of other client accounts or mutual funds managed or advised by the Adviser.  Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for both the Fund and one or more of such client accounts or mutual funds.  In such event, the position of the Fund and such client account(s) or mutual funds in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary.  However, to the extent any of these client accounts or mutual funds seek to acquire the same security as the Fund at the same time, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a portion of such security as one of it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security.  Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time.  If one or more of such client accounts or mutual funds simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that the Fund is purchasing or selling, each day’s transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts or mutual funds in a manner deemed equitable by the Adviser, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount of cash available for investment, the investment objective of the account, and the ease with which a clients appropriate amount can be bought, as well as the liquidity and volatility of the account and the urgency involved in making an investment decision for the client.  It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Fund is concerned.  In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of the Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund.
 
 

The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest and to divide or combine the shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interest in the Fund.  Each share represents an interest in the Fund proportionately equal to the interest of each other share.  Upon the Fund’s liquidation, all shareholders would share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

With respect to the Fund, the Trust may offer more than one class of shares.  The Trust has adopted a Multiple Class Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, detailing the attributes of each class of the Fund, and has reserved the right to create and issue additional series or classes.  Each share of the series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class.  Currently, the Fund offers two share classes – Retail Class and Institutional Class.

The shares of each series or class participate equally in the earnings, dividends and assets of the particular series or class.  Expenses of the Trust which are not attributable to a specific series or class are allocated among all the series in a manner believed by management of the Trust to be fair and equitable.  Shares have no pre-emptive rights.  Shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set forth below.  Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held.  Shares of each series or class generally vote together, except when required under federal securities laws to vote separately on matters that only affect a particular class, such as the approval of distribution plans for a particular class.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders but will hold special meetings of shareholders of a series or class when, in the judgment of the Trustees, it is necessary or desirable to submit matters for a shareholder vote.  Shareholders have, under certain circumstances, the right to communicate with other shareholders in connection with requesting a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing one or more Trustees.  Shareholders also have, in certain circumstances, the right to remove one or more Trustees without a meeting.  No material amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each portfolio affected by the amendment.  The Declaration of Trust provides that, at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class, a Shareholder Servicing Agent may vote any shares as to which such Shareholder Servicing Agent is the agent of record and which are not represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, proportionately in accordance with the votes cast by holders of all shares of that portfolio otherwise represented at the meeting in person or by proxy as to which such Shareholder Servicing Agent is the agent of record.  Any shares so voted by a Shareholder Servicing Agent will be deemed represented at the meeting for purposes of quorum requirements.  Any series or class may be terminated (i) upon the merger or consolidation with, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity, if approved by the vote of the holders of two thirds of its outstanding shares, except that if the Board recommends such merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of assets, the approval by vote of the holders of a majority of the series’ or class’ outstanding shares will be sufficient, or (ii) by the vote of the holders of a majority of its outstanding shares, or (iii) by the Board by written notice to the series’ or class’ shareholders.  Unless each series and class is so terminated, the Trust will continue indefinitely.
 
 
The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents covering possible tort and other liabilities.  Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust itself was unable to meet its obligations.

The Declaration of Trust does not require the issuance of stock certificates.  If stock certificates are issued, they must be returned by the registered owners prior to the transfer or redemption of shares represented by such certificates.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that as to any investment company which has two or more series outstanding and as to any matter required to be submitted to shareholder vote, such matter is not deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a “majority” (as defined in the Rule) of the voting securities of each series affected by the matter.  Such separate voting requirements do not apply to the election of Trustees or the ratification of the selection of accountants.  The Rule contains special provisions for cases in which an advisory contract is approved by one or more, but not all, series.  A change in investment policy may go into effect as to one or more series whose holders so approve the change even though the required vote is not obtained as to the holders of other affected series.
 
ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

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

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

The public offering price of Fund shares is the NAV per share.  Shares are purchased at the public offering price next determined after the Transfer Agent receives your order in good order.  In most cases, in order to receive that day’s public offering price, the Transfer Agent must receive your order in good order before the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the continued offering of the Fund’s shares, and (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in part when in the judgment of the Adviser or the Distributor such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.  The Adviser reserves the right to reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund’s shares.
 
 
In addition to cash purchases, Fund shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of shares of stock, bonds or other securities.  Any securities used to buy Fund shares must be readily marketable, their acquisition consistent with the Fund’s objective and otherwise acceptable to the Adviser and the Board.

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

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

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

Telephone Redemptions
Shareholders with telephone transaction privileges established on their account may redeem Fund shares, up to $50,000, by telephone.  Upon receipt of any instructions or inquiries by telephone from the shareholder, the Fund or its authorized agents may carry out the instructions and/or respond to the inquiry consistent with the shareholder’s previously established account service options.  For joint accounts, instructions or inquiries from either party will be carried out without prior notice to the other account owners.  In acting upon telephone instructions, the Fund and its agents use procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that such instructions are genuine.  These include recording all telephone calls, requiring pertinent information about the account and sending written confirmation of each transaction to the registered owner.

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

Redemptions In-Kind
The Trust has filed an election under SEC Rule 18f-1 committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (in excess of the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s assets).  The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities (instead of cash).  The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amount as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV per share for the shares being sold.  If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.  A redemption, whether in cash or in-kind, is a taxable event for you.
 
 
The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities that are illiquid.  In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire portfolio.  If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind redemption.  The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request.  If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely.  Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law.  Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.

Conversion Feature
Subject to meeting the minimum investment amount for Institutional Class shares, investors currently holding Retail Class or Investor Class shares may convert to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund, without incurring redemption fees.  Any such conversion will be effected at net asset value without the imposition of any fee or other charges by the Fund.  A conversion from Retail Class or Investor Class shares of the Fund to Institutional Class shares of the same Fund is not expected to result in realization of a capital gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.  Call the Fund (toll-free) at 866-5SCHARF to learn more about conversions of Fund shares.  Please contact your financial intermediary about any fees that it may charge.
 

The NAV of the Fund is determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time), each day the NYSE is open for trading.  The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading.  It is expected that the NYSE will not be open for trading on the following holidays:  New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

NAV is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets attributable to the Fund (including interest and dividends accrued, but not yet received), then subtracting liabilities attributable to the Fund (including accrued expenses).

Generally, the Fund’s investments are valued at market value or, in the absence of a market value, at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trust’s Valuation Committee pursuant to procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board.  Pursuant to those procedures, the Valuation Committee considers, among other things:  (1) the last sales price on the securities exchange, if any, on which a security is primarily traded; (2) the mean between the bid and asked prices; (3) price quotations from an approved pricing service; and (4) other factors as necessary to determine a fair value under certain circumstances.

Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ Global Market® for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ® Official Closing Price (“NOCP”).  If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices.  OTC securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market® shall be valued at the most recent sales price.  Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available (including restricted securities which are subject to limitations as to their sale) are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under procedures approved by or under the direction of the Board.
 
 
Debt obligations are valued at current market prices, as discussed above.

The Fund’s securities, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and asked price.  Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Adviser to be the primary market.

In the case of foreign securities, the occurrence of certain events after the close of foreign markets, but prior to the time the Fund’s NAV is calculated (such as a significant surge or decline in the U.S. or other markets) often will result in an adjustment to the trading prices of foreign securities when foreign markets open on the following business day.  If such events occur, the Fund will value foreign securities at fair value, taking into account such events, in calculating the NAV.  In such cases, use of fair valuation can reduce an investor’s ability to seek to profit by estimating the Fund’s NAV in advance of the time the NAV is calculated.  The Adviser anticipates that the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be fair valued only if market quotations for those holdings are considered unreliable or are unavailable.

An option that is written or purchased by the Fund shall be valued using composite pricing via the National Best Bid and Offer quotes.  Composite pricing looks at the last trade on the exchange where the option is traded.  If there are no trades for an option on a given business day, as of closing, the Fund will value the option at the mean of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across the exchanges where the option is traded.  For options where market quotations are not readily available, fair value shall be determined by the Trust’s Valuation Committee.

All other assets of the Fund are valued in such manner as the Board in good faith deems appropriate to reflect their fair value.
 
Distributions
Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net profits from the sale of securities are generally made annually.  Also, the Fund typically distributes any undistributed net investment income on or about December 31 of each year.  Any net capital gains realized through the period ended October 31 of each year will also be distributed by December 31 of each year.

Each distribution by the Fund is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution.  In January of each year, the Fund will issue to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions.

Tax Information
Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.  The Fund, as a series of the Trust, has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.  In order to do so, it must comply with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, diversification of its assets and timing and amount of distributions.  The  Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized long term capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes.  However, the Fund can give no assurances that distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.  To avoid the nondeductible excise tax, each Fund must also distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) at least 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12 month period ending on October 31 during such year, and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which no federal income tax was paid by the Fund or shareholders.
 
 
Net investment income generally consists of interest and dividend income, less expenses.  Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.  Capital losses sustained and not used in a taxable year may be carried forward indefinitely to offset income of the Fund in future years.

In order to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must, among other things, derive at least 90% of its gross income each year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to loans of stock and securities, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currency gains related to investments in stock or securities, or other income (generally including gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the business of investing in stock, securities or currency, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.  The Fund must also satisfy the following two asset diversification tests.  At the end of each quarter of each taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, the securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, with such other securities being limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies), the securities of any two or more issuers (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) that the Fund controls (by owning 20% or more of their outstanding voting stock) and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.  The Fund must also distribute each taxable year sufficient dividends to its shareholders to claim a dividends paid deduction equal to at least the sum of 90% of the Fund’s investment company taxable income (which generally includes dividends, interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of the Fund’s net tax-exempt interest, if any.

Distributions of net investment income and net short term capital gains are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  For individual shareholders, a portion of the distributions paid by the Fund may be qualified dividend income currently eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain rates to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend and certain holding period requirements are met.  In the case of corporate shareholders, a portion of the distributions may qualify for the intercorporate dividends-received deduction to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualifying dividend.  The aggregate amount so reported to either individual or corporate shareholders cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year.  In view of the Fund’s investment policies, it is expected that dividends from domestic corporations will be part of the Fund’s gross income and that, accordingly, part of the distributions by each Fund may be eligible for qualified dividend income treatment for individual shareholders, or for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.  However, the portion of each Fund’s gross income attributable to qualifying dividends is largely dependent on the Fund’s investment activities for a particular year and therefore cannot be predicted with any certainty.  Further, the dividends-received deduction may be reduced or eliminated if Fund shares held by a corporate investor are treated as debt financed or are held for less than 46 days.  Dividend from the Fund and gains from the sale of the Fund’s shares are subject to the federal 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income applicable to taxpayers in the higher income brackets.
 
 
Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held.  Capital gains distributions are not eligible for qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends received deduction referred to in the previous paragraph.  There is no requirement that the Fund take into consideration any tax implications when implementing its investment strategy.  Distributions of any net investment income and net realized capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or in cash.  Shareholders who choose to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share on the reinvestment date.  Distributions are generally taxable when received or deemed to be received.  However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31.  Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.  Shareholders should note that the Fund may make taxable distributions of income and capital gains even when share values have declined.

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends and interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations.

Redemption of Fund shares generally will result in recognition of a taxable gain or loss.  Any loss realized upon redemption or sales of shares within six months from the date of their purchase will be treated as a long term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of long term capital gains during such six-month period.  Any loss realized upon a redemption or sale may be disallowed under certain wash sale rules to the extent shares of the Fund are purchased (through reinvestment of distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the redemption.

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares, except in the case of exempt shareholders, which includes most corporations.  Pursuant to the backup withholding provisions of the Code, distributions of any taxable income and capital gains and proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares may be subject to withholding of federal income tax at the rate of 28% in the case of non-exempt shareholders who fail to furnish the Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and with required certifications regarding their status under the federal income tax law or if the IRS notifies the Fund that such backup withholding is required.  If the withholding provisions are applicable, any such distributions and proceeds, whether taken in cash or reinvested in additional shares, will be reduced by the amounts required to be withheld.  Corporate and other exempt shareholders should provide the Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers or certify their exempt status in order to avoid possible erroneous application of backup withholding.  Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against a shareholder’s ultimate federal income tax liability if proper documentation is timely provided. The Fund reserves the right to refuse to open an account for any person failing to provide a certified taxpayer identification number.

The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the application of that law to U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates.

 
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”).  A 30% withholding tax on your Fund’s distributions, including capital gains distributions, and on gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally applies if paid to a foreign entity unless:  (i) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” it undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding and certification obligations, (ii) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” it identifies certain of its U.S. investors or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise excepted under FATCA.  Withholding under FATCA is required:  (i) with respect to certain distributions from your Fund beginning on July 1, 2014; and (ii) with respect to certain capital gains distributions and gross proceeds from a sale or disposition of Fund shares that occur on or after January 1, 2017.  If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to your shares, investors that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) on such payment generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefits of such exemption or reduction.  The Fund will not pay any additional amounts in respect to amounts withheld under FATCA.  You should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect of FATCA based on your individual circumstances.

This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by Fund management.  The information above is only a summary of some of the tax considerations generally affecting each Fund and its shareholders.  No attempt has been made to discuss individual tax consequences and this discussion should not be construed as applicable to all shareholders’ tax situations.  Investors should consult their own tax advisers to determine the suitability of the Fund and the applicability of any state, local or foreign taxation.  No rulings with respect to tax matters of the Fund will be sought from the Internal Revenue Service.  Paul Hastings has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.
 

The Trust has entered into a Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Quasar Distributors, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (the “Distributor”), pursuant to which the Distributor acts as the Fund’s distributor, provides certain administration services and promotes and arranges for the sale of Fund shares.  The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous.  The Distributor, USBFS, and Custodian are all affiliated companies.  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA.

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

The Retail Class has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act under which the Fund pays the Distributor an amount which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Retail Class shares of the Fund.  The Plan provides that the Distributor may use all or any portion of such fee to finance any activity that is principally intended to result in the sale of Fund shares, subject to the terms of the Plan, or to provide certain shareholder services.  Amounts paid under this plan, by the Fund, are paid to the Distributor to reimburse it for costs of the services it provides and the expenses it bears in the distribution of the Fund’s shares, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to prospective investors; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials.  In addition, payments to the Distributor under the Plan reimburse the Distributor for payments it makes to selected dealers and administrators which have entered into Service Agreements with the Distributor of periodic fees for services provided to shareholders of the Fund.  The services provided by selected dealers pursuant to the Plan are primarily designed to promote the sale of shares of the Fund and include the furnishing of office space and equipment, telephone facilities, personnel and assistance to the Fund in servicing such shareholders.  The services provided by the administrators pursuant to the Plan are designed to provide support services to the Fund and include establishing and maintaining shareholders’ accounts and records, processing purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine client inquiries regarding the Fund and providing other services to the Fund as may be required.
 
 
Under the Plan, the Trustees will be furnished quarterly with information detailing the amount of expenses paid under the Plan and the purposes for which payments were made.  The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons.  Continuation of the Plan is considered by such Trustees no less frequently than annually.  With the exception of the Distributor in its capacity as the Fund’s principal underwriter, no interested person has or had a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or any related agreement.

While there is no assurance that the expenditures of Fund assets to finance distribution of shares will have the anticipated results, the Board believes there is a reasonable likelihood that one or more of such benefits will result, and because the Board is in a position to monitor the distribution expenses, it is able to determine the benefit of such expenditures in deciding whether to continue the Plan.

As of the date of this SAI, the Fund had not yet commenced operations, therefore no distribution and service related expenditures under the Plan were paid as of that date.
 
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING PLAN
 
In addition, the Board has approved the implementation of a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the “Servicing Plan”) separate and distinct from the Plan, under which the Adviser will provide, or arrange for others to provide, certain specified shareholder services.  As compensation for the provision of shareholder services, the Fund will pay the Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of up to 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for each of the Retail Class and Institutional Class.  The Adviser will pay certain banks, trust companies, broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries (each, a “Participating Organization”) out of the fees the Adviser receives from the Fund under the Servicing Plan to the extent that the Participating Organization performs shareholder servicing functions for the Fund’s shares owned by its customers.  In the event that payments received by the Adviser during a fiscal year exceed the amounts payable or accrued to Participating Organizations during a fiscal year, the Adviser will promptly refund, or arrange to refund, any such excess amount to the Fund.
 

The Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or other compensation to certain financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund.  Such payments may be divided into categories as follows:
 
 
Support Payments.  Payments may be made by the Adviser to certain financial intermediaries in connection with the eligibility of the Fund to be offered in certain programs and/or in connection with meetings between the Fund’s representatives and financial intermediaries and its sales representatives. Such meetings may be held for various purposes, including providing education and training about the Fund and other general financial topics to assist financial intermediaries’ sales representatives in making informed recommendations to, and decisions on behalf of, their clients.

Entertainment, Conferences and Events.  The Adviser also may pay cash or non-cash compensation to sales representatives of financial intermediaries in the form of (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainments; and/or (iii) sponsorship support for the financial intermediary’s client seminars and cooperative advertising.  In addition, the Adviser pays for exhibit space or sponsorships at regional or national events of financial intermediaries.

The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of additional payments or other compensation as described above by financial intermediaries may provide such intermediaries and/or their salespersons with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the Fund, and other mutual funds whose affiliates make similar compensation available, over sale of shares of mutual funds (or non-mutual fund investments) not making such payments.  You may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendations relating to the Fund’s shares.
 

The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act”).  In order to ensure compliance with this law, the Trust’s Program provides for the development of internal practices, procedures and controls, designation of anti-money laundering compliance officers, an ongoing training program and an independent audit function to determine the effectiveness of the Program.

 
Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to, determining that the Fund’s Distributor and Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures, reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity, checking shareholder names against designated government lists, including Office of Foreign Asset Control, and a complete and thorough review of all new opening account applications.  The Trust will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.
 

Investors in the Fund will be informed of the Fund’s progress through periodic reports.  Financial statements certified by an independent registered public accounting firm will be submitted to shareholders at least annually.  Since the Fund had not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, no financial statements are available.
 
 

Corporate Bond Ratings

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Aaa: Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality.  They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edge.”  Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure.  While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.

Aa: Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.  Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade bonds.  They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuations or protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.

A: Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations.  Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.

Baa: Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured.  Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.  Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.

Ba: Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well-assured.  Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.  Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

B: Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment.  Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa: Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing.  Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca: Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree.  Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C: Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospectus of ever attaining any real investment standing.  Moody’s applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system.  The modified 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.
 
 
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group
AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations.  This rating indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.

AA: Bonds rated AA also qualify as high-quality debt obligations.  Capacity to pay principal and interest is very strong, and in the majority of instances they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

A: Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay principal and interest, although they are more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

BBB: Bonds rated BBB are regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay principal and interest.  Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay principal and interest for bonds in this category than for bonds in the A category.

BB, B, CCC, CC, C: Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded on balance as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest.  While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposure to adverse conditions.

BB: Bonds rated BB have less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues.  However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.  The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating.

B: Bonds rated B have a greater vulnerability to default but currently have the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal.  The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB-rating.

CCC: Bonds rated CCC have a currently identifiable vulnerability to default and are dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal.  In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.  The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC: The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating.  The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

CI: The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.

D: Bonds rated D are in payment default.  The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing with the major categories.
 
 

Commercial Paper Ratings

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Prime-1--Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated “Prime-1” have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.  “Prime-1” repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established industries, high rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Prime-2--Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated “Prime-2” have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations.  This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree.  Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation.  Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions.  Ample alternative liquidity is maintained.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group
A-1--This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong.  Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated “A-1”.
 
 
 
 
PART C
Scharf Fund
Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28.  Exhibits

(a)
Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 3, 1996, was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 6, 1996, and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)
Amended and Restated By-Laws dated June 27, 2002, were previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 113 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 28, 2003, and are incorporated herein by reference.

(c)
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are incorporated by reference into the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated By-Laws.

(d)
Investment Advisory Agreement dated July 1, 2015 – to be filed by amendment.

 
(i)
Amended Schedule A (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Investment Advisory Agreement – to be file with amendment.

(e)
Distribution Agreement (Scharf Fund) dated December 8, 2011, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(i)
First Amendment (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) to the Distribution Agreement dated December 6, 2012, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(ii)
Second Amendment to the Distribution Agreement (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(iii)
Third Amendment to the Distribution Agreement (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) – to be filed amendment.

(f)
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – not applicable.

(g)
Amended and Restated Custody Agreement (Scharf Fund and Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 6, 2012, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 474 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 23, 2013, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(i)
Amendment (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
C-1 

 

 
 
(ii)
Amendment (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement – to be filed by amendment.

(h)
Other Material Contracts

 
(i)
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated June 8, 2006, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 28, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(A)
Amendment (Scharf Fund) dated December 8, 2011, to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(B)
Amendment (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 6, 2012, to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(C)
Amendment (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(D)
Amendment (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Fund Administration Servicing Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
 
(ii)
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated June 8, 2006, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 28, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(A)
Addendum dated March 26, 2009, to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on April 21, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(B)
Amendment (Scharf Fund) dated December 8, 2011, to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(C)
Amendment (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 6, 2012, to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(D)
Amendment (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
C-2

 
 
   
(E)
Amendment (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement – to be filed by amendment.

 
(iii)
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated June 8, 2006, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 222 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 28, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(A)
Amendment (Scharf Fund) dated December 8, 2011, to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(B)
Amendment (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 6, 2012, to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(C)
Amendment (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(D)
Amendment (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement – to be filed by amendment.

 
(iv)
Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement dated July 1, 2015 – to be filed by amendment.

   
(A)
Amended Appendix A (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement – to be filed by amendment.

 
(v)
Power of Attorney (O’Connor, Rebhan, Redwine and Wofford) was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 275 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 23, 2009, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(vi)
Power of Attorney (Duree) dated January 29, 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 577 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on March 24, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(vii)
Shareholder Servicing Plan (Scharf Fund) dated December 8, 2011, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(A)
Amended Schedule A (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 28, 2012, to the Shareholder Servicing Plan was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
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(B)
Amended Schedule A (Scharf Fund) dated October 16, 2014, to the Shareholder Servicing Plan was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 635 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 27, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(viii)
Shareholder Servicing Plan (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated June 20, 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

   
(A)
Amended Schedule A (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Shareholder Servicing Plan – to be filed by amendment.

(i)
Legal Opinions

 
(i)
Opinion of Counsel (Scharf Fund) dated December 23, 2011, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 394 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 23, 2011, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(ii)
Opinion of Counsel (Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) dated December 21, 2012, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 468 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on December 26, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(iii)
Opinion of Counsel (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund) dated October 8, 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(iv)
Opinion of Counsel (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) – to be filed by amendment.

(j)
Other Opinions.

 
(i)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - to be filed by amendment.

 
(ii)
Consent of Ashland Partners & Company, LLC (Scharf Fund and Scharf Balanced Opportunity Fund) – to be filed by amendment.

(k)
Omitted Financial Statements – not applicable.

(l)
Subscription Agreements dated February 25, 1997, were previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on February 28, 1997, and are incorporated herein by reference.

(m)
Rule 12b-1 Plan (Scharf Global Opportunity Fund), was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(i)
Amended Schedule B (Scharf Fund) dated October 16, 2014, to the Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 635 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 27, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
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(ii)
Amended Schedule B (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Plan – to be filed by amendment.

(n)
Rule 18f-3 Plan dated January 28, 2015, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 635 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 27, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(i)
Amended Exhibit A (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund) to the Rule 18f-3 Plan – to be filed by amendment.

(o)
Reserved.

(p)
Codes of Ethics.

 
(i)
Code of Ethics for Registrant dated March 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 577 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on March 24, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 
(ii)
Code of Ethics for Adviser dated September 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 615 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 8, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.
 

 
(iii)
Code of Ethics for Access Persons of Quasar Distributors, LLC dated March 17, 2014, was previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 577 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on March 24, 2014, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 29.  Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.
 
Item 30.  Indemnification.

Reference is made to Article VII of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, Article VI of Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws and Paragraph 7 of the Distribution Agreement.

Pursuant to Rule 484 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant furnishes the following undertaking:  “Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.”
 
 
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Item 31.  Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser.

With respect to the Adviser (Scharf Investments, LLC), the response to this Item will be incorporated by reference to the Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the SEC (File No. 801-18799), dated October 2, 2015.  The Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Item 32.  Principal Underwriter.

(a)           Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Registrant’s principal underwriter, acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

Academy Funds Trust
Jacob Funds, Inc.
Advisors Series Trust
Jensen Portfolio, Inc.
Aegis Funds
Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc.
Allied Asset Advisors Funds
LKCM Funds
Alpha Architect ETF Trust
LoCorr Investment Trust
Alpine Equity Trust
Lord Asset Management Trust
Alpine Income Trust
MainGate Trust
Alpine Series Trust
Managed Portfolio Series
Angel Oak Funds Trust
Matrix Advisors Value Fund, Inc.
Appleton Funds
Merger Fund
Barrett Opportunity Fund, Inc.
Monetta Trust
Bridge Builder Trust
Nicholas Family of Funds, Inc.
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.
Oaktree Funds
Brookfield Investment Funds
Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds, Inc.
Brown Advisory Funds
Perritt Funds, Inc.
Buffalo Funds
PRIMECAP Odyssey Funds
CG Funds Trust
Professionally Managed Portfolios
Compass EMP Funds Trust
Prospector Funds, Inc.
DoubleLine Funds Trust
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc.
ETF Series Solutions
Purisima Funds
Evermore Funds Trust
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
FactorShares Trust
RBC Funds Trust
First American Funds, Inc.
Stone Ridge Trust
FundX Investment Trust
Stone Ridge Trust II
Glenmede Fund, Inc.
Stone Ridge Trust III
Glenmede Portfolios
Thompson IM Funds, Inc.
Greenspring Fund, Inc.
Trust for Professional Managers
Guinness Atkinson Funds
Trust for Advised Portfolios
Harding Loevner Funds, Inc.
USA Mutuals
Hennessy Funds Trust
Wall Street Fund, Inc.
Hotchkis & Wiley Funds
Westchester Capital Funds
Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust
Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
IronBridge Funds, Inc.
YCG Funds
 
 
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(b) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of Quasar Distributors, LLC are as follows:

Name and Principal
Business Address
Position and Offices with Quasar Distributors, LLC
Positions and Offices with Registrant
James R. Schoenike(1)
President, Board Member
None
Andrew M. Strnad(2)
Vice President, Secretary
None
Joe D. Redwine(1)
Board Member
None
Robert Kern(1)
Board Member
None
Susan LaFond(1)
Vice President, Treasurer
None
Joseph Bree(1)
Chief Financial Officer, Board Member
None
Teresa Cowan(1)
Senior Vice President, Assistant Secretary
None
John Kinsella(3)
Assistant Treasurer
None
Brett Scribner(3)
Assistant Treasurer
None
(1)This individual is located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202.
(2)This individual is located at 6602 East 75th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46250.
(3)This individual is located at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55402.

(c)           Not applicable.

Item 33.  Location of Accounts and Records.

The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), are maintained at the following locations:

Records Relating to:
Are located at:
Registrant’s Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI  53202
Registrant’s Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
Custody Operations
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI  53212
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
Scharf Investments, LLC
5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140
Scotts Valley, CA  95066-3453
Registrant’s Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 4th Floor
Milwaukee, WI  53202

Item 34.  Management Services Not Discussed in Parts A and B.

Not Applicable.

Item 35.  Undertakings.

Not Applicable.
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 672 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin on the 16th day of October 2015.

                                                                        Advisors Series Trust

                                                                       By: /s/ Douglas G. Hess
                                                                       Douglas G. Hess
                                                                       President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 672 to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
Title
Date
     
Gail S. Duree*                                     
Trustee
October 16, 2015
Gail S. Duree
   
     
Donald E. O’Connor*                                    
Trustee
October 16, 2015
Donald E. O’Connor
   
     
George Rebhan*                                     
Trustee
October 16, 2015
George Rebhan
   
     
George T. Wofford*                                     
Trustee
October 16, 2015
George T. Wofford
   
     
Joe D. Redwine*                                   
Trustee, Chairman and Chief
October 16, 2015
Joe D. Redwine
Executive Officer
 
     
/s/ Cheryl L. King                                 
Treasurer and Principal
October 16, 2015
Cheryl L. King
Financial Officer
 
     
/s/ Douglas G. Hess                               
President and Principal
October 16, 2015
Douglas G. Hess
Executive Officer
 
     
*By: /s/ Douglas G. Hess                                     
 
October 16, 2015
Douglas G. Hess
Attorney-In Fact pursuant to
Power of Attorney
     

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