485BPOS 1 frank485bpos.htm

Securities Act Registration No. 333-113657

Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-21532

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ¨

 

¨ Pre-Effective Amendment No.___

 

ý Post-Effective Amendment No. 16

 

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 ¨

 

ý Amendment No. 18

 

 (Check appropriate box or boxes.)

Frank Funds – File Nos. 333-113657 and 811-21532

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

312 East 22nd Street, #2B

New York, NY 10010

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:  973-887-7698

Brian J. Frank, Frank Capital Partners LLC

312 East 22nd Street, # 2B

New York, NY 10010

 

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

With copy to:

JoAnn M. Strasser

Thompson Hine LLP

41 South High Street, Suite 1700

Columbus, Ohio 43215

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

¨ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

ý On November 1, 2014 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485

o 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

o On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485

¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

o On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

o  This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

FRANK FUNDS

FRANK VALUE FUND

 

739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202

Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Telephone: (973) 887-7698 Toll Free: (866) 706-9790

Website: http://www.frankfunds.com

 

 

 

Investor Class Shares: FRNKX

Class C Shares: FNKCX

Institutional Class Shares: FNKIX

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

 

 

 

Advised by: Frank Capital Partners LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As with all mutual funds, the 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.

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FRANK VALUE FUND SUMMARY 3
Investment Objective 3
Fees and Expenses 3
Portfolio Turnover 3
Principal Investment Strategies 3
Principal Investment Risks 4
Performance 5
Management 7
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares 7
Tax Information 7
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries 7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 8
Investment Objective 8
Principal Investment Strategies 8
Temporary Defensive Positions 9
Principal Investment Risks 9
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 10
Management of the Fund 10
PURCHASING FUND SHARES 10
Share Classes 10
Determination of Net Asset Value 11
Purchasing Fund Shares 11
Opening An Account 11
REDEEMING FUND SHARES 12
Redemption Requirements 12
Redemption Price 13
Redemption Fee/Market Timing 13
Redemption Payment 13
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 14
Dividends and Distributions 14
Taxes 14
DISTRIBUTION 14
Distributor 14
Distribution Plan 14
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 15
FOR MORE INFORMATION 20

 

 

 

FRANK VALUE FUND SUMMARY

Investment Objective. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation.

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) Investor Class Class C Institutional Class
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held less than 5 business days) 2.00% 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% 0.99%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 0.25% 1.00% 0.00%
Other Expenses 0.25% 0.25% 0.24%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 0.03% 0.03% 0.03%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.52% 2.27% 1.26%

1 Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies.  The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

 

Example: This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the 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. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

    1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years 
Investor Class    $155      $480      $829      $1,813  
Class C    $230      $709      $1,215      $2,605  
Institutional Class    $128      $400      $692      $1,523  

 

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover 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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 81.29% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies.

The Fund’s principal investment strategy is value investing. The Fund invests in common stock of U.S. companies that the Fund’s adviser, Frank Capital Partners LLC, believes are underpriced based on the company’s intrinsic value. The adviser defines intrinsic value as the price an intelligent and informed business owner would pay for the enterprise, and is independent from the current selling price in the stock markets.

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The adviser uses quantitative analysis to identify undervalued companies, examining such traditional value criteria as:

·price-to-earnings, price-to-book value and price-to-cash flow ratios;
·the discounted value of future cash flows;
·acquisition values of similar companies; and
·the value stockholders would receive if the company was liquidated.

 

The adviser then performs subjective analysis, including the review of trade magazines, annual reports, and regulatory filings. The adviser considers the future growth potential of the company, its products and services, its industry position, and the quality of its management before making a final determination of the company’s intrinsic value.

The Fund invests in common stocks of companies that have strong financial positions, evidenced by balance sheets without significant debt or other liabilities compared to cash reserves. The adviser believes financial markets place undue emphasis on a company’s income, often ignoring the balance sheet. Therefore, companies with strong balance sheets may have significantly discounted market prices. The Fund may invest in companies regardless of size, including small- and micro-cap companies. The adviser sells common stocks when the market price exceeds its estimate of intrinsic value.

From time to time the Fund may be invested more heavily in a particular sector if the adviser determines that companies in that sector present the best value. The adviser may invest in “special situation” companies, including spin-offs and companies recently emerging from bankruptcy.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Management Risk: The main risk of investing in the Fund is that the adviser’s strategy of investing in undervalued securities may fail. The adviser may be incorrect in its assessment of the intrinsic value of the companies in which the Fund invests, or value stocks may be out of favor with investors.

Common Stock Risk: The Fund invests the majority of its assets in common stocks. Historically, common stocks are more volatile than other securities such as bonds. The common stock of a company that experiences financial distress may lose significant value or become worthless. The rights of common stockholders are subordinate to all other claims on a company’s assets including debt holders and preferred stock holders; therefore the Fund could lose money if a company in which it invests becomes financially distressed.

Market Risk Disclosure: Overall stock market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets. The value of the Fund will fluctuate and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Special Situation Risk: The Fund may invest a significant portion of assets in special situations, such as spin-offs, companies recently emerging from bankruptcy, and merger securities. Spin-off companies may encounter difficulties because they are operating on their own for the first time, without the protection of their parent company. Spin-offs also may be created for the purpose of moving liabilities from the parent company to the spin-off. These potential problems may impair operating results, leading to losses to the Fund. Additionally, there is a possibility that the spin-off company may incur the business risk of the parent. Companies that have

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recently emerged from bankruptcy may still have the problems that caused the initial bankruptcy filing, leading to poor operating results or possibly another bankruptcy filing. These companies also may have weak financial positions. Merger securities may encounter complications arising from the expected transaction. Finally, the adviser may incorrectly evaluate any of these special situation stocks, resulting in losses to the Fund.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Risk: Because the Fund may invest in smaller and mid-capitalization companies, the Fund will be subject to additional risks. The earnings and prospects of such companies are more volatile than larger companies, and they may experience higher failure rates than larger companies. The trading volume of securities of smaller companies is normally less than that of larger companies and, therefore, may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger companies. Smaller and mid-capitalization may also have limited markets, product lines, or financial resources and may lack management experience.

Sector Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio is overweighted in a certain sector, any negative development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the Fund than it would have on a fund that is not overweighted in that sector. The Fund may from time to time have a greater focus in certain sectors, and weakness in those sectors could result in significant losses to the Fund.

Non-diversification Risk : The Fund is non-diversified. This means that the Fund may not own as many securities as a diversified mutual fund of the same size. Due to the smaller number of security holdings, the appreciation or depreciation of a single stock may have a greater impact on the Fund’s share price. As a result, this investment strategy can produce more fluctuation in the Fund’s value than a diversified mutual fund.

Value Investing Risk: Value stocks may remain undervalued during a given time period and may not ever realize their full value.

Performance

The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund's returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund's Class I shares for each full calendar year since the Fund's inception. You should be aware that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the returns of the Fund, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund’s Investor Class shares for each full calendar year since the Fund’s inception. The performance table compares the performance of the Fund's Investor Class, Class C, and Institutional Class shares over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.frankfunds.com.

 

TOTAL RETURNS FOR INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

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(for the years ended December 31)

 

The Fund's Investor Class year-to-date return through September 30, 2014 was -0.68%.

 

Best Quarter: 2nd quarter 2009 27.81%
Worst Quarter: 4th quarter 2008 -28.03%

 

In the performance table below, after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown in the table are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class, and after-tax returns for the Class C and Institutional Class will vary from the returns shown in the table.

Average Annual Total Returns for the period ended December 31, 2013:

 

  1 year 5 years Since Inception1
Investor Class      
Return Before Taxes 40.85% 22.32% 9.43%
Return After Taxes on Distributions 38.08% 21.49% 8.21%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares 24.12% 18.28% 7.34%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 32.39% 17.93% 7.82%
       
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Average Annual Total Returns for the period ended December 31, 2013:

 

Class C      
Return Before Taxes 39.89% N/A 19.57%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 32.39% N/A 18.61%
       
Institutional Class      
Return Before Taxes 41.32% N/A 18.48%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 32.39% N/A 17.68%

1 The Investor Class commenced investment operations on July 21, 2004, the Fund’s Class C on September 23, 2010, and the Institutional Class on November 3, 2010.

 

After-tax returns were calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Fund through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns presented for Investor Class would be substantially similar to Class C and Institutional Class because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would differ only to the extent that the classes do not have the same expenses. After tax returns for Class C and Institutional Class, which are not shown, will vary from those of Institutional Class shares.

 

Management

Investment Adviser. Frank Capital Partners LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Manager. Mr. Brian J. Frank is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and has served in such capacity since September 2009. He previously served as co-portfolio manager from the Fund’s inception until September 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. The minimum initial investment in the Fund for all account types for Investor Class and Class C shares is $1,500 and for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. The minimum subsequent investment for Investor Class and Class C shares is $100 and for Institutional Class shares is $500. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Redemption requests may be made by telephone and mail and will be paid by check or wire transfer. The Fund reserves the right to change the amount of these minimums from time to time or to waive them in whole or in part for certain accounts.

Tax Information. Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account such as an IRA or 401(k).

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries.   If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
AND RELATED RISKS

Investment Objective.

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon prior written notice to shareholders.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund’s principal investment strategy is value investing. The Fund invests in common stock of U.S. companies that the Fund’s adviser believes are underpriced based on the company’s intrinsic value. The adviser defines intrinsic value as the price an intelligent and informed business owner would pay for the enterprise, and is independent from the current selling price in the stock markets.

The adviser uses quantitative analysis to identify undervalued companies, examining such traditional value criteria as:

·price-to-earnings, price-to-book value and price-to-cash flow ratios;
·the discounted value of future cash flows;
·acquisition values of similar companies; and
·the value stockholders would receive if the company was liquidated.

 

The adviser then performs subjective analysis, including the review of trade magazines, annual reports, and regulatory filings. The adviser considers the future growth potential of the company, its products and services, its industry position, and the quality of its management before making a final determination of the company’s intrinsic value.

The Fund invests in common stocks of companies that have strong financial positions, evidenced by balance sheets without significant debt or other liabilities compared to cash reserves. The adviser believes financial markets place undue emphasis on a firms’ income, often ignoring the balance sheet. Therefore, companies with strong balance sheets may have significantly discounted market prices. The Fund may invest in companies regardless of size, including small- and micro-cap companies. The adviser sells common stocks when the market price exceeds its estimate of intrinsic value.

The Fund’s investments will not be limited to particular sectors (for example, technology), although from time to time the Fund may be invested more heavily in a particular sector if the adviser determines that companies in that sector present the best value. This may include investments in sectors that are economically depressed. The term “sector” refers to a particular group of companies that are in the same industry. Companies in the technology sector, for example, include software, networking, semiconductor and biotechnology companies.

In addition to investing in companies whose operations have not undergone significant change, the adviser may invest in “special situation” companies, including spin-offs and companies recently emerging from bankruptcy. A spin-off is when a parent company separates a subsidiary from the parent by organizing it as an independent company and distributing shares of common stock in the subsidiary to its shareholders or through an initial public offering. The adviser believes that these new stocks can be underpriced due to lack of analyst coverage, the small size of the spin-off, and initial selling by institutional shareholders that receive stock in the spin-off. The fund will purchase stock of publicly traded spin-offs only from other investors subsequent to the initial offering. In the case of companies recently emerging from bankruptcy, bondholders who receive common stock in the reorganization often control the company. It is the adviser’s belief that these bondholders may sell their stock immediately without regard to value, creating possible investment opportunities. Finally, companies

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sometimes issue special securities in conjunction with a merger or acquisition. The adviser believes these securities are often misunderstood by investors and under-followed by analysts, leading to possible investment opportunities.

Temporary Defensive Positions

In certain circumstances, such as to maintain liquidity, to meet unusually large redemptions, when the adviser believes that market conditions are unfavorable for profitable investing, or when the adviser is otherwise unable to locate attractive investment opportunities, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies For example, the Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or money market funds. If the Fund invests in shares of a money market fund or other investment company, the shareholders of that Fund will be subject to duplicative management fees. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective, and the Fund may pay higher commissions as a result of increased portfolio turnover.

Principal Investment Risks

Management Risk: The main risk of investing in the Fund is that the adviser’s strategy of investing in undervalued securities may fail. The adviser may be incorrect in its assessment of the intrinsic value of the companies in which the Fund invests, or value stocks may be out of favor with investors.

Common Stock Risk: Historically, common stocks are more volatile than other securities such as bonds. The common stock of a company that experiences financial distress may lose significant value or become worthless. The rights of common stockholders are subordinate to all other claims on a company’s assets including debt holders and preferred stock holders; therefore the Fund could lose money if a company in which it invests becomes financially distressed.

Market Risk Disclosure: Overall stock market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets. The value of the Fund will fluctuate and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Special Situation Risk: The Fund may invest a significant portion of assets in special situations, such as spin-offs, companies recently emerging from bankruptcy, and merger securities. Spin-off companies may encounter difficulties because they are operating on their own for the first time, without the protection of their parent company. Spin-offs also may be created for the purpose of moving liabilities from the parent company to the spin-off. These potential problems may impair operating results, leading to losses to the Fund. Additionally, there is a possibility that the spin-off company may incur the business risk of the parent. Companies that have recently emerged from bankruptcy may still have the problems that caused the initial bankruptcy filing, leading to poor operating results or possibly another bankruptcy filing. These companies also may have weak financial positions. Merger securities may encounter complications arising from the expected transaction. Finally, the adviser may incorrectly evaluate any of these special situation stocks, resulting in losses to the Fund.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Risk: Because the Fund may invest in smaller and mid-capitalization companies, the Fund will be subject to additional risks. The earnings and prospects of such companies are more volatile than larger companies, and they may experience higher failure rates than larger companies. The trading volume of securities of smaller companies is normally less than that of larger companies and, therefore, may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger companies. Smaller and mid-capitalization may also have limited markets, product lines, or financial resources and may lack management experience.

 

Sector Risk: If the Fund’s portfolio is overweighted in a certain sector, any negative development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the Fund than it would have on a fund that is not overweighted

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in that sector. The Fund may from time to time have a greater focus in certain sectors, and weakness in those sectors could result in significant losses to the Fund.

Non-diversification Risk : The Fund is non-diversified. This means that the Fund may not own as many securities as a diversified mutual fund of the same size. Non-diversification gives the Fund more flexibility to focus its investments in the most attractive companies identified by the adviser. However, due to the smaller number of security holdings, the appreciation or depreciation of a single stock may have a greater impact on the Fund’s share price. As a result, this investment strategy can produce more fluctuation in the Fund’s value than a diversified mutual fund.

Value Investing Risk: Value stocks may remain undervalued during a given time period and may not ever realize their full value.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure. A description of the Fund's policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1-866-706-9790.

Management of the Fund

Frank Capital Partners LLC (“FCP”) is a Delaware limited liability company located at 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 that has acted as the investment adviser of the Fund since its inception in 2004. FCP also provides investment advisory services to individual clients, including high net worth individuals. FCP has adopted an allocation policy to ensure that investment opportunities are fairly and equitably allocated among clients so as not to favor any client or group of clients over any other. FCP has been in existence since June 27, 2003.

 

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, the Fund paid FCP a fee equal to 0.99% of its average daily net assets under a Management Agreement, initially approved on September 15, 2010 and last renewed on June 21, 2014. FCP also provides administrative services to the Fund under an Administration Agreement and receives a fee equal to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets for those services. Under the Administration Agreement, FCP pays all of the operating expenses of the Fund except management fees, Rule 12b-1 fees, brokerage, taxes, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense of securities sold short), and extraordinary expenses. A description of the Board of Trustees’ deliberations in renewing the Management Agreement with FCP is available in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

Mr. Brian J. Frank is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. He co-founded FCP in 2003. He acted as co-portfolio manager from inception until September 2009, and has served as sole portfolio manager since September 2009. From 1998 to the present, Mr. Frank advised several portfolios for family members, although he did not receive compensation for such services. From 2003 until September 2009, Mr. Frank served as FCP’s Chief Financial Officer, and since September 2009 Mr. Frank has served as FCP’s Managing Member. Mr. Frank attended New York University from 2000 to 2004. Mr. Frank has passed the Series 65 exam. He co-managed an investment partnership from October 2002 to October 2003. He was a co-investor in the partnership and did not receive any compensation.

 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

PURCHASING FUND SHARES

Share Classes

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This Prospectus describes three classes of shares offered by the Fund: Investor Class, Class C, and Institutional Class.  The main differences between each class are ongoing fees (12b-1 fees) and minimum investments. Each class of shares in the Fund represents interest in the same portfolio of investments within the Fund.

Determination of Net Asset Value

Shares of the Fund are sold at net asset value (“NAV”). The Fund’s NAV per share is determined by adding the value of all the Fund’s securities, cash, and other assets, including accrued interest and dividends, less all liabilities, including accrued expenses, and then dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The Fund’s NAV changes every day. The NAV is determined each business day following the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”)) Monday through Friday, exclusive of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. On occasion, the NYSE will close before 4:00 p.m. ET. When that happens, the Fund’s NAV will be calculated as of the time the NYSE closes.

Securities held by the Fund for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value. If market prices are not available or, in the adviser’s opinion, market prices do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the adviser will value the Fund’s assets at their fair value according to policies approved by, and under the ultimate supervision of, the Fund’s Board of Trustees. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing policies. Without a fair value price, short term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long term investors. Fair valuation of a Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The Board of Trustees will review all securities fair valued by the adviser on an ongoing basis.

Purchasing Fund Shares

Purchase requests received by the Fund’s transfer agent in good order before the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) will receive the NAV calculated that day. Purchase requests received by the Fund’s transfer agent after the close of the NYSE will receive the NAV calculated following the close of the NYSE on the next following business day. The Fund reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.

If you buy and redeem shares of the Funds through a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) that member may charge a fee for that service. The Funds have authorized one or more brokers to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate intermediaries to accept orders on a Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received the order when an authorized broker or a broker authorized designee accepts your order. Your order will be priced at the Fund's net asset value next computed after it is received by the authorized broker or broker authorized designee.

 

 

 

Opening An Account

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask for other identifying documents or information. We may not be able to open your account or complete a transaction for you until we are able to verify your identity.

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Initial Investments: When making your initial purchase request, make sure your request is in good order. “Good order” means that your purchase request includes the name of the purchaser, the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, a completed account application, and a check payable to the Frank Value Fund. Send the application and check via U.S. Mail or overnight courier to Frank Value Fund, c/Mutual Shareholder Services LLC., 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147.

Initial purchase of shares of the Fund may be made by application submitted to the Fund’s transfer agent by mail or in person. A check made out to the Frank Value Fund for the initial share purchase should be included with the account application. The minimum purchase of Investor Class and Class C shares is $1,500, and the minimum purchase for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. The Funds reserve the right to change the amount of these minimums from time to time or to waive them in whole or in part for certain accounts. For the convenience of investors, an Account Application is included in every request for a Prospectus. To receive this information, visit our website at http://www.frankfunds.com, call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free at 1-800-869-1679, or write to the Fund, c/o Mutual Shareholder ServicesLLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147: You also may make your initial purchase by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call the Fund’s transfer agent at 1-800-869-1679 to notify the Fund of your purchase and obtain an account number and wire instructions.

Wire orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund, the custodian, and the transfer agent are open for business. A wire purchase will not be considered made until the wired money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Fund. Any delays that may occur in wiring money, including delays that may occur in processing by the banks, are not the responsibility of the Fund or the transfer agent. The Fund presently charges no fee for the receipt of wired funds, but the Fund may charge shareholders for this service in the future.

 

The Fund reserves the right at its sole discretion to terminate the offering of its shares made by this Prospectus at any time and to reject purchase applications when, in the judgment of management, such termination or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.

Subsequent Purchases: Subsequent purchases may be made by mail, wire, or in person. A subsequent purchase is in good order when your purchase request includes the name of the account holder, the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, and a check payable to the Frank Value Fund. The minimum subsequent investment for Investor Class and Class C shares is $100 and for Institutional Class shares is $500. You may also purchase shares of the Fund by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call the Fund’s transfer agent, at 1-800-869-1679 to notify the Fund of your purchase and obtain wire instructions.

REDEEMING FUND SHARES

Redemption Requirements

Shareholders may redeem all or any part of their shares on any day the Fund is open for business. To sell Fund shares, call the Fund’s transfer agent at 888-217-5426 or send written instructions, signed by the shareholder(s) with the proper signature guarantee, if applicable, via U.S. Mail or overnight courier to Frank Value Fund, c/o Mutual Shareholder ServicesLLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147.

 

A signature guarantee is designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from fraud. A signature guarantee is required to redeem shares in the following situations:

·The redemption is for more than $25,000.
·The proceeds are to be mailed to an address other than the registered address of record.
·A change of address request has been received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days.
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·Ownership of the account has changed.

A signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of the shareholders signature and the guarantor must be an eligible guarantor. To be eligible, the guarantor must be a participant in the STAMP program (a Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program) or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program. Signature guarantees can be obtained from most banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker/dealers, and FINRA member firms. The Fund will not make checks payable to any person other than the shareholder(s) of record or financial intermediaries for the benefit of shareholder(s) of record.

 

Redemption Price

The redemption price is the NAV next determined after notice is received by the Fund for redemption of shares, minus the amount of any applicable redemption fee. The proceeds received by the shareholder may be more or less than his/her cost of such shares, depending upon the NAV at the time of redemption and the difference should be treated by the shareholder as a capital gain or loss for federal and state income tax purposes.

Redemption Fee/Market Timing

The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Market timing is an investment strategy using frequent purchases and redemptions and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short term market movements. Market timing may result in dilution of the value of Fund shares held by long term shareholders, disrupt portfolio management, and increase Fund expenses for all shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted a policy requiring the Fund’s transfer agent to monitor shareholder activity for purchases and redemptions and/or exchanges that reasonably indicate market timing activity. The transfer agent does not employ an objective standard and may not be able to identify all market timing activity or may misidentify certain trading activity as market timing activity. The Board of Trustees also has adopted a redemption policy to discourage short term traders and/ or market timers from investing in the Fund. A 2% fee will be assessed against investment proceeds withdrawn within 5 business days of investment. Shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is intended to offset the costs associated with short-term shareholder trading and is retained by the Fund. The redemption fee is applied uniformly in all cases. While the Fund attempts to deter market timing, there is no assurance that it will be able to identify and eliminate all market timers. For example, certain accounts called “omnibus accounts” include multiple shareholders. Omnibus accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where purchasers of Fund shares and redeemers of Fund shares are netted against one another and the identity of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated is not known by the Fund. The netting effect often makes it more difficult to apply redemption fees, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to apply the fee to such accounts in an effective manner. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the broker, to the Fund upon request. If the Fund becomes aware of market timing in an omnibus account, it will work with the broker maintaining the omnibus account to identify the shareholder engaging in the market timing activity. In addition to the redemption fee, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order for any reason, including purchase orders that it does not think are in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders or if the Fund thinks that trading is abusive.

Redemption Payment

Payment by the Fund will be made no later than 7 days after tender. However, the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment if: the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend or holiday closings, trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, the SEC has permitted such postponement, or the SEC has determined that an emergency exists. The Fund intends to make payments in cash, however, the Fund reserves the right to make payments in kind. It should be noted that shareholders will incur brokerage costs when selling the securities received as part of an in kind distribution. Shareholders would also

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have continuing market risk by holding these securities. The Fund will not issue in kind redemptions using illiquid securities.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund typically distributes substantially all of its net investment income in the form of dividends and taxable capital gains to its shareholders. These distributions are automatically reinvested in the Fund unless you request cash distributions on your application or through a written request. The Fund expects that its distributions will consist primarily of capital gains.

Taxes

In general, selling or exchanging shares of the Fund and receiving distributions (whether reinvested or taken in cash) are taxable events. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price, you may have a gain or a loss on any shares sold. Any tax liabilities generated by your transactions or by receiving distributions are your responsibility. You may want to avoid making a substantial investment when the Fund is about to make a taxable distribution because you would be responsible for any taxes on the distribution regardless of how long you have owned your shares.

Early each year, the Fund will mail to you a statement setting forth the federal income tax information for all distributions made during the previous year. If you do not provide your taxpayer identification number, your account will be subject to backup withholding.

The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred accounts or other non-taxable entities. Because each investor’s tax circumstances are unique, please consult with your tax adviser about your investment.

DISTRIBUTION

Distributor

The Fund’s distributor is Arbor Court Capital LLC, 2000 Auburn Drive, Suite 120, Beachwood, OH 44122.

Distribution Plan

The Fund has adopted plans under Rule 12b-1 that allow the Fund to pay distribution fees for the sale and distribution of its Investor Class and Class C shares as well as shareholder services. Investor Class and Class C shareholders of the Fund may pay annual 12b-1 expenses of up to 0.25% and 1.00%, respectively. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table is intended to help you better understand the Fund’s financial performance since its inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Total return represents the rate you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information was audited by Sanville & Company, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request.

 

    Years Ended
Investor Class  

6/30/

2014

6/30/

2013

6/30/

2012

6/30/

2011

6/30/

2010

 
               
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Period $  13.38 $   11.71 $     11.59 $     8.40 $   7.40  
               
Income From Investment Operations:            
  Net Investment Income (Loss) *    (0.08)     0.02    0.00 (a)    (0.01)   (0.06)  

Net Gain (Loss) on Securities

(Realized and Unrealized)

      2.42       2.59        0.23        3.20     1.06  
     Total from Investment Operations    2.34        2.61      0.23        3.19  1.00  
               
Distributions:              
  Net Investment Income - (0.01) - - -  
  Realized Gains    (0.96)     (0.93)               (0.11)             -         -  
     Total from Distributions  (0.94)  (0.11) - -   -  
               
Redemption Fees ***            -(a)             -             -             -             -  
               
Net Asset Value, at End of Period $  14.76 $   13.38 $   11.71 $     11.59 $     8.40  
               
Total Return ** 17.60% 24.00% 2.10% 37.98% 13.51%  
               
Ratios/Supplemental Data:            

Net Assets at End of Period

(Thousands)

$24,572 $   12,010 $   8,703 $   9,008 $      4,307  

Ratio of Expenses to Average

Net Assets

1.49% 1.49% 1.49% 1.49% 1.50%  

Ratio of Net Investment Income

(Loss) to Average Net Assets

(0.54)%  0.17%  (0.02)%  (0.07)% (0.68)%  
  Portfolio Turnover 81.29% 73.76% 43.48% 52.38% 58.68%  

 

* Per share net investment income (loss) has been determined on the basis of average shares outstanding during the period.

** Assumes reinvestment of dividends.

*** The Fund will impose a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed within 5 business days of purchase.

(a) Amount calculated is less that $0.005

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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Institutional Class     Years Ended Period Ended  
        6/30/2014 6/30/2013 6/30/2012 6/30/2011 ***
             
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Period $     13.38 $     11.70 $     11.58 $     10.09  
             
Income From Investment Operations:          
  Net Investment Income * (0.05)       0.05     0.03     0.02  
  Net Gain on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)          2.42          2.60          0.22          1.50  
     Total from Investment Operations 2.37       2.65     0.25     1.52  
             
Distributions:            
  Net Investment Income -    (0.03)    (0.02)   (0.03)  
  Realized Gains       (0.96)       (0.94)       (0.11)               -  
     Total from Distributions   (0.96)   (0.97)    (0.13)   (0.03)  
             
Redemption Fees ****               -               -               -               -  
             
Net Asset Value, at End of Period $     14.79 $     13.38 $     11.70 $     11.58  
             
Total Return ** 17.83% 24.40% 2.28% 15.07% (b)
             
Ratios/Supplemental Data:          
  Net Assets at End of Period (Thousands) $     23,630 $     4,893 $     2,132 $        329  
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets 1.23% 1.23% 1.23% 1.22% (a)

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average

Net Assets

(0.31)% 0.42% 0.22% 0.26% (a)
  Portfolio Turnover 81.29% 73.76% 43.48% 52.38% (b)

 

 

 

 

* Per share net investment income has been determined on the basis of average shares outstanding during the period.

** Assumes reinvestment of dividends.

*** For the Period November 3, 2010 (commencement of investment operations) through June 30, 2011.

**** The Fund will impose a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed within 5 business days of purchase.

(a) Annualized

(b) Not Annualized

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

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Class C     Years Ended Period Ended  
          6/30/2014 6/30/2013 6/30/2012 6/30/2011 ***
             
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Period $     13.11 $     11.57 $     11.52 $       9.32  
             
Income From Investment Operations:          
  Net Investment Income *       (0.18)       (0.07)   (0.09)   (0.07)  
  Net Gain on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)          2.36          2.54          0.24          2.27  
     Total from Investment Operations         2.18         2.47      0.15      2.20  
             
Distributions:            
  Net Investment Income          -          -          -          - (a)
  Realized Gains       (0.96)       (0.93)       (0.11)               -  
     Total from Distributions       (0.96)       (0.93)   (0.11)          -  
             
Redemption Fees ****               -               -               -              -  
             
Net Asset Value, at End of Period $     14.33 $     13.11 $     11.57 $     11.52  
             
Total Return ** 16.69% 23.06% 1.50% 23.66% (c)
             
Ratios/Supplemental Data:          
  Net Assets at End of Period (Thousands) $     3,281 $     1,458 $     1,908 $     3,102  
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets 2.24% 2.24% 2.24% 2.22% (b)

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average

Net Assets

  (1.30)%   (0.62)%  (0.77)%  (0.80)% (b)
  Portfolio Turnover 81.29% 73.76% 43.48% 52.38% (c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Per share net investment loss has been determined on the basis of average shares outstanding during the period.

** Assumes reinvestment of dividends.

*** For the Period September 23, 2010 (commencement of investment operations) through June 30, 2011.

**** The Fund will impose a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed within 5 business days of purchase.

(a) Amount calculated is less than $0.005

(b) Annualized

(c) Not Annualized

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

 

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Privacy Notice

 

FRANK VALUE FUND

 

Rev. October 2011

 

FACTS WHAT DOES THE FRANK VALUE FUND DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
   
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.  Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.  Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
   
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

■ Social Security number and wire transfer instructions

■ account transactions and transaction history

■ investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer a customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

   
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Frank Value Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Frank Value
 Fund share?
Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes -

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes No

For our marketing purposes -

to offer our products and services to you

No We don't share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes -

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes -

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

 

Questions?

 

Call 1-866-706-9790    

 

 

18
 

 

Page 2

 

 

 

What we do
How does the Frank Value Fund protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

We permit only authorized parties and affiliates (as permitted by law) who have signed an agreement with us to have access to customer information.

How does the Frank Value Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

open and account or deposit money

■ direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

■ seek advice about your investments

 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can't I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

■ sharing for affiliates' everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

■ affiliates from using your information to market to you

■ sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

The Frank Value Fund does not share with our affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

The Frank Value Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

The Frank Value Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

 

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Several additional sources of information are available to you. The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), incorporated into this Prospectus by reference, contains detailed information on the Fund’s policies and operations including policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio. Annual and semi-annual reports will contain management’s discussion of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance results as of the Fund’s latest semi-annual or annual fiscal year end.

Call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free: 1-800-869-1679 to request free copies of the SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports or to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries. You may also visit our website at http://www.frankfunds.com for this information.

You may review and copy information about the Fund (including the SAI and other reports) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 for room hours and operation. You may also obtain reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-5009.

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-21532

 

FRANK FUNDS

FRANK VALUE FUND

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Investor Class Shares: FRNKX

Class C Shares: FNKCX

Institutional Class Shares: FNKIX

 

November 1, 2014

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current Prospectus dated November 1, 2014. The Annual Report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference. A free copy of the Prospectus or Annual Report can be obtained by writing the transfer agent at Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147, or by calling 1-800-869-1679. The Fund’s Prospectus is incorporated by reference in this SAI.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS 1
Non-Principal Investment Strategies and Risks 1
Investment Restrictions 7
Temporary Defensive Positions 9
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 9
CODE OF ETHICS 11
DISCLOSURE CONCERNING PROXY VOTING 11
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 13
Control Persons and Principal Holders 13
Management Ownership 13
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 13
Investment Adviser 13
The Portfolio Manager 14
Custodian 15
Fund Services 15
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 16
Distributor 16
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES 18
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS 19
 
 
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION, AND PRICING OF SHARES 20
Purchase of Shares 20
Pricing of Shares 20
TAX CONSEQUENCES 20
TAXATION OF THE FUND 21
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 22
 
 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

The Frank Value Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a non-diversified series of the Frank Funds (the “Trust”) on February 12, 2004 and commenced operations on July 21, 2004. The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 12, 2004 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of two series currently authorized by the Trustees. The investment adviser to the Fund is Frank Capital Partners LLC (the “Adviser”).

 

The Fund does not issue share certificates. All shares are held in non-certificate form registered on the books of the Fund and the Fund’s transfer agent for the account of the shareholder. The Fund offers three classes of shares: Investor Class, Class C and Institutional Class. Each share of a series represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to that series with each other share of that series and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of income belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights, and the Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series so long as the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected. In case of any liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series are borne by that series. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Non-Principal Investment Risks

All principal investment strategies and risks are discussed in the Prospectus. Additional non-principal risks are discussed here.

Corporate debt securities are long and short-term debt obligations issued by companies (such as publicly issued and privately placed bonds, notes, and commercial paper). The Adviser considers corporate debt securities to be of investment grade quality if they are rated BBB or higher by S&P or Baa or higher by Moody’s, or if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Investment grade debt securities generally have adequate to strong protection of principal and interest payments. In the lower end of this category, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal than in higher rated categories. The Fund may invest in both secured and unsecured corporate bonds. A secured bond is backed by collateral and an unsecured bond is not. Therefore an unsecured bond may have a lower recovery value than a secured bond in the event of a default by its issuer. The Adviser may incorrectly analyze the risks inherent in corporate bonds, such as the issuer’s ability to meet interest and principal payments, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

1
 

The Fund may also purchase lower quality debt securities, or unrated debt securities, that have poor protection of payment of principal and interest. These securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” often are considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of default and of price changes due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty that may follow periods of rising rates. While the market for junk bonds has been in existence for many years and has weathered previous economic downturns, the market in recent years has experienced a dramatic increase in the large-scale use of such securities to fund highly leveraged corporate acquisitions and restructurings. Accordingly, past experience may not provide an accurate indication of future performance of the junk bond market, especially during periods of economic recession. The Fund may invest in securities which are of lower quality or are unrated if the Adviser determines that the securities provide the opportunity of meeting the Fund’s objective without presenting excessive risk. The Adviser will consider all factors that it deems appropriate, including ratings, in making investment decisions for the Fund and will attempt to minimize investment risks through diversification, investment analysis, and monitoring of general economic conditions and trends. To the extent that the Fund invests in lower quality securities, achievement of its investment objective may be more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analyses than is the case for higher quality bonds. While the Adviser may refer to ratings, it does not rely exclusively on ratings, but makes its own independent and ongoing review of credit quality.

 

The market for lower quality securities may be thinner and less active than that for higher quality securities, which can adversely affect the prices at which these securities can be sold. If there is not established retail secondary market and market quotations are not available, these securities are valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, including the use of outside pricing services. Judgment plays a greater role in valuing junk bonds than is the case for securities for which external sources for quotations and last-sale information are available. Adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions may affect the ability of outside pricing services used by the Fund to value these securities, and the Fund’s ability to dispose of these lower quality debt securities.

 

Lower quality securities present risks based on payment expectations. For example, junk bonds may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises the provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a junk bond’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets. If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, this may force it to sell its junk bonds, without regard to their investment merits, thereby decreasing the asset base upon which the Fund’s expenses can be spread and possibly reducing the Fund’s rate of return.

 

Since the risk of default is higher for lower quality securities and sometimes increases with the age of these securities, the Adviser’s research and credit analysis are an integral part of managing any securities of this type held by the Fund. In considering investments for the Fund, the Adviser attempts to identify those issuers of high-yielding securities whose financial condition is adequate to meet future obligations, has improved, or is expected to improve in the future. The Adviser’s analysis focuses on relative values based on such factors as interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage, earning prospects, and the experience and managerial strength of the issuer.

Warrants are securities that are usually issued with a bond or preferred stock but may trade separately in the market. A warrant allows its holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock at a specified price for a specified time. The risk in investing in warrants is that the Adviser might miscalculate their value, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Another risk is that the warrants will not realize their value because the underlying common stock does not reach the Adviser’s anticipated price within the life of the warrant.

2
 

Rights are usually granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued to the public. The right entitles its holder to buy common stock at a specified price. Rights have similar features to warrants, except that the life of a right is typically much shorter, usually a few weeks. The Adviser believes rights may become underpriced if they are sold without regard to value and if analysts do not include them in their research. The risk in investing in rights is the Adviser might miscalculate their value resulting in a loss to the Fund. Another risk is the underlying common stock may not reach the Adviser’s anticipated price within the life of the right.

Preferred stocks are securities that have characteristics of both common stocks and corporate bonds. Preferred stocks may receive dividends but payment is not guaranteed as with a bond. These securities may be undervalued because of a lack of analyst coverage resulting in a high dividend yield or yield to maturity. The risks of preferred stocks are a lack of voting rights and the Adviser may incorrectly analyze the security, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Furthermore, preferred stock dividends are not guaranteed and management can elect to forego the preferred dividend, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

Foreign securities are considered by the Adviser only if they are trading in domestic markets as American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) or are directly listed in a domestic market such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. An ADR is a receipt for the shares of a foreign-based corporation, held in the vault of a U.S. bank, and entitling the shareholder to all dividends and capital gains. A sponsored ADR is issued by a company whose stock will underlie the ADR. The corporation provides financial information to the bank and may subsidize the administration of the ADRs. An unsponsored ADR is issued by a broker/dealer or a depositary bank without the involvement of the company whose stock underlies the ADR. Purchases of foreign equity securities entail certain risks. For example, there may be less information publicly available about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies are not generally subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S. Other risks associated with investments in foreign securities include changes in restrictions on foreign currency transactions and rates of exchanges, changes in the administrations or economic and monetary policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations, the possibility of expropriation decrees and other adverse foreign governmental action, the imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, delays in settlement of securities transactions, and greater price volatility. Unsponsored ADRs may carry more risk than sponsored ADRs because of the absence of financial information provided by the underlying company. In addition, investing in foreign securities will generally result in higher commissions than investing in similar domestic securities.

Investment Company Securities are shares of other mutual funds. The Fund may temporarily invest in investment company securities due to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions; to maintain liquidity; or pending selection of investments in accordance with its investment policies. Under Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Fund may only invest up to 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company, but may not own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company or invest more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that 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 has not offered or sold after January 1, 1971, and is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1.50%. An investment company that issues shares to the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than 30 days. The Fund

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(or the Adviser acting on behalf of the Fund) must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security. Because other investment companies employ an investment adviser, such investments by the Fund may cause shareholders to bear duplicate fees.

Futures Contracts. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security, class of securities, or an index at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts may be issued with respect to fixed-income securities, foreign currencies, single stocks, or financial indices, including indices of U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and equity or fixed-income securities. U.S. futures contracts are traded on exchanges that have been designated “contract markets” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and must be executed through a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) or brokerage firm, which is a member of the relevant contract market. Through their clearing corporations, the exchanges guarantee performance of the contracts between the clearing members of the exchange. The Fund only invests in futures contracts to the extent it could invest in the underlying instrument directly.

 

The Fund will engage in futures transactions for hedging purposes only. This means that the Fund’s primary purpose in entering into futures contracts is to protect the Fund from fluctuations in the value of securities or interest rates without actually buying or selling the underlying debt or equity security. For example, if the Fund anticipates an increase in the price of stocks and it intends to purchase stocks at a later time, the Fund could enter into a futures contract to purchase a stock index as a temporary substitute for stock purchases. If an increase in the market occurs that influences the stock index as anticipated, the value of the futures contracts will increase, thereby serving as a hedge against the Fund not participating in a market advance. This technique is sometimes known as an anticipatory hedge. Conversely, if the Fund holds stocks and seeks to protect itself from a decrease in stock prices, the Fund might sell stock index futures contracts, thereby hoping to offset the potential decline in the value of its portfolio securities by a corresponding increase in the value of the futures contract position. The Fund could protect against a decline in stock prices by selling portfolio securities and investing in money market instruments, but the use of futures contracts enables it to maintain a defensive position without having to sell portfolio securities.

 

If the Fund owns Treasury bonds and the portfolio manager expects interest rates to increase, the Fund may take a short position in interest rate futures contracts. Taking such a position would have much the same effect as the Fund selling Treasury bonds in its portfolio. If interest rates increase as anticipated, the value of the Treasury bonds would decline, but the value of the Fund’s interest rate futures contract will increase, thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it may have otherwise. If, on the other hand, a portfolio manager expects interest rates to decline, the Fund may take a long position in interest rate futures contracts in anticipation of later closing out the futures position and purchasing the bonds. Although the Fund can accomplish similar results by buying securities with long maturities and selling securities with short maturities, given the greater liquidity of the futures market than the cash market, it may be possible to accomplish the same result more easily and more quickly by using futures contracts as an investment tool to reduce risk.

 

Risk Factors in Futures Transactions

 

Liquidity Risk. Because futures contracts are generally settled within a day from the date they are closed out, compared with a settlement period of three days for some types of securities, the futures markets can provide superior liquidity to the securities markets. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any

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particular time. In addition, futures exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts and may halt trading if a contract’s price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached, it may be impossible for the Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a futures contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, the Fund may not be able to promptly liquidate unfavorable futures positions and potentially could be required to continue to hold a futures position until the delivery date, regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the Fund’s access to other assets held to cover its futures positions also could be impaired.

 

Risk of Loss. Although the Fund believes that the use of such contracts will benefit the Fund, the Fund’s overall performance could be worse than if the Fund had not entered into futures contracts if the Adviser’s investment judgment proves incorrect. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the effects of a possible decrease in prices of securities held in its portfolio and prices increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of these securities because of offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements. Those sales may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices that reflect the rising market and may occur at a time when the sales are disadvantageous to the Fund.

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. Because the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, there may be increased participation by speculators in the futures market that may also cause temporary price distortions. A relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the contract. The Fund will only engage in futures transactions when it is believed these risks are justified and will engage in futures transactions primarily for risk management purposes.

 

Correlation Risk. The prices of futures contracts depend primarily on the value of their underlying instruments. Because there are a limited number of types of futures contracts, it is possible that the standardized futures contracts available to the Fund will not match exactly the Fund’s current or potential investments. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts based on underlying instruments with different characteristics from the securities in which it typically invests—for example, by hedging investments in portfolio securities with a futures contract based on a broad index of securities—which involves a risk that the futures position will not correlate precisely with the performance of the Fund’s investments.

 

Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments closely correlate with the Fund’s investments. Futures prices are affected by factors such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instruments, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract. Those factors may affect securities prices differently from futures prices. Imperfect correlations between the Fund’s investments and its futures positions also may result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, and from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The Fund may buy

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or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or is considering purchasing to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, its futures positions may fail to produce desired gains or result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund’s other investments.

 

Margin Requirements

 

The buyer or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the buyer and seller are required to deposit “initial margin” for the benefit of the FCM when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits:

 

·are equal to a percentage of the contract’s value, as set by the exchange on which the contract is traded;
·may be maintained in cash or certain other liquid assets by the Fund’s custodian for the benefit of the FCM; and
·are similar to good faith deposits or performance bonds.

 

Unlike margin extended by a securities broker, initial margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the Fund’s investment limitations. If the value of either party’s position declines, that party will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments for the benefit of the FCM to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. In the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to the Fund only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers. The Trust will attempt to minimize this risk by careful monitoring of the creditworthiness of the FCMs with which it does business and by depositing margin payments in a segregated account with the Trust’s custodian.

 

SEC Segregation Requirements

 

In addition to the margin restrictions discussed above, transactions in futures contracts may involve the segregation of funds pursuant to requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Under those requirements, where the Fund has a long position in a futures contract, it may be required to establish a segregated account (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) containing cash or certain liquid assets equal to the purchase price of the contract (less any margin on deposit). However, segregation of assets is not required if the Fund “covers” a long position. For a short position in futures or forward contracts held by the Fund, those requirements may mandate the establishment of a segregated account (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) with cash or certain liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited as margin, equal the market value of the instruments underlying the futures contracts (but are not less than the price at which the short positions were established).

 

Liquidity Impact of Margin and SEC Segregation Requirements

 

Although the Fund will segregate cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to cover its open futures obligations, the segregated assets will be available to the Fund immediately upon closing out the futures position, while settlement of securities transactions could take several days. However, because the Fund’s cash that may otherwise be invested would be held uninvested or invested in other

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liquid assets so long as the futures position remains open, the Fund’s return could be diminished due to the opportunity losses of foregoing other potential investments.

 

Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term "commodity pool operator" under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the rules of the CFTC promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund's operation.  Accordingly, the Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.

Investment Restrictions

Fundamental. The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (“Fundamental”), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the term “majority” of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders, to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation, or regulatory policy, are considered non-fundamental (“Non-Fundamental”).

 

1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except: (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage ratio of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage ratio of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.

 

2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

 

4. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

 

5. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities, or from investing in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.

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6. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except: (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing non-publicly offered debt securities. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures, or other securities.

 

7. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry or group of industries. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any investment company that concentrates. This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.

 

With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association, or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation, or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within 90 days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation, or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.

 

Non-Fundamental. The following limitations have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are Non-Fundamental (see “Investment Limitations - Fundamental” above).

 

1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in paragraph 1 above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens, and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales, and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge, or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation. Not more than 33⅓% of the Fund’s assets may be pledged in accordance with this restriction.

 

2. Leveraging. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements) representing more than 5% of its total assets are outstanding.

 

3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.” This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options or futures contracts.

 

4. Options. The Fund will not purchase or sell options, including calls and puts.

 

5. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not invest 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities. In the event the Fund exceeds this 15% limitation, the Fund will not purchase additional illiquid securities until the Fund is back into compliance with the 15% limitation.

 

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6. Loans. The Fund may not lend any security if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions

To respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies. For example, the Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in money market instruments or money market funds. If the Fund invests in shares of a money market fund or other investment company, the shareholders of that Fund will be subject to duplicative management fees. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective, and the Fund may pay higher commissions as a result of increased portfolio turnover. The Fund may also invest in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust and appoints the officers. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until the termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. There are two series in the “Fund Complex”: the Fund and the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. The Board generally meets four times a year. For the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, the Board met four times.

 

The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Name, Address1 and Age Position(s) Held with the Fund Term of Office and Length of  Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director Other Directorships Held by Director

Jason W. Frey

 

 

 

Age: 35

Trustee Indefinite/ June 2004 - present Software Developer, Red Hat Inc., an enterprise software company, December 2012 to present; ManageIQ, Inc., a virtualization management software company, October 2007 to present 2 None

Andrea Goncalves

 

 

 

Age: 32

Trustee Indefinite/ December 2009 - present Senior Accountant, Security Atlantic Mortgage / REMM, mortgage company, May 2006 to present 2 None

Hemanshu Patel

 

Age: 30

Trustee Indefinite/ December 2009 - present Associate , J. W. Childs Associates, private equity firm, November 2007 to present 2 None

 

1 The address of each officer and trustee is c/o Frank Funds, 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

 

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The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, and each officer of the Trust.

 

 

 

 

Name, Address1 and Age

 

 

 

Position(s) Held with the Fund

 

 

Term of Office and Length of Time Served

 

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director

 

 

Other Directorships Held by Director

Brian J. Frank2

 

Age: 32

President, Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Trustee Indefinite/Treasurer, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, June 2004 – present; President and Trustee, September 2009 - present

Managing Partner of Frank Capital Partners LLC since June 2003

 

2 None

Monique M. Weiss2

 

Age: 45

Secretary Indefinite/September 2009 - present Self-employed, Consultant to Mutual Fund Industry, 2006 – present. 2 None

1 The address of each officer and trustee is c/o Frank Funds, 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

2 Brian Frank is considered an “Interested” Trustee, as defined in the 1940 Act, because he is affiliated with the Adviser. Brian Frank and Monique Weiss are married.

 

Board Leadership Structure.  The Fund is led by Mr. Brian Frank, who has served as the President of the Board since 2009.  Mr. Frank is an interested person by virtue of his position as Managing Partner of the Frank Value Fund’s investment adviser.  The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Frank and 4 persons who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act (each an “Independent Trustee,” together the “Independent Trustees”).  The Fund does not have a lead Independent Trustee, but governance guidelines provide that Independent Trustees will meet in executive session at each Board meeting.  The President of the Board is generally responsible for (a) chairing board meetings, (b) setting the agendas for these meetings, and (c) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings.  Generally, the Fund believes it best to have a single leader who is seen by shareholders, business partners, and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership.  The Fund believes that its President, together with the Audit Committee and the full Board of Trustees, provides effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Fund and each shareholder.

Board Risk Oversight.  The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis when and if necessary.  The Audit Committee, which has a separate chair, considers financial risks and reporting risks within its area of responsibilities.  Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.

Trustee Qualifications .  Generally, the Board collectively believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes, and (iv) skills.  Mr. Frank has over 13 years of business experience in the investment management business and is skilled in portfolio and risk management functions.   Mr. Patel has a B.S. degree in finance from Rutgers University and over 8 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Patel is knowledgeable in company valuation, stemming from his experience in investment banking and private equity, and his knowledge of finance contributes to the Board’s understanding of the strategies implemented by the Trust’s portfolio managers. Ms. Goncalves has a B.S. degree in finance

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from New York University’s Stern School of Business and over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ms. Goncalves has a background in financial accounting, originating from her experience with Ernst & Young and continuing with her current position as a senior accountant at Security Atlantic Mortgage. Her knowledge of public accounting contributes to the Board’s understanding of the Trust’s annual audit. Mr. Frey has over 11 years of experience in the banking and software industries. His knowledge of financial systems and regulation is helpful for the Board’s examination of best execution practices.

Audit Committee. The Trust’s Audit Committee consists of each of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices; its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Trust’s financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board of Trustees. None of the audit committee members are “Interested” as defined in the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee held two meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

 

As of June 30, 2014, the Trustees owned the following amounts in the Fund:

 

Name of Trustee or Officer Dollar Range of Securities In The Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of

Securities In Trust

Brian J. Frank Over $100,000 Over $100,000
Jason W. Frey $10,001 - $50,000 $10,001 - $50,000
Andrea Goncalves $10,001 - $50,000 $10,001 - $50,000
Hemanshu Patel $10,001 - $50,000 $10,001 - $50,000

 

The following table describes the compensation paid to the Trustees for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014. Trustees of the Fund who are deemed “interested persons” of the Trust, and officers of the Fund, receive no compensation from the Fund.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Fund Total Compensation from Trust
Brian J. Frank $0 $0
Jason W. Frey $400 $800
Andrea Goncalves $400 $800
Hemanshu Patel $400 $800

 

CODE OF ETHICS

Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and to protect against certain unlawful acts, practices, and courses of business by certain individuals or entities related to the Fund, the Fund and the Adviser have adopted a Code of Ethics and procedures for implementing the provisions of the Code. The personnel of the Fund and the Adviser are subject to the Code when investing in securities that may be purchased, sold, or held by the Fund.

DISCLOSURE CONCERNING PROXY VOTING
RELATED TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibilities for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Fund’s Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures. In some instances, the Adviser may be asked to cast a

11
 

proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and those of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser. In such a case, the Trust’s policy requires that the Adviser abstain from making a voting decision and to forward all necessary proxy voting materials to the Trust to enable the Board of Trustees to make a voting decision. The Adviser shall make a written recommendation of the voting decision to the Board of Trustees, which shall include: (i) an explanation of why it has a conflict of interest; (ii) the reasons for its recommendation; and (iii) an explanation of why the recommendation is consistent with the Adviser’s (or sub-adviser’s) proxy voting policies. The Board of Trustees shall make the proxy voting decision that in its judgment, after reviewing the recommendation of the Adviser, is most consistent with the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and in the best interests of Fund shareholders. When the Board of Trustees of the Trust is required to make a proxy voting decision, only the Trustees without a conflict of interest with regard to the security in question or the matter to be voted upon shall be permitted to participate in the decision of how the Fund’s vote will be cast.

The Adviser’s policies and procedures state that the Adviser generally relies on the individual portfolio manager(s) to make the final decision on how to cast proxy votes. When exercising its voting responsibilities, the Adviser’s policies call for an emphasis on (i) accountability of management of the company to its board, and of the board to the company’s shareholders, (ii) alignment of management and shareholder interests, and (iii) transparency through timely disclosure of important information about a company’s operations and financial performance. While no set of proxy voting guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise, the Adviser has adopted guidelines describing the Adviser’s general philosophy when proposals involve certain matters. The following is a summary of those guidelines:

  • Electing a Board of Directors – A board should be composed primarily of independent directors, and key board committees should be entirely independent. The Adviser generally supports efforts to declassify boards or other measures that permit shareholders to remove a majority of directors at any time;
  • Approving Independent Auditors – The relationship between a company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement;
  • Providing Equity-Based Compensation Plans - Appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans, approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of shareholders and the interests of directors, management, and employees by providing incentives to increase shareholder value. Conversely, the Adviser is opposed to plans that substantially dilute ownership interests in the company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have inherently objectionable structural features;
  • Corporate Voting Structure - Shareholders should have voting power equal to their equity interest in the company and should be able to approve or reject changes to a company’s by-laws by a simple majority vote. The Adviser opposes super-majority requirements and generally supports the ability of shareholders to cumulate their votes for the election of directors; and
  • Shareholder Rights Plans - Shareholder rights plans, also known as poison pills, may tend to entrench current management, which the Adviser generally considers to have a negative impact on shareholder value.
  • Other Investment Companies - When the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.
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Information regarding the Fund’s proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available at no charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-869-1679. The information also is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-866-706-9790 and will be sent within 3 business days of receipt of a request.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Control Persons and Principal Holders

As of October 1, 2014, the following persons were the owners of more than 5% of the outstanding Investor Class shares of the Fund:

 

Name and Address Fund Percentage of Ownership Type of Ownership
Charles Schwab & Co Inc San Francisco, CA 94104 Frank Value Fund 8.23% Record

 

Shareholders owning more than 25% of the shares of the Fund are considered to “control” the Fund as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Persons controlling the Fund can determine the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Fund’s fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.

Management Ownership

As of October 1, 2014, all officers and Trustees as a group owned 1.67% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Investment Adviser

The Trustees selected Frank Capital Partners LLC as the adviser to the Fund. Monique M. Weiss owns 51% and Brian J. Frank owns 49% of the Adviser and are deemed to control the Adviser. Brian Frank acts as its Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager.

Under the terms of the management agreement (the “Agreement”), the Adviser manages the Fund’s investments subject to approval of the Board of Trustees; furnishes investment advice to the Fund on the basis of a continuous review of the portfolio; and recommends to the Fund when and to what extent securities should be purchased or sold. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.99% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

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The Agreement was approved for an initial term of two years, and continues on a year to year basis thereafter, provided that continuance is approved at least annually by specific approval of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Agreement was last renewed on June 29, 2014. In either event, it must also be approved by a majority of Trustees of the Fund who are neither parties to the agreement nor interested persons as defined in the 1940 Act, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on not more than 60 days written notice to the Adviser. In the event of its assignment, the Agreement will terminate automatically.

The Adviser retains the right to use the name “Frank” in connection with another investment company or business enterprise with which the Adviser is or may become associated. The Trust’s right to use the name “Frank” automatically ceases 90 days after termination of the Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on 90 days’ written notice.

 

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Fund paid management fees of $119,925, $147,405, and $396,933 respectively.

In addition to the Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser have entered into an Administration Agreement, under which the Adviser provides administrative services to the Fund, including without limitation providing office space, equipment, and clerical personnel necessary for performing the Trust’s management functions and supervising the overall operations of the Trust, including the provision of services to the Trust by the Trust’s fund accounting agent, transfer agent, custodian, auditors, and other independent contractors or agents. The Adviser receives fees equal to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in exchange for providing administrative services and for paying all of the operating expenses of the Fund, except investment management fees; expenses of shareholders’ meetings and proxy solicitations; advertising, promotion, and other expenses incurred directly or indirectly in connection with the sale or distribution of the Fund’s shares that the Fund is authorized to pay pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; all brokerage fees and commissions, taxes, borrowing costs (such as (a) interest and (b) dividend expenses on securities sold short), and such extraordinary or non-recurring expenses as may arise, including litigation to which the Fund may be a party and indemnification of the Trust’s Trustees and officers with respect thereto.

The Portfolio Manager

 

Mr. Brian Frank (the “Portfolio Manager”) is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. As of June 30, 2014, the Portfolio Manager was responsible for the management of the following types of accounts, in addition to the Fund:


Account Type
Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies 1 $10,316,990 0 $0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles 1 $623,868 1 $623,868
Other Accounts 2 $15,000 0 $0

 

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As of June 30, 2014, the Portfolio Manager managed the accounts listed above. The Adviser has not identified any material conflicts between the Fund and other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager. However, actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the day-to-day management of the Fund and the other accounts. The management of the Fund and the other accounts may result in unequal time and attention being devoted to the Fund and the other accounts. Another potential conflict of interest may arise where another account has the same investment objective as the Fund, whereby the Portfolio Manager could favor one account over another. Further, a potential conflict could include the Portfolio Manager’s knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby the Portfolio Manager could use this information to the advantage of the other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. These potential conflicts of interest could create the appearance that the Portfolio Manager is favoring one investment vehicle over another. The Adviser has adopted a trade allocation policy requiring combined (“blocked”) execution of trades when more than one account managed by the Adviser is purchasing the same security. Where the Fund and other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager are purchasing the same security, the Adviser will execute the transaction on a blocked basis.

While the Fund pays the Adviser a fee based on assets under management, Mr. Brian Frank’s compensation from the Adviser is not fixed. Because Mr. Frank co-owns the Adviser, his compensation is based upon the Adviser’s profitability. Mr. Brian Frank participates directly in all profits and losses of the Adviser, including the advisory fees paid by the Fund, and is paid in cash. There are no bonuses, options, deferred compensation or retirement plans associated with his service to the Fund.

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in the Fund as of June 30, 2014.

Name of Portfolio Manager Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
  Brian Frank $500,001-$1,000,000

 

Custodian

 

The Huntington National Bank, 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, is custodian of the Fund’s investments. The custodian acts as the Fund’s depository, provides safekeeping of its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Fund’s request, and maintains records in connection with its duties.

 

Fund Services

 

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (“MSS”), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147, acts as the Fund’s transfer agent. MSS maintains the records of the shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other transfer agent and shareholder service functions. MSS receives an annual fee from the Adviser of $11.50 per shareholder (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $775.00 per Fund) for these transfer agency services.

 

In addition, MSS provides the Fund with fund accounting services, which includes certain monthly reports, record-keeping and other management-related services. For its services as fund accountant, MSS receives an annual fee from the Adviser based on the average value of the Fund. These fees are: from $0 to $25 million in assets the annual fee is $21,000, from $25 million to $50 million in assets the annual fee is $30,500, from $50 million to $75 million in assets the annual fee is $36,250, from

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$75 million to $100 million in assets the annual fee is $42,000, from $100 million to $125 million in assets the annual fee is $47,750, from $125 million to $150 million in assets the annual fee is $53,500, and for asset above $150 million the annual fee is $59,250. The Fund will receive a discount ranging from 10-60% depending on the net assets of the Fund until the Fund reaches $11 million in assets.

 

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2013, and 2014, MSS received $25,502.50, $56,953.89, and $74,188 respectively, from the Adviser for these fund accounting and transfer agent services.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The firm of Sanville & Company, 1514 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001, has been selected as independent public accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Sanville & Company performs an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides financial, tax, and accounting services as requested.

 

Distributor

Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis through Arbor Court Capital, LLC, 2000 Auburn Drive, Suite 120, Beachwood, OH 44122 (the “Distributor”).

 

The Fund has entered into a Distribution and Services Agreement whereby the Distributor serves as principal underwriter and distributor of the Funds.  Pursuant to this agreement, the Distributor purchases shares of the Fund for resale to the public, either directly or through securities brokers, dealers, banks, or other agents, and is obligated to purchase only those shares for which it has received purchase orders.  The Distributor has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Fund’s shares. The Fund pays the Distributor $7,200 annually for the Distributor’s services.  The Fund will also pay the Distributor’s out of pocket expenses, including but not limited to: travel, printing, postage, telephone, registration fees for Adviser/Fund personnel, broker/dealer fees specific to Adviser/Fund, and other standard miscellaneous items permitted to be paid under the Fund’s 12b-1 Plans (described below).

 

Rule 12b-1 PlanS

 

The Trust has adopted Plans of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for each of the Fund’s Investor Class and Class C Shares (collectively, the “Plans”) pursuant to which Investor Class and Class C shares of the Fund are authorized to pay fees to the Distributor for providing distribution and/or shareholder services to the Fund.  Under the Plans, Investor Class and Class C shares of the Fund may pay distribution and/or shareholder service fees at an annual rate of 0.25% and 1.00% of each of their average net assets, respectively.  Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals, as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be based upon each share class’s average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees and the Distributor. The Plans authorize payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators, and others (“Recipients”) to provide these services and paying compensation for these services.

 

The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund’s investment plan and shareholder

16
 

services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Adviser or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Adviser with respect to the Fund. The Distributor may be compensated by the Adviser for its distribution and marketing efforts.

 

The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.  Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Adviser to Recipients.

 

The Plans became effective on September 15, 2010. The initial term of the Plans is one year, and they will continue in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plans (the “Plan Independent Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plans. The Plans may be terminated at any time by the Trust or the Fund by vote of a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. The Plans will terminate automatically in the event of their assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

The Plans may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the respective class of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plans.

 

Any agreement related to the Plans will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Plan Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.

 

The table below states the amounts paid by the Fund’s Investor Class and Class C shares under the Plans for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

 

Investor Class Shares Class C Shares
$49,887 $24,621

 

The table below states the principal types of activities for which the Fund made payments under the Plans for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2013.

 

  Investor Class Class C
Advertising & Sales Literature $0 $0
Printing & Mailing of Prospectuses $0 $0
Compensation to Underwriters $0 $0
Compensation to Broker Dealers $0 $24,621
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Compensation to Sales Personnel $49,887 $0
Compensation to the Adviser for Other Distribution-Related Expenses $0 $0

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer, and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. The Adviser may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions. However, the Adviser may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers that promote or sell the Fund’s shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker’s execution and not on its sales efforts. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012, 2013, and 2014, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $6,988, $17,480, and $49,903 respectively.

 

The Adviser is specifically authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion, and to pay such brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would charge if the Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.

 

Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Adviser in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Adviser, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Adviser of performing its duties to the Fund under the Agreement.

 

Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter, or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.

 

When the Fund and another of the Adviser’s clients seek to purchase or sell the same security at or about the same time, the Adviser will execute the transaction on a blocked basis. Blocked transactions can produce better execution for the Fund because of the increased volume of the transaction. If the entire blocked order is not filled, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it

18
 

desires or it may have to pay a higher price for the security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell or as high a price for any particular portfolio security if the other client desires to sell the same portfolio security at the same time. In the event that the entire blocked order is not filled, the purchase or sale will normally be allocated on a pro rata basis. The Adviser may adjust the allocation when, taking into account such factors as the size of the individual orders and transaction costs, the Adviser believes an adjustment is reasonable.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Fund is required to include a schedule of portfolio holdings in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, which are sent to shareholders within 60 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters and which are filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR within 70 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Fund also is required to file a schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund must provide a copy of the complete schedule of portfolio holdings as filed with the SEC to any shareholder of the Fund, upon request, free of charge. This policy is applied uniformly to all shareholders of the Fund without regard to the type of requesting shareholder (i.e., regardless of whether the shareholder is an individual or institutional investor). The Fund has an ongoing arrangement to release portfolio holdings to Morningstar for Morningstar to assign a rating or ranking to the Fund. Portfolio holdings will be supplied to Morningstar no more frequently than quarterly and only after the Fund has filed a Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC.

Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Fund has ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings information on a daily basis to the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent and the Custodian and on an as needed basis to other third parties providing services to the Fund. The Adviser, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian receive portfolio holdings information daily to carry out the essential operations of the Fund.. The Fund discloses portfolio holdings to its auditors, legal counsel, proxy voting services (if applicable), pricing services, printers, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisers or sub-advisers as needed to provide services to the Fund. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to these third parties will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel at any time.

The Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent and the Custodian are prohibited from entering into any special or ad hoc arrangements with any persons to make available information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings without the specific approval of the Board. Any party wishing to release portfolio holdings information on an ad hoc or special basis must submit any proposed arrangement to the Board, which will review such arrangement to determine whether it is (i) in the best interests of Fund shareholders, (ii) whether the information will be kept confidential (based on the factors discussed below) (iii) whether sufficient protections are in place to guard against personal trading based on the information and (iv) whether the disclosure presents a conflict of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of the Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Adviser. Additionally, the Adviser, and any affiliated persons of the Adviser, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

Information disclosed to third parties, whether on an ongoing or ad hoc basis, is disclosed under conditions of confidentiality. “Conditions of confidentiality” include (i) confidentiality clauses in written

19
 

agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential. The agreements with the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian contain confidentiality clauses, which the Board and these parties have determined extend to the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Fund’s portfolio holding and the duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Adviser has entered into a separate written confidentiality agreement that prohibits the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings and includes a duty not to trade on the non-public information.

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION, AND PRICING OF SHARES

Purchase of Shares

Investors may only purchase Fund shares after receipt of a current Prospectus and by filling out and submitting an application supplied by the Fund.

Pricing of Shares

The price (net asset value) of the shares of each Fund is determined at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. For a description of the methods used to determine the net asset value, see “How We Determine Net Asset Value” in the Prospectus.

 

Equity securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange or on the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an equity security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

 

Fixed income securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. A pricing service utilizes electronic data processing techniques based on yield spreads relating to securities with similar characteristics to determine prices for normal institutional-size trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or bid prices. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the securities, when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees. Short term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.

 

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TAX CONSEQUENCES

Under provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, the Fund, by paying out substantially all of its investment income and realized capital gains, intends to be relieved of federal income tax on the amounts distributed to shareholders. To qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M, at least 90% of the Fund’s income must be derived from dividends, interest and gains from securities transactions, and no more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets may be in two or more securities that exceed 5% of the total assets of the Fund at the time of each security’s purchase. Not qualifying under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code would cause the Fund to be considered a personal holding company subject to normal corporate income taxes. This would reduce the value of shareholder holdings by the amount of taxes paid. Any subsequent dividend distribution of the Fund’s earnings after taxes would still be taxable as received by shareholders. The Jobs and Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Law of 2003 reduced the rate on “qualifying dividends” to 15% (5% for those in 10% or 15% income tax bracket). The Fund may invest in companies that pay “qualifying dividends.” Investors in Frank Value Fund may benefit from the tax law and its lower tax rate on taxable quarterly dividend payments, attributable to corporate dividends, distributed by the Fund.

The Fund's net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning after December 22, 2010 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could only be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

Tax Distribution. The Fund’s distributions (capital gains and dividend income), whether received by shareholders in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal income tax payable by shareholders. All income realized by the Fund including short-term capital gains, will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. Dividends from net income will be made annually or more frequently at the discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Dividends received shortly after purchase of Fund shares by an investor will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of his/her shares by the amount of such dividends or distributions. You should consult a tax advisor regarding the effect of federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on an investment in the Fund.

Federal Withholding. The Fund is required by federal law to withhold 28% of reportable payments (which may include dividends, capital gains, distributions and redemptions) paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS regulations. To avoid this withholding requirement, you must certify on a W-9 tax form supplied by the Fund that your Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number provided is correct and that you are not currently subject to back-up withholding, or that you are exempt from back-up withholding.

TAXATION OF THE FUND

The Fund has qualified under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If the Fund does not qualify under Subchapter M, it would be liable for federal income tax on its capital gains and net investment income currently distributed to its shareholders, resulting in a second level of taxation that would substantially reduce net after-tax returns from the Fund.

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For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals and estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which should include dividends from the Fund and net gains from the disposition of shares of the Funds. U.S. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in a Fund.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by a Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. A Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of a Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements and independent auditors’ report required to be included in this Statement of Additional Information are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014. You can obtain the Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-866-706-9790.

 

 

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FRANK FUNDS

LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND

 

Ticker: LEBOX

 

112 Albany Street

Cazenovia, New York 13035

Telephone: (315) 655-2964 Toll Free: (800) 659-8044

Website: http://www.leighbaldwin.com

 

PROSPECTUS

 

NOVEMBER 1, 2014


 

 

Advised by: Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved the securities offered in this Prospectus and has not passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND SUMMARY 2
Investment Objective 2
Fees and Expenses 2
Portfolio Turnover 2
Principal Investment Strategies 3
Principal Investment Risks 3
Performance 5
Investment Adviser 6
Portfolio Manager 6
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares 6
Tax Information 6
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries 6
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS 7
Investment Objective 7
Principal Investment Strategies 7
Temporary Defensive Positions 8
Principal Investment Risks 8
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 9
Management of the Fund 9
PURCHASING FUND SHARES 10
Determination of Net Asset Value 10
Purchasing Fund Shares 11
Opening An Account 11
REDEEMING FUND SHARES 12
Redemption Requirements 12
Redemption Price 12
Redemption Fee/Market Timing 12
Redemption Payment 13
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES 13
Dividends and Distributions 13
Taxes 13
Distribution and Service Fees 13
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 15
FOR MORE INFORMATION 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND SUMMARY

Investment Objective. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide total return.

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

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)  
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of redemption proceeds)
0.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held less than 5 business days) 2.00%
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)  
Management Fees 0.45%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees 1.00%
Other Expenses 2.72%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 4.29%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 1 (1.42%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement 2.87%

1 Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are indirect costs of investing in other investment companies. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund’s financial highlights because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund.

2 The Adviser has contractually agreed to defer its fees and to reimburse expenses, exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expense on securities sold short, underlying fund fees, 12b-1 fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation, at least until October 31, 2023, so that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses will not exceed 1.75%, subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling 3-year basis (within the 3 years after the fees have been deferred or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits. The agreement can be terminated at any time by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

 

Example: This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the 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. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$290 $1,173 $2,068 $4,362

 

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio

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turnover 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. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 650.16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies.

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing equity securities (including common stock, shares of other investment companies, and exchange traded funds) and selling covered calls to generate income to the Fund. The Fund may also purchase put options in conjunction with the covered calls to limit the risk of ownership of the underlying equity securities. The Fund may also hold cash and cash equivalents as a means of reducing the Fund’s volatility.

The Fund will invest in the stocks of primarily U.S. domestic companies of any market capitalization selected based on fundamental research performed by the Fund’s investment adviser, Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC (“Leigh Baldwin” or, as the Fund’s investment adviser, the “Adviser”). However, the Fund may also invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) that represent an indirect investment in foreign companies. In selecting the stocks for the Fund, the Adviser will focus on companies with long track records of positive earnings and dividend growth. Key factors of a company’s growth prospects considered by the Adviser include strong company management and leadership, positive historic growth of company earnings and revenues, the company’s leadership position relative to its industry peers, and the estimated sustainability of the company’s current and future business plans. Stock investments will also be evaluated on their ability to generate consistent cash flow, via dividends and option income, without extreme price fluctuations. The Adviser will sell stocks for the Fund when the Adviser has determined that there has been a significant change, good or bad, regarding the factors described above. The Adviser will also sell stocks used to cover a call option sold by the Fund when the option is exercised by the holder of the option.

The Fund may also maintain a position in cash or cash equivalents so that the Adviser has sufficient resources to make investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objective as opportunities arise without having to sell other holdings.

The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that the Fund may take a larger position in a small number of companies than a diversified fund.

Principal Investment Risks

As with any mutual fund investment, loss of money is a risk of investing. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The risks associated with an investment in the Fund can increase during times of significant market volatility, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

Market Risk: Overall stock market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets. The value of the Fund will fluctuate and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Management Risk: The Adviser of the Fund has limited experience managing a mutual fund. This inexperience may result in poor security selection causing the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment strategies, and you may lose money.

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Portfolio Turnover Risk: The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. To the extent the Fund has high portfolio turnover, it will generally incur additional costs due to greater brokerage commission expenses (and dealer spreads built into the cost of the securities) than those incurred by a Fund with a lower portfolio turnover rate. The higher portfolio turnover rate may result in the realization for federal income tax purposes of additional net capital gains, which also may result in substantial ordinary income to shareholders. These factors may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single negative economic, political, or regulatory occurrence, and may be subject to substantially more market risk and volatility than a diversified fund.

Put and Call Option Risk: The seller (writer) of a call option which is covered (e.g., the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a call option assumes the risk of losing its entire premium invested in the call option. The seller (writer) of a put option which is covered (e.g., the writer has a short position in the underlying security) assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the sales price (in establishing the short position) of the underlying security plus the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security below the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a put option assumes the risk of losing his entire premium invested in the put option.

Investment Company Securities Risk: When the Fund invests in another investment company (including mutual funds, registered closed-end investment companies, exchange traded funds and money market funds), it will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by the other investment company. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. In addition, the Fund may be affected by losses of the underlying funds and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of the underlying funds (such as the use of leverage by the funds). The Fund has no control over the risks taken by the underlying funds in which it invests.

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign securities are considered only if they are trading in domestic markets such as through ADRs, or are directly listed in a domestic market such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. An ADR is a receipt for the shares of a foreign-based corporation, held in the vault of a U.S. bank and entitling the shareholder to all dividends and capital gains. A sponsored ADR is issued by a company whose stock will underlie the ADR. The corporation provides financial information to the bank and may subsidize the administration of the ADRs. An unsponsored ADR is issued by a broker/dealer or a depositary bank without the involvement of the company whose stock underlies the ADR. Purchases of foreign equity securities entail certain risks.  For example, there may be less information publicly available about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S.  Other risks associated with investments in foreign securities include changes in restrictions on foreign currency transactions and rates of exchanges, changes in the administrations or economic and monetary policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations, the possibility of expropriation decrees and other adverse foreign governmental action, the imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, delays in settlement of securities transactions and greater price volatility.  Unsponsored ADRs may carry more risk than sponsored ADRs because of the absence of financial information provided by the underlying company.  In addition, investing in foreign securities will generally result in higher commissions than investing in similar domestic securities.  

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Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Risk: Because the Fund may invest in smaller and mid-capitalization companies, the Fund will be subject to additional risks. The earnings and prospects of such companies are more volatile than larger companies, and they may experience higher failure rates than larger companies. The trading volume of securities of smaller companies is normally less than that of larger companies and, therefore, may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger companies. Smaller and mid-capitalization may also have limited markets, product lines, or financial resources and may lack management experience.

Performance

The bar chart shows performance for each full calendar year since the Fund’s inception. The performance table compares the performance of the Fund over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Adviser’s website at www.leighbaldwin.com.

 

TOTAL RETURNS

(for the years ended December 31)

 

 

 

 

The Fund’s year-to-date return through September 30, 2014 was 1.17%.

 

Best Quarter: 3rd quarter 2009 3.56%
Worst Quarter: 4th quarter 2008 -8.09%

 

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Average Annual Total Returns for the period ended December 31, 2013:

 

  1 year 5 Years Life of Fund1
Return Before Taxes (1.36%) 0.27% (1.63%)
Return After Taxes on Distributions2  (1.94) (0.99) (2.82)
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares2 (0.77) (0.17) (1.58)
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 32.39% 17.93% 9.49%

1 The Fund commenced investment operations on August 1, 2008.

2 After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Investment Adviser. Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Manager. Mr. Leigh Baldwin is the Fund’s portfolio manager and has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since its inception in 2008.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares. The minimum initial investment in the Fund for all account types is $100. The minimum subsequent investment for any class of shares is $100. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Redemption requests may be made by telephone or mail and will be paid by check or wire transfer.

Tax Information. Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred account such as an IRA or 401(k).

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries.   If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
AND RELATED RISKS

Investment Objective

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide total return. The Fund’s investment objective may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Trustees upon prior written notice to shareholders.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing equity securities (including common stock, shares of other investment companies, and exchange traded funds) and selling covered calls to generate income to the Fund. The Fund may also utilize put options in conjunction with the covered calls to limit the risk of ownership of the underlying equity securities. The Fund may also hold cash and cash equivalents as a means of reducing the Fund’s volatility.

The Fund will invest in the stocks of primarily U.S. domestic companies of any market capitalization selected based on fundamental research performed by the Fund’s investment adviser, Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC (“Leigh Baldwin” or, as the Fund’s investment adviser, the “Adviser”). However, the Fund may also invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) that represent an indirect investment in foreign companies. In selecting the stocks for the Fund, the Adviser will focus on companies with long track records of positive earnings and dividend growth. Key factors of a company’s growth prospects considered by the Adviser include strong company management and leadership, positive historic growth of company earnings and revenues, the company’s leadership position relative to its industry peers, and the estimated sustainability of the company’s current and future business plans. Stock investments will also be evaluated on their ability to generate consistent cash flow, via dividends and option income, without extreme price fluctuations. The Adviser will sell stocks for the Fund when the Adviser has determined that there has been a significant change, good or bad, regarding the factors described above. The Adviser will also sell stocks used to cover a call option sold by the Fund when the option is exercised by the holder of the option.

When the Fund sells a covered call option, it receives a premium but it also agrees to sell a security at agreed upon price if the option is exercised. The option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security subject to the call, or, for certain types of calls, the call option may be covered by segregating liquid assets on the Fund’s books that would enable the Fund to satisfy its obligations if the call is exercised. The covered calls may be written on individual equity securities held by the Fund or on selected securities indices. As more of the Fund’s assets are allocated to covered call options, the Fund’s ability to benefit from capital appreciation of the equity securities tied to the covered calls becomes more limited. However, the Fund may also benefit from the premiums received from the writing of the covered calls in cases when the value of the underlying equity security declines. In addition, the Fund may buy put options on the securities held by the Fund. A put option on a security gives the Fund the right, during the option period, to sell the security to the buyer at the exercise price. The Adviser believes it will be able to accurately determine the worst-case scenario in terms of market loss for a majority of the stock positions held in the Fund.

The Fund may also maintain a position in cash or cash equivalents so that the Adviser has sufficient resources to make investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objective as opportunities arise without having to sell other holdings.

The Fund is a non-diversified fund, which means that the Fund may take a larger position in a small number of companies than a diversified fund.

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Temporary Defensive Positions

In certain circumstances, such as to maintain liquidity, to meet unusually large redemptions, when the Adviser believes that market conditions are unfavorable for profitable investing, or when the Adviser is otherwise unable to locate attractive investment opportunities, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies For example, the Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or money market funds. If the Fund invests in shares of a money market fund or other investment company, the shareholders of that Fund will be subject to duplicative management fees. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective, and the Fund may pay higher commissions as a result of increased portfolio turnover.

Principal Investment Risks

Market Risk: Overall stock market risks may also affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets. The value of the Fund will fluctuate and you could lose money by investing in the Fund.

Management Risk: The Adviser of the Fund has limited experience managing a mutual fund. This inexperience may result in poor security selection causing the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment strategies, and you may lose money.

Portfolio Turnover Risk: The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. To the extent the Fund has high portfolio turnover, it will generally incur additional costs due to greater brokerage commission expenses (and dealer spreads built into the cost of the securities) than those incurred by a Fund with a lower portfolio turnover rate. The higher portfolio turnover rate may result in the realization for federal income tax purposes of additional net capital gains, which also may result in substantial ordinary income to shareholders. These factors may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single negative economic, political, or regulatory occurrence, and may be subject to substantially more market risk and volatility than a diversified fund. The Fund’s share price could fall if the Fund is heavily invested in a particular security and the price of that security falls.

Put and Call Option Risk: The seller (writer) of a call option which is covered (e.g., the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a call option assumes the risk of losing its entire premium invested in the call option. The seller (writer) of a put option which is covered (e.g., the writer has a short position in the underlying security) assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above the sales price (in establishing the short position) of the underlying security plus the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security below the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a put option assumes the risk of losing his entire premium invested in the put option.

Investment Company Securities Risk: When the Fund invests in another investment company (including mutual funds, registered closed-end investment companies, exchange traded funds and money market funds), it will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses payable directly by the other investment company. Therefore, the Fund will incur higher expenses, many of which may be duplicative. In addition, the Fund may be affected by losses of the underlying funds and the level of risk arising from the investment practices of the underlying funds (such as the use of leverage by the funds). The Fund has no control over the risks taken by the underlying funds in which it invests. The other investment companies in which the Fund invests may not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the indices they track, due to transactions costs and other expenses of the funds. The shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value. There can be no

8
 

assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease, and it is possible that the discount may increase.

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign securities are considered only if they are trading in domestic markets such as through ADRs, or are directly listed in a domestic market such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. An ADR is a receipt for the shares of a foreign-based corporation, held in the vault of a U.S. bank and entitling the shareholder to all dividends and capital gains. A sponsored ADR is issued by a company whose stock will underlie the ADR. The corporation provides financial information to the bank and may subsidize the administration of the ADRs. An unsponsored ADR is issued by a broker/dealer or a depositary bank without the involvement of the company whose stock underlies the ADR. Purchases of foreign equity securities entail certain risks.  For example, there may be less information publicly available about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S.  Other risks associated with investments in foreign securities include changes in restrictions on foreign currency transactions and rates of exchanges, changes in the administrations or economic and monetary policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations, the possibility of expropriation decrees and other adverse foreign governmental action, the imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, delays in settlement of securities transactions and greater price volatility.  Unsponsored ADRs may carry more risk than sponsored ADRs because of the absence of financial information provided by the underlying company.  In addition, investing in foreign securities will generally result in higher commissions than investing in similar domestic securities.  

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Risk: Because the Fund may invest in smaller and mid-capitalization companies, the Fund will be subject to additional risks. The earnings and prospects of such companies are more volatile than larger companies, and they may experience higher failure rates than larger companies. The trading volume of securities of smaller companies is normally less than that of larger companies and, therefore, may disproportionately affect their market price, tending to make them fall more in response to selling pressure than is the case with larger companies. Smaller and mid-capitalization may also have limited markets, product lines, or financial resources and may lack management experience.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

A description of the Fund's policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders may request portfolio holdings schedules at no charge by calling 1-800-869-1679.

Management of the Fund

Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 112 Albany Street, Cazenovia, New York 13035, is the investment adviser for the Fund. The Adviser has been in existence since 1991.

Leigh Baldwin is also a registered broker-dealer. It is likely that certain of the Fund’s purchases and sale of securities will be conducted through Leigh Baldwin acting as a broker-dealer. The Fund pays Leigh Baldwin brokerage commissions for executing these transactions, which are separate from, and in addition to, the fees paid by the Fund to Leigh Baldwin for advisory services. As the level of stock trading or option writing increases, the level of commissions paid by the Fund to Leigh Baldwin increases. The commissions paid to Leigh Baldwin are regularly reviewed and approved by the Independent Trustees of the Fund in accordance with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. Since Leigh Baldwin receives compensation based on the number of shares and option contracts traded, there is an incentive to effect as many transactions as possible because as the level of stock trading or options writing increases, the commissions paid by the Fund to Leigh Baldwin also increases. The amount of such commissions may be substantial when compared with such charges for other funds because of the Fund’s options and securities trading strategy. In addition to executing brokerage transactions for the Fund internally, Leigh

9
 

Baldwin, acting as the Fund’s investment adviser, may also direct, in its discretion, a portion of the Fund’s brokerage transactions for execution to unaffiliated broker-dealers. Additionally, the Adviser has adopted compliance policies and procedures to insure that investment opportunities are fairly and equitably allocated among all of the Adviser’s clients so as not to favor any client or group of clients over any other. The Adviser may also receive the distribution and shareholder servicing fees described in the section entitled “Distribution and Service Fees” later in this Prospectus.

Mr. Leigh Baldwin is the Fund’s portfolio manager and has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since its inception. Mr. Baldwin is the founder, majority owner, and president of the Adviser and has been so since its inception in 1991. Mr. Baldwin graduated from Colgate University in 1983 with a concentration in economics. He has spent twenty years involved in the financial markets, as the owner of brokerage firms, a financial advisor, and a securities trader.

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides information about the portfolio manager’s experience, compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

The Fund is authorized to pay the Adviser an annual management fee equal to 0.45% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Pursuant to an Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its advisory fees and/or to reimburse the Fund’s expenses, at least until October 31, 2023, to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s ordinary operating expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, leverage interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividend expenses on securities sold short, underlying fund fees, 12b-1 fees and expenses, or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) to 1.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, after waiver, the Adviser received 0.00%. To the extent the Adviser defers such fees and/or reimburses such expenses, the Adviser may recoup from the Fund such amounts in future years on a rolling three year basis (within the three years after the fees have been deferred or expenses reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits. Only the Board may terminate the Expense Limitation Agreement. A description of the Board of Trustees’ deliberations with respect to the most recent renewal of the Management Agreement with the Adviser is available in the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

PURCHASING FUND SHARES

Determination of Net Asset Value

Shares of the Fund are sold at net asset value (“NAV”). The Fund’s NAV per share is determined by adding the value of all the Fund’s securities, cash, and other assets, including accrued interest and dividends, less all liabilities, including accrued expenses, and then dividing by the total number of shares outstanding. The Fund’s NAV changes every day. The NAV is determined each business day following the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”)) Monday through Friday, exclusive of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. On occasion, the NYSE will close before 4:00 p.m. ET. When that happens, the Fund’s NAV will be calculated as of the time the NYSE closes.

Securities held by the Fund for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value. If market prices are not available or, in the Adviser’s opinion, market prices do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the Adviser will value the Fund’s assets at their fair value according to policies approved by, and under the ultimate supervision of, the Fund’s Board of Trustees. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using the Fund’s fair value pricing policies. Without a fair value price, short term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long term

10
 

investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short term traders. The Board of Trustees will review all securities fair valued by the Adviser on an ongoing basis.

Purchasing Fund Shares

Purchase requests received by the Fund’s transfer agent in good order before the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) will receive the NAV calculated that day. Purchase requests received by the Fund’s transfer agent after the close of the NYSE will receive the NAV calculated following the close of the NYSE on the next following business day. The Fund reserves the right at its sole discretion to reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.

Opening An Account

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask for other identifying documents or information. We may not be able to open your account or complete a transaction for you until we are able to verify your identity.

Initial Investments: When making your initial purchase request, make sure your request is in good order. “Good order” means that your purchase request includes the name of the purchaser, the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, a completed account application, and a check payable to the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. Send the application and check via U.S. Mail or overnight courier to Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund, c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147.

Initial purchase of shares of the Fund may be made by application submitted to the Fund’s transfer agent by mail or in person. A check made out to the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund for the initial share purchase should be included with the account application. The minimum purchase of shares is $1,000. For the convenience of investors, an Account Application is included in every request for a Prospectus. To receive this information, visit our website at http://www.leighbaldwin.com, call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free at 1-800-869-1679, or write to the Fund, c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. You also may make your initial purchase by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call the Fund’s transfer agent at 1-800-869-1679 to notify the Fund of your purchase and obtain an account number and wire instructions.

Wire orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund, the custodian, and the transfer agent are open for business. A wire purchase will not be considered made until the wired money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Fund. Any delays that may occur in wiring money, including delays that may occur in processing by the banks, are not the responsibility of the Fund or the transfer agent. The Fund presently charges no fee for the receipt of wired funds, but the Fund may charge shareholders for this service in the future.

 

The Fund reserves the right at its sole discretion to terminate the offering of its shares made by this Prospectus at any time and to reject purchase applications when, in the judgment of management, such termination or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund.

Subsequent Purchases: Subsequent purchases may be made by mail, wire, or in person. A subsequent purchase is in good order when your purchase request includes the name of the account holder, the dollar amount of shares to be purchased, and a check payable to the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. The minimum subsequent purchase is $100. You may also purchase shares of the Fund by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call the Fund’s transfer agent, at 1-800-869-1679 to notify the Fund of your purchase and obtain wire instructions.

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REDEEMING FUND SHARES

Redemption Requirements

Shareholders may redeem all or any part of their shares on any day the Fund is open for business. To sell Fund shares, call the Fund’s transfer agent at 888-217-5426 or send written instructions, signed by the shareholder(s) with the proper signature guarantee, if applicable, via U.S. Mail or overnight courier to Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund, c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147.

 

A signature guarantee is designed to protect the Fund and its shareholders from fraud. A signature guarantee is required to redeem shares in the following situations:

·The redemption is for more than $25,000.
·The proceeds are to be mailed to an address other than the registered address of record.
·A change of address request has been received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 days.
·Ownership of the account has changed.

A signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of the shareholders signature and the guarantor must be an eligible guarantor. To be eligible, the guarantor must be a participant in the STAMP program (a Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program) or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program. Signature guarantees can be obtained from most banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, broker/dealers, and FINRA member firms. The Fund will not make checks payable to any person other than the shareholder(s) of record or financial intermediaries for the benefit of shareholder(s) of record.

 

Redemption Price

The redemption price is the NAV next determined after notice is received by the Fund for redemption of shares, minus the amount of any applicable redemption fee. The proceeds received by the shareholder may be more or less than his/her cost of such shares, depending upon the NAV at the time of redemption and the difference should be treated by the shareholder as a capital gain or loss for federal and state income tax purposes.

Redemption Fee/Market Timing

The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing. Market timing is an investment strategy using frequent purchases and redemptions and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short term market movements. Market timing may result in dilution of the value of Fund shares held by long term shareholders, disrupt portfolio management, and increase Fund expenses for all shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted a policy requiring the Fund’s transfer agent to monitor shareholder activity for purchases and redemptions and/or exchanges that reasonably indicate market timing activity. The transfer agent does not employ an objective standard and may not be able to identify all market timing activity or may misidentify certain trading activity as market timing activity. The Board of Trustees also has adopted a redemption policy to discourage short term traders and/ or market timers from investing in the Fund. A 2% fee will be assessed against investment proceeds withdrawn within 5 business days of investment. Shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is intended to offset the costs associated with short-term shareholder trading and is retained by the Fund. The redemption fee is applied uniformly in all cases. While the Fund attempts to deter market timing, there is no assurance that it will be able to identify and eliminate all market timers. For example, certain accounts called “omnibus accounts” include multiple shareholders. Omnibus accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where purchasers of Fund shares and redeemers of Fund shares are netted against one another and the identity of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated is not known by the Fund. The netting effect often makes it more difficult to apply redemption fees, and there can be no assurance that the

12
 

Fund will be able to apply the fee to such accounts in an effective manner. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information, to the extent known to the broker, to the Fund upon request. If the Fund becomes aware of market timing in an omnibus account, it will work with the broker maintaining the omnibus account to identify the shareholder engaging in the market timing activity. In addition to the redemption fee, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order for any reason, including purchase orders that it does not think are in the best interest of the Fund or its shareholders or if the Fund thinks that trading is abusive.

Redemption Payment

Payment of redemptions by the Fund will be made no later than 7 days after tender. However, the Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment if: the NYSE is closed for other than customary weekend or holiday closings, trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, the SEC has permitted such postponement, or the SEC has determined that an emergency exists. The Fund intends to make payments in cash, however, the Fund reserves the right to make payments in kind. It should be noted that shareholders will incur brokerage costs when selling the securities received as part of an in kind distribution. Shareholders would also have continuing market risk by holding these securities. The Fund will not issue in kind redemptions using illiquid securities.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES

Dividends and Distributions

The Fund typically distributes substantially all of its net investment income in the form of dividends and taxable capital gains to its shareholders. These distributions are automatically reinvested in the Fund unless you request cash distributions on your application or through a written request. The Fund expects that its distributions will consist primarily of capital gains.

Taxes

In general, selling or exchanging shares of the Fund and receiving distributions (whether reinvested or taken in cash) are taxable events. Depending on the purchase price and the sale price, you may have a gain or a loss on any shares sold. Any tax liabilities generated by your transactions or by receiving distributions are your responsibility. You may want to avoid making a substantial investment when the Fund is about to make a taxable distribution because you would be responsible for any taxes on the distribution regardless of how long you have owned your shares.

Early each year, the Fund will mail to you a statement setting forth the federal income tax information for all distributions made during the previous year. If you do not provide your taxpayer identification number, your account will be subject to backup withholding.

The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred accounts or other non-taxable entities. Because each investor’s tax circumstances are unique, please consult with your tax adviser about your investment.

Distribution and Service Fees

The Fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution and service fees annually for the sale and distribution of shares and servicing of shareholders (“12b-1 fees”). The Fund pays distribution fees of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets to Leigh Baldwin, as the Fund’s distributor. The Fund also pays shareholder servicing fees to Leigh Baldwin in the amount of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Because these fees are paid from Fund assets on an ongoing basis, they will

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increase your cost over time and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The 12b-1 fees may be paid to other broker-dealers or financial institutions for providing certain services to shareholders. Distribution and service fees are subject to the limitations contained in the sales charge rule of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

In connection with sales of Fund shares, a dealer may receive sales charges and Fund distribution and service fees as described below. Sales charges, distribution fees, and service fees paid to investment dealers may vary. In addition, the principal underwriter, out of its own resources, may make cash payments to certain dealers who provide marketing support, transaction processing and/or administrative services, and, in some cases, include the Fund in specialized selling programs. Payments made by the principal underwriter to a dealer may be significant and are typically in the form of fees based on Fund sales, assets, transactions processed, and/or accounts attributable to that dealer. Dealers also may receive amounts from the principal underwriter in connection with educational or due diligence meetings that include information concerning the Fund. The principal underwriter may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to dealers to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.

Certain dealers that maintain “street name” or omnibus accounts provide sub-accounting, recordkeeping, and/or administrative services to the Fund and are compensated for such services by the Fund. As used in this Prospectus, the term “dealer” includes any broker, dealer, bank (including bank trust departments), registered investment adviser, financial planner, retirement plan administrator, their designated intermediaries, and any other firm having a selling, administration, or similar agreement with the principal underwriter or its affiliates.

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following table is intended to help you better understand the Fund’s financial performance since its inception. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. Total return represents the rate you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information was audited by Sanville & Company, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request.

 

                                                         Years Ended        
    6/30/2014 6/30/2013 6/30/2012 6/30/2011 6/30/2010
             
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Period $         7.44 $         7.78 $         8.48 $         8.53 $         8.94
             
Income From Investment Operations:          
  Net Investment Income ** 0.14 0.13 0.06 0.15 0.20
  Net Loss on Securities (Realized and Unrealized) 0.19 (0.37) (0.57) 0.44 (0.11)
     Total from Investment Operations 0.33 (0.24) (0.51)           0.59 0.09
             
Distributions:            
  Net Investment Income (0.13) (0.10) (0.09) (0.12) (0.20)
  Realized Gains ____- ____- (0.10) (0.52) (0.30)
     Total from Distributions (0.13) (0.10) (0.19) (0.64) (0.50)
             
Net Asset Value, at End of Period $         7.64 $         7.44 $         7.78 $         8.48 $         8.53
             
Total Return *** 4.51% (3.07)% (6.08)% 7.10% 0.82%
             
Ratios/Supplemental Data:          

Net Assets at End of Period (Thousands)

$       3,495 $       3,535 $       3,807 $       4,038 $       3,324
Before Reimbursement:          
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets 4.17% 4.27% 4.23% 4.47% 5.94%

  Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets

(0.62%)

(0.85%)

(1.76%)

(0.99%)

(1.94%)

After Reimbursement:          

  Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

1.75%

1.75%

1.75%

1.75%

1.75%

  Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets 1.80% 1.67% 0.72% 1.73% 2.25%
Portfolio Turnover 650.16% 463.44% 684.25% 759.21% 417.96%

 

 

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Privacy Notice

 

LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND

 

Rev. October 2011

 

FACTS WHAT DOES THE LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
   
Why? Financial companies choose how they share your personal information.  Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing.  Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information.  Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
   
What?

The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include:

■ Social Security number and wire transfer instructions

■ account transactions and transaction history

■ investment experience and purchase history

When you are no longer a customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.

   
How? All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business.  In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.

 

Reasons we can share your personal information Does the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund share? Can you limit this sharing?

For our everyday business purposes -

such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus

Yes No

For our marketing purposes -

to offer our products and services to you

No We don't share
For joint marketing with other financial companies No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes -

information about your transactions and experiences

No We don’t share

For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes -

information about your creditworthiness

No We don’t share
For nonaffiliates to market to you No We don’t share

 

 

Questions?

 

Call 1-800-869-1679  

 

 

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Page 2

 

 

 

What we do
How does the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund protect my personal information?

To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings.

We permit only authorized parties and affiliates (as permitted by law) who have signed an agreement with us to have access to customer information.

How does the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund collect my personal information?

We collect your personal information, for example, when you

open and account or deposit money

■ direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities

■ seek advice about your investments

 

We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.

Why can't I limit all sharing?

Federal law gives you the right to limit only

■ sharing for affiliates' everyday business purposes-information about your creditworthiness

■ affiliates from using your information to market to you

■ sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you

State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.

Definitions
Affiliates

Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

The Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund does not share with our affiliates.

Nonaffiliates

Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies.

The Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund doesn’t share with nonaffiliates so they can market to you.

Joint marketing

A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you.

The Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund doesn’t jointly market.

 

 

 

 

 

17
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Several additional sources of information are available to you. The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), incorporated into this Prospectus by reference, contains detailed information on the Fund’s policies and operations including policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio. Annual and semi-annual reports will contain management’s discussion of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance results as of the Fund’s latest semi-annual or annual fiscal year end.

Call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free: 1-800-869-1679 to request free copies of the SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports or to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries. You may also visit our website at http://www.leighbaldwin.com for this information.

You may review and copy information about the Fund (including the SAI and other reports) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at (202) 551-8090 for room hours and operation. You may also obtain reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-5009.

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-21532

 

18
 

 

FRANK FUNDS

LEIGH BALDWIN TOTAL RETURN FUND

Ticker: LEBOX

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NOVEMBER 1, 2014

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current Prospectus dated November 1, 2014. The Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference. A free copy of the Prospectus or Annual Report can be obtained by writing the transfer agent at Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, OH 44147, or by calling 1-800-869-1679. The Fund’s Prospectus is incorporated by reference in this SAI.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS 1
Non-Principal Investment Strategies and Risks 1
Investment Restrictions 8
Temporary Defensive Positions 10
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 11
CODE OF ETHICS 13
DISCLOSURE CONCERNING PROXY VOTING 13
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 15
Control Persons and Principal Holders 15
Management Ownership 15
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES 15
Investment Adviser 15
The Portfolio Manager 16
Custodian 17
Fund Services 17
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 18
Distributor 18
Fund Administrator 18
Rule 12b-1 Plan 18
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES 20
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS 21
 
 
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION, AND PRICING OF SHARES 22
Purchase of Shares 22
Pricing of Shares 23
TAX CONSEQUENCES 23
TAXATION OF THE FUND 24
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 25
 
 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

 

The Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a non-diversified series of the Frank Funds (the “Trust”) on November 27, 2007 and commenced investment operations on August 1, 2008. The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated February 12, 2004 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund and the Frank Value Fund are the only series currently authorized by the Trustees. The investment adviser to the Fund is Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC (the “Adviser” or “Leigh Baldwin”).

 

The Fund does not issue share certificates. All shares are held in non-certificate form registered on the books of the Fund and the Fund’s transfer agent for the account of the shareholder. Each share of a series represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to that series with each other share of that series and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of income belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights, and the Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series so long as the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected. In case of any liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series are borne by that series. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS

Non-Principal Investment Risks

All principal investment strategies and risks are discussed in the Prospectus. Additional non-principal risks are discussed here.

Corporate debt securities are long and short-term debt obligations issued by companies (such as publicly issued and privately placed bonds, notes and commercial paper). The Adviser considers corporate debt securities to be of investment grade quality if they are rated BBB or higher by S&P or Baa or higher by Moody’s, or if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Investment grade debt securities generally have adequate to strong protection of principal and interest payments. In the lower end of this category, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal than in higher rated categories. The Fund may invest in both secured and unsecured corporate bonds. A secured bond is backed by collateral and an unsecured bond is not. Therefore an unsecured bond may have a lower recovery value than a secured bond in the event of a default by its issuer. The Adviser may incorrectly analyze the risks inherent in corporate bonds, such as the issuer’s ability to meet interest and principal payments, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

1
 

The Fund may also purchase or hold lower quality debt securities, or unrated debt securities, that have poor protection of payment of principal and interest. These securities, commonly referred to as “junk bonds,” often are considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of default and of price changes due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty that may follow periods of rising rates. While the market for junk bonds has been in existence for many years and has weathered previous economic downturns, the market in recent years has experienced a dramatic increase in the large-scale use of such securities to fund highly leveraged corporate acquisitions and restructurings. Accordingly, past experience may not provide an accurate indication of future performance of the junk bond market, especially during periods of economic recession. The Fund may invest in or hold securities that are of lower quality or are unrated if the Adviser determines that the securities provide the opportunity of meeting the Fund’s objective without presenting excessive risk. The Adviser will consider all factors that it deems appropriate, including ratings, in making investment decisions for the Fund and will attempt to minimize investment risks through diversification, investment analysis and monitoring of general economic conditions and trends. To the extent that the Fund invests in or holds lower quality securities, achievement of its investment objective may be more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analyses than is the case for higher quality bonds. While the Adviser may refer to ratings, it does not rely exclusively on ratings, but makes its own independent and ongoing review of credit quality.

 

The market for lower quality securities may be thinner and less active than that for higher quality securities, which can adversely affect the prices at which these securities can be sold. If there is not established retail secondary market and market quotations are not available, these securities are valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, including the use of outside pricing services. Judgment plays a greater role in valuing junk bonds than is the case for securities for which external sources for quotations and last-sale information are available. Adverse publicity and changing investor perceptions may affect the ability of outside pricing services used by the Fund to value these securities, and the Fund’s ability to dispose of these lower quality debt securities.

 

Lower quality securities present risks based on payment expectations. For example, junk bonds may contain redemption or call provisions. If an issuer exercises the provisions in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return for investors. Conversely, a junk bond’s value will decrease in a rising interest rate market, as will the value of the Fund’s assets. If the Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, this may force it to sell its junk bonds, without regard to their investment merits, thereby decreasing the asset base upon which the Fund’s expenses can be spread and possibly reducing the Fund’s rate of return.

 

Since the risk of default is higher for lower quality securities and sometimes increases with the age of these securities, the Adviser’s research and credit analysis are an integral part of managing any securities of this type held by the Fund. In considering investments for the Fund, the Adviser attempts to identify those issuers of high-yielding securities whose financial condition is adequate to meet future obligations, has improved or is expected to improve in the future. The Adviser’s analysis focuses on relative values based on such factors as interest or dividend coverage, asset coverage, earning prospects, and the experience and managerial strength of the issuer.

Warrants are securities that are usually issued with a bond or preferred stock but may trade separately in the market. A warrant allows its holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock at a specified price for a specified time. The risk in investing in warrants is that the Adviser might miscalculate their value, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Another risk is that the warrants will not realize their value because the underlying common stock does not reach the Adviser’s anticipated price within the life of the warrant.

2
 

Rights are usually granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued to the public. The right entitles its holder to buy common stock at a specified price. Rights have similar features to warrants, except that the life of a right is typically much shorter, usually a few weeks. The Adviser believes rights may become underpriced if they are sold without regard to value and if analysts do not include them in their research. The risk in investing in rights is the Adviser might miscalculate their value resulting in a loss to the Fund. Another risk is the underlying common stock may not reach the Adviser’s anticipated price within the life of the right.

Preferred stocks are securities that have characteristics of both common stocks and corporate bonds. Preferred stocks may receive dividends but payment is not guaranteed as with a bond. These securities may be undervalued because of a lack of analyst coverage resulting in a high dividend yield or yield to maturity. The risks of preferred stocks are a lack of voting rights and the Adviser may incorrectly analyze the security, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Furthermore, preferred stock dividends are not guaranteed and management can elect to forego the preferred dividend, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

Foreign securities are considered by the Adviser only if they are trading in domestic markets as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), or are directly listed in a domestic market such as the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ. An ADR is a receipt for the shares of a foreign-based corporation, held in the vault of a U.S. bank and entitling the shareholder to all dividends and capital gains. A sponsored ADR is issued by a company whose stock will underlie the ADR. The corporation provides financial information to the bank and may subsidize the administration of the ADRs. An unsponsored ADR is issued by a broker/dealer or a depositary bank without the involvement of the company whose stock underlies the ADR. Purchases of foreign equity securities entail certain risks. For example, there may be less information publicly available about a foreign company than about a U.S. company, and foreign companies are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S. Other risks associated with investments in foreign securities include changes in restrictions on foreign currency transactions and rates of exchanges, changes in the administrations or economic and monetary policies of foreign governments, the imposition of exchange control regulations, the possibility of expropriation decrees and other adverse foreign governmental action, the imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, delays in settlement of securities transactions and greater price volatility. Unsponsored ADRs may carry more risk than sponsored ADRs because of the absence of financial information provided by the underlying company. In addition, investing in foreign securities will generally result in higher commissions than investing in similar domestic securities.

Investment Company Securities are shares of other open-end investment companies (mutual funds) and closed-end investment companies. The Fund may temporarily invest in investment company securities due to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions; to maintain liquidity; or pending selection of investments in accordance with its investment policies. Under Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”), the Fund may only invest up to 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company, but may not own more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company or invest more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that 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 has not offered or sold after January 1, 1971, and is not proposing to offer or sell any security issued by it through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price which includes a sales load of more than 1.50%. An investment company that issues shares to the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment

3
 

company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than 30 days. The Fund (or the Adviser acting on behalf of the Fund) must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security. Because other investment companies employ an investment adviser, such investments by the Fund may cause shareholders to bear duplicate fees.

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) represent shares of ownership in mutual funds, or unit investment trusts (“UITs”), that hold portfolios of securities that closely track the performance and dividend yield of specific domestic or foreign market indices. An index-based ETF seeks to track the performance of a particular index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Unlike typical open-end mutual funds or UITs, ETFs do not sell or redeem their individual shares at net asset value (“NAV”). Instead, ETFs sell and redeem their shares at NAV only in large blocks (such as 50,000 shares). In addition, national securities exchanges list ETF shares for trading, which allows investors to purchase and sell individual ETF shares among themselves at market prices throughout the day. ETFs therefore possess characteristics of traditional open-end mutual funds and UITs, which issue redeemable shares, and of closed-end mutual funds, which generally issue shares that trade at negotiated prices on national securities exchanges and are not redeemable.

The Fund expects to use ETFs as part of its overall investment strategy and as part of its hedging strategy. For example, to offset the risk of declining security prices, the Fund may invest in inverse ETFs. Inverse ETFs are funds designed to rise in price when stock or other security prices are falling. Consequently, an investment in an inverse ETF is economically similar to a short-sale position. Inverse ETFs seek daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that will match a certain percentage of the inverse (opposite) of the daily performance of a specific benchmark. For example, if an ETF's current benchmark is 100% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5%, then the ETF’s value should go up 5%). Conversely, when the value of the underlying index increases, the value of the ETF’s shares tend to decrease on a daily basis (if the Russell 2000 Index goes up 5%, then the fund’s value should go down 5%). Positions in inverse securities are speculative and can be riskier than "long" positions (purchases).

Additionally, long and inverse ETFs may employ leverage that magnifies the changes in the underlying stock or other index upon which they are based. For example, if an inverse ETF’s current benchmark is 200% of the inverse of the Russell 2000 Index and the ETF meets its objective, the value of the ETF will tend to increase on a daily basis when the value of the underlying index decreases (e.g., if the Russell 2000 Index goes down 5%, then the inverse ETF’s value should go up 10%). You should be aware that any strategy that includes inverse securities could suffer significant losses because of the return magnifying effect of leverage.

ETF shares may trade at a discount or a premium in market price if there is a limited market in such shares. Investments in ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. ETFs are subject to investment advisory and other expenses, which will be indirectly paid by the Fund. As a result, your cost of investing in the Fund will be higher than the cost of investing directly in ETFs and may be higher than other mutual funds that invest exclusively in stocks and bonds. Also, because the value of ETF shares depends on the demand in the market, the Adviser may not be able to liquidate the Fund's holdings at the most optimal time, adversely affecting the Fund's performance.

4
 

Fixed Income Risks. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities the value of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities owned by the Fund. In general, the market price of fixed income securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than the market price of shorter-term securities. Other risk factors include credit risk (the risk that the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the risk that the debtor may pay its obligation early, reducing the amount of interest payments). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.

Futures Contracts. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security, class of securities, or an index at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts may be issued with respect to fixed-income securities, foreign currencies, single stocks or financial indices, including indices of U.S. government securities, foreign government securities, and equity or fixed-income securities. U.S. futures contracts are traded on exchanges that have been designated “contract markets” by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and must be executed through a futures commission merchant (“FCM”), or brokerage firm, which is a member of the relevant contract market. Through their clearing corporations, the exchanges guarantee performance of the contracts between the clearing members of the exchange. The Fund only invests in futures contracts to the extent it could invest in the underlying instrument directly.

 

The Fund will engage in futures transactions for hedging purposes only. This means that the Fund’s primary purpose in entering into futures contracts is to protect the Fund from fluctuations in the value of securities or interest rates without actually buying or selling the underlying debt or equity security. For example, if the Fund anticipates an increase in the price of stocks, and it intends to purchase stocks at a later time, the Fund could enter into a futures contract to purchase a stock index as a temporary substitute for stock purchases. If an increase in the market occurs that influences the stock index as anticipated, the value of the futures contracts will increase, thereby serving as a hedge against the Fund not participating in a market advance. This technique is sometimes known as an anticipatory hedge. Conversely, if the Fund holds stocks and seeks to protect itself from a decrease in stock prices, the Fund might sell stock index futures contracts, thereby hoping to offset the potential decline in the value of its portfolio securities by a corresponding increase in the value of the futures contract position. The Fund could protect against a decline in stock prices by selling portfolio securities and investing in money market instruments, but the use of futures contracts enables it to maintain a defensive position without having to sell portfolio securities.

 

If the Fund owns Treasury bonds and the portfolio manager expects interest rates to increase, the Fund may take a short position in interest rate futures contracts. Taking such a position would have much the same effect as the Fund selling Treasury bonds in its portfolio. If interest rates increase as anticipated, the value of the Treasury bonds would decline, but the value of the Fund’s interest rate futures contract will increase, thereby keeping the net asset value of the Fund from declining as much as it may have otherwise. If, on the other hand, a portfolio manager expects interest rates to decline, the Fund may take a long position in interest rate futures contracts in anticipation of later closing out the futures position and purchasing the bonds. Although the Fund can accomplish similar results by buying securities with long maturities and selling securities with short maturities, given the greater liquidity of the futures market than the cash market, it may be possible to accomplish the same result more easily and more quickly by using futures contracts as an investment tool to reduce risk.

 

Risk Factors in Futures Transactions

 

Liquidity Risk. Because futures contracts are generally settled within a day from the date they are closed out, compared with a settlement period of three days for some types of securities, the

5
 

futures markets can provide superior liquidity to the securities markets. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time. In addition, futures exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts and may halt trading if a contract’s price moves upward or downward more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached, it may be impossible for the Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the secondary market for a futures contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, the Fund may not be able to promptly liquidate unfavorable futures positions and potentially could be required to continue to hold a futures position until the delivery date, regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the Fund’s access to other assets held to cover its futures positions also could be impaired.

 

Risk of Loss. Although the Fund believes that the use of such contracts will benefit the Fund, the Fund’s overall performance could be worse than if the Fund had not entered into futures contracts if the Adviser’s investment judgment proves incorrect. For example, if the Fund has hedged against the effects of a possible decrease in prices of securities held in its portfolio and prices increase instead, the Fund will lose part or all of the benefit of the increased value of these securities because of offsetting losses in its futures positions. In addition, if the Fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell securities from its portfolio to meet daily variation margin requirements. Those sales may be, but will not necessarily be, at increased prices that reflect the rising market and may occur at a time when the sales are disadvantageous to the Fund.

 

The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. Because the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, there may be increased participation by speculators in the futures market that may also cause temporary price distortions. A relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the contract. The Fund will only engage in futures transactions when it is believed these risks are justified and will engage in futures transactions primarily for risk management purposes.

 

Correlation Risk. The prices of futures contracts depend primarily on the value of their underlying instruments. Because there are a limited number of types of futures contracts, it is possible that the standardized futures contracts available to the Fund will not match exactly the Fund’s current or potential investments. The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts based on underlying instruments with different characteristics from the securities in which it typically invests—for example, by hedging investments in portfolio securities with a futures contract based on a broad index of securities—which involves a risk that the futures position will not correlate precisely with the performance of the Fund’s investments.

 

Futures prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments closely correlate with the Fund’s investments. Futures prices are affected by factors such as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instruments and the time remaining until expiration of the contract. Those factors may affect securities prices differently from futures prices. Imperfect correlations between the Fund’s investments and its futures positions also may result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities

6
 

markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, and from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts. The Fund may buy or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or is considering purchasing to attempt to compensate for differences in historical volatility between the futures contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, its futures positions may fail to produce desired gains or result in losses that are not offset by the gains in the Fund’s other investments.

 

Margin Requirements

 

The buyer or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, both the buyer and seller are required to deposit “initial margin” for the benefit of the FCM when the contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits:

 

·Are equal to a percentage of the contract’s value, as set by the exchange on which the contract is traded;
·May be maintained in cash or certain other liquid assets by the Fund’s custodian for the benefit of the FCM; and
·Are similar to good faith deposits or performance bonds.

 

Unlike margin extended by a securities broker, initial margin payments do not constitute purchasing securities on margin for purposes of the Fund’s investment limitations. If the value of either party’s position declines, that party will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments for the benefit of the FCM to settle the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. In the event of the bankruptcy of the FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to the Fund only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers. The Trust will attempt to minimize this risk by careful monitoring of the creditworthiness of the FCMs with which it does business and by depositing margin payments in a segregated account with the Trust’s custodian.

 

SEC Segregation Requirements

 

In addition to the margin restrictions discussed above, transactions in futures contracts may involve the segregation of funds pursuant to requirements imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Under those requirements, where the Fund has a long position in a futures contract, it may be required to establish a segregated account (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) containing cash or certain liquid assets equal to the purchase price of the contract (less any margin on deposit). However, segregation of assets is not required if the Fund “covers” a long position. For a short position in futures or forward contracts held by the Fund, those requirements may mandate the establishment of a segregated account (not with a futures commission merchant or broker) with cash or certain liquid assets that, when added to the amounts deposited as margin, equal the market value of the instruments underlying the futures contracts (but are not less than the price at which the short positions were established).

 

Liquidity Impact of Margin and SEC Segregation Requirements

 

Although the Fund will segregate cash and liquid assets in an amount sufficient to cover its open futures obligations, the segregated assets will be available to the Fund immediately upon closing out the futures position, while settlement of securities transactions could take several days. However, because the

7
 

Fund’s cash that may otherwise be invested would be held uninvested or invested in other liquid assets so long as the futures position remains open, the Fund’s return could be diminished due to the opportunity losses of foregoing other potential investments.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts. The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.

 

REITs generally can be classified as “Equity REITs”, “Mortgage REITs” and “Hybrid REITs.” An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.

 

Investments in the real estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.

 

Investments in REITs also involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.

 

Investment Restrictions

Fundamental. The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (“Fundamental”), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the term “majority” of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices, which may be changed by the Board of

8
 

Trustees without the approval of shareholders to, the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or regulatory policy are considered non-fundamental (“Non-Fundamental”).

 

1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except: (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage ratio of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage ratio of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.

 

2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

 

3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.

 

4. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).

 

5. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies that are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.

 

6. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except: (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; or (c) by purchasing non-publicly offered debt securities. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.

 

7. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry or group of industries. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any investment company that concentrates. This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.

 

With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or

9
 

acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within 90 days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.

 

Non-Fundamental. The following limitations have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are Non-Fundamental (see “Investment Limitations - Fundamental” above).

 

1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in paragraph 1 above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation. Not more than 33⅓% of the Fund’s assets may be pledged in accordance with this restriction.

 

2. Leveraging. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements) representing more than 5% of its total assets are outstanding.

 

3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.” This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, or futures contracts.

 

4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not invest 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities. In the event the Fund exceeds this 15% limitation, the Fund will not purchase additional illiquid securities until the Fund is back into compliance with the 15% limitation.

 

5. Loans. The Fund may not lend any security if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties. This Fund does not intend to make any loans other than securities loans, purchases of debt securities or other debt instruments, or repurchase agreements.

 

Temporary Defensive Positions

To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies For example, the Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in money market instruments or money market funds. If the Fund invests in shares of a money market fund or other investment company, the shareholders of that Fund will be subject to duplicative management fees. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective, and the Fund may pay higher commissions as a result of increased portfolio turnover. The Fund may also invest in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

 

 

 

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

 

Turnover rates are primarily a function of the Fund's response to market conditions. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund for the fiscal periods ended June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2013 were 650.16% and 463.44%, respectively. The increase in turnover can be attributed to the Fund’s use of weekly call options for a portion of the portfolio; weekly stock options were not available during previous years. The Fund utilizes the sale of weekly options to achieve short term capital appreciation and lesson the overall risk of the portfolio.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust and appoints the officers. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until the termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires or is removed. The Fund and the Frank Value Fund are the only series in the “Fund Complex.” The Board generally meets four times a year to review Fund progress and status. For the period July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, the Board met four times.

 

The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act.

 


Name, Address1 and Age
Position(s) Held with the Fund Term of Office and Length of  Time Served Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director Other Directorships Held by Director

Jason W. Frey

 

Age: 35

Trustee Indefinite/ June 2004 - present Software Developer, Red Hat Inc., an enterprise software company, December 2012 to present; ManageIQ, Inc., a virtualization management software company, October 2007 to present 2 None

Andrea Goncalves

 

Age: 32

Trustee Indefinite/ December 2009 - present Senior Accountant, Security Atlantic Mortgage / REMM, mortgage company, May 2006 to present 2 None

Hemanshu Patel

 

Age: 30

Trustee Indefinite/ December 2009 - present Associate , J. W. Childs Associates, private equity firm, November 2007 to present 2 None

1 The address of each trustee is c/o Frank Funds, 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

 

 

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The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, and each officer of the Trust.

 

 

 

 

Name, Address1 and Age

 

 

 

Position(s) Held with the Fund

 

 

Term of Office and Length of Time Served

 

 

 

 

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years

Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director

 

 

Other Directorships Held by Director

Brian J. Frank2

 

Age: 32

President, Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Trustee Indefinite/Treasurer, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, June 2004 – present; President and Trustee, September 2009 - present

Managing Partner of Frank Capital Partners LLC since June 2003

 

2 None

Monique M. Weiss2

 

Age: 45

Secretary Indefinite/September 2009 - present Self-employed, Consultant to Mutual Fund Industry, 2006 – present 2 None

1 The address of each officer and trustee is c/o Frank Funds, 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

2 Brian Frank is considered an “Interested” Trustee, as defined in the 1940 Act, because he is affiliated with the Adviser. Brian Frank and Monique Weiss are married.

 

Board Leadership Structure.  The Fund is led by Mr. Brian Frank, who has served as the President of the Board since 2009.  Mr. Frank is an interested person by virtue of his position as Managing Partner of the Fund’s Adviser.  The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Frank and 3 persons who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act (each an “Independent Trustee,” together the “Independent Trustees”).  The Fund does not have a lead Independent Trustee, but governance guidelines provide that Independent Trustees will meet in executive session at each Board meeting.  The President of the Board is generally responsible for (a) chairing board meetings, (b) setting the agendas for these meetings, and (c) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings.  Generally, the Fund believes it best to have a single leader who is seen by shareholders, business partners, and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership.  The Fund believes that its President, together with the Audit Committee and the full Board of Trustees, provides effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Fund and each shareholder.

Board Risk Oversight.  The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis when and if necessary.  The Audit Committee, which has a separate chair, considers financial risks and reporting risks within its area of responsibilities.  Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information.

Trustee Qualifications .  Generally, the Board collectively believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes, and (iv) skills.  Mr. Frank has over 13 years of business experience in the investment management business and is skilled in portfolio and risk management functions.   Mr. Patel has a B.S. degree in finance from Rutgers University and over 8 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Patel is knowledgeable in company valuation, stemming from his experience in investment banking and private equity, and his knowledge of finance contributes to the Board’s understanding of the strategies implemented by the Trust’s portfolio managers. Ms. Goncalves has a B.S. degree in finance

12
 

from New York University’s Stern School of Business and over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Ms. Goncalves has a background in financial accounting, originating from her experience with Ernst & Young and continuing with her current position as a senior accountant at Security Atlantic Mortgage. Her knowledge of public accounting contributes to the Board’s understanding of the Trust’s annual audit. Mr. Frey has over 11 years of experience in the banking and software industries. His knowledge of financial systems and regulation is helpful for the Board’s examination of best execution practices.

Audit Committee. The Trust’s Audit Committee consists of each of the Independent Trustees. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices; its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Trust’s financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board of Trustees. None of the audit committee members are “Interested” as defined in the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee held two meetings during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

 

As of June 30, 2014, the Trustees owned the following amounts in the Fund:

 

Name of Trustee or Officer Dollar Range of Securities In The Fund

Aggregate Dollar Range of

Securities In Trust

Brian J. Frank None Over $100,000
Jason W. Frey None $10,001 - $50,000
Andrea Goncalves None $10,001 - $50,000
Hemanshu Patel None $10,001 - $50,000

 

The following table describes the compensation paid to the Trustees for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014. Trustees of the Fund who are deemed “interested persons” of the Trust, and officers of the Fund, receive no compensation from the Fund.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Fund Total Compensation from Trust
Brian J. Frank $0 $0
Jason W. Frey $400 $800
Andrea Goncalves $400 $800
Hemanshu Patel $400 $800

 

CODE OF ETHICS

Pursuant to the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and to protect against certain unlawful acts, practices, and courses of business by certain individuals or entities related to the Fund, the Fund and the Adviser have adopted a Code of Ethics and procedures for implementing the provisions of the Code. The personnel of the Fund and the Adviser are subject to the Code when investing in securities that may be purchased, sold, or held by the Fund.

DISCLOSURE CONCERNING PROXY VOTING
RELATED TO PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibilities for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Fund’s Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in

13
 

accordance with its proxy policies and procedures. In some instances, the Adviser may be asked to cast a proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and those of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser. In such a case, the Trust’s policy requires that the Adviser abstain from making a voting decision and to forward all necessary proxy voting materials to the Trust to enable the Board of Trustees to make a voting decision. The Adviser shall make a written recommendation of the voting decision to the Board of Trustees, which shall include: (i) an explanation of why it has a conflict of interest; (ii) the reasons for its recommendation; and (iii) an explanation of why the recommendation is consistent with the Adviser’s (or sub-adviser’s) proxy voting policies. The Board of Trustees shall make the proxy voting decision that in its judgment, after reviewing the recommendation of the Adviser, is most consistent with the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and in the best interests of Fund shareholders. When the Board of Trustees of the Trust is required to make a proxy voting decision, only the Trustees without a conflict of interest with regard to the security in question or the matter to be voted upon shall be permitted to participate in the decision of how the Fund’s vote will be cast.

The Adviser’s policies and procedures state that the Adviser generally relies on the individual portfolio manager(s) to make the final decision on how to cast proxy votes. When exercising its voting responsibilities, the Adviser’s policies call for an emphasis on (i) accountability of management of the company to its board, and of the board to the company’s shareholders, (ii) alignment of management and shareholder interests, and (iii) transparency through timely disclosure of important information about a company’s operations and financial performance. While no set of proxy voting guidelines can anticipate all situations that may arise, the Adviser has adopted guidelines describing the Adviser’s general philosophy when proposals involve certain matters. The following is a summary of those guidelines:

  • Electing a Board of Directors – A board should be composed primarily of independent directors, and key board committees should be entirely independent. The Adviser generally supports efforts to declassify boards or other measures that permit shareholders to remove a majority of directors at any time;
  • Approving Independent Auditors – The relationship between a company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement;
  • Providing Equity-Based Compensation Plans - Appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans, approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of shareholders and the interests of directors, management, and employees by providing incentives to increase shareholder value. Conversely, the Adviser is opposed to plans that substantially dilute ownership interests in the company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have inherently objectionable structural features;
  • Corporate Voting Structure - Shareholders should have voting power equal to their equity interest in the company and should be able to approve or reject changes to a company’s by-laws by a simple majority vote. The Adviser opposes super-majority requirements and generally supports the ability of shareholders to cumulate their votes for the election of directors; and
  • Shareholder Rights Plans - Shareholder rights plans, also known as poison pills, may tend to entrench current management, which the Adviser generally considers to have a negative impact on shareholder value.
  • Other Investment Companies - When the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with
  • 14
     
  • such instructions, or vote the share s held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.

Information regarding the Fund’s proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available at no charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-869-1679. The information also is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-866-706-9790 and will be sent within 3 business days of receipt of a request.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Control Persons and Principal Holders

As of October 1, 2014, the following persons were the owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Fund:

 

Name and Address Percentage of Ownership Type of Ownership

NFS LLC

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

6.28% Record & Beneficial

NFS LLC

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281

5.33% Record & Beneficial

SEI Private Trust Company

Oaks, PA 19456

6.11% Record & Beneficial

 

Shareholders owning more than 25% of the shares of the Fund are considered to “control” the Fund as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Persons controlling the Fund can determine the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Fund’s fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Adviser.

Management Ownership

As of October 1, 2014, all officers and Trustees as a group owned 3.13% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Investment Adviser

The Board of Trustees selected Leigh Baldwin & Co., LLC as the adviser to the Fund. Leigh Baldwin individually owns 75% of the Adviser and acts as its President and Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Leigh Baldwin & Company, Inc., a holding company, owns 25% of the Adviser.

Under the terms of the management agreement (the “Agreement”), the Adviser manages the Fund’s investments subject to approval of the Board of Trustees; furnishes investment advice to the Fund on the basis of a continuous review of the portfolio; and recommends to the Fund when and to what

15
 

extent securities should be purchased or sold. As compensation for its management services, the Fund is obligated to pay the Adviser a fee computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at an annual rate of 0.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

The Agreement will continue for an initial term of two years, and on a year to year basis thereafter, provided that continuance is approved at least annually by specific approval of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. In either event, it must also be approved by a majority of Trustees of the Fund who are neither parties to the agreement nor interested persons as defined in the 1940 Act, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund on not more than 60 days written notice to the Adviser. In the event of its assignment, the Agreement will terminate automatically.

The Adviser retains the right to use the name “Leigh Baldwin” in connection with another investment company or business enterprise with which the Adviser is or may become associated. The Trust’s right to use the name “Leigh Baldwin” automatically ceases 90 days after termination of the Agreement and may be withdrawn by the Adviser on 90 days written notice.

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2012, the Fund paid management fees of $15,829, $16,761, and $24,508 respectively.

The Portfolio Manager

 

Mr. Leigh Baldwin (the “Portfolio Manager”) is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. As of June 30, 2014, the Portfolio Manager was responsible for the management of the following types of accounts, in addition to the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund:

 

Account Type Number of Accounts by Account Type Total Assets By Account Type Number of Accounts by Type  Subject to a Performance Fee Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee
Registered Investment Companies None $0 None 0
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles None $0 None $0
Other Accounts 9 $7,476,676 None $0

 

As of June 30, 2014, the Portfolio Manager managed the accounts listed above. However, the Portfolio Manager is a representative of a registered broker-dealer and actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the day-to-day management of the Fund and work performed for the broker-dealer. The Adviser has not identified any material conflicts between the Fund and other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager. However, actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the day-to-day management of the Fund and the other accounts. The management of

16
 

the Fund and the other accounts may result in unequal time and attention being devoted to the Fund and the other accounts. Another potential conflict of interest may arise where another account has the same investment objective as the Fund, whereby the Portfolio Manager could favor one account over another. Further, a potential conflict could include the Portfolio Manager’s knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby the Portfolio Manager could use this information to the advantage of the other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. These potential conflicts of interest could create the appearance that the Portfolio Manager is favoring one investment vehicle over another. The Adviser has adopted a trade allocation policy requiring sequential execution of trades when more than one account managed by the Adviser is purchasing or selling the same security. Where the Fund and other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager are purchasing or selling the same security, the trade for the Fund will be placed on one day and the trades for the other accounts will be placed on successive days, or vice versa. The Adviser will alternate the party that trades first.

While the Fund pays the Adviser a fee based on assets under management, Mr. Leigh Baldwin’s compensation from the Adviser is not fixed. Because Mr. Baldwin owns the Adviser, his compensation is based upon the Adviser’s profitability. Mr. Baldwin participates directly in all profits and losses of the Adviser, including the advisory fees paid by the Fund, and is paid in cash. There are no bonuses, options, deferred compensation, or retirement plans associated with his service to the Fund.

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in the Fund as of June 30, 2014.

Name of Portfolio Manager Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Leigh Baldwin Over $100,000

 

Custodian

 

The Huntington National Bank, 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, is custodian of the Fund’s investments. The custodian acts as the Fund’s depository, provides safekeeping of its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Fund’s request and maintains records in connection with its duties.

 

Fund Services

 

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (“MSS”), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147, acts as the Fund’s transfer agent. MSS maintains the records of the shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other transfer agent and shareholder service functions. MSS receives an annual fee from the Adviser of $11.50 per shareholder (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $775.00 per Fund) for these transfer agency services.

 

In addition, MSS provides the Fund with fund accounting services, which includes certain monthly reports, record-keeping and other management-related services. For its services as fund accountant, MSS receives an annual fee from the Adviser based on the average value of the Fund. These fees are: from $0 to $25 million in assets the annual fee is $21,000, from $25 million to $50 million in assets the annual fee is $30,500, from $50 million to $75 million in assets the annual fee is $36,250, from $75 million to $100 million in assets the annual fee is $42,000, from $100 million to $125 million in assets the annual fee is $47,750, from $125 million to $150 million in assets the annual fee is $53,500,

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and for asset above $150 million the annual fee is $59,250. The Fund will receive a discount ranging from 10-60% depending on the net assets of the Fund until the Fund reaches $11 million in assets.

 

During the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2012, MSS received $12,144, $12,832, and $12,172, respectively, from the Adviser for those fund accounting and transfer agent services.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The firm of Sanville & Company, 1514 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001, has been selected as independent public accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. Sanville & Company performs an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides financial, tax, and accounting services as requested.

 

Distributor

Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis through Leigh Baldwin (the “Distributor”). The Distributor is also the investment adviser to the Fund. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis.  The Distributor is obligated to sell the shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares.

The Fund has entered into an Underwritng Agreement whereby the Distributor serves as principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund.  Pursuant to this agreement, the Distributor purchases shares of the Fund for resale to the public, either directly or through securities brokers, dealers, banks, or other agents, and is obligated to purchase only those shares for which it has received purchase orders.  The Distributor has agreed to use its best efforts to solicit orders for the sale of the Fund’s shares. The table below shows the commission and other compensation received by the Distributor for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

Name of Principal Underwriter Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions Compensation on Redemption and Repurchases Brokerage Commissions Other Compensation
Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. 0 $0 $0 $0

 

Fund Administrator

Frank Capital Partners (the “Administrator”) provides the Fund with certain compliance and administrative services.  The Administrator is located at 739 Crandon Blvd. Unit 202, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.  For these services, the Fund pays the Administrator an annual asset-based fee of 0.35% of the average net assets of the Fund, with a required monthly minimum payment of $ 5,000.

Rule 12b-1 Plan

 

The Trust has adopted a Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for the Fund (the “Plan”) pursuant to which the Fund is authorized to pay fees to the Distributor for providing distribution and/or shareholder services to the Fund.  Under the Plan, the Fund may pay distribution and/or shareholder service fees at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average net assets.  Such fees are to be paid by the Fund monthly, or at such other intervals, as the Board shall determine. Such fees shall be

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based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets during the preceding month, and shall be calculated and accrued daily. The Fund may pay fees to the Distributor at a lesser rate, as agreed upon by the Board of Trustees and the Distributor. The Plan authorizes payments to the Distributor as compensation for providing account maintenance services to Fund shareholders, including arranging for certain securities dealers or brokers, administrators, and others (“Recipients”) to provide these services and paying compensation for these services.

The services to be provided by Recipients may include, but are not limited to, the following: assistance in the offering and sale of Fund shares and in other aspects of the marketing of the shares to clients or prospective clients of the respective recipients; answering routine inquiries concerning the Fund; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of accounts or sub-accounts in the Fund and in processing purchase and redemption transactions; making the Fund’s investment plan and shareholder services available; and providing such other information and services to investors in shares of the Fund as the Adviser or the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, may reasonably request. The distribution services shall also include any advertising and marketing services provided by or arranged by the Adviser with respect to the Fund. The Distributor may be compensated by the Adviser for its distribution and marketing efforts.

The Distributor is required to provide a written report, at least quarterly to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, specifying in reasonable detail the amounts expended pursuant to the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.  Further, the Distributor will inform the Board of any Rule 12b-1 fees to be paid by the Adviser to Recipients.

The Plan became effective on June 17, 2008. The initial term of the Plan was one year, and it continues in effect from year to year thereafter, provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board of Trustees and a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and do not have a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan (the “Plan Independent Trustees”) by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan. The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Trust or the Fund by vote of a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares of the Fund. The Plan will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the Distributor’s compensation to be paid by the Fund, unless such amendment is approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the respective class of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act). All material amendments must be approved by a majority of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Plan.

Any agreement related to the Plan will be in writing and provide that: (a) it may be terminated by the Trust or the Fund at any time upon sixty days’ written notice, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the respective Plan Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or the Fund; (b) it will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act); and (c) it will continue in effect for a period of more than one year from the date of its execution or adoption only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Board and a majority of the Plan Independent Trustees by votes cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such agreement.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, the Fund’s shares paid $35,175 under the Plan. The table below states the principal types of activities for which the Fund made payments under the Plan for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2014.

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Advertising & Sales Literature $932
Printing & Mailing of Prospectuses $559
Compensation to Underwriters $6,986
Compensation to Broker Dealers $26,381
Compensation to Sales Personnel $0
Interest, Carrying or other Financial Charges $0
Compensation to the Adviser for Other Distribution-Related Expenses $317

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received. The Adviser may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions. However, the Adviser may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers that promote or sell the Fund’s shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker’s execution and not on its sales efforts. The Adviser is also a registered broker-dealer and it is anticipated that the Portfolio Manager will execute securities trades for the Fund through Leigh Baldwin acting as a broker-dealer. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014, June 30, 2013, and June 30, 2012, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $44,444, $49,824, and $67,965, respectively, all of which were paid to Leigh Baldwin (as discussed below).

 

The Adviser is specifically authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion, and to pay such brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would charge if the Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other accounts over which it exercises investment discretion.

 

Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Adviser in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Adviser, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Adviser of performing its duties to the Fund under the Agreement.

 

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The Fund has no obligation to deal with any broker or dealer in the execution of its transactions. However, Leigh Baldwin, in its capacity as a registered broker-dealer, may effect a substantial portion of the securities transactions that are executed on a national securities exchange and over-the-counter transactions conducted on an agency basis.  Such transactions will be executed at competitive commission rates.

Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.

 

Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with an affiliate of the Adviser (such as Leigh Baldwin) may be prohibited from dealing with the Fund as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities. Therefore, Leigh Baldwin will not serve as the Fund’s dealer in connection with over-the-counter transactions.  However, Leigh Baldwin may serve as the Fund’s broker in over-the-counter transactions conducted on an agency basis and will receive brokerage commissions in connection with such transactions.

The Fund will not effect any brokerage transactions in its portfolio securities with Leigh Baldwin if such transactions would be unfair or unreasonable to Fund shareholders, and the commissions will be paid solely for the execution of trades and not for any other services.   In determining the commissions to be paid to Leigh Baldwin, it is the policy of the Fund that such commissions will, in the judgment of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, be (i) at least as favorable to the Fund as those which would be charged by other qualified brokers having comparable execution capability and (ii) at least as favorable to the Fund as commissions contemporaneously charged by Leigh Baldwin on comparable transactions for its most favored unaffiliated customers, except for customers of Leigh Baldwin considered by a majority of the Trust’s disinterested Trustees not to be comparable to the Fund.  The disinterested Trustees from time to time review, among other things, information relating to the commissions charged by Leigh Baldwin to the Fund and its other customers, and rates and other information concerning the commissions charged by other qualified brokers.

While the Fund contemplates no ongoing arrangements with any other brokerage firms, brokerage business may be given from time to time to other firms.  Leigh Baldwin will not receive reciprocal brokerage business as a result of the brokerage business placed by the Fund with others.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Fund is required to include a schedule of portfolio holdings in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, which are sent to shareholders within 60 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters and which are filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR within 70 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Fund also is required to file a schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund must provide a copy of the complete schedule of portfolio holdings as filed with the SEC to any shareholder of the Fund, upon request, free of charge. This policy is applied uniformly to all shareholders of the Fund without regard to the type of requesting shareholder (i.e., regardless of whether the shareholder is an individual or institutional investor). The Fund has an ongoing arrangement to release portfolio holdings to Morningstar for Morningstar to assign a rating or ranking to the Fund. Portfolio holdings will be supplied to Morningstar no more frequently than quarterly and only after the Fund has filed a Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC.

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Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Fund has ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings information on a daily basis to the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent and the Custodian and on an as needed basis to other third parties providing services to the Fund. The Adviser, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian receive portfolio holdings information daily to carry out the essential operations of the Fund.. The Fund discloses portfolio holdings to its auditors, legal counsel, proxy voting services (if applicable), pricing services, printers, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisers or sub-advisers as needed to provide services to the Fund. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to these third parties will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel at any time.

The Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent and the Custodian are prohibited from entering into any special or ad hoc arrangements with any persons to make available information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings without the specific approval of the Board. Any party wishing to release portfolio holdings information on an ad hoc or special basis must submit any proposed arrangement to the Board, which will review such arrangement to determine whether it is (i) in the best interests of Fund shareholders, (ii) whether the information will be kept confidential (based on the factors discussed below) (iii) whether sufficient protections are in place to guard against personal trading based on the information and (iv) whether the disclosure presents a conflict of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of the Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Adviser. Additionally, the Adviser, and any affiliated persons of the Adviser, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

Information disclosed to third parties, whether on an ongoing or ad hoc basis, is disclosed under conditions of confidentiality. “Conditions of confidentiality” include (i) confidentiality clauses in written agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential. The agreements with the Fund’s Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian contain confidentiality clauses, which the Board and these parties have determined extend to the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Fund’s portfolio holding and the duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Adviser has entered into a separate written confidentiality agreement that prohibits the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings and includes a duty not to trade on the non-public information.

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION, AND PRICING OF SHARES

Purchase of Shares

Investors may only purchase Fund shares after receipt of a current Prospectus and by filling out and submitting an application supplied by the Fund.

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Pricing of Shares

The price (net asset value) of the shares of each Fund is determined at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. For a description of the methods used to determine the net asset value, see “How We Determine Net Asset Value” in the Prospectus.

 

Equity securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange or on the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an equity security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

 

Fixed income securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. A pricing service utilizes electronic data processing techniques based on yield spreads relating to securities with similar characteristics to determine prices for normal institutional-size trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or bid prices. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the securities, when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees. Short term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.

 

TAX CONSEQUENCES

Under provisions of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, the Fund, by paying out substantially all of its investment income and realized capital gains, intends to be relieved of federal income tax on the amounts distributed to shareholders. To qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M, at least 90% of the Fund’s income must be derived from dividends, interest and gains from securities transactions, and no more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets may be in two or more securities that exceed 5% of the total assets of the Fund at the time of each security’s purchase. Not qualifying under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code would cause the Fund to be considered a personal holding company subject to normal corporate income taxes. This would reduce the value of shareholder holdings by the amount of taxes paid. Any subsequent dividend distribution of the Fund’s earnings after taxes would still be taxable as received by shareholders. The Jobs and Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Law of 2003 reduced the rate on “qualifying dividends” to 15% (5% for those in 10% or 15% income tax bracket). The Fund may invest in companies that pay “qualifying dividends.” Investors in Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund may benefit from the tax law and its lower tax rate on taxable quarterly dividend payments, attributable to corporate dividends, distributed by the Fund.

The Fund's net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital losses incurred in tax years beginning January 31, 2011 may now be carried forward indefinitely and retain the character of

23
 

the original loss. Under previously enacted laws, capital losses could only be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital, irrespective of the character of the original loss. Capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future realized capital gains. To the extent that these carryforwards are used to offset future capital gains it is probable that the amount offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

 

Tax Distribution: The Fund’s distributions (capital gains and dividend income), whether received by shareholders in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal income tax payable by shareholders. All income realized by the Fund including short-term capital gains, will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. Dividends from net income will be made annually or more frequently at the discretion of the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Dividends received shortly after purchase of Fund shares by an investor will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of his/her shares by the amount of such dividends or distributions. You should consult a tax advisor regarding the effect of federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on an investment in the Fund.

Federal Withholding: The Fund is required by federal law to withhold 28% of reportable payments (which may include dividends, capital gains, distributions and redemptions) paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS regulations. To avoid this withholding requirement, you must certify on a W-9 tax form supplied by the Fund that your Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number provided is correct and that you are not currently subject to back-up withholding, or that you are exempt from back-up withholding.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax generally will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that any such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about the application of federal, state, local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation. Should additional series, or funds, be created by the Trustees, the Fund would be treated as a separate tax entity for federal tax purposes.

Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016.  FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about certain direct and indirect ownership of  foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA.  Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.

TAXATION OF THE FUND

The Fund has qualified under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. If the Fund does not qualify under Subchapter M, it would be liable for federal income tax on its capital gains and net

24
 

investment income currently distributed to its shareholders, resulting in a second level of taxation that would substantially reduce net after-tax returns from the Fund.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements and independent auditors’ report required to be included in this Statement of Additional Information will, by susequent amendment, be incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014. You can obtain the Annual Report without charge by calling the Fund at 1-866-706-9790.

 

 

 

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28. Exhibits

(a) Articles of Incorporation – Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement filed on March 16, 2004.

(i) Amendment to Declaration of Trust is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(b) By-Laws – By-laws are incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement filed on March 16, 2004.

(c) Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – None, other than Declaration of Trust.

(d)(1) Investment Advisory Contract – Management Agreement for the Frank Value Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2010 .

(d)( 2 ) Investment Advisory Contract – Management Agreement for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 16, 2010.

(e)(1) Underwriting Contracts – Distribution Agreement with Arbor Court Capital, LLC filed herewith.

(e)(2) Underwriting Contracts – Underwriting Agreement for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – None.

(g) Custodian Agreements – Custody Agreement for the Frank Value Fund and Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on November 1, 2009.

(h)(1) Other Material Contracts – Adviser’s investment allocation policy is incorporated by reference to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement filed on July 20, 2004.

(h)(2) Other Material Contracts – Administration Agreement with Frank Capital Partners LLC for the Frank Value Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2010 .

(h)(3) Other Material Contracts – Administration Agreement with Frank Capital Partners LLC for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(h)(4) Other Material Contracts – Expense Limitation Letter Agreement for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2010 .

(i)(1) A Legal Opinion of Counsel to the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(i)(2) Consent of Counsel is filed herewith.

(j) Consent of Auditor is filed herewith.

(k) Omitted Financial Statements – None.

 
 

(l) Initial Capital Agreements – Investment Letters of Initial Shareholders are incorporated by reference to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement filed on July 13, 2004.

(m)(1) Rule 12b-1 Plan – 12b-1 Plan for the Frank Value Fund’s Investor Class shares is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2010 .

(m)(2) Rule 12b-1 Plan – 12b-1 Plan for the Frank Value Fund’s Class C is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 16, 2010 .

(m)(3) Rule 12b-1 Plan – 12b-1 Plan for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(n) Rule 18f-3 Plan – Rule 18f-3 Plan for the Frank Value Fund is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 10 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2010 .

(o) Reserved.

(p)(1) Code of Ethics – Code of Ethics of the Registrant and Frank Capital Partners LLC is incorporated by reference to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement filed on October 25, 2006.

(p)(2) Code of Ethics for Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2008.

(p)(3) Code of Ethics for Arbor Court Capital LLC (distributor to the Frank Value Fund) is filed herewith.

(q)(1) Powers of Attorney of the Registrant (and a Certificate with respect thereto) and certain Trustees of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement filed on July 13, 2004.

(q)(2) Powers of Attorney of Andrea Goncalves, Brian J. Frank, and Hemanshu Patel are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement filed on July 16, 2010. .

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With the Fund – None.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

(a) Article VI of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification of officers and Trustees as follows:

Section 6.4 Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. Subject to and except as otherwise provided in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act, the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that

 
 

no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

Section 6.5 Advances of Expenses. The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees or other expenses incurred by a Covered Person in defending a proceeding to the full extent permitted by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the 1940 Act, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1707, as amended. In the event any of these laws conflict with Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13(E), as amended, these laws, and not Ohio Revised Code Section 1701.13(E), shall govern.

Section 6.6 Indemnification Not Exclusive, etc. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VI, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Nothing contained in this article shall affect any rights to indemnification to which personnel of the Trust, other than Trustees and officers, and other persons may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law, nor the power of the Trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any such person.

The Registrant may not pay for insurance which protects the Trustees and officers against liabilities rising from action involving willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices.

(b) The Registrant may maintain a standard mutual fund and investment advisory professional and directors and officers liability policy. The policy, if maintained, would provide coverage to the Registrant, its Trustees and officers, and could cover its advisers, among others. Coverage under the policy would include losses by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions of Ohio law and the Agreement and Declaration of the Registrant or the By-Laws of the Registrant, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Trust 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The Trust has agreed to indemnify, defend and hold its underwriter for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund, Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. (“LBC”), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls LBC within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which LBC, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon its position as underwriter for the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. The Trust’s agreement to indemnify LBC, its offers and directors, and any such controlling persons does not cover any such claim, demand liability or expense to the extent it arises out of or is based upon (ii) any untrue statement made by the Trust in reliance on information furnished by LBC, its officers, directors or controlling persons, or (ii) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of LBC’s duties, or by reason of LBC’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Underwriting Agreement between LBC and the Trust.

 
 

(e) The Trust has agreed to indemnify, defend and hold its underwriter for the Value Fund, Arbor Court Capital LLC. (“Arbor”), its several officers and directors, and any person who controls Arbor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act free and harmless from and against any claims, demands, liabilities and expenses which Arbor, its officers and directors, or any such controlling persons, may incur under the Securities Act, the 1940 Act, or common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon its position as underwriter for the Frank Value Fund. The Trust’s agreement to indemnify Arbor, its offers and directors, and any such controlling persons does not cover any such claim, demand liability or expense to the extent it arises out of or is based upon (ii) any untrue statement made by the Trust in reliance on information furnished by Arbor, its officers, directors or controlling persons, or (ii) the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of Arbor’s duties, or by reason of Arbor’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Underwriting Agreement between Arbor and the Trust.

 

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers

(a) Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of Frank Capital Partners, LLC, the Adviser to the Frank Value Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to the section of the Prospectus captioned “Management of the Fund” and to the section of the Statement of Additional Information captioned “Investment Advisor”. The information required by this Item 31 with respect to each director, officer or partner of Frank Capital Partners is incorporated by reference to Form ADV filed by Frank Capital Partners, LLC with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (File No. 801-62245).

(b) Certain information pertaining to the business and other connections of Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C., the Adviser to the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to the section of the Prospectus captioned “Management of the Fund” and to the section of the Statement of Additional Information captioned “Investment Advisor.” The information required by this Item 31 with respect to each director, officer or partner of Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. is incorporated by reference to Form ADV filed by Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (IARD No. 38751).

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

(a)(1) Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. is the principal underwriter of the Leigh Baldwin Total Return Fund. Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C. does not serve as the underwriter for any other funds.

(a)(2) Arbor Court Capital LLC, the principal underwriter to the Frank Value Fund, also acts as the principal underwriter to Elessar Investment Trust, CCA Investments Trust, Archer Investment Series Trust, TeaLeaf Management Investment Trust, Endurance Series Trust, Clark Fork Trust, Oracle Family of Funds and DMS Funds.

(b)(1) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the members and officers of Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C.:

 
 

 

 

Name and Address

Positions and Offices

with Underwriter

Positions and Offices

with the Fund

Leigh D. Baldwin

c/o Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C.

112 Albany Street

Cazenovia, NY 13035

President and Owner None

(b)(2) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the directors and officers of Arbor:

Name and Principal Business Address Positions and Offices with Underwriter Positions and Offices with Fund

Christopher R. Barone

2000 Auburn Drive Suite 120

Beachwood, OH 44122

Chief Executive Officer None

Gregory B. Getts

2000 Auburn Drive Suite 120

Beachwood, OH 44122

Chief Financial Officer None

David W. Kuhr

2000 Auburn Drive Suite 120

Beachwood, OH 44122

Chief Compliance Officer None

 

(c) To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the following are the commissions and other compensation received, directly, or indirectly, from the Funds during the last fiscal year by each principal underwriter who is not an affiliated person of the Funds or any affiliated person of an affiliated person:

Name of Principal Underwriter Net Underwriting Discounts and Commissions Compensation on Redemption and Repurchases Brokerage Commissions Other Compensation
Leigh Baldwin & Co., L.L.C.        
Arbor Court Capital LLC        

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books and documents required to be maintained by the Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rules 31a-1 through 31a-3 thereunder are maintained at the office of the Registrant and the Transfer Agent at 8000 Town Centre Road, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147, except that all records relating to the activities of the Fund’s Custodian are

 
 

maintained at the office of the Custodian, The Huntington Bank, 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

 

Item 34. Management Services

None.

 

Item 35. Undertakings

None.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Investment Company Act , the Fund certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registrations statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on the 278th day of October, 2014.

 

Frank Funds

 

 

By: /s/JoAnn M. Strasser

JoAnn M. Strasser

Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature Title Date

 

__________________________

Brian J. Frank

Trustee/President/Treasurer/

Principal Financial Officer/

Principal Accounting Officer

 

October 27, 2014

     

 

Andrea Goncalves*

 

 

Trustee

October 27, 2014

 

 

Hemanshu Patel*

 

 

Trustee

  October 27, 2014

 

Jason W. Frey*

 

 

Trustee

 

October 27, 2014

     
     
   

*By: /s/ JoAnn M. Strasser

JoAnn M. Strasser

Attorney-in-Fact

October 27, 2014

 

 

 
 

Exhibit Index

 

ITEM

 

(i)(2) Consent of Counsel

(j) Consent of Auditors