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As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Annual Total Returns (For the calendar years ended 12/31) – Institutional Class Shares

Beacon Investment Advisory Services, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

The Fund offers one class of shares: Institutional Class. You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, by telephone at 1-844-894-9222, or through a financial intermediary. You may also purchase and redeem Fund shares by wire transfer. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly.

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are shown below. For a description of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares, see “Buying and Redeeming Shares.”

Current clients of the Advisor who purchase Institutional Class shares may be eligible for a waiver of the minimum initial investment amount. See “Buying and Redeeming Shares.”

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income, capital gain, qualified dividend income or section 199A dividends, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan. Withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.

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

Annual Total Returns (For the calendar years ended 12/31) – Institutional Class Shares

Beacon Investment Advisory Services, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund.

The Fund offers one class of shares: Institutional Class. You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, by telephone at 1-844-894-9222, or through a financial intermediary. You may also purchase and redeem Fund shares by wire transfer. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly.

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are shown below. For a description of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares, see “Buying and Redeeming Shares.”

Current clients of the Advisor who purchase Institutional Class shares may be eligible for a waiver of the minimum initial investment amount. See “Buying and Redeeming Shares.”

This section describes the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of each of the Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund and the Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”). See “MORE ON EACH FUND’S INVESTMENTS AND RELATED RISKS” in this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the Funds’ investments and the risks of investing.

The Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund’s investment objective is to seek to deliver capital appreciation and generate positive alpha.

The Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund’s investment objective is to seek to deliver capital preservation and capital appreciation.

While there is no assurance that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives, the Funds endeavor to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this Prospectus.

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may change a Fund’s name, investment objectives or principal investment strategies without a shareholder vote. A Fund will notify you in writing at least sixty (60) days before making any such change. If there is a material change to a Fund’s investment objectives or principal investment strategies, you should consider whether that Fund remains an appropriate investment for you.

The Fund seeks to outperform U.S. equity markets in modestly rising market environments, to capture most of the equity returns in strong bull markets, and attempt to generate returns that approximate the U.S. equity markets in falling markets, gross of fees.

The Fund seeks to capture returns through a systematic investment process of obtaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets primarily through the options markets. “Accelerated return” refers to the Fund’s goal of seeking to enhance (accelerate) returns relative to the returns of the U.S. equity indices through the purchase and sale of call options.

The Fund employs a long/short equity strategy by following a disciplined and systematic investment process. The returns sought to be generated by the strategy are derived from two distinct elements:

The “directional market movement” element refers to capturing equity-like returns over the long-run through direct exposure to the U.S. equity markets, which can provide capital appreciation. The “option premium or income” element refers to collecting income by selling call options on the U.S. equity indices. A call option gives the purchaser of the call option, in return for a premium paid, the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the call option the obligation to sell, the security underlying the option at a specified exercise price within a specified time frame.

The “directional market movement” component of returns is generated by the purchase of “deep-in-the money” call options (call options that have a strike price below the market price of the underlying asset) and “at-the-money” call options (call options that have a strike price equal to the price of the underlying asset). Purchasing call options on U.S. equity markets can provide capital appreciation and return enhancement based on the upward movement in U.S. equity prices. The “option premium or income” component of returns is generated by the sale of call options, which can provide portfolio income.

The Fund’s investment objectives are capital appreciation and alpha generation. The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective of capital appreciation by investing in call options that replicate the returns of the broad U.S. equity indices. The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective of alpha generation by purchasing and selling call options on U.S. equity indices to enhance the returns and generate premium income. Alpha is the outperformance or underperformance of a portfolio relative to the stock market. Alpha generation means outperforming the U.S. equity index.

Through a disciplined process of buying and selling call options on market exposure, the Fund seeks to provide investors with targeted and enhanced returns based upon a bullish market outlook. The Fund allows investors with positive views on the stock market to participate in the market growth and periodically outperform the markets, without any increase in risk or volatility over the U.S. equity indices. It seeks to improve the overall alpha generation of investor portfolios.

In rising market environments, the Fund seeks to produce equity-like returns with outperformance relative to market benchmark in some environments. In falling markets, the Fund seeks to mitigate losses such that the losses are no greater than the losses incurred by the market benchmark. In sideways markets, the Fund may seek to produce positive returns through the sale of call options, which can provide portfolio income.

The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective through the systematic purchase of rolling investments, which we call “tranches.” Each investment is made up of long and short call options traded on the performance of a broad market index. The Fund invests in approximately 10-12 unique tranches with 10-12 unique expiration dates, which are distinct investments of call options that mature and roll on an ongoing basis. In other words, at any given time, the Fund will generally have one tranche with options expiring in approximately one month, a second tranche expiring in approximately two months, and so on, up to a twelfth tranche expiring in approximately twelve months. Each month, a previously purchased tranche’s options will generally expire, be exercised, or be sold at or near their expiration, and the proceeds generally are used to purchase (or roll into) a new tranche of options expiring in approximately twelve months. The use of multiple tranches benefits the Fund investors by providing multiple entry and exit points for each investment. It also takes advantage of market volatility and helps investors avoid the market timing risk by spreading investments and risk over time.

During periods of high volatility, which may coincide with market lows, options pricing may allow for a greater level of return enhancement up to a target level. During periods of low volatility, which may coincide with market highs, market pricing may support lower return enhancement while maintaining the target level of absolute returns (i.e. the returns an asset achieves over a certain period of time). Therefore, the tranches generally seek higher target returns from market lows while maintaining target returns at market highs.

Estimated returns for tranches of options assume the options are held until their expiration. If options are not held until expiration, returns may be higher or lower than estimates.

The Fund seeks to capture most of the returns generated by U.S. equity markets in rising markets, and to protect against the market losses in declining markets.

This strategy utilizes a multi-pronged approach that seeks to provide equity-like returns in most market environments with bond-like volatility. The Fund’s investment strategy aims to provide a cushion against certain losses in the U.S. equity markets. The Fund seeks to accomplish its goal of mitigating downside risk in the equity markets by hedging the portfolio through the purchase of put options. Each put option helps to protect against losses in the U.S. equity indices.

“Planned return” refers to the Fund’s goal of seeking to achieve a designated level of return with a designated level of risk through the use of call and put options.

The Fund employs a long/short equity strategy by following a disciplined and systematic investment process. The returns sought to be generated by the strategy are derived from three distinct elements;

The “directional market movement” component of returns is generated by the purchase of “deep-in-the money” call options (call options that have a strike price below the market price of the underlying asset) and “at-the-money” call options (call options that have a strike price equal to the price of the underlying asset), which can provide capital appreciation. The “option premium or income” component of returns is generated by the sale of call and put options, which can provide portfolio income. The “hedge component” of returns is generated by the purchase of put options, which help to provide downside protection against losses in falling markets.

A call option gives the purchaser of the call option, in return for a premium paid, the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the call option the obligation to sell, the security underlying the option at a specified exercise price within a specified time frame. A put option gives the purchaser of the put option, in return for a premium paid, the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the put option the obligation to buy, the underlying security of the put option at a specified price within a specified time frame.

Put options allow investors to reduce U.S. equity market risk. Call options allow investors to participate in U.S. equity market growth.

The Fund’s investment objectives are capital preservation and capital appreciation. The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective of capital preservation by purchasing put options against the U.S. equity indices. The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective of capital appreciation by purchasing call options on U.S. equity indices and collecting premium income from selling call and put options against the U.S. equity indices.

Through a disciplined process of buying and selling call and put options on market exposure, the Fund seeks to provide investors with targeted returns and reduced risk. The Fund aims to provide investors with moderate/cautious views on the stock market the opportunity to participate in the market growth, reduce downside risk, and generate option premium income. The Fund seeks to allow investors to achieve a better balance of overall portfolio risk and return, and provide a return differentiator with strong volatility reduction elements.

In rising market environments, the Fund seeks to produce equity-like returns, but will underperform unhedged or long-only equity strategies in a strong bull market. In falling markets, the Fund can lose money, but any losses are sought to be less severe than unhedged or long-only equity strategies. In sideways markets, the Fund seeks to exceed returns of the overall equity markets by capturing intra-cycle market volatility through monthly dollar cost averaging and by selling call options to collect premium income. The Fund seeks to have significantly lower volatility than the broad U.S. equity indices in all market environments.

The Fund aims to achieve its investment objective through the systematic purchase of rolling investments, which we call “tranches.” Each investment is made up of long and short call and put options traded on the performance of a broad market index. The Fund invests in approximately 10-12 unique tranches with 10-12 unique expiration dates, which are distinct investments of call and put options that mature and roll on an ongoing basis. In other words, at any given time, the Fund will generally have one tranche with options expiring in approximately one month, a second tranche expiring in approximately two months, and so on, up to a twelfth tranche expiring in approximately twelve months. Each month, a previously purchased tranche’s options will generally expire, be exercised, or be sold at or near their expiration, and the proceeds generally are used to purchase (or roll into) a new tranche of options expiring in approximately twelve months. The use of multiple tranches benefits the Fund investors by providing multiple entry and exit points for each investment. It also takes advantage of market volatility and helps investors avoid the market timing risk by spreading investments and risk over time.

During periods of high volatility, which may coincide with market lows, options pricing may allow for a greater level of target return for a given level of downside protection. During periods of low volatility, which may coincide with market highs, market pricing may support lower target returns while maintaining the target level of downside protection. Therefore, the tranches generally seek higher target returns from market lows while maintaining downside protection at market highs.

Estimated returns for tranches of options assume the options are held until their expiration. If options are not held until expiration, returns may be higher or lower than estimates.

Each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective principally by investing in the following:

Options. The Funds expect to utilize FLEX Options, the value of which may be linked to broad-based securities indices (such as the S&P 500^®) or proxies for such indices (such as ETFs that track the S&P 500^®) (an “Index Proxy”). The FLEX Options each Fund expects to utilize are classified as “section 1256 contracts” under section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Each contract held by a taxpayer at the end of the tax year that is classified as a section 1256 contract will be treated as if it was sold for its fair market value. 60% of the gain or loss is reported as long-term capital gain or loss, and 40% of the gain or loss is reported as short-term capital gain or loss. The value of an Index Proxy is subject to change as the values of the component securities of the reference index fluctuate. An Index Proxy for a broad-based securities index may not exactly match the performance of the reference index due to cash drag, differences between the portfolio of the Index Proxy and the components of the reference index, expenses and other factors. Certain options on an Index Proxy may not qualify as section 1256 contracts under the Code, and disposition of such options will likely result in short-term or long-term capital gains or losses depending on the holding period.

An index call option is a contract that entitles the purchaser to receive from the seller a cash payment equal to the amount of any appreciation in the value of the reference index over a fixed price (the strike price of the call option) as of the valuation date of the option. Upon entering into the position, a premium is paid by the purchaser to the seller. When an index call option is exercised, the seller is required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the excess, if any, of the value of the index at contract termination over the strike price of the option. A call option on an individual security, such as an ETF, is a contract that entitles the purchaser to buy the security at a fixed price (the strike price of the call option) on or before the valuation date of the option in exchange for the payment of an up-front premium by the purchaser to the seller. When an individual call option is exercised, the seller is required to deliver the underlying security. If the option seller does not own the underlying security it may be required to purchase the security to meet the delivery requirements of the contract.

An index put option is a contract that entitles the purchaser to receive from the seller a cash payment equal to the amount of any decline in the value of the reference index below a fixed price (the strike price of the call option) as of the valuation date of the option. Upon entering into the position, a premium is paid by the purchaser to the seller. When an index put option is exercised, the seller is required to deliver an amount of cash determined by the shortfall, if any, of the value of the index at contract termination below the strike price of the option. A put option on an individual security, such as an ETF, is a contract that entitles the purchaser to sell the security at a fixed price (the strike price of the put option) on or before the valuation date of the option in exchange for the payment of an up-front premium by the purchaser to the seller. When an individual put option is exercised, the seller is required to purchase the underlying security.

Amounts payable at settlement by a seller of index call and put spreads will equal the total payments made with respect to written calls and puts less the total payments received with respect to purchased calls and puts. If written calls and puts expire worthless, the Fund will neither pay nor receive settlement proceeds. If written calls or puts expire in-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay net proceeds at settlement equal to the difference between the amounts payable on written calls and amounts receivable, if any, on the associated purchased calls and puts.

The Fund may purchase put and call options or write “covered” put and call options on stock indices, interest rates and currencies in order to hedge against adverse market shifts or to potentially increase income or gain. In addition, the Fund may utilize options on currencies in order to hedge against currency exchange rate risks or to gain exposure to one or more currencies. A call option written by the Fund is “covered” so long as the Fund owns: (i) the underlying investment subject to the option; (ii) securities convertible or exchangeable without the payment of any consideration into the securities subject to the option; or (iii) a call option on the relevant security or currency with an exercise price no higher than the exercise price on the call option written. A put option written by the Fund is “covered” if the Fund has certain offsetting puts. Parties to options transactions must make certain payments and/or set aside certain amounts of assets in connection with each transaction.

Options positions are marked to market daily. The value of an option is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the securities represented in the index or the individual security linked to the option, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the index or individual security linked to the option and the remaining time to the option’s expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market.

ETFs. A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in ETFs. Each Fund expects to generally invest in ETFs that represent an interest in a portfolio of securities selected to replicate a US equity index.

Equities. A Fund may invest in equity securities consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. An equity security, or stock, represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company; its value is based on the success of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market conditions. Common stocks and preferred stocks are examples of equity securities. Equity securities, such as common stocks, represent shares of ownership of a corporation. Preferred stocks are equity securities that often pay dividends at a specific rate and have a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and liquidation of assets. Some preferred stocks may be convertible into common stock. Convertible securities are securities (such as debt securities or preferred stock) that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.

No assurance can be given that a Fund will achieve its investment objective, and investment results may vary substantially over time and from period to period.

The Funds are “non-diversified”, which means that the Funds may invest a significant portion of their assets in a relatively small number of issuers. From time to time, the Funds may focus their investments in companies in one or more economic sectors. Economic sectors include multiple different industries. The Funds will not invest 25% or more of its assets in any one industry at the time of purchase.

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described above under “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.” This section provides additional information about the principal and non-principal risks that may affect each Fund’s portfolio. Additional information about some of the Funds’ investments and portfolio management techniques and their associated risks is included in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), which is available without charge upon request (see back cover).

There are inherent risks associated with each Fund’s principal investment strategies. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on a Fund’s investment portfolio as a whole are called “principal risks.” The principal risks of each Fund are summarized in each Fund’s “Summary Section” above and further described below. The Funds may be subject to additional risks other than those described because, among other reasons, the types of investments made by the Funds may change over time. For additional information regarding risks of investing in the Funds, please see the Statement of Additional Information. It is important to read all the disclosure information provided and to understand that you may lose money by investing in the Funds.

Market Risk: The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as the impact of inflation on the economy, supply chain disruptions, real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, natural disasters, war, the spread of infectious illness or other public issues, or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

Management Risk: The Funds’ success will depend on the management of the Adviser and on the skill and acumen of the Adviser’s personnel.

Options Risk: The Funds may invest in options. Options transactions may be effected on securities exchanges or in the over-the-counter market. When options are purchased over-the-counter, the Funds bear the risk that the counter-party that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. Such options may also be illiquid, and in such cases, the Funds may have difficulty closing out its option positions.

Derivative Instruments Risk: The Funds may invest in derivative instruments. These are financial instruments that derive their performance from the performance of an underlying asset, index, and interest rate or currency exchange rate. Derivatives can be volatile and involve various types and degrees of risks, depending upon the characteristics of a particular derivative. Derivatives may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in a derivative could have a large potential impact on the performance of the Funds. The Funds could experience a loss if derivatives do not perform as anticipated, are not correlated with the performance of other investments that they are used to hedge or if the Funds are unable to liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. The market for many derivatives is, or suddenly can become, illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives.

Equity securities represent ownership in a company. Stock markets are volatile. The price of equity securities will fluctuate and can decline and reduce the value of a portfolio investing in equity securities. The value of equity securities purchased by the Fund could decline if the financial condition of the companies the Fund invests in declines or if overall market and economic conditions deteriorate. The value of equity securities may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or an increase in production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

In addition, the value may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, or generally adverse investor sentiment.

ETF Liquidity Risk: In certain circumstances, such as the disruption of the orderly markets for the securities or financial instruments in which an ETF invests, an ETF might not be able to dispose of certain holdings quickly or at prices that represent true market value in the judgment of the ETF investment managers. Such a situation may prevent an ETF from limiting losses, realizing gains or achieving a high correlation or inverse correlation with its underlying index.

ETF and Shares of Other Investment Companies Risk: The Funds may invest in shares of other investment companies, including ETFs, as a means to pursue its investment objective. As a result of this policy, your cost of investing in the Funds will generally be higher than the cost of investing directly in such investment companies. You will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by such investment companies in addition to the Funds’ direct fees and expenses. Furthermore, the use of this strategy could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to you and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by you. In addition to the risks of investing in an investment company, the price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and the Funds could lose money when investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. Additionally, the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to their net asset value, an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained, and trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large changes in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. Additionally, ETFs have management fees, which increase their cost.

Non-Diversification Risk: The Funds are classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act, which means that each Fund may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it were a “diversified fund”. To the extent a Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, such Fund is subject to the risks of investing in those few issuers, and may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic or regulatory occurrence. As a result, changes in the market value of a single security could cause greater fluctuations in the value of the Funds’ shares than would occur in a diversified fund.

Other inherent risks associated with the Funds that are less likely to have a material effect on the Funds’ investment portfolio as a whole are called “non-principal risks.” The non-principal risks of the Funds are further described below and in the Statement of Additional Information. It is important to read all the disclosure information provided and to understand that you may lose money by investing in the Funds.

Cyber Security Risk: In connection with the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Funds may be susceptible to operational, information security and related risks due to the possibility of cyber-attacks or other incidents. Cyber incidents may result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by computer viruses or other malicious software code, gaining unauthorized access to systems, networks or devices that are used to service the Funds’ operations through hacking or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks (which can make a website unavailable) on the Funds’ website. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Funds’ systems.

Cyber security failures or breaches by the Funds’ third-party service providers (including, but not limited to, the Adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer agent and financial intermediaries) may cause disruptions and impact the service providers’ and the Funds’ business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and the mutual funds to process transactions, inability to calculate the Funds’ net asset value, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs and/or additional compliance costs. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Funds or their third-party service providers.

The Funds may incur substantial costs to prevent or address cyber incidents in the future. In addition, there is a possibility that certain risks have not been adequately identified or prepared for. Furthermore, the Funds cannot directly control any cyber security plans and systems put in place by third party service providers. Cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Funds’ investment in such securities to lose value.

Indirect Foreign Exposure and Foreign Security Risk: The Funds may invest in U.S. traded securities of companies that are organized under the laws of a foreign country or have significant business operations abroad. Such companies may be impacted by certain foreign exposure risks indirectly, including risks related to foreign currencies. Foreign currencies will fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. dollar, adversely affecting the value of a Fund’s investments and its returns. Because each Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) is determined on the basis of U.S. dollars, you may lose money if the local currency of a foreign market depreciates against the U.S. dollar, even if the market value of a Fund’s holdings appreciates. Currency exchange rates can be affected unpredictably by the intervention or the failure to intervene by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad. These risks will vary from time to time and from country to country especially if the country is considered an emerging market or developing country. In addition, Securities of foreign issuers may be less liquid, more volatile and harder to value than U.S. securities.

Investment Focus Risk: To the extent that a Fund focuses its investments in particular industries, classes or sectors (such as healthcare, technology, retail, financial services and business services) of the economy, any market price movements, regulatory or technological changes, or economic conditions affecting companies in those industries, asset classes or sectors will have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance. The Funds will not concentrate their investments, as defined under the 1940 Act.

Liquidity Risk: From time to time, the trading market for a particular security or type of security in which the Funds invest may become less liquid or even illiquid. Reduced liquidity will have an adverse impact on the Funds’ ability to sell such securities when necessary to meet the Funds’ liquidity needs or in response to a specific economic event. Market quotations for such securities may be volatile.

Managed Portfolio Risk: The Adviser’s investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause a Fund to incur losses.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk: The Funds focus on investments in small and mid-capitalization companies. The securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements and may have lower trading volumes or more erratic trading than securities of larger, more established companies or market averages in general. In addition, such companies typically are more likely to be adversely affected than large-capitalization companies by changes in earnings results, business prospects, investor expectations or poor economic or market conditions.

Swap Agreement Risk: The Funds may enter into equity and index swap agreements. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than a year. In a standard swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns earned on specific assets, such as the return on, or increase in value of, a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. A swap contract may not be assigned without the consent of the counter-party, and may result in losses in the event of a default or bankruptcy of the counter-party.

The Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities are described in the Funds’ SAI.

Beacon Investment Advisory Services (the “Adviser”), subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Funds and is responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio.

The Adviser is a full service financial services firm, offering investment management, financial planning, tax advisory, trust & estate, and private banking services to individuals and institutions.

The Adviser’s principal address is 163 Madison Avenue, Suite 600, Morristown, NJ 07960.

The management fee is paid on a monthly basis. The initial term of the Advisory Agreement was two years. The Board may extend the Advisory Agreement for additional one-year terms. The Board and shareholders of the Funds may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice. The Adviser may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon sixty (60) days’ notice. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s most recent approval of the Funds’ Advisory Agreements was provided in the Funds’ annual report to shareholders for the period ended September 30, 2022.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the amount of each Fund’s Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding Rule 12b-1 Fees, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to an annual rate, as set out below, of such Fund’s average daily net assets.

This agreement is in effect through at least January 31, 2024, and will automatically continue upon annual approval by the board for successive twelve-month periods unless (i) it is terminated earlier by the Board of Trustees, or (ii) the Adviser provides at least 30 days written notice of its non-continuance prior to the end of the then effective term. Except due to the Adviser’s notice of non-renewal, this Agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above (whether through reduction of its management fee or otherwise) only to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods do not exceed the lesser of (1) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser waives or limits the expenses or (2) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser seeks to recover the expenses; provided, however, that the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees or expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expense was reduced.

The portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day investment and reinvestment of the Funds’ assets. The portfolio managers listed below have served as each Fund’s portfolio managers since each Fund’s inception.

Information about the portfolio managers, including information about the portfolio managers’ business experience, appears below. More information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers, and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Funds is included in the SAI.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (the “Administrator” or the “Transfer Agent”) serves as the Funds’ administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or the “Distributor”) serves as the Funds’ distributor.

payment from a Fund or its service providers for the provision of distribution, administrative and/or shareholder retention services. Institutional investors may include, but are not limited to, corporations, retirement plans, public plans and foundations/endowments.

Each Fund has adopted a non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services plan (a “Services Plan”) for Institutional Class shares which authorize each Fund to compensate select financial intermediaries and Fund affiliates an aggregate fee in an amount not to annually exceed 0.15% of the average daily net asset value of the Institutional shares of each Fund attributable to, or held in the name of, the financial intermediary for its clients as compensation for maintaining customer accounts that hold Fund shares. The Service Plan fee is compensation for providing, some or all of the following services: (i) establishing and maintaining Fund shareholder accounts, (ii) aggregating, processing and transmitting Fund shareholder orders and instructions regarding accounts, (ii) processing dividend and other distribution payments from each Fund on behalf of shareholders, (iv) preparing reports or forms on behalf of shareholders, (v) forwarding communications from each Fund to shareholders, and (vi) providing such other similar services as applicable statutes, rules or regulations permit. None of the aforementioned services includes distribution related services or activities. Any amount of the Services Plan fees not paid during the Funds’ fiscal year for such services may be reimbursed to the applicable Fund.

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may enter into arrangements to make payments for additional activities to select financial intermediaries intended to result in the sale of Fund shares and/or other shareholder servicing activities out of the Adviser’s own resources (which may include profits from providing advisory services to each Fund). These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments” and the revenue sharing payment amount generally vary by financial intermediary. The aggregate amount of the revenue sharing payments are determined by the Adviser and may be substantial. Revenue sharing payments create no additional cost to each Fund or its applicable shareholders.

Revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of a Fund to you, rather than shares of another mutual fund. Please contact your financial intermediary’s investment professional for details about revenue sharing payments it may be receiving.

Select financial intermediaries may enter into arrangements with each Fund, or its designees, to perform certain networking, recordkeeping, sub-accounting and/or administrative services for shareholders of each Fund. These actives are routinely processed through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV and Trust Networking systems or similar systems. In consideration for providing these services in an automated environment, such financial intermediaries may receive compensation from each Fund. Any such compensation by each Fund to these select financial intermediaries for the aforementioned services are in addition to any 12b-1 related services provided to applicable Fund shareholders.

Each Fund offers one class of shares: Institutional Class shares. The Institutional Class shares are subject to a $1,000,000 minimum and a minimum subsequent investment of $1,000. Investors generally may meet the minimum investment amount by aggregating multiple accounts within the Funds if desired and if allowed by the relevant intermediary. Each Fund reserves the right to change the amount of these minimums from time to time or to waive them in whole or in part if, in the Adviser’s or the Fund’s opinion, the investor has adequate intent and availability of assets to reach a future level of investment in the Fund that is equal to or greater than the minimum. Moreover, each Fund may waive minimum investment amounts in Institutional Class shares with respect to investments by the Trust’s officers or its Trustees. Investors may establish an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) account or a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) account; there are no subsequent investment minimums for investments in AIP or SWP accounts.

The following investors will not be subject to the Funds’ investment minimums with respect to Institutional Class shares:

The Adviser reserves the right to make additional exceptions or otherwise modify these exceptions at any time and to reject any investment for any reason.

In order to buy, exchange or redeem shares at that day’s net asset value, you must place your order with a Fund or its agent before the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) closes (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). If the NYSE closes early, you must place your order prior to the actual closing time. Orders received by financial intermediaries prior to the close of trading on the NYSE will be confirmed at the offering price computed as of the close of trading on the NYSE. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure that all orders are transmitted in a timely manner to the Funds. Otherwise, you will receive the next business day’s net asset value.

Investors may purchase, exchange or redeem Institutional Class shares of the Funds directly or through retirement plans, broker-dealers, bank trust departments, financial advisors or other financial intermediaries. Shares made available through full service broker-dealers may be available through wrap accounts under which such broker-dealers impose additional fees for services connected to the wrap account. Contact your financial intermediary or refer to your plan documents for instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares.

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent. The Funds have authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Funds’ behalf. The Funds will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Funds’ net asset value next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.

There is an annual pass through IRA and Coverdell Education Savings Account maintenance fee of $10.00 that is charged by the IRA custodian on a per-account basis.

With certain limited exceptions, the Funds are available only to U.S. citizens or residents.

The Funds will generally accept purchases only in U.S. dollars drawn from U.S. financial institutions. Cashier’s checks, third party checks, money orders, credit card convenience checks, cash or equivalents or payments in foreign currencies are not acceptable forms of payment. You may also contact the Funds to request a purchase of Fund shares using securities you own. The Funds reserve the right to refuse or accept such requests in whole or in part.

Redemptions, like purchases, may generally be effected only through retirement plans, broker-dealers, financial intermediaries and directly through the Funds. Please contact the Fund, your financial intermediary or refer to the appropriate plan documents for details. Your financial intermediary may charge a processing or service fee in connection with the redemption of shares.

In all cases, your redemption price is the net asset value per share next determined after your request is received in good order. “Good order” means that your redemption request includes: (i) the Fund name and account number; (ii) the amount of the transaction in dollars or shares; (iii) signatures of you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; (iv) any certificates you are holding for the account; and (v) any supporting legal documentation that may be required.

Redemption proceeds typically will be sent within one to two business days but may take up to seven days. However, if you recently purchased your shares by check, your redemption proceeds will not be sent to you until your original check clears, which may take up to 10 days. The Funds typically pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, or from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods are expected to be used in regular and stressed market conditions.

Your redemption proceeds can be sent by check to your address of record or by wire transfer to a bank account designated on your application. Your bank may charge you a fee for wire transfers. Any request that your redemption proceeds be sent to a destination other than your bank account or address of record must be in writing and must include a Medallion signature guarantee. Please call 1-844-894-9222 for information on obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee.

The Funds are not responsible for losses or fees resulting from posting delays or non-receipt of redemption payments at your bank, when shareholder payment instructions are followed.

proceeds to you in whole or in part with securities held by the Fund. If a Fund decides to redeem in-kind, the redeeming shareholder will generally receive pro-rata shares of the Fund’s portfolio. These pro-rata shares would have similar characteristics to the Funds and will consist of any other pro-rata share of the securities held in the Funds. A redemption in-kind could occur under extraordinary circumstances, such as a very large redemption that could affect a Fund’s operations (for example, more than 1% of a Fund’s net assets). However, a Fund is required to redeem shares solely for cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value of a Fund during any 90-calendar day period for any one shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed such limitation, the Funds will have the option of redeeming the excess in cash or in-kind. Securities used to redeem Fund shares will be valued as described in “How Fund Shares are Priced” below. A shareholder may pay brokerage charges on the sale of any securities received as a result of a redemption in-kind. Redemptions in-kind are taxed to a redeeming shareholder for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as cash redemptions. Securities received in a redemption in-kind are subject to market risk until sold.

Each Fund requires a Medallion signature guarantee on any written redemption over $100,000 (but may require additional documentation or a Medallion signature guarantee on any redemption request to help protect against fraud) or for certain types of transfer requests or account registration changes. A Medallion signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution that is participating in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three “recognized” medallion programs are Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and NYSE, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (NYSE MSP). Please call 1-844-894-9222 for information on obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee.

If you sell your shares after holding them 60 days or less, a 2% short-term redemption fee may be deducted from the redemption amount. For this purpose, shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last. The fees are paid to the Funds and are designed to help offset the brokerage commissions, market impact and other costs associated with short-term shareholder trading.

The short-term redemption fee does not apply to: (i) redemptions of shares acquired by reinvesting dividends and distributions; (ii) rollovers, transfers and changes of account registration within a Fund as long as the money never leaves the Fund; and (iii) redemptions in-kind.

The Funds also permit waivers of the short-term redemption fee for the following transactions:

The application of short-term redemption fees and waivers may vary among intermediaries and certain intermediaries may not apply the waivers listed above. If you purchase or sell Fund shares through an intermediary, you should contact your intermediary for more information on whether the short-term redemption fee will be applied to redemptions of your shares.

The Funds reserve the right to modify or eliminate the short-term redemption fee or waivers at any time. Investment advisers or their affiliates may pay short-term redemption fees on behalf of investors in managed accounts. Unitized group accounts consisting of qualified plan assets may be treated as a single account for redemption fee purposes.

The Funds have the right to suspend or postpone redemptions of shares for any period (i) during which the NYSE or exchange or market of any Index constituent is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, (ii) during which trading on the NYSE or exchange or market of any Index constituent is restricted, or (iii) during which (as determined by the SEC or other regulatory authority by rule or regulation) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC or other regulatory authority.

The Funds do not permit market timing or other abusive trading practices. Each Fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject any purchase transaction at any time. In addition, each Fund reserves the right to suspend its offering of shares or to impose restrictions on purchases at any time that are more restrictive than those that are otherwise stated in this Prospectus with respect to disruptive, excessive or short-term trading.

Excessive short-term trading or other abusive trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs and hurt Fund performance. The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions and to seek to prevent market timing. To minimize harm to the Funds and their shareholders, each Fund reserves the right to reject, in its sole discretion, any purchase order from any investor it believes has a history of abusive trading or whose trading, in its judgment, has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. Such disruption may include trading that may interfere with the efficient management of the Fund, may materially increase the Fund’s transaction costs, administrative costs or taxes, or may otherwise be detrimental to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Each Fund may also refuse purchase transactions from Fund intermediaries it believes may be facilitating or have facilitated abusive trading practices. In making this judgment, the Fund may consider trading done in multiple accounts under common ownership or control.

On a periodic basis, each Fund or its agents may review transaction history reports to identify redemptions that are within a specific time period from a previous purchase in the same account(s) in the Fund, or in multiple accounts that are known to be under common control. Redemptions meeting the criteria will be investigated for possible inappropriate trading.

Certain accounts, in particular omnibus accounts, include multiple investors and such accounts typically provide the Funds with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day. In these cases, purchases and redemptions of Fund shares are netted against one another and the identity of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated may not be known by the Fund. Therefore, it becomes more difficult for a Fund to identify market timing or other abusive trading activities in these accounts, and the Fund may be unable to eliminate abusive traders in these accounts from the Fund. Further, identification of abusive traders may also be limited by operational systems and technical limitations. To the extent abusive or disruptive trading is identified, each Fund will encourage omnibus account intermediaries to address such trading activity in a manner consistent with how the Fund would address such activity directly, if it were able to do so.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing and other abusive trading practices, there can be no assurance that the Funds’ efforts will identify all market timing or abusive trading activities. Therefore, investors should not assume that the Funds will be able to detect or prevent all practices that may disadvantage the Funds.

You must contact the Funds in writing regarding any errors or discrepancies within 60 days after the date of the statement confirming a transaction. A Fund may deny your ability to refute a transaction if it does not hear from you within 60 days after the confirmation statement date.

The Funds reserve the right to cancel a purchase if the check or electronic funds transfer does not clear your bank, or if a wire is not received by settlement date. You will be responsible for any fees charged to the Fund for insufficient funds (failed payment) and you may be responsible for any fees imposed by your bank as well as any losses that the Fund may incur as a result of the canceled purchase.

The Board of Trustees has approved procedures to be used to value the Fund’s assets for the purposes of determining the Fund’s net asset value. The valuation of the assets of the Fund is determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Adviser as the valuation designee selected by the Board.

The Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each business day (Monday through Friday). The Fund will not value its securities on any day that the NYSE is closed, including the following observed holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Fund’s currency valuations, if any, are done as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). For equity securities that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. In the case of securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the market price is typically determined by independent third-party pricing vendors using a variety of pricing techniques and methodologies. The market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service, which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration market indices, yield curves and other specific adjustments. Short-term debt obligations that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined by the valuation designee that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more brokers-dealers that make a market in the security.

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when the Adviser believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board. The Funds may determine the fair value of investments based on information provided by pricing services and other third-party vendors, which may recommend fair value prices or adjustments with reference to other securities, indices or assets. In considering whether fair value pricing is required and in determining fair values, a Fund may, among other things, consider significant events (which may be considered to include changes in the value of U.S. securities or securities indices) that occur after the close of the relevant market and before the Fund values its securities.

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuation of securities based on readily available market quotations. A fund that uses fair value to price securities may value those securities higher or lower than another fund using market quotations or its own fair value methodologies to price the same securities. There can be no assurance that a Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its net asset value.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires each Fund or its agents to obtain certain personal information from you (or persons acting on your behalf) in order to verify your (or such person’s) identity when you open an account, including name, address, date of birth and other information (which may include certain documents) that will allow the Transfer Agent to verify your identity. If this information is not provided, the Transfer Agent may not be able to open your account. If the Transfer Agent is unable to verify your identity (or that of another person authorized to act on your behalf) shortly after your account is opened, or believes it has identified potential criminal activity, the Funds, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent each reserve the right to reject further purchase orders from you or to take such other action as they deem reasonable or required by law, including closing your account and redeeming your shares at their net asset value at the time of redemption.

If you are opening an account in the name of a legal entity (e.g., a partnership, business trust, limited liability company, corporation, etc.), you may be required to supply the identity of the beneficial owner or controlling person(s) of the legal entity prior to the opening of your account. The Fund may request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help the Transfer Agent verify your identity.

Income Dividends. Income dividends are derived from net investment income (i.e., interest and other income, less any related expenses) each Fund earns from its portfolio securities and other investments. The Funds each intend to distribute any net income to shareholders annually.

Capital Gain Distributions. Capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when a Fund sells a portfolio security. Long-term capital gains are derived from gains realized when a Fund sells a portfolio security it has owned for more than one year, and short-term capital gains are derived from gains realized when a portfolio security was owned for one year or less. The Funds intend to distribute amounts derived from capital gains to shareholders annually.

Reinvested in Shares or Paid in Cash. Dividends and distributions are reinvested in additional Fund shares unless you instruct the Transfer Agent to have your dividends and/or distributions paid by check and mailed to the address of record or transferred through an Automated Clearing House to the bank of your choice. You can change your choice at any time to be effective as of the next dividend or distribution, except that any change given to the Transfer Agent less than five days before the payment date will not be effective until the next dividend or distribution is made.

The following information is a general summary of U.S. federal income tax consequences of investments in the Funds for U.S. persons only, which include (i) U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) corporations organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or any state, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation of its source; or (iv) a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or trusts that have a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. Shareholders that are partnerships or nonresident aliens, foreign trusts or estates, or foreign corporations may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment. If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of Fund shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. You should rely on your tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences regarding your investment in the Funds.

This discussion assumes that the Funds will qualify under Subchapter M of the Code as regulated investment companies and will satisfy certain distribution requirements so that they are not generally subject to U.S. income tax. There can be no guarantee that these assumptions will be correct. If a Fund qualifies under Subchapter M as regulated investment companies, it will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its net investment income and any realized capital gains.

The Funds will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that they distribute substantially all of their net investment income and any realized capital gains. The Funds expect to distribute substantially all of their ordinary income and net capital gain (in excess of any capital loss carryovers) to their shareholders every year. In turn, shareholders will be taxed on distributions they receive, unless the shares are held by certain types of tax-exempt organizations or through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts). Such arrangements are subject to special tax rules.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, shareholders of a Fund are generally subject to taxation based on the underlying character of the income and gain recognized by the Fund and distributed to the shareholders. Distributions properly reported as net capital gain of a Fund will be taxable to Fund shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long shares of the Fund are held. A Fund may realize long-term capital gains when it sells or redeems a security that it has owned for more than one year and when it receives capital gain distributions from ETFs in which the Fund owns investments.

Generally, distributions of earnings derived from ordinary income and short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Certain distributions of the Funds may result in “qualified dividend income,” which will be taxable to individual and other non-corporate shareholders at favorable tax rate applicable to net long-term capital gains, provided that the shareholder receiving the dividend satisfies certain holding period requirements for his or her Fund shares, an applicable Fund satisfies certain holding period requirements for its investments in the stock producing such dividends and certain other requirements are satisfied. The amount of distributions from a Fund that will be eligible for the “qualified dividend income” lower maximum rate, however, cannot exceed the amount of dividends received by a Fund that are qualified dividends (i.e., dividends from U.S. corporations or certain qualifying foreign corporations). Thus, to the extent that dividends from a Fund are attributable to other sources, such as taxable interest, fees from securities lending transactions, certain distributions from real estate investment trusts, Code section 988 transactions or are short-term capital gains, such dividends will not be eligible for the lower rate. However, if at least 95% of the Fund’s “gross income” is from qualified dividends, then 100% of its distributions will be eligible for the lower rate. For these purposes, a Fund’s gross income does not include gain from the disposition of stock or securities except to the extent that the net short-term capital gain from such dispositions exceeds the net long-term capital loss from such dispositions. Fund distributions are taxable regardless of whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares.

A Fund may realize short-term capital gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less. A Fund may realize ordinary income from distributions from exchange traded funds, from foreign currency gains, from interest on indebtedness owned by the Fund, and from other sources.

Some of the Funds’ investments, such as certain option transactions, foreign currency contracts, and regulated futures transactions, may be “section 1256 contracts.” Section 1256 contracts owned by a Fund generally will be treated for income tax purposes as if sold for their fair market values (i.e., “marked to market”) on an annual basis and resulting gains or losses generally will be treated as 60% long-term capital gains or losses and 40% short-term capital gains or losses.

A Fund’s investments in options and other derivatives (such as futures contracts and swaps) may change the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. Such investments will be subject to special tax rules, which may accelerate taxable income to the Fund, shorten the holding period of the Fund’s securities, convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses, or convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains resulting in distributions taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.

Fund distributions of earnings and gains are taxable to a shareholder even if they are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and thus were included in the price paid for the shares. Thus, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record

date of a Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of his or her investment back as a taxable distribution. While in effect a return of capital to the shareholder, the distribution is still taxable even though the shareholder did not participate in these gains. An investor can avoid this by investing soon after a Fund has made a distribution.

Fund dividends paid to shareholders that are C corporations may be eligible for a 50% corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent that such dividends are attributable to qualifying dividends received from U.S. domestic corporations, subject to certain holding period requirements and debt-financing limitations.

If a Fund invests in stock of a real-estate investment trust (a “REIT”), it may be eligible to pay “section 199A dividends” to its shareholders with respect to certain dividends received by it from its investment in REITs. Section 199A dividends are taxable to individual and other non-corporate shareholders at a reduced effective federal income tax rate for taxable years beginning before 2026, provided that certain holding period requirements and other conditions are satisfied.

Shareholders of a Fund will recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the applicable Fund, including an exchange of shares of one Fund for shares of another Fund, based on the difference between the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares disposed of and the amount received for them. Generally, this gain or loss will be long-term if the shareholder’s holding period for the shares disposed of exceeds 12 months, except that any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Any loss realized on a disposition of shares of a Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent that the shares disposed of are replaced with other substantially identical shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of a Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

Any distributions on, sales, exchanges or redemptions of, shares held in an IRA (or other tax-advantaged plan) are generally not currently taxable. However, subsequent withdrawals from such a tax-advantaged investment plan will be subject to special tax rules.

Transfers between classes of a single Fund are generally not taxable transactions. Certain significant holders of Fund shares are required to provide information concerning such a nontaxable exchange on their federal income tax returns for the year of the exchange. See the SAI under “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES-Special Tax Considerations.”

Cost-Basis reporting. The Funds (or their administrative agent) generally must report to the IRS the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares. The Funds also must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, and sold on or after such date, and indicate whether such shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. These requirements do not apply to investments through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement plan. If a shareholder does not make an election among the available IRS-accepted cost basis methods, the Fund will use a default cost basis method for the shareholder. The cost basis method elected or applied may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers concerning the most desirable IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation.

Medicare Surtax. A surtax of 3.8% will be imposed on net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Funds and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s gross income as adjusted exceeds a certain amount. Any liability for this additional tax will be reported on, and paid with, the shareholder’s federal income tax return.

Backup withholding. A shareholder of a Fund may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale or exchange of Fund shares if the shareholder (i) has failed to provide a correct taxpayer identification number, (ii) has been identified by the IRS as otherwise subject to backup withholding, or (iii) has failed to certify that the shareholder is a U.S. person not subject to backup withholding,. The backup withholding rate is 24% for tax years beginning before 2026.

Foreign Taxes. The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest and certain capital gains earned from their foreign security investments. Shareholders will generally be ineligible for any offsetting tax credit or tax deduction under U.S. tax laws for the shareholder’s portion of a Fund’s foreign tax obligations.

Annual Notifications. Each year, the Funds will notify shareholders of the tax status of dividends and distributions.

State and Local Income Taxes. Shareholders may also be subject to state and local income taxes on distributions and redemptions.

For more information, see the SAI under “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.” Investors should consult with their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal, foreign, state and local tax consequences of an investment in the Funds.

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the financial performance of the Funds for each fiscal period shown. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the Funds (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd. (“Cohen”) the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. Cohen’s report, along with the Funds’ financial statements, is included in the Funds’ annual report, which is available upon request and free of charge by calling the Funds at 1-844-894-9222.

Annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Funds’ investments. These reports discuss the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Funds’ performance during its last fiscal year.

The Statement of Additional Information provides more detailed information about the Fund. It is incorporated by reference into (is legally a part of) this Prospectus.

The Fund sends only one report to a household if more than one account has the same address. Contact the Transfer Agent if you do not want this policy to apply to you.

You can obtain shareholder reports or the statement of additional information (without charge), make inquiries or request other information about the Funds by contacting the Transfer Agent at 1-844-894-9222, by writing the Funds at Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund or Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund, P.O. Box 1920, Denver, CO 80201, or by calling your financial consultant. This information is also available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.beacontrust.com.

The Funds’ shareholder reports, prospectus and statement of additional information and other information about the Funds are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission’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.

If someone makes a statement about the Funds that is not in this Prospectus, you should not rely upon that information. Neither the Funds nor the Distributor is offering to sell shares of the Funds to any person to whom the Funds may not lawfully sell its shares.

This material must be preceded by a prospectus.
The Beacon Investment Funds are distributed by ALPS Distributors, Inc.

Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund and Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund (the “Funds”)

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) expands upon and supplements the information contained in the current Prospectus for the Funds listed above, each of which is a separate series of ALPS Series Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Trust”). Each series of the Trust represents shares of beneficial interest in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets with its own objective and policies. Beacon Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser of the Funds.

This SAI is not a prospectus and is only authorized for distribution when preceded or accompanied by the Funds’ current prospectus dated January 27, 2023, as supplemented from time to time (collectively, the “Prospectus”). This SAI supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by writing the Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund and the Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund at the address listed above, or by calling the Funds’ transfer agent at 1-844-894-9222. The Funds’ most recent Annual Report, if any, is incorporated by reference into this SAI and can be obtained free of charge, by calling the toll-free number printed above.

This SAI includes information about the Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund and the Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund (each individually a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are series of the ALPS Series Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end, management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 12, 2012.

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), classifies mutual funds as either diversified or non-diversified. The following table shows each Fund’s classification:

Each Fund’s principal investment objectives and strategies are discussed in the Prospectus under the “SUMMARY SECTION” for each Fund and under “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.” In order to achieve its investment objective, each Fund generally makes investments of the sort described in the Prospectus.

A Fund may also invest in certain types of securities, or engage in certain investment activities, as generally discussed below. In addition, a Fund may be subject to additional risks in connection with its investments in such securities or as a result of the Fund’s investment strategies or activities.

Bank obligations that may be purchased by a Fund include certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and fixed time deposits. A certificate of deposit is a short-term negotiable certificate issued by a commercial bank against funds deposited in the bank and is either interest-bearing or purchased on a discount basis. A banker’s acceptance is a short-term draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction. The borrower is liable for payment, as is the bank, which unconditionally guarantees to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Fixed time deposits are obligations of branches of U.S. or non-U.S. banks which are payable at a stated maturity date and bear a fixed rate of interest. Although fixed time deposits do not have a market, there are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in the deposit to a third party. Bank obligations may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation. Securities issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. banks and non-U.S. branches of U.S. banks are subject to many of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities generally.

Banks are subject to extensive governmental regulations which may limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments which may be made and interest rates and fees which may be charged. The profitability of this industry is to a significant extent dependent upon the availability and cost of capital of funds used by the bank to finance its lending operations. Also, general economic conditions play an important part in the operations of this industry and exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers might affect a bank’s ability to meet its obligations.

Borrowing creates an opportunity for increased return, but, at the same time, creates special risks. Furthermore, if a Fund were to engage in borrowing, an increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares by increasing the Fund’s interest expense.

Subject to the limitations described under “Investment Limitations” below, each Fund may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of a Fund’s assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. Provisions of the 1940 Act require each Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of a Fund’s total assets made for temporary emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary emergency purposes in excess of 5% of a Fund’s total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, a Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the Commission may prescribe by rules and regulations in order to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint if a Fund sells securities at that time. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased, if any. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowings or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by a Fund. See “Reverse Repurchase Agreements” below.

Brady Bonds are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas P. Brady. Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (but primarily the U.S. dollar), and are traded in the over-the-counter secondary market. Brady Bonds are not considered to be U.S. government securities. In light of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities in countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady Bonds may be viewed as speculative. If a Fund acquires a Brady Bond, there can be no assurance that the Brady Bonds will not be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to suffer a loss of interest or principal on any of its holdings.

Each Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts), multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of options, currency and interest rate transactions, instead of a single derivative, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the judgment of the Adviser, it is in the best interests of a Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions will normally be entered into by a Fund based on the Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase the risks or hinder achievement of the Fund’s investment objective.

Each Fund may invest in convertible securities, which are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities, which may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities ordinarily provide a stream of income, which generate higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers but lower than the yield on non-convertible debt. Convertible securities are usually subordinate or are comparable to non-convertible securities but rank senior to common stock or shares in a company’s capital structure. The value of a convertible security is a function of (i) its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (ii) its worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock. Convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies whose stock prices may be volatile. The price of a convertible security often reflects such variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt does not. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.

Common stocks are shares of a corporation or other entity that entitle the holder to a pro rata share of the profits of the corporation, if any, without preference over any other shareholder or class of shareholders, including holders of the entity’s preferred stock and other senior equity. Common stock usually carries with it the right to vote and frequently an exclusive right to do so.

Common stocks of companies that the Adviser believes have earnings that will grow faster than the economy as a whole are known as growth stocks. Growth stocks typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other stocks. As a result, the values of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s earnings growth is wrong, or if its judgment of how other investors will value the company’s earnings growth is wrong, then the price of that company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it.

Common stocks of companies that are not expected to experience significant earnings growth, but whose stocks the Adviser believes are undervalued compared to their true worth, are known as value stocks. These companies may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor. If the Adviser’s assessment of a company’s prospects is wrong, or if other investors do not eventually recognize the value of the company, then the price of the company’s stocks may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it.

Many stocks have both “growth” and “value” characteristics, and for some stocks it may be unclear which category, if any, it fits into.

Each Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts. When used for hedging purposes, a Fund would be the buyer of a credit default swap contract. In that case, a Fund would be entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation, index or other investment from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign issuer, on the referenced debt obligation. In return, the Fund would pay to the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When a Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, a Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

In addition to the risks applicable to derivatives generally, credit default swaps involve special risks because they are difficult to value, are highly susceptible to liquidity and credit risk, and generally pay a return to the party that has paid the premium only in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation, as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial difficulty.

Credit default swaps may be subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or both. Both the CFTC and the SEC have issued or amended guidance and relief regarding the implementation of various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) relating to the use of swaps. Further action by the CFTC or SEC may affect a Fund’s ability to use credit default swaps or may require additional disclosure by the Fund.

The fixed-income securities in which each Fund may invest will not be required to meet a minimum rating standard. Fixed-income securities that are not rated for creditworthiness by any internationally recognized credit rating organization are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and involve significantly greater risks, including price volatility and risk of default of payment of interest and principal than higher rated securities. A description of the ratings used by Moody’s and S&P is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI.

A Fund may engage in currency transactions with counterparties to hedge the value of portfolio securities denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value, to gain or reduce exposure to certain currencies or to generate income or gains.

Currency transactions include currency forward contracts and exchange-listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options on currencies and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below under “Interest Rate and Equity Swaps and Related Transactions.”

Each Fund may enter into a forward contract to sell, for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars, the amount of that currency approximating the value of some or all of a Fund’s portfolio securities denominated in such currency. For example, a Fund may do this if the Adviser believes that the currency of a particular country may decline in relation to the U.S. dollar. Forward contracts may limit potential gain from a positive change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies. Transaction hedging includes entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a Fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio securities or the receipt of income from them. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio securities positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.

Each Fund may cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to increase or decline in value relative to other currencies to which a Fund has or in which a Fund expects to have exposure. To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of its securities, a Fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a Fund’s holdings is exposed is difficult to hedge generally or difficult to hedge against the dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a forward contract to sell a currency, the changes in the value of which are generally considered to be linked to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a Fund’s securities are or are expected to be denominated and to buy dollars.

Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other derivative transactions. Currency transactions can result in losses to a Fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, the risk exists that the perceived linkage between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a Fund is engaging in these transactions. Currency transactions are also subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be adversely affected by government exchange controls, limitations or restrictions on repatriation of currency and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These forms of governmental actions can result in losses to a Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or monies in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.

Depositary receipts include sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts that are or become available, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and other depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are typically issued by a financial institution (“depositary”) and evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities (“underlying securities”) that have been deposited with the depositary. The depositary for ADRs is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a non-U.S. issuer. ADRs are publicly traded on exchanges or OTC in the United States and are issued through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” arrangements. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the non-U.S. issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees, whereas under an unsponsored arrangement, the non-U.S. issuer assumes no obligation and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid by the ADR holders. In addition, less information is available in the United States about an unsponsored ADR than about a sponsored ADR, and the financial information about a company may not be as reliable for an unsponsored ADR as it is for a sponsored ADR. In the case of GDRs, the depositary can be a non-U.S. or a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a non-U.S. issuer. GDRs allow companies in Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America to offer shares in many markets around the world, thus allowing them to raise capital in these markets, as opposed to just in their home market. The advantage of GDRs is that shares do not have to be bought through the issuing company’s home exchange, which may be difficult and expensive, but can be bought on all major stock exchanges. In addition, the share price and all dividends are converted to the shareholder’s home currency. As for other depositary receipts, the depositary may be a non-U.S. or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a non-U.S. or a U.S. issuer. For purposes of each Fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depositary receipts purchased by a Fund may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted, in which case the Fund may be exposed to relative currency fluctuations.

Each Fund may engage in a variety of derivative transactions in accordance with the applicable rules of the CFTC, and, to the extent applicable, the rules and regulations of certain national or foreign exchanges; however, a Fund will not be obligated to use derivatives and the Funds make no representations as to the availability of these techniques at this time or at any time in the future. Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indexes and other assets. The types of derivatives in which a Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, futures contracts, currency forward contracts and currency swaps, the purchase and sale (or writing) of exchange listed and OTC put and call options on debt and equity securities, currencies, entering into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps floors, and collars, entering into equity swaps, caps and floors, the purchase and sale of indexed debt securities or trading in other similar types of instruments.

Derivatives may be used, among other reasons, as part of a Fund’s investment strategy, to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held or to be purchased for a Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its securities, to facilitate the sale of those securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a Fund’s portfolio or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities or to seek to enhance a Fund’s income or gain. A Fund may use any or all types of derivatives which it is authorized to use at any time; no particular strategy will dictate the use of one type of transaction rather than another, as use of any authorized derivative will be a function of numerous variables, including market conditions.

The ability of a Fund to utilize derivatives successfully will depend on numerous factors including the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. These skills are different from those needed to select a Fund’s portfolio securities.

Subject to the constraints described above, each Fund may (if and to the extent so authorized) enter into futures contracts, currency forward contracts and currency swaps, purchase and sell (or write) exchange listed and OTC put and call options on securities, loan participations and assignments, currencies, futures contracts, indices and other financial instruments, and each Fund may enter into interest rate transactions, equity swaps and related transactions and other similar transactions which may be developed to the extent the Adviser determines that they are consistent with a Fund’s investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory requirements. A Fund’s interest rate transactions may take the form of swaps, caps, floors and collars, and a Fund’s currency transactions may take the form of currency forward contracts, currency swaps and options on currencies.

Certain standardized swap transactions are currently subject to mandatory central clearing or may be eligible for voluntary central clearing. Central clearing is expected to decrease counterparty risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterpart to each participant’s swap. However, central clearing does not eliminate counterparty risk or illiquidity risk entirely. In addition, depending on the size of a Fund and other factors, the margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by a fund to support its obligations under a similar uncleared swap.

In connection with the use of certain derivatives, the Adviser intends to comply with the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by operating a Fund in a manner consistent with the restrictions of Rule 4.5, including filing a notice of eligibility of exemption from registration in accordance with applicable procedures and deadlines.

Derivatives involve special risks, including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of derivatives could result in significantly greater losses than if it had not been used. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce a Fund’s net asset value, and possibly income, and the losses may be significantly greater than if derivatives had not been used.

Each Fund’s use of derivatives may be limited by certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). When used, derivatives may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxes payable by shareholders. See “TAXES.”

When conducted outside the United States, derivatives may not be regulated as rigorously as in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and will be subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. In addition, the price of any foreign options contract and, therefore, the potential profit and loss thereon, may be affected by any variance in the foreign exchange rate between the time an order is placed and the time it is liquidated, offset or exercised. The value of positions taken as part of non-U.S. derivatives also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors; (ii) lesser availability of data on which to make trading decisions than in the United States; (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during nonbusiness hours in the United States; (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States; and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.

Each Fund will invest in equity securities. Equity securities (which generally include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, securities convertible into common or preferred stocks and similar securities) are generally volatile and riskier than some other forms of investment. Equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies or broad equity market indices generally. Common stock and other equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies and other direct or indirect interests in business organizations.

Shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other similar instruments may be purchased by the Funds. Generally, an ETF is an investment company that is registered under the 1940 Act Index ETFs that holds a portfolio of securities designed to track the performance of a particular index or index segment, actively managed ETFs are actively managed by an investment adviser. Similar instruments, issued by pools that are not investment companies, offer characteristics similar to index ETFs and may be designed to track the performance of an index or basket of securities of companies engaged in a particular market or sector. ETFs sell and redeem their shares at net asset value in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day.

Investments in ETFs and other similar instruments involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly-based portfolio of stocks including: (i) risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument; (ii) an index ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weightings of securities or number of stocks held; (iii) an ETF may also be adversely affected by the performance of the specific index, market sector or group of industries on which it is based; and (iv) an index ETF may not track an index as well as a traditional index mutual fund because ETFs are valued by the market and, therefore, there may be a difference between the market value and the ETF’s net asset value. Each Fund may both purchase and effect short sales of shares of ETFs and may also purchase and sell options on shares of ETFs. These investments may be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity).

Because ETFs and pools that issue similar instruments incur various fees and expenses, a Fund’s investment in these instruments will involve certain indirect costs, as well as transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions. The Adviser will consider expenses associated with an investment in determining whether to invest in an ETF or other instrument. In the case of ETFs that are investment companies, they invest substantially all of their assets in securities of various securities indices or a particular segment of a securities index. The market price of ETFs is expected to fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the asset values of their underlying indices and supply and demand of an ETF’s shares on the exchange. ETFs may trade at relatively modest discounts or premiums to net asset value. In general, most ETFs have a limited operating history and information may be lacking regarding the actual performance and trading liquidity of such shares for extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of ETFs in which a Fund invests will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting the shares of ETFs held by a Fund should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of that Fund’s shares could also be adversely affected.

Limitations of the 1940 Act, which prohibit a Fund from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding shares of another investment company, may restrict a Fund’s ability to purchase shares of certain ETFs.

Each Fund may purchase securities on a firm commitment basis, including when-issued securities. Each Fund may also be entitled to receive when-issued securities in relation to its holdings in common stock of companies that undertake certain corporate actions and reorganizations. Securities purchased on a firm commitment basis are purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield. No income accrues to the purchaser of a security on a firm commitment basis prior to delivery. Such securities are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. Purchasing a security on a firm commitment basis can involve a risk that the market price at the time of delivery may be lower than the agreed upon purchase price, in which case there could be an unrealized loss at the time of delivery. A Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a firm commitment basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. As when-issued securities are subject to delayed or deferred settlement, such securities may be either illiquid, or suffer from severe constraints in liquidity. When purchasing securities pursuant to a when-issued or forward commitment transaction, payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date. However, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations. When a Fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the Fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. A Fund may renegotiate a when-issued or firm commitment transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the Fund. When-issued and forward-commitment transactions will not be considered to constitute issuance by a Fund of a “senior security” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore, such transactions will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all of its unfunded commitment agreements, in each case as they come due.

Each Fund may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities generally pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate or other factor. Fixed-income securities may include securities issued by U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. governments and other agencies and instrumentalities, and by a wide range of private or corporate issuers. Fixed-income securities include, among others, bonds, notes, bills, debentures, convertible securities, bank obligations, mortgage and other asset-backed securities, loan participations and assignments and commercial paper.

Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of a Fund for any particular period. Except to the extent that values are affected independently by other factors such as developments relating to a specific issuer or group of issuers, when interest rates decline, the value of fixed-income securities can generally be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities can generally be expected to decline. Prices of longer term securities generally increase or decrease more sharply than those of shorter term securities in response to interest rate changes, particularly if such securities were purchased at a discount. It should be noted that the market values of securities rated below investment grade and comparable unrated securities tend to react less to fluctuations in interest rate levels than do those of higher-rated securities.

Call or Buy-Back Features. In addition, many fixed-income securities contain call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders. Such securities may present risks based on payment expectations. Although a Fund may typically receive a premium if an issuer were to redeem a security, if an issuer exercises such a “call option” and redeems the security during a time of declining interest rates, a Fund may realize a capital loss on its investment if the security was purchased at a premium and a Fund may have to replace the called security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased rate of return to the Fund.

Each Fund may invest in floating and variable rate obligations. Floating or variable rate obligations bear interest at rates that are not fixed, but vary with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as the prime rate, and at specified intervals. Variable rate obligations invest include variable rate master demand notes, which are unsecured instruments issued pursuant to an agreement between the issuer and the holder that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate.

Certain floating or variable rate obligations may carry a demand feature that would permit the holder to tender them back to the issuer of the instrument or to a third party at par value prior to maturity. Some demand instruments may not be traded in a secondary market and derive their liquidity solely from the ability of the holder to demand repayment from the issuer or third party providing credit support. If a demand instrument is not traded in a secondary market, a Fund will nonetheless treat the instrument as liquid for the purposes of its investment restriction limiting investments in illiquid securities unless the demand feature has a notice period of more than seven days; if the notice period is greater than seven days, such a demand instrument will be characterized as illiquid for such purpose. A Fund’s right to obtain payment at par on a demand instrument could be affected by events occurring between the date a Fund elects to demand payment and the date payment is due that may affect the ability of the issuer of the instrument or a third party providing credit support to make payment when due. To facilitate settlement, some demand instruments may be held in book entry form at a bank other than a Fund’s custodian subject to a sub-custodian agreement approved by a Fund between that bank and the Fund’s custodian.

Each Fund may make time deposits in interest-bearing foreign bank accounts. Such time deposits will be subject to conditions placed on the time deposit account by the applicable bank (e.g., higher interest payments for maintaining funds in the account for longer periods of time). The Adviser generally expects its foreign bank time deposits to be made and maintained in U.S. dollars; however, the Adviser may make such deposits in foreign currencies where the Adviser deems such investments to be in the best interest of a Fund. Foreign bank time deposit accounts may be subject to restrictions on withdrawal, including penalties or reductions in interest for withdrawals before the end of the expected or intended duration of the time deposit.

Each Fund may invest in high-yield securities. High-yield securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligations. Under rating agency guidelines, any quality and protective characteristics of high-yield securities will likely be outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Medium and lower rated securities may have poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing, may have a current identifiable vulnerability to default, may be unlikely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, and/or may be in default or not current in the payment of interest or principal.

The credit ratings of S&P, Fitch, Moody’s or other agencies are evaluations of the safety of principal and interest payments, not market value risk, of lower-rated securities. Credit rating agencies may fail to change timely the credit ratings to reflect subsequent events. Many debt securities in international markets, especially in emerging markets, bear no rating whatsoever. Ratings organizations have declined to determine ratings for such securities for a host of reasons, including but not limited to the issuer’s lack of scale, insufficient or inadequate disclosure by the issuer, or insufficient operating history on the part of the issuer.

Neither a Fund nor the Adviser can conclude that ratings issued by recognized agencies reflect the true financial position of the underlying issuer; nor can any Fund or the Adviser be certain an issuer will maintain its current credit rating in the future. When available, the Adviser may refer to selected ratings from recognized agencies. The Adviser may also choose to augment such ratings with its own analyses of issuers, which may include, among other things, review of historic and current financial conditions and anticipated future cash flows.

Changes in Credit Ratings. Changes by recognized rating services in their ratings of a high-yield security and in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal may also affect the value of these investments. A description of the ratings used by Moody’s and S&P is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI. The ratings of Moody’s and S&P generally represent the opinions of those organizations as to the quality of the securities that they rate. Such ratings, however, are relative and subjective, are not absolute standards of quality, are subject to change and do not evaluate the market risk or liquidity of the securities. Ratings of a non-U.S. debt instrument, to the extent that those ratings are undertaken, are related to evaluations of the country in which the issuer of the instrument is located, which may cause a rating to be lower than would otherwise by suggested by the intrinsic creditworthiness of the issuer.

Liquidity. The secondary markets for high-yield securities are not as liquid as the secondary markets for higher rated securities. The secondary markets for high-yield securities are concentrated in relatively few market makers and participants in the market are mostly institutional investors, including insurance companies, banks, other financial institutions and mutual funds. In addition, the trading volume for high-yield securities is generally lower than that for higher-rated securities and the secondary markets could contract under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, decreasing the liquidity of high-yield securities held in general. These factors may have an adverse effect on the ability of a Fund holding such securities to dispose of particular portfolio investments at the price it would wish, may adversely affect a Fund’s net asset value per share and may limit the ability of a Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing securities and calculating net asset value.

Legislative and Regulatory Developments. Prices for high-yield securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. These laws could adversely affect a Fund’s investments in high-yield securities, the secondary market for high-yield securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the value of outstanding high-yield securities. For example, federal legislation requiring the divestiture by federally insured savings and loan associations of their investments in high-yield bonds and limiting the deductibility of interest by certain corporate issuers of high-yield bonds adversely affected the market in prior years.

High-yield Corporate Securities. While the market values of securities rated below investment grade and comparable unrated securities tend to react less to fluctuations in interest rate levels than do those of higher-rated securities, the values of certain of these securities also tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher-rated securities. In addition, such securities present a higher degree of credit risk. Issuers of these securities are often highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. The risk of loss due to default by such issuers is significantly greater than with investment grade securities because such securities generally are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If a Fund holds such securities, the Fund also could incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. These risks may be greater for non-U.S. high-yield securities especially those of issuers located in emerging markets.

The development of markets for high-yield corporate securities has been a relatively recent phenomenon, especially outside the United States. In addition, these markets have undergone significant changes in the past and may undergo significant changes in the future.

A Fund may invest in high-yield securities that bear interest at fixed rates, securities with variable rates of interest, or securities that involve equity features, such as contingent interest or participations based on revenues, sales or profits (i.e., interest or other payments, often in addition to a fixed rate of return, that are based on the borrower’s attainment of specified levels of revenues, sales or profits and thus enable the holder of the security to share in the potential success of the venture).

High-yield Non-U.S. Debt Securities. Investing in fixed and floating rate high-yield non-U.S. debt securities, especially those of issuers located in emerging market countries, will expose a Fund to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities or in which the issuers are located, in addition to the risks of investing in high-yield securities generally. For example, the ability and willingness of sovereign obligors in emerging market countries or the governmental authorities that control repayment of their external debt to pay principal and interest on such debt when due may depend on general economic and political conditions within the relevant country. Certain countries in which a Fund may invest, especially emerging market countries, have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. Many of these countries are also characterized by political uncertainty or instability. Additional factors which may influence the ability or willingness to service debt include, but are not limited to, an issuer’s (including sovereign issuers) cash flow situation, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, and the relative size of its debt service burden. Non-U.S. issuers, including government issuers, may also have debt (such as commercial bank debt) which is senior to its high-yield securities.

The ability of a non-U.S. sovereign obligor, especially an obligor in an emerging market country, to make timely payments on its external debt obligations will also be strongly influenced by the obligor’s balance of payments, including export performance, its access to international credit and investments, fluctuations in interest rates and the extent of its foreign reserves, and the issuing government’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international agencies. A country whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities or whose economy depends on certain strategic imports could be vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices of these commodities or imports. To the extent that a country receives payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars could be adversely affected. If a non-U.S. sovereign obligor cannot generate sufficient earnings from foreign trade to service its external debt, it may need to depend on continuing loans and aid from foreign governments, commercial banks and multilateral organizations, and inflows of foreign investment. The commitment on the part of these foreign governments, multilateral organizations and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the government’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of its obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds, which may further impair the obligor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. The cost of servicing external debt will also generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates, because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are adjusted based upon international interest rates. The ability to service external debt will also depend on the level of the relevant government’s international currency reserves and its access to foreign exchange. Currency devaluations may affect the ability of an issuer to obtain sufficient foreign exchange to service its debt. The risks enumerated above are particularly heightened with regard to issuers in emerging market countries.

As a result of the foregoing or other factors, a governmental obligor, especially an obligor in an emerging market country, may default on its obligations. If such an event occurs, a Fund may have limited legal recourse against the issuer and/or guarantor. Remedies must, in some cases, be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party itself, and the ability of the holder of non-U.S. sovereign debt securities to obtain recourse may be subject to the political climate in the relevant country.

Each Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in illiquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which a Fund has valued the securities. Illiquid securities are considered to include, among other things, written OTC options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), and other securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws.

To the extent that instruments that a Fund holds become illiquid due to the lack of sufficient buyers or market or other conditions, the percentage of a Fund’s assets invested in illiquid assets would increase. The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, monitors Fund investments in assignments and loan participations and will, in such a case, consider appropriate measures to enable a Fund to maintain sufficient liquidity for operating purposes and to meet redemption requests.

Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.

Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or twenty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semiannual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if a Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months were 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate. Each Fund may also invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation.

Interest only securities (“IOs”) are a form of stripped mortgage security. Stripped mortgage securities may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. The risk of early prepayment is the primary risk associated with IOs.

Stripped mortgage securities are structured with two or more classes of securities that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. IOs are one class of a stripped mortgage security that receives all of the interest (while another class will receive all of the principal (“POs” or “principal only class”)).

Each Fund may enter into interest rate and equity swaps and may purchase or sell (i.e., write) interest rate and equity caps, floors and collars. If a Fund enters into these types of transactions, the Fund expects that it would do so in order to hedge against either a decline in the value of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio, or against an increase in the price of the securities which it plans to purchase, in order to preserve or maintain a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or to achieve a particular return on cash balances, or in order to increase income or gain. Interest rate and equity swaps involve the exchange between the parties to the swap of their respective commitments to make or receive payments based on a notional principal amount. The purchase of an interest rate or equity cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined level, to receive payments on a contractually-based principal amount from the party selling the interest rate or equity cap. The purchase of an interest rate or equity floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined rate, to receive payments on a contractually-based principal amount from the party selling the interest rate or equity floor. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor which preserve a certain return within a predetermined range of values.

The use of interest rate and equity swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. There is a risk that is incorrect forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, will diminish the investment performance of a Fund compared with what it would have been if these investment techniques were not utilized. Moreover, even if the forecasts are correct, there is a risk that the swap position may correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or liability being hedged.

As is the case with options strategies, the effective use of swaps and related transactions by a Fund may depend, among other things, on the Fund’s ability to terminate the transactions at times when the Adviser deems it desirable to do so. To the extent a transaction is not or cannot be terminated in a timely manner, a Fund may suffer a loss in excess of any amounts that it may have received, or expected to receive, as a result of entering into the transaction.

The liquidity of swap agreements will be determined based on various factors, including (i) the frequency of trades and quotations, (ii) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market, (iv) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender features), and (v) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or offset a Fund’s rights and obligations relating to the investment).

There is no limit on the amount of interest rate and equity swap transactions that may be entered into by a Fund. Because swaps and related transactions are bilateral contractual arrangements between the counterparties to the transactions, a Fund’s ability to terminate such an arrangement may be considerably more limited than in the case of an exchange traded instrument. If the other party to a swap defaults, a Fund’s risk of loss is the net amount of payments that the Fund contractually is entitled to receive, if any.

Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, a Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers or dealers or other financial institutions in accordance with policies and procedures of the Trust, as may be adopted from time to time. The procedure for the lending of securities will typically include the following features and conditions. The collateral will consist either of U.S. Government Securities or the borrower of the securities will deposit cash with a Fund in an amount equal to a minimum of 100% of the market value of the securities lent. A Fund will seek to invest the collateral in short-term debt securities, cash equivalents (or pooled investment vehicle interests in cash, cash equivalents and short-term debt instruments) and earn the income thereon. A negotiated portion of the income so earned may be paid to the securities lending agent (e.g. a bank or trust company) who arranged the loan. The collateral will be marked to market daily, and if the value of the collateral drops below the required minimum at any time, the borrower may typically be called upon to post additional collateral. These will be “demand” loans and may be terminated by a Fund at any time. A Fund will receive any payments in lieu of dividends and interest paid on the securities lent, although the U.S. federal income tax characteristics of such payment may change. A Fund’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned.

The terms of the structure of the loan arrangements, as well as the aggregate amount of securities loans, must be consistent with the 1940 Act and rules and interpretations of the SEC thereunder. These provisions limit the amount of securities a Fund may lend to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets and require (1) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, or securities issued by the U.S. government having at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities lent; (2) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities lent rises; (3) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time; and (4) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the Fund’s investing any cash collateral in interest-bearing short-term investments), any distributions on the lent securities, and any increase in their market value. Loan arrangements made by each Fund will comply with all other applicable regulatory requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, which presently require the borrower, after notice, to redeliver the securities within the normal settlement time of three business days. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of the borrower, among other things, in making decisions with respect to lending securities, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. At present time, the SEC does not object if any investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with lent securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s trustees. In addition, voting rights pass with the lent securities, but if a Fund has knowledge that a material event will occur affecting securities on loan, and with respect to which the holder of securities will be entitled to vote or consent, the lender must be entitled to call the loaned securities in time to vote or consent. A Fund bears the risk that there may be a delay in the return of the securities, which may impair the Fund’s ability to vote on such a matter. A Fund may include, as part of its total assets, the assets that it receives as collateral for loans of its portfolio securities, for purposes of determining compliance with the requirement that a mutual fund should not have on loan at any given time securities representing more than one-third of its total asset value.

These transactions must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some credit risk to a Fund if the borrower or the party (if any) guaranteeing the loan should default on its obligations. In the event of the default or bankruptcy of the other party to a securities loan, a Fund could experience delays in recovering the securities it lent. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities a Fund lent has increased or the value of the collateral decreased, the Fund could experience a loss. In the event of a default by the borrower, a Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except that the Fund may retain any such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. A Fund may also lose money if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

Although voting rights or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, a Fund, as the lender, generally retains the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will attempt to do so in order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters which the Adviser believes materially affect the investment; however, a Fund may not be able to recall the securities in time for the Fund to be the owner on the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote or consent on the matter. A Fund may typically also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved.

Each Fund may hold money market instruments, including commercial paper, bankers acceptances, certificates of deposit and other short-term debt securities. A Fund may hold money market instruments for many reasons including, (i) as part of the Adviser’s strategy in order to take advantage of investment opportunities as they arise, (ii) when the portfolio managers believe that market conditions are unfavorable for profitable investing for the Fund, (iii) when the portfolio managers are otherwise unable to locate attractive investment opportunities for the Fund, (iv) as a temporary measure in order to meet redemption requests, or (v) as a defensive measure in response to adverse market or economic conditions. During periods when a Fund maintains exposure to money market instruments, it may not participate in market movements to the same extent that it would if the Fund was more fully invested in equity securities.

Investors should recognize that investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers generally, and particularly in emerging and frontier market issuers, involves special considerations which are not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers may involve risks arising from differences between U.S. and non-U.S. securities markets, including less volume, much greater price volatility in and relative illiquidity of non-U.S. securities markets, different trading and settlement practices, and less governmental supervision and regulation, from changes in currency exchange rates, from high and volatile rates of inflation, from economic, social and political conditions and, as with domestic multinational corporations, from fluctuating interest rates.

Since most non-U.S. securities are denominated in non-U.S. currencies or traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in non-U.S. currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment income available for distribution to shareholders of a Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations. To the extent a Fund purchases securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of a Fund’s assets and a Fund’s income available for distribution. A Fund’s foreign currency transactions may give rise to ordinary income or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency. See “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.”

In addition, even though each Fund’s income may be received or realized in foreign currencies, each Fund will be required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines after a Fund’s income has been earned in that currency, translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of such dividend, a Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to pay such dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines between the time a Fund incurs expenses or other obligations in U.S. dollars in order to pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred.

Certain markets are in only the earliest stages of development. There is also a high concentration of market capitalization and trading volume in a small number of issuers representing a limited number of industries, as well as a high concentration of investors and financial intermediaries. Many of such markets also may be affected by developments with respect to more established markets in the region. Brokers in non-U.S. and emerging/frontier market countries typically are fewer in number and less capitalized than brokers in the United States. These factors, combined with the U.S. regulatory requirements for open-end investment companies and the restrictions on foreign investment, may have an adverse impact on the investment performance of a Fund to the extent a Fund invests in these markets. There generally is less governmental supervision and regulation of exchanges, brokers and issuers in non-U.S. countries than there is in the United States. For example, there may be no comparable provisions under certain non-U.S. laws to insider trading and similar investor protection securities laws that apply with respect to securities transactions consummated in the United States. Further, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on non-U.S. securities exchanges, particularly in frontier markets, generally are higher than in the United States. With respect to investments in certain emerging market countries, less comprehensive legal systems may have an adverse impact on a Fund. For example, while the potential liability of a shareholder in a U.S. corporation with respect to acts of the corporation is generally limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment, the notion of limited liability is less clear in emerging market countries. Similarly, the rights of investors in emerging market companies may be more limited than those of shareholders of U.S. corporations.

Other risks associated with investments in non-U.S. securities include the possible imposition of foreign withholding taxes on certain amounts of a Fund’s income which may reduce the net return on non-U.S. investments as compared to income received from a U.S. issuer, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign assets and the possible establishment of exchange controls, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, other foreign governmental laws or restrictions which might affect adversely payments due on securities held by a Fund, the lack of extensive operating experience of eligible foreign sub-custodians, and legal limitations on the ability of a Fund to recover assets held in custody by a foreign sub-custodian in the event of the sub-custodian’s bankruptcy.

In addition, there may be less publicly-available information about a non-U.S. issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and non-U.S. issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial record-keeping standards and requirements as U.S. issuers. In particular, the assets and profits appearing on the financial statements of an emerging or frontier market country issuer may not reflect its financial position or results of operations in the way they would be reflected had the financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, for an issuer that keeps accounting records in local currency, inflation accounting rules may require, for both tax and accounting purposes, that certain assets and liabilities be restated on the issuer’s balance sheet in order to express items in terms of currency of constant purchasing power. Inflation accounting may indirectly generate losses or profits. Consequently, financial data may be materially affected by restatements for inflation and may not accurately reflect the real condition of those issuers and securities markets. Finally, in the event of a default of any such foreign obligations, it may be more difficult for a Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment against the issuers of such obligations. The manner in which foreign investors may invest in companies in certain emerging and frontier market countries, as well as limitations on such investments, also may have an adverse impact on the operations of a Fund to the extent a Fund invests in those markets. For example, a Fund may be required in certain of such countries to invest initially through a local broker or other entity and then have the shares purchased re-registered in the name of the Fund. Re-registration may in some instances not be able to occur on a timely basis, resulting in a delay during which the Fund may be denied certain of its rights as an investor.

Non-U.S. markets have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have failed to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Further, satisfactory custodial services for investment securities may not be available in some countries having smaller emerging markets, which may result in a Fund incurring additional costs and delays in transporting and custodying such securities outside such countries. Delays in settlement or other problems could result in periods when assets of a Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems or the risk of intermediary counterparty failures could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. The inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement problems could result either in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in the value of such portfolio security or, if a Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

Rules adopted under the 1940 Act permit each Fund to maintain its non-U.S. securities and cash in the custody of certain eligible non-U.S. banks and securities depositories.

Certain banks in non-U.S. countries may not be eligible sub-custodians for a Fund, in which event a Fund may be precluded from purchasing securities in certain non-U.S. countries in which it otherwise would invest or which may result in a Fund’s incurring additional costs and delays in providing transportation and custody services for such securities outside of such countries. A Fund may encounter difficulties in effecting on a timely basis portfolio transactions with respect to any securities of issuers held outside their countries. Other banks that are eligible non-U.S. sub-custodians may be recently organized or otherwise lack extensive operating experience. In addition, in certain countries there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of a Fund to recover assets held in custody by non-U.S. sub-custodians in the event of the bankruptcy of the sub-custodian.

In addition to the options on instruments and indices described in this SAI, each Fund reserves the right to purchase or sell options on other instruments and indices and those which may be developed in the future to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Fund’s investment objective and the restrictions set forth herein.

A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy (if the option is exercised), the underlying security, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. If a Fund were to purchase a put option on a security, for example, it might do so in an attempt to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value of such instrument by giving the Fund the right to sell the instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy (if the option is exercised), and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. If a Fund were to purchase a call option on a security, index, currency or other instrument, for example, it might do so in an attempt to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase the instrument. An “American” style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period, whereas a “European” style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior to expiration. Exchange-listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to the options.

A Fund may purchase put and call options or write “covered” put and call options on stock indices, interest rates and currencies in order to hedge against adverse market shifts or to potentially increase income or gain. In addition, a Fund may utilize options on currencies in order to hedge against currency exchange rate risks or to gain exposure to one or more currencies. A call option written by a Fund is “covered” so long as the Fund owns: (i) the underlying investment subject to the option; (ii) securities convertible or exchangeable without the payment of any consideration into the securities subject to the option; or (iii) a call option on the relevant security or currency with an exercise price no higher than the exercise price on the call option written. A put option written by a Fund is “covered” if the Fund has certain offsetting puts. Parties to options transactions must make certain payments and/or set aside certain amounts of assets in connection with each transaction.

If a Fund writes a call, the Fund will generally limit its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying investment above the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option continues. If a Fund writes a put, the Fund will generally limit its opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market value of the underlying investment below the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option continues. Upon the exercise of a put option written by a Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to the difference between the price at which the Fund is required to purchase the underlying investment and its market value at the time of the option exercise, less the premium received for writing the option. Upon the exercise of a call option written by a Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to an amount not less than the Fund’s acquisition cost of the investment underlying the option, less the sum of the premium received for writing the option and the exercise price paid to the Fund.

A Fund may choose to exercise the options it holds, permit them to expire or terminate them prior to their expiration by entering into closing transactions. A Fund may enter into a closing purchase transaction in which the Fund purchases an option having the same terms as the option it had written or a closing sale transaction in which the Fund sells an option having the same terms as the option it had purchased.

Exchange-listed options on securities and currencies, with certain exceptions, generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future, cash settlement may become available. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option. Index options are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (that is, the amount by which the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised.

OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (collectively referred to as “counterparties” and individually referred to as a “counterparty”) through a direct bilateral agreement with the counterparty. In contrast to exchange-listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guaranties and security, are determined by negotiation of the parties.

Unless the parties provide for it, no central clearing or guaranty function is involved in an OTC option. As a result, if a counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Thus, the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each such counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be met.

If a Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments held by the Fund or will increase the Fund’s income. Similarly, the sale of put options can also provide gains for a Fund. A Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the OTC markets, and on securities indices and currencies. Even though a Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, use of options could result in losses to the Fund, force the purchase or sale of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher or lower than current market values, or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell or sell a security it might otherwise hold.

A Fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC-issued or exchange-listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the particular option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities, including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or the OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although any such outstanding options on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that would not be reflected in the corresponding option markets.

Options on Stocks and Stock Indices. Each Fund may purchase put and call options and write covered put and call options on stocks and stock indices in order to hedge against movements in the equity markets or to potentially increase income or gain to the Fund. In addition, each Fund may purchase options on stocks that are traded over-the-counter. Options on stock indices are similar to options on specific securities. However, because options on stock indices do not involve the delivery of an underlying security, the option represents the holder’s right to obtain from the writer cash in an amount equal to a fixed multiple of the amount by which the exercise price exceeds (in the case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a call) the closing value of the underlying stock index on the exercise date. Options are also traded in certain industry or market segment indices. Stock index options are subject to position and exercise limits and other regulations imposed by the exchange on which they are traded.

For example, a purchase of a call option on a stock index could be used as a hedge against an increase in prices of particular equity securities a Fund wanted ultimately to buy if the Adviser expected general stock market prices to rise. If the stock index does rise, the price of the particular equity securities intended to be purchased may also increase, but that increase should be offset in part by the increase in the value of a Fund’s index option resulting from the increase in the index. On the other hand, a purchase of a put option on the index could be used if the Adviser expected general stock market prices to decline. If that index does decline, the value of some or all of the equity securities in a Fund’s portfolio may also be expected to decline, but that decrease would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund’s position in such put option.

Options on Currencies. Each Fund may invest in options on currencies traded on domestic and foreign securities exchanges in order to hedge against currency exchange rate risks or to increase income or gain, as described above in “Currency Transactions.”

Each Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including open-end investment companies, subject to limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by a Fund. A Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. No adjustments will be made to the advisory fee with respect to assets of a Fund invested in such investment companies.

A Fund’s investment in other investment companies may include securities of closed-end investment companies investing in foreign securities. A Fund will invest in closed-end investment companies only in furtherance of their investment objectives. Growth in appreciation and dividends in foreign markets sometimes occurs at a faster rate than in domestic markets. The ability of a Fund to invest in closed-end investment companies that invest in foreign securities provides, indirectly, greater variety and added expertise with respect to investments in foreign markets than if the Fund invested directly in such markets. Such companies themselves, however, may have policies that are different from those of a Fund.

A Fund’s investment in other investment companies may also include shares of ETFs, which are described elsewhere in this section under the heading “Exchange-Traded Funds and Other Similar Instruments.”

Preferred stocks, like debt obligations, are generally fixed-income securities. Shareholders of preferred stocks normally have the right to receive dividends at a fixed rate when and as declared by the issuer’s board of directors, but do not participate in other amounts available for distribution by the issuing corporation. Dividends on the preferred stock may be cumulative, and generally all cumulative dividends must be paid prior to common shareholders receiving any dividends. Because as a general matter preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends, preferred stocks generally entail less risk than common stocks. Upon liquidation, preferred stocks are generally entitled to a specified liquidation preference, which is generally the same as the par or stated value, and are senior in right of payment to common stock. Preferred stocks are, however, equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer as great a degree of protection of capital or assurance of continued income as investments in corporate debt securities. In addition, preferred stocks are subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer, and convertible preferred stocks may be subordinated to other preferred stock of the same issuer.

Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the seller of a security commits itself at the time of sale to repurchase that security from the buyer at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Such transactions afford the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at relatively low market risk. When a Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the Adviser will monitor the value of the securities underlying the repurchase agreement at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement to ensure that the value of the securities always equals or exceeds the repurchase price. A Fund will require that additional securities be deposited if the value of the securities purchased decreases below their resale price and does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under the repurchase obligation.

While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality of the U.S. government, the obligation of the seller is not guaranteed by the U.S. government and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, a Fund would attempt to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible disposition in the market. However, a Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (i) possible declines in the value of the underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (ii) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (iii) inability to enforce rights and the expenses involved in the attempted enforcement.

Repurchase agreements with maturities of more than seven days will be treated as illiquid securities.

Each Fund may enter into “reverse” repurchase agreements to avoid selling securities during unfavorable market conditions to meet redemptions. Pursuant to a reverse repurchase agreement, a Fund sells portfolio securities and agree to repurchase them from the buyer at a particular date and price. A Fund will pay interest on amounts obtained pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by a Fund. See “Borrowing” above.

Restricted Securities and Securities with Limited Trading Markets (Rule 144A)

Each Fund may purchase securities for which there is a limited trading market or which are subject to restrictions on resale to the public. If a Fund were to acquire substantial positions in securities with limited trading markets, the activities of the Fund could have an adverse effect upon the liquidity and marketability of such securities and the Fund might not be able to dispose of its holdings in those securities at then current market prices. Circumstances could also exist (to satisfy redemptions, for example) when portfolio securities might have to be sold by a Fund at times which otherwise might be considered to be disadvantageous so that the Fund might receive lower proceeds from such sales than it had expected to realize. Investments in securities which are “restricted” may involve added expenses to a Fund should the Fund be required to bear registration costs with respect to such securities and could involve delays in disposing of such securities which might have an adverse effect upon the price and timing of sales of such securities and the liquidity of the Fund with respect to redemptions. Restricted securities and securities for which there is a limited trading market may be significantly more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations for such securities, and investment in such securities may have an adverse impact on net asset value. Each Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities for which there may be a secondary market of qualified institutional buyers as contemplated by Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Liquidity determinations with respect to Rule 144A securities will be made by the Board of Trustees or by the Adviser pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. A Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities which are considered liquid securities will not be subject to the Fund’s applicable limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

The 1940 Act limits each Fund’s ability to invest in any equity security of an issuer which, in its most recent fiscal year, derived more than 15% of its revenues from “securities related activities,” as defined by the rules thereunder. These provisions may also restrict a Fund’s investments in certain non-U.S. banks and other financial institutions.

Each Fund may make short sales of securities consistent with its strategies. A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

When a Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver a security equal in value to the security sold short to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. A Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and may be obligated to pay over any accrued interest and dividends on such borrowed securities.

If a Fund sells a security short and the price of the security increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that a Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. Each Fund may engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent a Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

Each Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies to meet redemption requests in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary defensive positions. While in a temporary investment position, a Fund may invest some or all of its assets in cash and/or cash equivalent securities. Cash equivalent securities include, but are not limited to, obligations of the U.S. government or by its agencies or instrumentalities, money market fund shares, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and/or banker’s acceptances, as well as other interest bearing or discount obligations or debt instruments that carry an investment grade rating by a national rating agency. Under such circumstances, a Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Each Fund may invest without limit in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government securities in general include a wide variety of U.S. Treasury obligations consisting of bills, notes and bonds, which principally differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S. government and may be backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. A Fund will invest in such obligations only where the Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to the issuer is minimal.

Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from these securities are generally lower than the yields available from corporate fixed-income securities. Like other debt securities, however, the values of U.S. government securities change as interest rates fluctuate, which could affect a Fund’s net asset value. Under certain market conditions a Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. Some U.S. government securities (such as Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs) are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity (e.g., FNMA or FHLMC) but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Therefore, the securities would generally be neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.

The collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) and stripped mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) markets were developed specifically to reallocate the various risks inherent in MBS across various bond classes (“tranches”). For example, CMO “companion” classes typically experience much greater average life variability than other CMO classes or MBS pass-throughs. Interest-only pass-through securities experience greater yield variability relative to changes in prepayments. “Inverse floaters” experience greater variability of returns relative to changes in interest rates. To the extent that a Fund concentrates its investments in these or other “derivative” securities, the prepayment risks, interest rate risks, and hedging risks associated with such securities will be severely magnified.

Each Fund may invest in warrants and rights. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price until a stated expiration date. Buying a warrant generally can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an investment of equivalent amounts in the underlying common stock. The market value of a warrant does not necessarily move with the value of the underlying securities. If a holder does not sell the warrant, it risks the loss of its entire investment if the market price of the underlying security does not, before the expiration date, exceed the exercise price of the warrant. Investing in warrants is a speculative activity. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights (other than the right to purchase the underlying securities) with respect to the assets of the issuer. A right is a privilege granted, typically to existing shareholders of a corporation, to subscribe for shares of a new issue of stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, may be freely transferable and generally entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price.

Each Fund may invest in zero coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities. Zero coupon securities are debt securities that pay no cash income but are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When a zero coupon security is held to maturity, its entire return, which consists of the amortization of discount, comes from the difference between its purchase price and its maturity value. This difference is known at the time of purchase, so that investors holding zero coupon securities until maturity know at the time of their investment what the expected return on their investment will be. Zero coupon securities may have conversion features. Each Fund also may purchase pay-in-kind bonds. Pay-in-kind bonds pay all or a portion of their interest in the form of debt or equity securities. Deferred payment securities are securities that remain zero coupon securities until a predetermined date, at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals.

Zero coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities tend to be subject to greater price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates than are ordinary interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. The value of zero coupon securities appreciates more during periods of declining interest rates and depreciates more during periods of rising interest rates than ordinary interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. Zero coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities may be issued by a wide variety of corporate and governmental issuers. Although these instruments are generally not traded on a national securities exchange, they are widely traded by brokers and dealers and, to such extent, will not generally be considered illiquid for the purposes of a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

Current U.S. federal income tax law requires the holder of a zero coupon security, certain pay-in-kind bonds, deferred payment securities and certain other securities acquired at a discount to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. Accordingly, to avoid liability for U.S. federal income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to distribute income accrued with respect to these securities and may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements. See “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.”

The following is a description of fundamental policies of each Fund that may not be changed without the vote of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding voting securities. Under the 1940 Act, the vote of a majority of the outstanding securities of a company means the vote, at the annual or a special meeting of the security holders of such company duly called: (A) of 67 per centum or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50 per centum of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy; or (B) of more than 50 per centum of the outstanding voting securities of such company, whichever is less. The other restrictions set forth below, as well as each Fund’s investment objective and each of the other investment restrictions set forth in the Prospectus or this SAI and not designated as fundamental, are not fundamental policies and may be changed by the Board of Trustees. The percentages set forth below and the percentages set forth in the Prospectus apply at the time of the purchase of a security, except (i) with respect to fundamental investment restrictions (2) and (7), for which any such required percentages apply at all times and (ii) as otherwise required by applicable law.

For the purposes of restriction (1) above, industry classifications are determined for each Fund in accordance with the industry or sub-industry classifications established by Bloomberg Sector Classification System. Each Fund may use other classification titles, standards and systems from time to time, as it determines to be in the best interests of shareholders. The use of any particular classification system is not a fundamental policy. With respect to each Fund’s investments in options, futures, swaps and other derivative transactions, industries may be determined by reference to the industry of the reference asset. The Funds may invest in securities of other investment companies or investment vehicles that may concentrate their assets in one or more industries. Each Fund intends to invest only in investment companies and other investment vehicles that track the S&P 500 Index and will consider the investments of such index and investment company in determining compliance with the fundamental restriction. Although the Funds do not intend to concentrate investments in a particular industry, a Fund will be concentrated in a particular industry or group of industries only to the extent the S&P 500 Index is so concentrated.

Restrictions (2) and (7) above shall be interpreted based upon no-action letters and other pronouncements of the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Under current pronouncements, certain Fund positions may be excluded from the definition of “senior security” so long as each Fund complies with applicable regulatory requirements. See “Borrowing” above.

In addition, it is contrary to each Fund’s present policies, which may be changed without shareholder vote, to purchase any illiquid security, including any securities whose disposition is restricted under federal securities laws and securities that are not readily marketable, if, as a result, more than 15% of a Fund’s net assets (based on then-current value) would then be invested in such securities. For purposes of this restriction, the staff of the SEC is presently of the view that repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are subject to this restriction. Until that position is revised, modified or rescinded, each Fund will conduct its operations in a manner consistent with this view. This limitation on investment in illiquid securities does not apply to certain restricted securities, including securities pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and certain commercial paper that the Adviser has determined to be liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities may be made as considered advisable by the Adviser in the best interests of the shareholders. Each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. Each Fund’s distributions of any net short-term capital gains realized from portfolio transactions are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, higher portfolio turnover rates can result in corresponding increases in portfolio transaction costs for the Fund. See “PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE” in this SAI.

For reporting purposes, each Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by a Fund during the fiscal year. In determining such portfolio turnover, all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less are excluded. A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur, for example, if all of the securities in a Fund’s investment portfolio (other than short-term money market securities) were replaced once during the fiscal year. Portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor should the Adviser deem it advisable to purchase or sell securities.

This Policy sets forth the conditions under which Portfolio Holdings (defined below) data for the Trust on behalf of a Fund may be disclosed to Third Parties (defined below) (which may include the public) and Service Providers (defined below). No data about a Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed except in accordance with this Policy.

Portfolio Holdings data includes, but is not limited to, the following information about a Fund: (i) specific securities held; (ii) industry sector breakdowns as a percentage of portfolio net assets; (iii) asset composition (e.g., equities versus bonds); (iv) U.S. versus foreign holdings percentage breakdowns and regional breakdowns (e.g., Asia, North America); and (v) top 10 portfolio holdings in order of position size, including percentage of portfolio.

“Third Parties” or a “Third Party” means a person other than a Service Provider, an employee of a Service Provider, a Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Trust, or an officer of the Trust.

“Service Providers” or a “Service Provider” includes, but is not limited to, the investment adviser, administrator, custodian, transfer agent, fund accountant, principal underwriter, software or technology service providers, pricing and proxy voting service providers, research and trading service providers, auditors, accountants, and legal counsel, or any other entity that has a need to know such information in order to fulfill their contractual obligations to provide services to the Fund.

The Board has adopted, on behalf of each Fund, policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Portfolio Holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to protect the confidentiality of the Portfolio Holdings’ information and to prevent the selective disclosure of such information. These policies and procedures may be modified at any time with the approval of the Board.

In order to protect each Fund from any trading practices or other use by a Third Party that could harm a Fund, Portfolio Holdings’ and other Fund-specific information must not be selectively released or disclosed except under the circumstances described below.

Only officers of the Trust and their authorized agents, including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer of the investment adviser, may approve the disclosure of a Fund’s Portfolio Holdings. Except as set forth under “Policy Exceptions” below, exceptions to this Policy may only be made if an officer of the Trust and its authorized agents, including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer of the investment adviser, determines that the disclosure is being made for a legitimate business purpose and such disclosures must be documented and reported to the Board on a quarterly basis. In all cases, Third Parties and Service Providers are required to execute a non-disclosure agreement requiring the recipient to keep confidential any Portfolio Holdings data received and not to trade on the Confidential Portfolio Information (defined below) received. Neither the Trust nor its Service Providers (nor any persons affiliated with either) can receive any compensation or other consideration in connection with the sharing of the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings.

Disclosure of the Portfolio Holdings’ information that is not publicly available (“Confidential Portfolio Information”) may be made to Service Providers. In addition, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the investment adviser may distribute (or authorize the custodian or principal underwriter to distribute) Confidential Portfolio Information to a Fund’s relevant Service Providers and to facilitate the review of a Fund by certain mutual fund analysts and ratings agencies (such as Morningstar and Lipper Analytical Services) (“Rating Agencies”); provided that such disclosure is limited to the information that the investment adviser believes is reasonably necessary in connection with the services to be provided. As noted above, except to the extent permitted under this Policy, Confidential Portfolio Information may not be disseminated for compensation or other consideration.

Before any disclosure of Confidential Portfolio Information to Service Providers or Rating Agencies is permitted, the Chief Compliance Officer for the Adviser (or persons designated by such Chief Compliance Officer) must determine in writing that, under the circumstances, the disclosure is being made for a legitimate business purpose. Furthermore, the recipient of Confidential Portfolio Information by a Service Provider or Rating Agency must be either subject to a written confidentiality agreement that prohibits any trading upon the Confidential Portfolio Information or subject to professional or ethical obligations not to disclose or otherwise improperly use the information, such as would apply to independent registered public accounting firms or legal counsel.

Each Fund’s investment adviser shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that the Portfolio Holdings’ information is disclosed only in accordance with this Policy. As part of this responsibility, each Fund’s investment adviser will maintain such internal policies and procedures as it believes are reasonably necessary for preventing the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Portfolio Information.

The disclosure of the Funds’ full Portfolio Holdings is required to be made quarterly on forms required to be filed with the SEC as follows: (i) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of each fiscal year will be filed as part of the annual report filed on Form N-CSR; (ii) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters will be filed in Form N-PORT; and (iii) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of the second fiscal quarter will be filed as part of the semi-annual report filed on Form N-CSR. The Trust’s Form N-CSRs and Form N-PORT are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Portfolio holdings information may be separately provided to any person, including rating and ranking organizations such as Morningstar and Lipper, at the same time that it is filed with the SEC.

The following disclosures of Portfolio Holdings are not prohibited by this Policy:

Investment decisions for each Fund are made with a view to achieving its investment objectives. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including each Fund). Some securities considered for investment by a Fund may also be appropriate for other clients served by the Adviser. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time.

When the Adviser determines that the purchase or sale of a particular security is appropriate for more than one client account, the Adviser may, but is not obligated to, aggregate client orders into one order (“Block Orders”) for execution purposes. Block trading can avoid the adverse effect on a security’s price when simultaneous separate and competing orders are placed. When aggregating orders and subsequently allocating Block Orders (purchases and sales) to individual client accounts, it is the Adviser’s policy to treat all clients fairly and to achieve an equitable distribution of aggregated orders.

When a Block Order is filled in its entirety, each participating account will receive the average share price for the order on the same business day and transaction costs shall be shared pro rata based on each client’s participation in the Block Order. If the total amount of securities bought or sold is less than the amount requested in the Block Order, the portion that is executed will be allocated pro rata between all accounts participating in the Block Order at the average price obtained, and transaction costs will be shared pro rata based on each client’s allocation in the initial block. Participating accounts that had an order for a de minimis number of shares may be allocated their full order before the remaining shares are allocated. Such allocations will be made pro rata to all participating accounts which had an order for a de minimis number of shares based on each client’s participation in the order unless the cost of such allocation is deemed excessive. In situations for which pro-rata allocations would result in excessive trading costs, the allocation will be based on simple random selection.

If the Adviser receives an order for a security at the same time as there exists an open order with a broker, the additional order may be added to the existing open order. However, any partial fills of the existing open order that occurred prior to the time of the placement of the second order with the same broker shall be allocated solely to the clients participating in the existing open order, and the unfilled portion of the existing open order will be added into the subsequent order.

Some types of purchase or sale transactions cannot be included in Block Orders. Such trades often must be executed on an individual basis rather than aggregated with other trades. In such cases, clients may not receive as favorable executions as they might otherwise receive from Block Orders. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more clients are selling the security. In some instances, one client may sell a particular security to another client. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more clients will have an adverse effect on other clients, including a Fund.

The Adviser places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for each Fund through several brokers or dealers. The Adviser’s general policy is to use its best efforts to seek to obtain best execution for all client portfolio transactions, taking into account a variety of factors such as: (i) the security price; (ii) the commission rate; (iii) the size and difficulty of the order and timing of the transaction; (iv) the broker-dealer’s execution capability, which includes the broker-dealer’s relative ability to execute an order at the best available price, as well as the speed, quality, overall cost and certainty of execution; (v) the broker-dealer’s responsiveness and financial responsibility, which includes the broker-dealer’s creditworthiness and other factors that may impact the Adviser’s confidence in the broker-dealer’s stability; (vi) any conflicts of interest associated with using a broker-dealer; (vii) confidentiality provided by the broker-dealer; (viii) other factors, such as, the broker-dealer’s integrity and quality of communication, the adequacy of information provided by the broker-dealer, the ability of the broker-dealer to provide ad hoc information or services, and the ability of the broker-dealer to handle client directed brokerage arrangements; and (ix) research capabilities of the broker-dealer. It is not the Adviser’s policy to seek the lowest available commission rate where it believes that a broker or dealer charging a higher commission rate would offer greater reliability or provide better price or execution. The Adviser cannot assure that best execution will be achieved for each Fund transaction. The Adviser maintains a list of approved broker-dealers it will use to place Fund and other client trades for execution. The Adviser will periodically reevaluate these broker-dealers to confirm that they meet the Adviser’s criteria and standards, including that they provide trade execution services that the Adviser views as satisfactory. Upon reevaluation, the Adviser may add or remove broker-dealers to or from the list of approved broker-dealers. Although each Fund may use a broker-dealer that sells Fund shares to effect transactions for a Fund’s portfolios, a Fund will not consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when selecting broker-dealers to execute those transactions.

Subject to the Adviser’s policy of seeking best execution for transactions, and subject to the criteria of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Adviser may place trades with a broker-dealer that provides brokerage and research services. The Adviser may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker based on its interest in receiving research or other products or services, rather than its interest in receiving the most favorable execution for a Fund. However, in selecting a broker for research, the Adviser makes a good faith determination that the amount of commission charged is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research received. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the accounts over which it exercises investment discretion. Research and brokerage services provided by broker-dealers chosen by the Adviser to place a Fund’s portfolio transactions may be useful to the Adviser in providing services to the Adviser’s other clients, although not all of these services may be necessarily useful and of value to the Adviser in managing the Funds. Conversely, brokerage and research products and services provided to the Adviser by broker-dealers in connection with trades executed on behalf of other clients of the Adviser may be useful to the Adviser in managing the Funds, although not all of these brokerage and research products and services may be necessarily useful and of value to the Adviser in managing such other clients. Subject to Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Adviser may pay a broker additional commission in recognition of the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by that broker. When the Adviser uses Fund brokerage commissions to obtain research or other products or services, the Adviser receives a benefit because it does not have to produce or pay for the research, products or services. The advisory fees paid by a Fund are not reduced because the Adviser receives such services even though the receipt of such services relieves the Adviser from expenses it might otherwise bear.

The Adviser may place orders for the purchase and sale of exchange-listed portfolio securities with a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Adviser where, in the judgment of the Adviser, such firm will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified broker-dealers. Pursuant to rules of the SEC, a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Adviser may receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for a Fund on a securities exchange if the commissions paid to such an affiliated broker-dealer by a Fund on exchange transactions do not exceed “usual and customary brokerage commissions.” The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” As required by applicable SEC rules, the Board has adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standards. As of the date hereof, the Adviser does not have any affiliated broker-dealer.

The following table lists the total amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the fiscal year noted:

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”) will maintain an account for each shareholder upon which the registration and transfer of shares are recorded, and any transfers shall be reflected by bookkeeping entry, without physical delivery. Confirmations of each purchase or redemption are sent to each shareholder. Quarterly statements of account are sent which include shares purchased as a result of a reinvestment of Fund distributions. The Transfer Agent will require that a shareholder provide requests in writing, accompanied by a valid signature guarantee form, when changing certain information in an account (i.e., wiring instructions, telephone privileges, etc.).

Each of the Beacon Accelerated Return Strategy Fund and the Beacon Planned Return Strategy Fund have one share class, the Institutional Class.

The assets received by a class of a Fund for the issue or sale of its shares and all income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the rights of creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets of, that class of the Fund. The underlying assets of a class of a Fund are segregated and are charged with the expenses with respect to that class of the Fund along with a share of the general expenses of the Fund and the Trust. Any general expenses of a Fund that are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular class of the Fund are allocated by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees in such manner as they determine to be fair and reasonable.

Institutional Class shares are typically offered only through certain types of financial intermediaries and to certain institutional investors. Institutional Class shares are offered directly, via each of the Funds’ transfer agents, and through financial intermediaries (including, but not limited to, broker-dealers, retirement plans, bank trust departments, and financial advisors). Such intermediaries may require payment from a Fund or its service providers for the provision of distribution, administrative or shareholder retention services. Institutional investors may include, but are not limited to, corporations, retirement plans, public plans and foundations/endowments.

Subsequent investments may be made at any time by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent, along with a detachable stub from the Statement of Account (or a letter providing the account number). Shareholders should be sure to write the Fund’s account number on the check. Purchases of Fund shares (initial or subsequent) may not be made by third-party check.

Shares of a Fund may be purchased on any business day at the net asset value per share next determined after receipt of a purchase order. Share certificates will not be issued. Share purchase orders are effective on the date the Fund receives a completed Account Application Form (and other required documents) and federal funds become available.

Initial and subsequent investments may also be made by wire transfer. Shareholders should note that their bank may charge a fee in connection with transferring money by bank wire.

For a share purchase order for a Fund to become effective on a particular business day, prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time): (i) in the case of a wire transfer payment, a purchaser must call 1-844-894-9222 to inform the Transfer Agent of an incoming wire transfer; or (ii) in the case of payment by check or money order, a complete share purchase order must be actually received by the Transfer Agent, and, in either case, federal funds must be received by the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Fund. If federal funds are received by the Transfer Agent that same day, the order will be effective on that day. If a Fund receives notification of a wire transfer or a complete share purchase order after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), or if federal funds are not received by the Transfer Agent, such purchase order shall be executed as of the date that federal funds are actually received.

The price of each Fund’s shares and the valuation of Fund assets are discussed below in “NET ASSET VALUE.”

If the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Fund, the Fund may pay the redemption price in whole, or in part, by a distribution in kind from the Fund, in lieu of cash, taking such securities at their value employed for determining such redemption price, and selecting the securities in such manner as such Board may deem fair and equitable. A shareholder who receives a distribution in kind may incur a brokerage commission upon a later disposition of such securities and may receive less than the redemption value of such securities or property upon sale, particularly where such securities are sold prior to maturity. However, each Fund is required to redeem shares solely for cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed such limitation, the Fund will have the option of redeeming the excess in cash or in-kind. Redemption in kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption.

Under the 1940 Act, each Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period: (i) during which the NYSE is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (ii) during which trading on the NYSE is restricted; or (iii) during which (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit. Each Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.

Redemption Procedures. A Fund will redeem all full and fractional shares of the Fund upon request on any business day at the applicable net asset value determined after the receipt of proper redemption instructions, less any applicable redemption fees. Shareholders liquidating their holdings will receive upon redemption all dividends reinvested through the date of redemption. If notice of redemption is received on any business day, the redemption will be effective on the date of receipt. Payment will ordinarily be made by wire on the next business day, but, in any case, within no more than seven business days from the date of receipt. If the notice is received on a day that is not a business day or after the close of regularly scheduled trading on the NYSE, the redemption notice will be deemed received as of the next business day. The value of shares at the time of redemption may be more or less than the shareholder’s cost.

Redemption Fees. If you sell or exchange your shares of the Fund after holding them 60 calendar days or less, a 2.00% redemption fee may be deducted from the redemption amount. For this purpose, shares held longest will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held shortest as being redeemed last.

Redemption requests for shares recently purchased by check will be accepted only after a Fund has confirmed receipt of payment for the shares, which may take up to 10 days.

Note: Under the 1940 Act, each Fund has the right to suspend or postpone redemptions of shares for any period (i) during which the NYSE or exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (ii) during which trading on the NYSE or exchange is restricted; (iii) during which (as determined by the SEC or other regulatory authority by rule or regulation) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or (iv) as otherwise permitted by the SEC or other regulatory authority. Each Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.

Each Fund has adopted a non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services plan (a “Services Plan”) for Institutional Class shares which authorize each Fund to compensate select financial intermediaries and Fund affiliates an aggregate fee in an amount not to annually exceed 0.15% of the average daily net asset value of the Institutional Class shares of each Fund attributable to, or held in the name of, the financial intermediary for its clients as compensation for maintaining customer accounts that hold Fund shares. The Service Plan fee is compensation for providing, some or all of the following services: (i) establishing and maintaining Fund shareholder accounts, (ii) aggregating, processing and transmitting Fund shareholder orders and instructions regarding accounts, (iii) processing dividend and other distribution payments from each Fund on behalf of shareholders, (iv) preparing reports or forms on behalf of shareholders, (v) forwarding communications from each Fund to shareholders, and (vi) providing such other similar services as applicable statutes, rules or regulations permit. None of the aforementioned services includes distribution related services or activities. Any amount of the Services Plan fees not paid during the Funds’ fiscal year for such services may be reimbursed to the applicable Fund.

The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements between/among the Funds and the persons or companies that furnish services to the Funds, including agreements with each Fund’s distributor, Adviser, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Funds are delegated to the Adviser and the Funds’ administrator.

The name, address, year of birth, and principal occupations for the past five years of the Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below, along with the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex overseen by and the other directorships held by the Trustee.

Ward D. Armstrong - Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Armstrong contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds and operating companies. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services and investment management experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Armstrong’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Armstrong received a B.S. in Business Administration (Finance Emphasis) from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.

J. Wayne Hutchens - Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Hutchens contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business and financial services experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Hutchens’ principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Hutchens is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder’s School of Business and has done graduate study at Syracuse University and the University of Colorado.

Merrillyn J. Kosier - Through her experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Ms. Kosier contributes her management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from her experience as a member of the board of other organizations. She was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on her business acumen, branding and distribution experience in the asset management industry. Additional information regarding Ms. Kosier’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Ms. Kosier is a graduate of Andrews University and earned an MBA from Loyola University Chicago.

Patrick Seese - Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Seese contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other organizations. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services and accounting experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Seese’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Seese is a graduate of the University of Colorado and earned an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is one of the founders of The Mile High Five Foundation (MH5), a charity dedicated to fund youth/health-related organizations.

None of the Independent Trustees own securities in Beacon Investment Advisory Services, Inc. the Funds’ investment adviser, or ALPS Distributors, Inc., the Funds’ principal underwriter, nor do they own securities in any entity directly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with these entities.

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Funds rests with the Trustees. The Trust has engaged the Adviser to manage the Funds on a day-to day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers in the operations of the Funds in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Board is currently composed of four members, all of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board meets at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. As described below, the Board has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Ward D. Armstrong, an Independent Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate given the Trust’s characteristics and circumstances. These include the Trust’s series of fund shares, each fund’s single portfolio of assets, each fund’s net assets and the services provided by the fund’s service providers.

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the Funds, the Board, directly or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Fund management, the Adviser, the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, the Funds’ legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds regarding risks faced by the Funds. The Board, with the assistance of Fund management and the Adviser, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Funds’ performance. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer to oversee the implementation and testing of the Funds’ compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Funds and their principal service providers. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the Funds’ advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of these service providers’ operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

Audit Committee. The Board has an Audit Committee which considers such matters pertaining to the Trust’s books of account, financial records, internal accounting controls and changes in accounting principles or practices as the Trustees may from time to time determine. The Audit Committee also considers the engagement and compensation of the independent registered public accounting firm (“Firm”) and ensures receipt from the Firm of a formal written statement delineating relationships between the Firm and the Trust, consistent with Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526. The Audit Committee also meets privately with the representatives of the Firm to review the scope and results of audits and other duties as set forth in the Audit Committee’s Charter. The Audit Committee members, each of whom are Independent Trustees, are: Ward D. Armstrong, J. Wayne Hutchens, Merrillyn J. Kosier, and Patrick Seese. The Audit Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meets periodically to advise and assist the Board in selecting nominees to serve as trustees of the Trust. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes the Board generally benefits from diversity of background, experience and views among its members and considers this a factor in evaluating the composition of the Board, but has not adopted any specific policy in this regard. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also advises and assists the Board in establishing, implementing and executing policies, procedures and practices that assure orderly and effective governance of the Trust and effective and efficient management of all business and financial affairs of the Trust. Members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are: Ward D. Armstrong, J. Wayne Hutchens, Merrillyn J. Kosier, and Patrick Seese. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board met one time during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022.

Independent Trustee Retirement Policy. The Trustees do not serve a specified term of office. Each Trustee will hold office until the termination of the Trust or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, incapacity, or removal. Under the Funds’ Independent Trustee Retirement Policy (“Retirement Policy”), upon reaching the age of 75, an Independent Trustee is deemed to tender an offer of retirement, which retirement, if accepted, shall become effective upon the September 30^th immediately following the tender of a retirement. The Board may decline the offer upon the vote of a majority of the continuing Trustees. If the Board declines an Independent Trustee’s offer, then the term of office of such Independent Trustee continues in accordance with the term under which such Independent Trustee was elected or appointed, provided that such Independent Trustee shall be deemed to tender another offer of retirement upon each subsequent birthday. The Trustees review the Funds’ Retirement Policy from time to time and may make changes as deemed appropriate.

Shareholder Nominations. The Board will consider shareholder nominees for Trustees. All nominees must possess the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for serving on the Board. In particular, the Board and its Independent Trustees will consider each nominee’s integrity, educational and professional background, understanding of the Trust’s business on a technical level and commitment to devote the time and attention necessary to fulfill a Trustee’s duties. All shareholders who wish to recommend nominees for consideration as Trustees shall submit the names and qualifications of the candidates to the Secretary of the Trust by writing to: ALPS Series Trust, c/o Secretary, 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado, 80203.

As of December 31, 2022, the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by Trustees were as follows:

Remuneration of Trustees. Effective November 17, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), the Trustees of the Trust receive a quarterly retainer of $14,000, plus $5,000 for each regular Board or Committee meeting attended and $2,000 for each special telephonic or in-person Board or Committee meeting attended. Prior to the Effective Date, the Trustees of the Trust received a quarterly retainer of $13,500, plus $4,000 for each regular Board or Committee meeting attended and $2,000 for each special telephonic or in-person Board or Committee meeting attended. Additionally, the Audit Committee Chair receives a quarterly retainer of $1,250 and the Independent Chair receives a quarterly retainer of $3,250. The Trustees are also reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings.

For the fiscal period ended September 30, 2022, the Trustees received the following compensation:

No officer, trustee or employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives any compensation from the Funds for serving as an officer or trustee of the Funds.

Beacon Investment Advisory Services, Inc. (the “Adviser”), subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Funds and is responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio.

The Adviser is a full service financial services firm, offering investment management, financial planning, tax advisory, trust & estate, and private banking services to individuals and institutions.

The Adviser’s principal address is 163 Madison Avenue, Suite 600, Morristown, NJ 07960.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, each Fund pays the Adviser an annual management fee as set out below based on each Fund’s average daily net assets.

This agreement is in effect through at least January 31, 2024, and will automatically continue upon annual approval by the board for successive twelve-month periods unless (i) it is terminated earlier by the Board of Trustees, or (ii) the Adviser provides at least 30 days written notice of its non-continuance prior to the end of the then effective term. Except due to the Adviser’s notice of non-renewal, this Agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the agreement described above (whether through reduction of its management fee or otherwise) only to the extent that a Fund’s expenses in later periods do not exceed the lesser of (1) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser waives or limits the expenses or (2) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser seeks to recover the expenses; provided, however, that a Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees or expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expense was reduced.

Shares of each Fund are offered on a continuous basis through ALPS Distributors, Inc. (an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services, Inc.) (the “Distributor”), located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, as distributor pursuant to a distribution agreement between the Distributor and the Trust on behalf of the Funds. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of Fund shares.

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that a Fund may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

The Trust on behalf of the Funds currently employs ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (an affiliate of the Distributor) (“ALPS” or the “Administrator”), located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, under an administration agreement to provide certain administrative services to the Funds.

The table below shows the administrative fees earned by ALPS for the fiscal year indicated below:

Although individual Board members may not agree with particular policies or votes by the Adviser, the Board has approved delegating proxy voting discretion to the Adviser believing that the Adviser should be responsible for voting because it is a matter relating to the investment decision making process.

Attached as Appendix B are the Trust’s and the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures that the Adviser uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, including the procedures that the Adviser uses when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser or any affiliated person of a Fund or the Adviser, on the other. Appendix B provides a general indication as to how the Adviser will vote proxies relating to portfolio securities on each issue listed. However, Appendix B does not address all potential voting issues or the intricacies that may surround individual proxy votes. For that reason, there may be instances in which votes may vary from the Trust’s and the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser always endeavors to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities in accordance with the Funds’ investment objectives. When applicable, information on how a Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, (i) upon request, by calling 1-844-894-9222 and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

To the best knowledge of the Trust, the names and addresses of the record and beneficial holders of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of each class of the Funds and the percentage of the outstanding shares held by such holders are set forth below. To the best knowledge of the Trust, entities shown as owning more than 25% of the outstanding Shares of a class of the Fund are not the beneficial owners of such Shares, unless otherwise indicated.

A shareholder who owns beneficially 25% or more of the outstanding securities of the Fund is presumed to “control” that Fund as defined in the 1940 Act. Such control may affect the voting rights of other shareholders.

As of December 31, 2022, the following shareholders owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund as listed below:

As of December 31, 2022 the officers and Trustees of the Trust owned less than 1% of any class of the outstanding shares of the Funds.

The Funds’ expenses include taxes, interest, fees and salaries of the Trust’s Trustees and officers who are not trustees, officers or employees of the Funds’ service contractors, SEC fees, state securities qualification fees, costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, advisory and administration fees, charges of the custodian and of the transfer and dividend disbursing agent, certain insurance premiums, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of shareholder reports and shareholder meetings and any extraordinary expenses. The Funds also pay for brokerage fees and commissions (if any) in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

The following sections set forth certain additional information with respect to the portfolio manager for each Fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of September 30, 2022.

The table below identifies as of September 30, 2022, the number of accounts (other than the Funds with respect to which information is provided) for which the Funds’ portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts.

The compensation plan of the portfolio manager includes a fixed annual salary, a bonus plan and equity ownership of parent company. The plan does not vary for any fund employee and is not based on performance of the Fund.

Potential conflicts of interest may arise when a fund’s portfolio managers have day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or other accounts, as is the case for the portfolio managers listed in the table above.

The Adviser and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to mitigate various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Adviser and the individuals that it employs. For example, the Adviser’s Code of Ethics requires employees to place the Adviser’s clients’ interests ahead of the employee’s own interests. The Adviser has also adopted trade allocation procedures that are designed to facilitate the allocation of investment opportunities among multiple client accounts. There is no guarantee, however, that the policies and procedures adopted by the Adviser and the Funds will be able to detect and/or prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may appear. These potential conflicts include:

Allocation of Limited Time and Attention. A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. As a result, the portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those accounts as might be the case if he were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund. The effects of this potential conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts overseen by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit a fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity.

Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts.

Selection of Brokers/Dealers. Portfolio managers may be able to select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds and/or account that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide portfolio managers with brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act), which may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees than might have otherwise been available. These services may be more beneficial to certain funds or accounts than to others. Although the payment of brokerage commissions is subject to the requirement that the portfolio manager determine in good faith that the commissions are reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided to the fund, a portfolio manager’s decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and/or accounts that he manages.

Variation in Compensation. A conflict of interest may arise where the financial or other benefits available to the portfolio manager differ among the funds and/or accounts that he manages. If the structure of the investment adviser’s management fee and/or the portfolio manager’s compensation differs among funds and/or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager might be motivated to help certain funds and/or accounts over others. The portfolio manager might be motivated to favor funds and/or accounts in which he has an interest or in which the investment adviser and/or its affiliates have interests. Similarly, the desire to maintain or raise assets under management or to enhance the portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager to lend preferential treatment to those funds and/or accounts that could most significantly benefit the portfolio manager.

Related Business Opportunities. The Adviser or its affiliates may provide more services (such as distribution or recordkeeping) for some types of funds or accounts than for others. In such cases, a portfolio manager may benefit, either directly or indirectly, by devoting disproportionate attention to the management of funds and/or accounts that provide greater overall returns to the Adviser and its affiliates.

The table below identifies ownership of Fund securities by each Portfolio Manager as of September 30, 2022.

The following is a description of the procedures used by the Funds in valuing its assets. For the purpose of pricing purchase and redemption orders, the net asset value per share of each Fund is determined once daily as of the close of regularly scheduled trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). A Fund’s net asset value is calculated on each day that the NYSE is open for trading, i.e., Monday through Friday, except for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of those holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively.

In calculating net asset value, portfolio securities listed or traded on national securities exchanges for which market quotations are available are valued at the official closing price. If there is no official closing price, the valuation designee values the securities at the mean of the last bid and ask price which represents the current value of the security.

Securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges generally are valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges, except that when an occurrence subsequent to the time a value was so established is likely to have changed such value, then the fair value of those securities will be determined by consideration of other factors by the valuation designee . In valuing assets, prices denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current exchange rate. Securities may be valued by independent pricing services which use prices provided by market-makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics. In certain circumstances, bid and ask prices may be obtained from (i) a broker/dealer specified and deemed reliable by the valuation designee, (ii) pink sheets, yellow sheets or the blue list, or (iii) a pricing agent that obtains quotations from broker/dealers or evaluates the value of the respective bid and ask prices. All other securities and other assets of a Fund will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the valuation designee. Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuation of securities based on readily available market quotations.

This section provides additional information concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice, all as of the date of this SAI, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The following does not address any state, local or foreign or estate or gift tax matters.

A shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax consequences from acquiring, holding and disposing of shares in a Fund may vary depending upon his or her particular situation. This discussion only applies to shareholders who are U.S. persons. For purposes of this discussion, U.S. persons are: (i) U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) U.S. corporations (i.e., entities classified as corporations for U.S. tax purposes that are organized under the laws of the United States or any state, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Except as noted otherwise, discussion does not address issues of significance to U.S. persons in special situations such as: (i) certain types of tax-exempt entities, (ii) shareholders holding shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts), (iii) shareholders holding investments through foreign institutions (financial and non-financial), (iv) financial institutions, (v) broker-dealers, and traders in securities that elect to mark-to-market their securities holdings, (vi) entities not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, (vii) shareholders holding shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, (viii) shareholders who are subject to either the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax or the U.S. federal corporate minimum tax, and (ix) insurance companies.

If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships that are considering the purchase of shares should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares.

The Funds have not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the foregoing discussion only addresses some of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Funds. Prospective shareholders are urged to consult with their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund, as well as the applicability and effect of any state, local or foreign laws, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.

In general, it is the policy of the Funds to distribute annually to shareholders as “ordinary income dividends” substantially all of their investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, dividends, interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses). It is the policy of all of the Funds to distribute annually the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryovers, as “capital gain dividends.”

Ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions are payable as of the close of the Exchange on the record date for each dividend or distribution. Shareholders may elect to re-invest their ordinary income dividends or capital gain distributions, or both. The election may be made at any time by submitting a written request directly to a Fund. In order for a change to be in effect for any dividend or distribution, it must be received by the Fund on or before the record date for such dividend or distribution.

As required by federal law, detailed U.S. federal tax information will be furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year.

Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. Each Fund also intends to be treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Thus, the provisions of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies generally will apply separately to each Fund even though each Fund is a series of the Trust. Furthermore, each Fund will separately determine its income, gain, losses and expenses for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships”; (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each fiscal quarter, (a) at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited generally, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of a Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of a Fund’s total assets is invested in (1) the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, (2) the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers which a Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (3) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships and (iii) distribute with respect to each taxable year an amount equal to or exceeding the sum of (a) 90% of its “investment company taxable income,” as that term is defined in the Code (which generally includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (b) 90% of its tax-exempt interest income, net of expenses allocable thereto. For purposes of meeting the diversification requirement described in (ii) above, in the case of each Fund’s investment in loan participations, the issuer may be the financial intermediary or the borrower. The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may significantly limit the extent to which each Fund may invest in some investments.

With respect to (i) above, the IRS may limit qualifying income from foreign currency gains to the amount of such currency gains that are directly related to a regulated investment company’s principal business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect thereto) pursuant to regulations that may be promulgated in the future. For purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (i) above, income derived from a partnership will generally be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (defined as an entity taxed as a partnership (x) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive activity loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of (ii)(a) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.

To the extent that it qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company, a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including capital gain dividends, defined below). In certain situations, a Fund can cure failures to meet the income and diversification tests described above, including, in some cases, by paying the Fund-level tax and, in the case of diversification failures, disposing of certain assets. If a Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year – for example, because it was not sufficiently diversified under the applicable Code tests – the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or in some cases qualified dividend income. To qualify again to be taxed as a regulated investment company that is accorded special treatment in a subsequent year, a Fund could be required to pay substantial taxes, penalties and interest and make substantial distributions, which may be taxed to shareholders as either ordinary income or qualified dividend income. In addition, if a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively, to be subject to taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of five years, in order to qualify as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

As a regulated investment company, each Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net capital gains (that is, any net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses) properly reported by a Fund in a written statement to shareholders as capital gain dividends (“capital gain dividends”) and its investment company taxable income if any, that the Fund distributes to shareholders on a timely basis. Each Fund generally intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gains, after offsetting any capital loss carryforwards, in a taxable year. If a Fund does retain any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. However, a Fund may elect to have certain distributions paid after the close of a tax year treated as having been paid during the tax year for purposes of the regulated investment company distribution requirements and for purposes of determining its taxable income (“spill-back dividends”). Spill-back dividends are taxed to shareholders in the year in which they are received.

If a Fund retains any net capital gain, it will also be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of a Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

Generally, the excess (if any) of a Fund’s net short-term capital loss over the net long-term capital gain for a taxable year will carry over as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the next tax year. In addition, the excess (if any) of a Fund’s net long-term capital loss over the net short-term capital gain for the year will carry over as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the next tax year. Unused capital losses realized by a Fund in a taxable year may be carried forward to future taxable years indefinitely until they can be used to offset capital gains.

A Fund may be limited under Code Section 382 in its ability to offset its taxable income by capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses after an “ownership change” of the Fund. The term “net unrealized built-in loss” refers to the excess, if any, of a Fund’s aggregate adjusted basis in its assets immediately before an ownership change, over the fair market value of such assets at such time, subject to a de minimis rule. A Fund would experience an ownership change under Code Section 382 if and when 5-percent shareholders of the Fund increase their ownership by more than 50 percentage points in the aggregate over their respective lowest percentage ownership of the Fund’s shares in a 3-year period. Under Code Section 382, if a Fund experiences an ownership change, the Fund may use its pre-change tax capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses in a year after the ownership change generally only up to the product of the fair market value of the Fund’s equity immediately before the ownership change and a certain interest rate published monthly by the U.S. Treasury known as the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate. The foregoing limitation on the use of pre-ownership change net unrealized built-in losses only applies for a period of five years after the ownership change, while the foregoing limitation on the use of pre-ownership change capital loss carryforwards lasts indefinitely.

A regulated investment company may elect to treat any post-October capital loss (defined as the Fund’s net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss, as applicable, in each case attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31) and late-year ordinary loss (generally, (i) net ordinary losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, plus (ii) other net ordinary losses attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

If a Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) and 98.2% of its net capital gain income for the one year period ending on October 31 of such year, plus any retained amount for the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a non-deductible excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would be properly taken into account after October 31 are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. For purposes of the excise tax, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year.

Each Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. Moreover, each Fund reserves the right to pay an excise tax rather than make an additional distribution when circumstances warrant (for example, the amount of excise tax to be paid is deemed de minimis by a Fund).

Each Fund may use “equalization accounting” to determine the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed with respect to each taxable year. Under equalization accounting, a Fund would allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Fund shares. This method would allow a Fund to reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes to non-redeeming shareholders but would not reduce the total return on a shareholder’s investment. If the IRS determines that a Fund’s equalization method is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Fund may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. Equalization accounting is not available for a Fund that is a personal holding company for federal income tax purposes.

If a Fund is a “personal holding company” and fails to distribute (or to be treated as distributing) all of its investment company taxable income, the Fund may be subject to a 20% nondeductible tax on its “undistributed personal holding company income.” A Fund would generally be a personal holding company for a taxable year if five or fewer individuals own more than 50% of its outstanding shares at any time in the last half of the taxable year. The term “individual” for this purpose includes private foundations and certain trusts. The Funds do not expect to be subject to the tax on undistributed personal holding company income, although there can be no assurance that this will never occur.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment company taxable income are generally taxable as ordinary income to the extent of a Fund’s current or accumulated “earnings and profits.” Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Generally, distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (i.e., “capital gain dividends”) will be taxable to Fund shareholders as long-term capital gains. Generally, distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income.

A Fund may designate certain dividends as derived from “qualified dividend income,” which, when received by an individual, will be taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gain (assuming certain holding period requirements are satisfied), which (for this purpose) is 20%, in addition to the 3.8% Medicare tax discussed below. Dividend income distributed to individual shareholders will qualify as “qualified dividend income” as that term is defined in section 1(h)(11)(B) of the Code to the extent such distributions are attributable to income from a Fund’s investments in common and preferred stock of U.S. companies and stock of certain qualified foreign corporations provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by both the Fund (with respect to the dividend paying corporation’s stock) and its shareholders (with respect to the Fund’s shares).

If 95% or more of a Fund’s gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) constitutes qualified dividend income, all of its distributions (other than capital gain dividends) generally will be treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of individual shareholders, as long as they satisfy certain holding period requirements with respect to their Fund shares. If less than 95% of a Fund’s income is attributable to qualified dividend income, then only the portion of the Fund’s distributions that is attributable to qualified dividend income and designated as such in a timely manner will be so treated in the hands of individual shareholders. Portions of a Fund’s distributions may be derived from qualified dividend income.

Distributions of earnings and gains to shareholders are taxable even if such distributions are paid from income or gains earned by a Fund before a shareholder invested in the Fund (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid), and whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares (other than distributions, if any, reported by a Fund as “exempt-interest dividends,” a designation which the Fund generally does not expect to make). Any gain resulting from the sale or redemption of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains. Distributions declared and payable by a Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on December 31st of the year in which declared rather than the calendar year in which they were received.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment of U.S. individuals, estates and certain trusts to the extent that such person’s gross income, as adjusted, exceeds threshold amounts. Net investment income includes interest, dividends, royalties, rents, gross income from a trade or business involving passive activities, and net gain from disposition of property (other than property held in a non-passive trade or business). Net investment income also includes dividend income and capital gain distributions received with respect to shares of a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares. Net investment income is reduced by deductions properly allocable to such income.

Dividends received by corporate shareholders that are reported by a Fund in a written statement furnished to shareholders may qualify for the 50% dividends received deduction with respect to qualifying dividends received by a Fund from domestic corporations and with respect to that portion (if any) of interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund that is treated as dividends, so long as (in either case) certain holding period requirements are met.

A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations owned by a Fund may not be deductible to the issuer. If a portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations is not deductible, that portion will be treated as a dividend for purposes of the corporate dividends-received deduction if certain requirements are met, and may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the dividend portion of such interest.

Section 163(j) of the Code generally limits the deductibility of business interest to the sum of the taxpayer’s business interest income and 30% of its adjusted taxable income. Under Treasury Regulation, a regulated investment company that earn business interest income is permitted to pay section 163(j) interest dividends to its shareholders. A shareholder that receives a section 163(j) interest dividend from a Fund generally may treat the dividend as interest income for purposes of Code Section 163(j) if certain holding period requirements are met. Generally, the shareholder must have held the fund shares for more than 180 days during the 361-day window beginning 180 days before the ex-dividend date, and the shareholder must not be obligated (under a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property.

If a Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is generally not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.

The sale or redemption of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount received for the shares (or deemed received in the case of an exchange of shares issued by different Funds) and the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of the same Fund or other substantially identical securities are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

The following discussion relates to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of the investment policies of the Funds.

Investments in non-U.S. securities may cause a Fund to be liable to non-U.S. governments for taxes relating primarily to investment income or capital gains on non-U.S. securities in the Fund’s portfolio. If at the close of its taxable year more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets consists of securities of foreign corporations (including foreign governments), the Fund may make an election under the Code that would allow Fund shareholders who are U.S. persons (including U.S. corporations) to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction (but not both) on their U.S. income tax return for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by that Fund to non-U.S. countries in respect of non-U.S. securities held at least a minimum period as specified in the Code. If a Fund were eligible for and were to make the election, the amount of each shareholder’s distribution reported on the information returns filed by the Fund with the IRS must be increased by the amount of the shareholder’s portion of the Fund’s foreign tax paid. A shareholder’s ability to claim all or a part of a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of non-U.S. taxes paid by a Fund would also be subject to certain holding period and other limitations imposed by the Code.

If a Fund were to qualify as a “qualified fund of funds,” the Fund could be entitled to elect to pass-through its foreign tax credits without regard to the above described 50% requirement. For this purpose, the term “qualified fund of funds” means a regulated investment company if (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies.

The Funds do not anticipate that they will be eligible for the elections discussed in this section.

A Fund’s investments in options, hedging transactions, forward contracts, swaps and certain other transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income recognized by the Fund, defer the Fund’s losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert capital gain into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to Fund shareholders.

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

Gain on the sale of a put or call option that is purchased by a Fund generally will be a capital gain or loss, and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss will be a capital loss and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option is exercised, the cost of the option, in the case of a call option, will be added to the basis of the purchased security and in the case of a put option, will reduce the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss.

Certain positions undertaken by a Fund may constitute “straddles” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses realized by a Fund. Losses realized by a Fund that are part of a straddle may be deferred beyond the point in time that they are realized. The straddle rules, if applicable, could increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by a Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Certain tax elections that a Fund may make with respect to straddles could affect the character and timing of recognition of gains and losses.

A Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gains realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income to the shareholders when distributed. Short sales may also constitute part of “constructive sales,” which would result in taxable income before the short-sale positions are terminated.

Certain hedging activities may cause a dividend that would be subject to the lower tax rate applicable to “qualifying dividends” to instead be taxed at the tax rate applicable to ordinary income. In addition, certain of a Fund’s hedging activities including its transactions in options and foreign currencies, are likely to result in a difference between the Fund’s book income and taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute a return of capital or capital gain for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to avoid excise tax liability and to qualify as a regulated investment company, which may have the effect of accelerating taxable distributions to shareholders.

Rules governing the tax aspects of notional principal contracts in which a Fund may invest are not clear in various respects. As a result, the IRS could challenge a Fund’s methods of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes for such contracts, and such a challenge could affect the status of a Fund as a regulated investment company.

Some of the Funds’ investments, such as certain option transactions, futures contract transactions, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts may be “section 1256 contracts.” With certain exceptions, gains or losses attributable to section 1256 contracts generally are treated as sixty percent long-term capital gains or losses and forty percent short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”). Section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of a taxable year (and, generally, for purposes of the excise tax, on October 31 of each year) are “marked-to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as 60/40 gain or loss.

The qualifying income and diversification requirements applicable to a Fund’s assets may limit the extent to which the Fund will be able to engage in transactions in options, futures contracts, forward contracts, swap agreements, and other derivative instruments. The application of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the application of certain other federal income tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with investments in certain derivatives and other investments. In addition, the tax treatment of derivatives and certain other investments may be affected by future legislation, Treasury regulations and guidance issued by the IRS (which could apply retroactively) that could affect the timing, character and amount of a Fund’s income and gains and distributions to shareholders, affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid federal income and excise taxes or limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in certain derivatives and other investments in the future.

Transactions in non-U.S. currencies, non-U.S.-currency denominated debt obligations and certain non-U.S. currency options, future contracts, and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the non-U.S. currency concerned and may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxes payable by shareholders. Certain of a Fund’s transactions, if any, in foreign currencies and foreign currency denominated instruments are likely to result in a difference between the Fund’s book income and taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute a return of capital or capital gain for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to avoid excise tax liability and to qualify as a regulated investment company, which may have the effect of accelerating taxable distributions to shareholders of the Fund.

A Fund may invest in stocks of foreign companies that may be classified under the Code as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least one-half of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. When investing in PFIC securities, a Fund may elect to mark-to-market these securities under certain provisions of the Code and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of the Fund’s fiscal and excise tax years. Under a mark-to-market election, deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that a Fund is required to distribute, even if it has not sold or received dividends from these securities.

Alternatively, the Fund may elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives distributions from the PFIC. As with the mark-to-market election, these amounts would be taken into account by the Fund for purposes of satisfying the distribution requirement and the excise tax distribution requirement. Amounts included in income under a QEF election will be qualifying income for a regulated investment company if such earnings are (i) distributed in the taxable year in which they are included; or (ii) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies. In order to make a QEF election, the Fund would be required to obtain certain annual information from the PFICs in which it invests, which may be difficult or impossible to obtain. Dividends paid by PFICs or by foreign corporations that were PFICs in the year preceding the payment of the dividend are not eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

If a Fund is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election or a QEF election, the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax and interest on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders.

A Fund also may invest in entities referred to as “controlled foreign corporations” (“CFCs”). A CFC is a foreign corporation in which more than 50% of the stock, by vote or value, is owned, directly or constructively, by U.S. persons each of whom own, directly or constructively, 10% or more of the stock of a foreign corporation by vote or by value (“U.S. shareholders”). If a Fund is a U.S. shareholder with respect to a CFC, the Fund is generally required to annually include in income its allocable share of the CFC’s (i) “subpart F income” and (ii) global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”), both as defined by the Code, regardless of whether or not the CFC distributes such amounts to the Fund. Amounts included in gross income by a Fund as subpart F income of a CFC are qualifying income for a regulated investment company under Code Section 851(b) if either (i) such amounts are distributed to the Fund in the taxable year in which they are earned by the CFC, or (ii) such income is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. Treasury Regulations provide that GILTI inclusions are treated in the same manner for purposes of Code Section 851(b) as subpart F inclusions.

A Fund may acquire debt obligations that have original issue discount. “Original issue discount” is the excess of a debt obligation’s stated redemption price at maturity over the obligation’s issue price. Under long-standing tax rules, a taxpayer that acquires an obligation with original issue discount generally is required to include the original issue discount in income on a constant yield-to-maturity basis without regard to when, or whether, payments are made on the obligation. Obligations owned by a Fund that have original issue discount may include investment in payment-in-kind securities, and certain other obligations. Obligations with original issue discount owned by a Fund will give rise to income that the Fund will be required to distribute even though the Fund does not receive an interest payment in cash on the obligation during the year and may never receive such payment. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund may realize gains or losses from such sales. If a Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions.

Some debt obligations that are acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. “Market discount” is generally the excess of the stated redemption price of the bond at maturity over the basis of the bond immediately after its acquisition by the taxpayer. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. A Fund may make certain elections applicable to debt obligations having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. When recognized, market discount is taxable as ordinary income even if interest on the debt obligation in question is tax exempt.

Exchanges of shares between classes of a single Fund are generally not taxable transactions. In such an exchange, certain “significant holders” of a Fund within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3(c)(1) will be required to include in their federal income tax returns for the year of the exchange of one class of stock for another the information listed in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3(b). The term “significant holders” refers to shareholders of the applicable Fund who own at least one percent (by vote or value) of the total outstanding shares of the Fund, as well as shareholders who own shares of the Fund (immediately before the exchange in question) having a tax basis of at least $1 million.

The Funds may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Funds. The application of the U.S. federal income tax rules with respect to these types of investments is complicated and will depend upon the application of the law to facts that may be unclear, which may result in uncertainty about the U.S. federal income tax treatment of these investments (e.g., such as when a Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts, or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income). These and other related issues will be addressed by a Fund if it invests in such securities in order to seek to ensure that the Fund distributes sufficient income to avoid becoming subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Each Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who (i) fails to properly furnish a Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), (ii) has been identified by the IRS as otherwise subject to backup withholding, or (iii) fails to certify to a Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person that is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding tax rate is 24% for tax years beginning before January 1, 2026.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a shareholder generally may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability, if any, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. A shareholder who has not been notified by the IRS that the shareholder has failed to report interest or dividends may normally avoid backup withholding by furnishing a properly completed IRS Form W-9. If a shareholder fails to furnish a valid TIN upon request, the shareholder can be subject to IRS penalties.

The Funds (or their administrative agents) must report to the IRS and furnish to fund shareholders cost basis and holding period information for fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”), when such shares are subsequently redeemed, exchanged or otherwise sold and whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. The Funds must report the gross proceeds from the sale of all Fund shares (whether or not they are covered shares).

The Funds will allow shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods to calculate the cost basis of their covered shares. In the absence of such an election, a Fund will use its default cost basis method. Once a Fund shareholder has elected a cost basis reporting method, the election will apply to all future transactions in covered shares, unless the shareholder revokes or changes the standing election. The cost basis method elected or applied may generally not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers concerning the most desirable IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation.

If an individual shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund shares of $2 million or more, or a corporate shareholder recognizes a loss of $10 million or more, in any single taxable year (or twice such amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether or not the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper.

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (or “FATCA”), foreign financial institutions as defined by FATCA (“FFIs”) or non-financial foreign entities as defined by FATCA (“NFFEs”) that are shareholders of a Fund may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on: (1) income dividends paid by the Fund, and (2) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds of a sale of Fund shares. The FATCA withholding tax generally may be avoided: (a) by an FFI, if it reports 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 is has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) report information relating to them to the withholding agent (which may be the Fund). The U.S. Treasury has negotiated intergovernmental agreements (each, an “IGA”) with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA. An entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of an IGA and applicable local law instead of U.S. Treasury regulations.

A FFI can avoid FATCA withholding by becoming a “participating FFI,” which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Code under which it agrees to verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and provided that such entity meets certain other specified requirements. The FFI will report to the IRS, or, depending on the FFI’s country of residence, to the government of that country (pursuant to the terms and conditions of an applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the IRS. An FFI that is resident in a country that has entered into an IGA with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the FFI shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

A NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from a Fund can avoid FATCA withholding generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or by providing the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner. The NFFE will report to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report information to the IRS.

Such foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in a Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the U.S. certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above.

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans, as well as investments by tax-exempt entities. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a Fund as an investment through such plans or by such entities and the precise effect that investment in a Fund would have on their particular tax situation.

The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law. Dividends and distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, state, local and, where applicable, foreign taxes. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of ownership of shares of a Fund, including the certification and filing requirements imposed on foreign investors in order to qualify for exemption from the backup withholding tax rates (or a reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty and the potential applicability of the U.S. estate tax).

The foregoing is a general and abbreviated summary of the applicable provisions of the Code and related regulations currently in effect. For the complete provisions, reference should be made to the pertinent Code sections and regulations. The Code and regulations are subject to change by legislative or administrative actions.

The Trust was organized as a Delaware business trust on January 12, 2012 and consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. The Board may establish additional series in the future. The capitalization of the Trust consists solely of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value.

The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. When certain matters affect one fund but not another, the shareholders vote as a fund regarding such matters. Subject to the foregoing, on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares then entitled to vote will be voted separately by the fund unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, in which case all shares will be voted in the aggregate. For example, a change in a fund’s fundamental investment policies would be voted upon only by shareholders of the fund. Additionally, approvals of Investment Advisory Contracts are matters to be determined separately by the fund.

Approval by the shareholders of one fund is effective as to that fund whether or not sufficient votes are received from the shareholders of the other fund to approve the proposal as to that fund. The term “majority,” when referring to approvals to be obtained from shareholders of a fund means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the fund or class represented at a meeting if the holder of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the fund or class are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the fund. The term “majority,” when referring to the approvals to be obtained from shareholders of the Trust as a whole means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the Trust’s shares represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the Trust’s outstanding shares are present in person or proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Trust’s outstanding shares. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held.

The Trust is not required to hold regular annual meetings of a fund’s shareholders and does not intend to do so. However, the Trust undertakes to hold a special meeting of its shareholders if the purpose of voting on the question of removal of a director or trustees is requested in writing by the holders of at least 10% of the Trust’s outstanding voting securities, and to assist in communicating with other shareholders as required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act. The Declaration of Trust provides that the holders of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust may remove a person serving as Trustee either by declaration in writing or at a meeting called for such purpose.

Each share of a Fund represents an equal proportional interest in the fund with each other share and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to a Fund as are declared in the discretion of the Trustees. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, shareholders of a Fund are entitled to receive the assets attributable to the Fund that are available for distribution, and a distribution of any general assets of the Trust not attributable to the Fund that are available for distribution in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine.

Shareholders are not entitled to any preemptive rights. All shares, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.

Under Delaware law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of a series of the Trust but only to the extent of the shareholder’s investment in such series. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims liability of the shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust for acts or obligations of the Trust, which are binding only on the assets and property of each series of the Trust and requires that notice of the disclaimer be given in each contract or obligations entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations and should be considered remote and is limited to the amount of the shareholder’s investment in the Fund.

Custodian. U.S. Bank, N.A., located at 777 E. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53202, serves as the custodian for the Funds. As such, the Custodian holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to the Funds and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities in book-entry form belonging to the Funds. Upon instruction, the Custodian receives and delivers cash and securities of the Funds in connection with Fund transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with respect to Fund portfolio securities. The Custodian also maintains certain accounts and records of the Funds. Sub-custodians provide custodial services for any foreign assets held outside of the United States.

Transfer Agent. ALPS, pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, serves as transfer agent for the Funds. As Transfer Agent, ALPS has, among other things, agreed to (i) issue and redeem shares of the Funds; (ii) make dividend and other distributions to shareholders of the Funds; (iii) effect transfers of shares; (iv) mail communications to shareholders of the Funds, including account statements, confirmations, and dividend and distribution notices; (v) facilitate the electronic delivery of shareholder statements and reports and (vi) maintain shareholder accounts. Under the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, ALPS receives from the Trust on behalf of the Funds an annual minimum fee and a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts and is also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. As described above, ALPS is an affiliate of the Distributor.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Cohen & Company, Ltd. (“Cohen”) serves as the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm. Cohen provides audit services, tax return review and assistance. Cohen is located at 1350 Euclid Ave., Suite 800, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

Counsel. Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP serves as counsel to the Trust and is located at 1550 17th Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202. Thompson Hine LLP serves as counsel to the Independent Trustees and is located at 41 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Yield and Total Return. A Fund may from time to time include the yield and/or total return of its shares in advertisements or information in advertisements or information furnished to present or prospective shareholders.

A Fund’s yield will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolios and operating expenses of the Trust allocated to the Fund. These factors, possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield, and the tax exempt status of distributions, should be considered when comparing a Fund’s yield to yields published for other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield should also be considered relative to changes in the value of a Fund’s shares and to the relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of a Fund.

At any time in the future, yields and total return may be higher or lower than past yields and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.

Investors in a Fund are specifically advised that share prices, expressed as the net asset value per share, will vary just as yield will vary. An investor’s focus on the yield of a Fund to the exclusion of the consideration of the share price of the Fund may result in the investor’s misunderstanding the total return he or she may derive from the Fund.

The audited financial statements of the Funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, and the report of Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, are incorporated herein by reference to the Funds’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. The Annual Report was filed on Form N-CSR with the SEC on December 9, 2022. The Annual Report is available at no charge by writing or telephoning the Fund at the address or number on the front page of this Statement of Additional Information.

A Fund may make use of average portfolio credit quality standards to assist institutional investors whose own investment guidelines limit their investments accordingly. In determining a Fund’s overall dollar-weighted average quality, unrated securities are treated as if rated, based on the adviser’s view of their comparability to rated securities. A Fund’s use of average quality criteria is intended to be a guide for those investors whose investment guidelines require that assets be invested according to comparable criteria. Reference to an overall average quality rating for a Fund does not mean that all securities held by the Fund will be rated in that category or higher. A Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category in which the Fund is permitted to invest to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch or, if unrated, determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality). The percentage of a Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. Following is a description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s ratings applicable to fixed-income securities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C: Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.

Moody’s bond ratings, where specified, are applicable to financial contracts, senior bank obligations and insurance company senior policyholder and claims obligations with an original maturity in excess of one year. Obligations relying upon support mechanisms such as letter-of-credit and bonds of indemnity are excluded unless explicitly rated. Obligations of a branch of a bank are considered to be domiciled in the country in which the branch is located.

Unless noted as an exception, Moody’s rating on a bank’s ability to repay senior obligations extends only to branches located in countries which carry a Moody’s Sovereign Rating for Bank Deposits. Such branch obligations are rated at the lower of the bank’s rating or Moody’s Sovereign Rating for the Bank Deposits for the country in which the branch is located. When the currency in which an obligation is denominated is not the same as the currency of the country in which the obligation is domiciled, Moody’s ratings do not incorporate an opinion as to whether payment of the obligation will be affected by the actions of the government controlling the currency of denomination. In addition, risk associated with bilateral conflicts between an investor’s home country and cither the issuer’s home country or the country where an issuer branch is located are not incorporated into Moody’s ratings.

Moody’s makes no representation that rated bank obligations or insurance company obligations are exempt from registration under the Securities Act or issued in conformity with any other applicable law or regulation. Nor does Moody’s represent that any specific bank or insurance company obligation is legally enforceable or a valid senior obligation of a rated issuer.

Moody’s applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2, and 3 in each generic rating classified from Aa through Caa in its corporate bond rating system. The modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

Moody’s short-term debt ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to repay punctually senior debt obligations. These obligations have an original maturity not exceeding one year, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment-grade, to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

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

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

PRIME-3: Issuers rated Prime-3 (or supporting institutions) have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term obligations. The effect of industry characteristics and market compositions may be more pronounced. Variability in earnings and profitability may result in changes in the level of debt protection measurements and may require relatively high financial leverage. Adequate alternate liquidity is maintained.

NOT PRIME: Issuers rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

Issue credit ratings are based on current information furnished by the obligors or obtained by Standard & Poor’s from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any credit rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. Credit ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information, or based on other circumstances.

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days, including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations: likelihood of payment; capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation; nature of and provisions of the obligation; and protection afforded by, and relative position of, the obligation in the event of bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

The issue rating definitions are expressed in terms of default risk. As such, they pertain to senior obligations of an entity. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation applies when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.) Accordingly, in the case of junior debt the rating may not conform exactly with the category definition.

AAA: An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA: An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest rated obligations only in small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A: An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

BBB: An obligation rated ‘BBS’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

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

BB: An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C: A subordinated debt or preferred stock obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘C’ rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments on this obligation are being continued. A ‘C’ also will be assigned to a preferred stock issue in arrears on dividends or sinking fund payments, but that is currently paying.

D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

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

Provisional ratings: The letter “p” indicates that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project being financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, makes no comment on the likelihood of, or the risk of default upon failure of, such completion. The investor should exercise his own judgment with respect to such likelihood and risk.

r: This symbol is attached to the ratings of instruments with significant noncredit risks. It highlights risks to principal or volatility of expected returns which are not addressed in the credit rating. Examples include: obligations linked or indexed to equities, currencies, or commodities; obligations exposed to severe prepayment risk - such as interest-only or principal-only mortgage securities; and obligations with unusually risky interest terms, such as inverse floaters.

The absence of an “r” symbol should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will exhibit no volatility or variability in total return.

N.R.: This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Debt obligations of issuers outside the United States and its territories are rated on the same basis as domestic corporate and municipal issues. The ratings measure the creditworthiness of the obligor but do not take into account currency exchange and related uncertainties.

A Standard & Poor’s commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment of debt having an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Ratings are graded into several categories, ranging from A for the highest quality obligations to D for the lowest. These categories are as follows:

A-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

C: A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

A commercial paper rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor. The ratings are based on current information furnished to Standard & Poor’s by the issuer or obtained from other sources it considers reliable. Standard & Poor’s does not perform an audit in connection with any rating and may, on occasion, rely on unaudited financial information. The ratings may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information.

Fitch’s credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving their money back in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

The use of credit ratings defines their function: “investment grade” ratings (international Long-term ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB-’ categories; Short-term ‘F1’ to ‘F3’) indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while those in the “speculative” or “non-investment grade” categories (international Long-term ‘BB+’ to ‘D’; Short-term ‘B’ to ‘D’) either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred. Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss.

Depending on their application, credit ratings address benchmark measures of probability of default as well relative expectations of loss given default. For example, issuers are typically assigned Issuer Default Ratings that are relative measures of default probability. Similarly, short-term credit ratings give primary consideration to the likelihood that obligations will be met on a timely basis. Securities, however, are rated taking into consideration probability of default and loss given default. As a result, for entities such as corporations, security ratings may be rated higher, lower or the same as the issuer rating to reflect expectations of the security’s relative recovery prospects, as well as differences in ability and willingness to pay. While recovery analysis plays an important role throughout the ratings scale, it becomes a more critical consideration for below investment-grade securities and obligations, particularly at the lower end of the non-investment-grade ratings scale where Fitch often publishes actual Recovery Ratings that are complementary to the credit ratings.

Structured finance ratings typically are assigned to each individual security or tranche in a transaction, and not to an issuer. Each structured finance tranche is rated on the basis of various stress scenarios in combination with its relative seniority, prioritization of cash flows and other structural mechanisms.

International Long-Term Credit Ratings (LTCR) may also be referred to as Long-Term Ratings. When assigned to most issuers, it is used as a benchmark measure of probability of default and is formally described as an Issuer Default Rating (IDR). The major exception is within Public Finance, where IDRs will not be assigned as market convention has always focused on timeliness and does not draw analytical distinctions between issuers and their underlying obligations. When applied to issues or securities, the LTCR may be higher or lower than the issuer rating (IDR) to reflect relative differences in recovery expectations.

The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings:

Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that there is currently expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment grade category.

‘BB’ ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.

For issuers and performing obligations, ‘B’ ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for extremely high recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of ‘R1’ (outstanding).

For issuers and performing obligations, default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for average to superior levels of recovery. Differences in credit quality may be denoted by plus/minus distinctions. Such obligations typically would possess a Recovery Rating of ‘R2’ (superior), or ‘R3’ (good) or ‘R4’ (average).

For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with a Recovery Rating of ‘R4’ (average) or ‘R5’ (below average).

For individual obligations, may indicate distressed or defaulted obligations with potential for below-average to poor recoveries. Such obligations would possess a Recovery Rating of ‘R6’ (poor).

Indicates an entity that has failed to make due payments (within the applicable grace period) on some but not all material financial obligations, but continues to honor other classes of obligations.

Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations. Default generally is defined as one of the following:

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period.

Issuers will be rated ‘D’ upon a default. Defaulted and distressed obligations typically are rated along the continuum of ‘C’ to ‘B’ ratings categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Additionally, in structured finance transactions, where analysis indicates that an instrument is irrevocably impaired such that it is not expected to meet pay interest and or principal in full in accordance with the terms of the obligation’s documentation during the life of the transaction, but where no payment default in accordance with the terms of the documentation is imminent, the obligation may be rated in the ‘B’ or ‘CCC-C’ categories.

Default is determined by reference to the terms of the obligations’ documentation. Fitch will assign default ratings where it has reasonably determined that payment has not been made on a material obligation in accordance with the requirements of the obligation’s documentation, or where it believes that default ratings consistent with Fitch’s published definition of default are the most appropriate ratings to assign.

The following ratings scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. A Short-term rating has a time horizon of less than 13 months for most obligations, or up to three years for US public finance, in line with industry standards, to reflect unique risk characteristics of bond, tax, and revenue anticipation notes that are commonly issued with terms up to three years. Short-term ratings thus place greater emphasis on the liquidity necessary to meet financial commitments in a timely manner.

Highest credit quality. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.

Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.

Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other obligations.

Indicates an entity or sovereign that has defaulted on all of its financial obligations.

The modifiers “+” or “–” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ Long-term rating category, to categories below ‘CCC’ or to Short-term ratings other than ‘Fl’. (The +/– modifiers are only used to denote issues within the CCC category, whereas issuers are only rated CCC without the use of modifiers.)

Rating Watch: Ratings are placed on Rating Watch to notify investors that there is a reasonable probability of a rating change and the likely direction of such change. These are designated as “Positive,” indicating a potential upgrade, “Negative,” for a potential downgrade, or “Evolving,” if ratings may be raised, lowered or maintained. Rating Watch is typically resolved over a relatively short period.

Rating Outlook: An Outlook indicates the direction a rating is likely to move over a one to two-year period. Outlooks may be positive, stable or negative. A positive or negative Rating Outlook does not imply a rating change is inevitable. Similarly, ratings for which outlooks are “stable” could be upgraded or downgraded before an outlook moves to positive or negative if circumstances warrant such an action. Occasionally, Fitch Ratings may be unable to identify the fundamental trend. In these cases, the Rating Outlook may be described as evolving.

Program ratings (such as those assigned to MTN shelf registrations) relate only to standard issues made under the program concerned: it should not be assumed that these ratings apply to every issue made under the program. In particular, in the case of non-standard issues, i.e. those that are linked to the credit of a third party or linked to the performance of an index, ratings of these issues may deviate from the applicable program rating.

Variable rate demand obligations and other securities which contain a short-term “put” or other similar demand feature will have a dual rating, such as AAA/F1+. The first rating reflects the ability to meet long-term principal and interest payments, whereas the second rating reflects the ability to honor the demand feature in full and on time.

Interest Only ratings are assigned to interest strips. These ratings do not address the possibility that a security holder might fail to recover some or all of its initial investment due to voluntary or involuntary principal repayments.

Principal Only ratings address the likelihood that a security holder will receive their initial principal investment either before or by the scheduled maturity date.

Ratings also may be assigned to gauge the likelihood of an investor receiving a certain predetermined internal rate of return without regard to the precise timing of any cash flows.

Paid-in-Full: denotes a security that is paid-in-full, matured, called, or refinanced.

‘NR’ indicates that Fitch Ratings does not rate the issuer or issue in question.

‘Withdrawn’: A rating is withdrawn when Fitch Ratings deems the amount of information available to be inadequate for rating purposes, or when an obligation matures, is called, or refinanced, or for any other reason Fitch Ratings deems sufficient.

The Trust has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy used to determine how the Funds vote proxies relating to their portfolio securities. Under the Trust’s Proxy Voting Policy, the Fund has, subject to the oversight of the Trust’s Board, delegated to the Adviser the following duties: (1) to make the proxy voting decisions for the Funds, subject to the exceptions described below; and (2) to assist the Funds in disclosing their respective proxy voting record as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act.

In cases where a matter with respect to which the Fund was entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s investment adviser, principal underwriter or an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment adviser, or principal underwriter, on the other hand, the Fund shall always vote in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. For purposes of this Policy, a vote shall be considered in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders when a vote is cast consistent with a specific voting policy as set forth in the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy (described below), provided such specific voting policy was approved by the Board.

The Fund CCO shall ensure that the Adviser has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy, which it uses to vote proxies for its clients, including the Funds.

The Trust and the Funds believe that the voting of proxies is an important part of portfolio management as it represents an opportunity for shareholders to make their voices heard and to influence the direction of a company. The Trust and the Funds are committed to voting corporate proxies in the manner that best serves the interests of the Fund’s shareholders.

The Trust believes that the Adviser is in the best position to make individual voting decisions for the Funds consistent with this Policy. Therefore, subject to the oversight of the Board, the Adviser is hereby delegated the following duties:

(1) to make the proxy voting decisions for the Funds, in accordance with the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy, except as provided herein; and

(2) to assist the Funds in disclosing their respective proxy voting record as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the 1940 Act, including providing the following information for each matter with respect to which the Funds are entitled to vote: (a) information identifying the matter voted on; (b) whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder; (c) whether and how the Fund cast its vote; and (d) whether the Fund cast its vote for or against management.

The Board, including a majority of the independent trustees of the Board, must approve the Adviser’s Proxy Voting and Disclosure Policy (the “Adviser Voting Policy”) as it relates to the Funds. The Board must also approve any material changes to the Adviser Voting Policy no later than six (6) months after adoption by the Adviser.

In cases where a matter with respect to which the Fund was entitled to vote presents a conflict between the interest of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s investment adviser, principal underwriter, or an affiliated person of the Fund, its investment adviser, or principal underwriter, on the other hand, the Fund shall always vote in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. For purposes of this Policy, a vote shall be considered in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders when a vote is cast consistent with the specific voting policy as set forth in the Adviser Voting Policy, provided such specific voting policy was approved by the Board.

Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy. The Adviser follows the policies and procedures described below to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities held in the Funds. The Adviser recognizes its fiduciary responsibility to vote proxies solely in a Fund’s best interests. The Adviser has adopted a Proxy Voting Policy as a means reasonably designed to ensure that the Adviser votes any shares owned by its clients that have delegated discretionary proxy voting authority to the Adviser prudently and solely in the best interest of the clients considering all relevant factors and without undue influence from individuals or groups who may have an economic interest in the outcome of a proxy vote.

The Adviser has retained Proxy Trust the (“Proxy Agent”) to provide proxy voting agent services. The Proxy Agent is responsible for ensuring that all proxy ballots received for securities held in the Funds’ portfolios are submitted in a timely manner. As part of its arrangement with the Proxy Agent, the Adviser utilizes Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (the “Proxy Research Firm”), a third party research provider, to provide a recommendation as to how to vote on each issue based on the individual facts and circumstances of the proxy issue and the Proxy Research Firm’s application of its research findings to its Proxy Voting Principles and Guidelines.

Absent a determination to override the recommendation of the Proxy Research Firm or a Fund’s directive to vote proxies in a certain manner, Fund proxies will be voted in accordance with the applicable Proxy Research Firm guidelines and recommendations pertaining to each Fund. In certain instances, the Adviser has determined that the nature of the issues raised by the proxy proposal together with the costs of reviewing the Proxy Research Firm’s recommendations with respect to a particular security and the limited influence that the aggregate vote of the Adviser is likely to have on the outcome of the vote outweigh the potential benefits to clients from the Adviser’s review of the Proxy Research Firm’s advice and recommendations. In such instances, the Adviser follows the applicable recommendation of the Proxy Research Firm in voting the proxy. In all other circumstances, the Adviser reviews the applicable Proxy Research Firm recommendation and determines if it agrees that the recommendation is in the best interests of the Fund. If the Adviser agrees, the shares are voted according to the Proxy Research Firm recommendation. If the Adviser disagrees, the Adviser will document the rationale used to reach its conclusion. On occasion, the Adviser has discretionary voting authority to vote on a proposal for which the Proxy Research Firm does not provide a recommendation. In such circumstances, the Adviser will review the proposals and make a determination as to how to vote the proxy.

Conflicts of interest between the Adviser or a principal of the Adviser and the Funds with respect to a proxy issue conceivably may arise, for example, from personal or professional relationships with a company or with the directors, candidates for director, or senior executives of a company that is the issuer of shares subject to the voting discretion of the Adviser. If the Adviser determines that a material conflict of interest exists: (i) the Adviser may disclose the existence and nature of the conflict to the Fund(s) owning the shares and seek direction on how to vote the proxies; (2) the Adviser may abstain from voting, particularly if there are conflicting client interests; or (3) the Adviser may follow the applicable Proxy Research Firm recommendation in voting the proxies.

The Adviser may choose not to vote a proxy if a jurisdiction whose laws or regulations govern the voting of proxies with respect to the portfolio holding impose share blocking restrictions which prevent the Adviser from exercising its voting authority. Administrative matters beyond the Adviser’s control may at times prevent the Adviser from voting proxies.

Institutional Class Shares (Ticker Symbol: SEKSX)
Class A Shares (Ticker Symbol: IKSTX)

Bloomberg US Municipal Bond: 7 Year (6-8) Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

The Fund offers two classes of shares: Institutional Class shares and Class A shares. You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail to the Carret Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, c/o ALPS Fund Services, Inc., 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203, by telephone at 1-833-287-7933, or through a financial intermediary. You may also purchase and redeem Fund shares by wire transfer. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a financial intermediary should contact the financial intermediary directly.

The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts are shown below. For a description of the Fund’s Institutional Class and Class A shares, see “Buying and Redeeming Shares.”

The Fund intends to make distributions that will be exempt from federal income tax, although some distributions made by the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions that are derived from interest paid on certain bonds may be an item of tax preference for a shareholder that is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. If you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) account or an individual retirement account, special tax rules will apply. The Fund is not recommended for such tax-advantaged arrangements.

This section describes the investment objectives and principal investment strategies of the Fund. See “MORE ON THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS AND RELATED RISKS” in this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information for more information about the Fund’s investments and the risks of investing.

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek to preserve capital while producing current income for the investor that is exempt from both federal and Kansas state income taxes.

While there is no assurance that the Fund will achieve their investment objectives, the Fund endeavors to do so by following the strategies and policies described in this Prospectus.

The Fund’s investment objective is not “fundamental”, which means that it may be changed without the approval of Fund shareholders.

The Board of Trustees (“Board”) may change the Fund’s name, investment objectives or principal investment strategies without a shareholder vote. The Fund will notify you in writing at least sixty (60) days before making any such change. If there is a material change to the Fund’s investment objectives or principal investment strategies, you should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment for you.

Additional information on principal strategies can be found below and details on the various types of investments can be found in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for the Fund. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is classified as non-diversified.

80% Policy. The Fund has a policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets, plus borrowings for investment purposes, in securities that are consistent with the Fund’s name. If the Fund changes this policy, a notice will be sent to shareholders at least 60 days in advance of the change and this prospectus will be supplemented.

Temporary or Defensive Policy. Under adverse, uncertain or abnormal market conditions or at times of extraordinary market volatility, the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest up to 100% of its assets in cash or cash equivalents, including investment grade short-term obligations or invest in other securities that the Adviser believes are less risky than those normally invested in by the Fund.

The Fund seeks to preserve capital while producing current income for the investor that is exempt from both federal and Kansas state income taxes by investing in bonds issued by Kansas municipalities. Under normal market conditions:

The Fund will invest primarily in general obligation and revenue bonds. If any security held by the Fund falls below investment grade, the Fund will put the security on its credit watch list and will generally sell the security within 90 days of such credit downgrade. The Fund does not intend to principally invest in any particular sector of the municipal bond market.

The Fund’s buy discipline is determined by the investment mandate, as well as metrics including; duration, rating, coupon, and sector/industry. After an approved universe of bonds is identified, the portfolio managers/analysts identify specific bond issues. Each credit is analyzed to determine its credit-worthiness and risk profile prior to a buy decision.

The Fund’s sell discipline takes into consideration bonds that fall in credit quality or that are viewed as having downward pricing risk. Bonds in industries that are perceived to be undergoing significant changes may result in a deteriorating financial condition. The sell discipline is also designed to alter the complexion of portfolios as portfolio managers strategically decide to change duration, credit quality, cash flows, etc.

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described above under “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.” This section provides additional information about the principal and non-principal risks that may affect the Fund’s portfolio. Additional information about some of the Fund’s investments and portfolio management techniques and their associated risks is included in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), which is available without charge upon request (see back cover).

Call Risk. Call risk is the likelihood that a security will be prepaid (or “called”) before maturity. An issuer is more likely to call its bonds when interest rates are falling, because the issuer can issue new bonds with lower interest payments. If a bond is called, the Fund may have to replace it with a lower-yielding security.

Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (i.e., credit risk) and are subject to price volatility resulting from, among other things, interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (i.e., market risk). Generally, fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and will increase in value if interest rates decline. Securities with longer durations are likely to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, generally making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Lower rated fixed-income securities have greater volatility because there is less certainty that principal and interest payments will be made as scheduled.

Investment Company Risk. The Fund may invest in shares of registered investments companies, including shares of money market funds. In such circumstance, Fund shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses of any underlying investment company when the Fund invests in shares of another investment company.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may invest in securities or instruments that trade in lower volumes and may make investments that are less liquid than other more widely held investments. In addition, the Fund may invest in securities that could become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Investments that are trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price,

the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security or instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.

Management Risk. The Fund’s success will depend on the management of the Adviser and on the skill and acumen of the Adviser’s personnel.

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as the impact of inflation on the economy, supply chain disruptions, real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, natural disasters, war, the spread of infectious illness or other public issues, or adverse investor sentiment generally. The market value of a security or instrument also may decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

Municipal Securities Risk. Municipal bonds are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest. Municipal bonds can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal insurer can affect the overall municipal market. Municipal bonds may include revenue bonds, which are generally backed by revenue from a specific project or tax. The issuer of a revenue bond makes interest and principal payments from revenues generated from a particular source or facility, such as a tax on particular property or revenues generated from municipal water or sewer utility or an airport. Revenue bonds generally are not backed by the full faith and credit and general taxing power of the issuer. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. There may be less information available on the financial condition of issuers of municipal securities than for public corporations.

Non-Diversified Fund Risk. A fund that is “non-diversified” is not required to meet certain diversification requirements under federal laws. The Fund may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of an issuer. However, a decline in the value of a single investment could cause the Fund’s overall value to decline to a greater degree than if the Fund held a more diversified portfolio.

State Specific Risk. State specific risk is the chance that the Fund, because it invests primarily in securities issued by Kansas and its municipalities, is more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in Kansas than funds that invest in municipal bonds of many different states. Kansas is home to 2.9 million residents, and its economy is reasonably diversified but still relies significantly on transportation equipment production, agriculture and food processing, as well as oil & gas production/processing. Adverse conditions affecting these industries could have a disproportionate effect on Kansas municipal securities. In July 2019, Moody’s affirmed the State of Kansas’ Aa2 issuer rating, and more recently (October 2020), announced the completion of a periodic ratings review of the state without a concurrent change to the state credit rating. In its issuer rating considerations, Moody’s cited the state’s large economy at $170 billion (the 32nd largest in the U.S.), general government flexibility, recent improvements in spending and liquidity, as well as its current ability to handle the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic as positive factors. The state continues to face challenges to economic growth and pressures created by underfunded pensions by above average fixed costs and borrowing leverage. In April 2020, S&P Global Ratings revised the credit outlook on U.S. colleges and universities (including all related entities) to negative from stable, due to the heightened risks associated with the financial toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three Kansas-based Universities made the S&P list – Emporia State University, Kansas State University, and University of Kansas. The rating impact may be relatively short-lived as the pandemic-related challenges facing America’s colleges/universities diminishes over time. The state’s overall diversity and financial resilience may enhance economic growth and fiscal soundness over the next several quarters.

Tax Risk. Income from municipal securities held by the Fund could be declared taxable because of unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities, or noncompliant conduct of a bond issuer. In addition, a portion of the Fund’s otherwise exempt-interest dividends may be taxable to those shareholders subject to the alternative minimum tax.

U.S. Government Obligations Risk. U.S. government obligations include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, such as the U.S. Treasury. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. In the latter case, the investor must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment, which agency or instrumentality may be privately owned. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so.

Other inherent risks associated with the Fund that are less likely to have a material effect on the Fund’s investment portfolio as a whole are called “non-principal risks.” The non-principal risks of the Fund are further described below and in the Statement of Additional Information. It is important to read all the disclosure information provided and to understand that you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Cyber Security Risk. In connection with the increased use of technologies such as the Internet and the dependence on computer systems to perform necessary business functions, the Fund may be susceptible to operational, information security and related risks due to the possibility of cyber-attacks or other incidents. Cyber incidents may result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by computer viruses or other malicious software code, gaining unauthorized access to systems, networks or devices that are used to service the Fund’s operations through hacking or other means for the purpose of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cyber-attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks (which can make a website unavailable) on the Fund’s website. In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on the Fund’s systems.

Cyber security failures or breaches by the Fund’s third-party service providers (including, but not limited to, the Adviser, distributor, custodian, transfer agent and financial intermediaries) may cause disruptions and impact the service providers’ and the Fund’s business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and the mutual funds to process transactions, inability to calculate the Fund’s net asset value, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs and/or additional compliance costs. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of successful cyber-attacks against, or security breakdowns of, the Fund or their third-party service providers.

The Fund may incur substantial costs to prevent or address cyber incidents in the future. In addition, there is a possibility that certain risks have not been adequately identified or prepared for. Furthermore, the Fund cannot directly control any cyber security plans and systems put in place by third party service providers. Cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investment in such securities to lose value.

Temporary or Defensive Measures Risk. To the extent that the Fund engages in temporary or defensive measures, its ability to achieve its investment objective may be affected adversely.

The Trust’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of Fund’s portfolio securities are described in the Fund’s SAI.

Carret Asset Management, LLC (“Adviser”), subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, furnishes continuing investment supervision to the Fund and is responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser’s principal address is 320 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual management fee for the Fund based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. The following table reflects the Fund’s contractual investment advisory fee rate (expressed as an annual rate).

The management fee is paid monthly. The initial term of the Advisory Agreement is two years. The Board may extend the Advisory Agreement for additional one-year terms. The Board and shareholders of the Fund may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon sixty (60) days’ notice. The Adviser may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon one-hundred twenty (120) days’ notice. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement is provided in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the period ended September 30, 2022.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the amount of the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses, (excluding Rule 12b-1 Fees, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to an annual rate of 0.48% of the Fund and Class A Shares’ average daily net assets. This agreement is in effect through at least January 31, 2024, and will automatically continue upon annual approval by the board for successive twelve-month periods unless (i) it is terminated earlier by the Board of Trustees, or (ii) the Adviser provides at least 30 days written notice of its non-continuance prior to the end of the then effective term. Except due to the Adviser’s notice of non-renewal, this Agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, expenses it has borne through the expense limitation agreement described above (whether through reduction of its management fee or otherwise) only to the extent that the Fund’s expenses in later periods do not exceed the lesser of (1) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser waives or limits the expenses or (2) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser seeks to recover the expenses; provided, however, that the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees or expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expense was reduced.

The portfolio managers are primarily responsible for the day-to-day investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets. The portfolio managers listed below have served as the Fund’s portfolio managers since the Fund’s inception.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“Administrator” or “Transfer Agent”) serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. ALPS Distributors, Inc. (“ADI” or “Distributor”) serves as the Fund’s distributor.

The Fund currently offers Institutional Class and Class A shares. Each share class represents an investment in the same portfolio of securities of the Fund, but each share class has its own expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best meets your situation. When you purchase shares of the Fund, you must choose a share class.

With certain exceptions, the Institutional Class shares are typically offered only to those investors that purchase at least the prescribed minimum amount of the Fund. Institutional Class shares are offered directly, via the Fund’s transfer agent, and through financial intermediaries (including, but not limited to, broker-dealers, retirement plans, bank trust departments and financial advisors). Such intermediaries may seek payment from the Fund or its service providers for the provision of distribution, administrative or shareholder retention services, except for networking and/or omnibus account fees. Institutional investors may include, but are not limited to, corporations, retirement plans, public plans and foundations/endowments.

Not all financial intermediaries offer both classes of shares. Each investor’s financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial advisor to help you decide which share class is best for you. If your financial intermediary offers more than one class of shares, you should carefully consider which class of shares to purchase. Certain classes have higher expenses than other classes, which may lower the return on your investment.

You may transfer between classes of the Fund if you meet the minimum investment requirements for the class into which you would like to transfer. Transfers between classes of the Fund are generally not taxable transactions. Certain significant holders of Fund shares are required to provide information concerning such a nontaxable exchange on their federal income tax returns for the year of the exchange. See the SAI under “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES-Special Tax Considerations- Transfers between Classes of the Fund.”

Institutional Class Shares. Institutional Class shares of the Fund are offered at net asset value without a sales load. Purchases of Institutional Class shares may only be made by one of the following types of “Institutional Investors”:

The minimum initial investment amount for the Institutional Class shares is $3,000,000. However, any RIA or financial planner using a “wrap fee” or asset-based fee will not be subject to the $3,000,000 minimums for the Fund. The Fund may waive its minimum purchase requirement.

Class A Shares. Class A shares of the Fund are offered with a front-end sales charge and volume reductions. For purchases of $1,000,000 or more, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% will be assessed if redeemed within one year of purchase and a 0.50% CDSC will be assessed if redeemed after the first year and within the second year. The minimum investment for Class A shares is $5,000. Subsequent investments are $250.

Class A Share Sales Charge Schedule. If you choose to buy Class A shares, you will pay the Public Offering Price (“POP”) which is the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) plus the applicable sales charge. Since sales charges are reduced for Class A share purchases above certain dollar amounts, known as “breakpoint levels”, the POP is lower for these purchases. The dollar amount of the sales charge is the difference between the POP of the shares purchased (based on the applicable sales charge in the table below) and the NAV of those shares. Because of rounding in the calculation of the POP, the actual sales charge you pay may be more or less than that calculated using the percentages shown below. At its discretion, the Distributor may provide the broker-dealer the full front-end sales charge.

Class A Shares Sales Charge Reductions. If you believe you are eligible for any of the following reductions, it is up to you to ask the selling agent or the shareholder servicing agent for the reduction and to provide appropriate proof of eligibility.

You, or your fiduciary or trustee, also may tell us to extend volume discounts, including the reductions offered for rights of accumulation and letters of intent, to include purchases made by:

In order to obtain a reduced sales charge, it may be necessary at the time of purchase for an investor to inform the Fund, the Distributor, or his/her broker-dealer of the existence of other accounts or purchases that are eligible to be aggregated in order to obtain a reduced sales charge. An investor may be required to provide the Fund, the Distributor, or the investor’s broker-dealer certain information to verify his/her eligibility for a reduced sales charge. This information may include, to the extent applicable, the following: (i) information or records regarding shares of the Fund eligible to be aggregated that are in all accounts held at the Fund by the investor; (ii) information or records regarding shares of the Fund eligible to be aggregated that are in accounts held at broker-dealers by the investor; and (iii) information or records regarding shares of the Fund eligible to be aggregated that are in accounts held at the Fund or at any broker-dealers by related parties of the investor, such as members of the same family or certain qualified groups.

If you plan to invest, for example, $200,000 in the Fund that charges a maximum sales load of 5.75% in installments over the next year, by signing a letter of intent you would pay only 4.00% sales load on the entire purchase. Otherwise, you might pay 5.75% on the first $49,999, 5.00% on the next $50,001 then 4.00% on the next $100,000.

CDSC Waivers. The CDSC does not apply to: (1) redemption of shares when the Fund exercises its right to liquidate accounts which are less than the minimum account size; (2) redemptions following death or post-purchase disability (as defined by Section 72(m) (7) of the Internal Revenue Code); (3) the portion of a mandated minimum distribution from an IRA, SIMPLE IRA or an individual type 403(b)(7) plan equal to the percentage of your plan assets held in the applicable Class of shares of the Fund; (4) reinvested dividends and capital gains; and (5) a Systematic Withdrawal Plan of 10% where the minimum distribution is $500 per month with an initial account of $20,000 or greater.

Waivers for Certain Parties. If you are eligible for certain waivers, we will sell you Class A shares so you can avoid higher ongoing expenses. The following people can buy Class A shares at NAV:

Contact your selling agent for further information. We reserve the right to enter into agreements that reduce or eliminate sales charges for groups or classes of shareholders, or for Fund shares included in other investment plans such as “wrap accounts”. If you own Fund shares as part of another account or package such as an IRA or a sweep account, you must read the directions for that account. Those directions may supersede the terms and conditions discussed here.

The Fund has adopted a separate distribution and services (12b-1) plan for Class A shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”). Under the terms of the Plan, the Fund is authorized to make payments to financial intermediaries or the Distributor for remittance to financial intermediaries, as compensation for distribution and/or the provision of on-going shareholder services performed by such financial intermediaries for their customers who are investors in the Fund. The Plan permits payment at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of such Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to its Class A shares for services and related expenses in connection with a financial intermediary’s administration of mutual fund distribution platforms that offer Class A shares of the Fund. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s Class A share assets on an ongoing basis, over time, they will increase the cost of an investment in Class A shares.

The Distributor may retain some or all compensation payable pursuant to the Plan under certain circumstances, including but not limited to, such as if a financial intermediary resigns as the broker/dealer of record, or such financial intermediary failing to meet certain eligibly standards to be able to continue to be the broker/dealer of record.

The Fund has adopted a non-Rule 12b-1 shareholder services plan (a “Services Plan”) for Class A shares which authorizes the Fund to compensate select financial intermediaries and Fund affiliates an aggregate fee in an amount not to annually exceed 0.25% of the average daily net asset value of the Class A shares of the Fund attributable to, or held in the name of, the financial intermediary for its clients as compensation for maintaining customer accounts that hold Fund shares. The Service Plan fee is compensation for providing, some or all of the following services: (i) establishing and maintaining Fund shareholder accounts, (ii) aggregating, processing and transmitting Fund shareholder orders and instructions regarding accounts, (iii) processing dividend and other distribution payments from each Fund on behalf of shareholders, (iv) preparing reports or forms on behalf of shareholders, (v) forwarding communications from each Fund to shareholders, and (vi) providing such other similar services as applicable statutes, rules or regulations permit. None of the aforementioned services includes distribution related services or activities. The Fund is not currently imposing a Services Plan fee and does not intend to begin imposing the fee for at least one year following the date of this prospectus.

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may enter into arrangements to make payments for additional activities to select financial intermediaries intended to result in the sale of Fund shares and/or other shareholder servicing activities out of the Adviser’s own resources (which may include profits from providing advisory services to the Fund). These payments are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments” and the revenue sharing payment amount generally vary by financial intermediary. The aggregate amount of the revenue sharing payments is determined by the Adviser and may be substantial. Revenue sharing payments create no additional cost to the Fund or its applicable shareholders.

Revenue sharing payments may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of the Fund to you, rather than shares of another mutual fund. Please contact your financial intermediary’s investment professional for details about revenue sharing payments it may be receiving.

Select financial intermediaries may enter into arrangements with the Fund, or its designees, to perform certain networking, recordkeeping, sub-accounting and/or administrative services for shareholders of the Fund. These activities are routinely processed through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Fund/SERV and Trust Networking systems or similar systems. In consideration for providing these services in an automated environment, such financial intermediaries may receive compensation from the Fund.

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 if, in the Adviser’s or the Fund’s opinion, the investor has adequate intent and availability of assets to reach a future level of investment in the Fund that is equal to or greater than the minimum. Investors may establish an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) account or a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) account; there are no subsequent investment minimums for investments in AIP or SWP accounts.

The following investors will not be subject to the investment minimums with respect to Institutional Class shares:

The Fund and the Adviser reserves the right to make additional exceptions or otherwise modify these exceptions at any time and to reject any investment for any reason.

In order to buy, exchange, or redeem shares at that day’s net asset value, you must place your order with the Fund or its agent before the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) closes (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). If the NYSE closes early, you must place your order prior to the actual closing time. Orders received by financial intermediaries prior to the close of trading on the NYSE will be confirmed at the offering price computed as of the close of the trading on the NYSE. It is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure that all orders are transmitted in a timely manner to the Fund. Otherwise, you will receive the next business day’s net asset value.

Investors may purchase, exchange or redeem shares of the Fund directly or through retirement plans, broker-dealers, bank trust departments, financial advisors or other financial intermediaries. Shares made available through full service broker-dealers may be available through wrap accounts under which such broker-dealers impose additional fees for services connected to the wrap account. Contact your financial intermediary or refer to your plan documents for instructions on how to purchase or redeem shares.

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent. The Fund has authorized one or more brokers to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers are authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives the order. Customer orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.

There is an annual pass through IRA and Coverdell Education Savings Account maintenance fee of $10.00 that is charged by the IRA custodian on a per-account basis. This fee may be paid by the Adviser at the Adviser’s discretion.

With certain limited exceptions, the Fund is available only to U.S. citizens or residents.

The Fund will generally accept purchases only in U.S. dollars drawn from U.S. financial institutions. Cashier’s checks, third party checks, money orders, credit card convenience checks, cash or equivalents or payments in foreign currencies are not acceptable forms of payment. You may also contact the Fund to request a purchase of Fund shares using securities you own. The Fund reserves the right to refuse or accept such requests in whole or in part.

The Fund will process orders upon receipt in good order by the Fund’s transfer agent. The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agent. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at the Fund’s post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Fund.

Redemptions, like purchases, may generally be effected only through retirement plans, broker-dealers, financial intermediaries and directly through the Fund. Please contact the Fund, your financial intermediary or refer to the appropriate plan documents for details. Your financial intermediary may charge a processing or service fee in connection with the redemption of shares.

In all cases, your redemption price is the net asset value per share next determined after your request is received in good order. “Good order” means that your redemption request includes: (i) the Fund’s name and account number; (ii) the amount of the transaction in dollars or shares; (iii) signatures of you and any other person listed on the account, exactly as the shares are registered; (iv) any certificates you are holding for the account; and (v) any supporting legal documentation that may be required.

Redemption proceeds typically will be sent by the requested method of payment (i.e. check, ACH, or wire) within one to two business days but may take up to seven days. However, if you recently purchased your shares by check, your redemption proceeds will not be sent to you until your original check clears, which may take up to 10 days. The Fund typically pays redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, from the sale of portfolio securities, and/or the use of a line of credit. These redemption payment methods are expected to be used in regular and stressed market conditions.

Your redemption proceeds can be sent by check to your address of record or by wire transfer to a bank account designated on your application. Your bank may charge you a fee for wire transfers. Any request that your redemption proceeds be sent to a destination other than your bank account or address of record must be in writing and must include a Medallion signature guarantee. Please call 1-833-287-7933 for information on obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee.

The Fund is not responsible for losses or fees resulting from posting delays or non-receipt of redemption payments at your bank, when shareholder payment instructions are followed.

shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed such limitation, the Fund will have the option of redeeming the excess in cash or in-kind. Securities used to redeem Fund shares will be valued as described in “How Fund Shares are Priced” below. A shareholder may pay brokerage charges on the sale of any securities received as a result of a redemption in-kind. Redemptions in-kind are taxed to a redeeming shareholder for federal income tax purposes in the same manner as cash redemptions. Securities received in a redemption in-kind are subject to market risk until sold.

The Fund requires a Medallion signature guarantee on any written redemption over $100,000 (but may require additional documentation or a Medallion signature guarantee on any redemption request to help protect against fraud) or for certain types of transfer requests or account registration changes. A Medallion signature guarantee may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution that is participating in a medallion program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. The three “recognized” medallion programs are Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP) and NYSE, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (NYSE MSP). Please call 1-833-287-7933 for information on obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee.

The Fund does not permit market timing or other abusive trading practices. The Fund reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to reject any purchase transaction at any time. In addition, the Fund reserves the right to suspend its offering of shares or to impose restrictions on purchases at any time that are more restrictive than those that are otherwise stated in this Prospectus with respect to disruptive, excessive or short-term trading.

Excessive short-term trading or other abusive trading practices may disrupt portfolio management strategies, increase brokerage and administrative costs and hurt Fund performance. The Board has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions and to seek to prevent market timing. To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject, in its sole discretion, any purchase order from any investor it believes has a history of abusive trading or whose trading, in its judgment, has been or may be disruptive to the Fund. Such disruption may include trading that may interfere with the efficient management of the Fund, may materially increase the Fund’s transaction costs, administrative costs or taxes, or may otherwise be detrimental to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Fund may also refuse purchase transactions from Fund intermediaries it believes may be facilitating or have facilitated abusive trading practices. In making this judgment, the Fund may consider trading done in multiple accounts under common ownership or control.

On a periodic basis, the Fund or its agents may review transaction history reports to identify redemptions that are within a specific time period from a previous purchase in the same account(s) in the Fund, or in multiple accounts that are known to be under common control. Redemptions meeting the criteria will be investigated for possible inappropriate trading.

Certain accounts, in particular omnibus accounts, include multiple investors and such accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day. In these cases, purchases and redemptions of Fund shares are netted against one another and the identity of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated may not be known by the Fund. Therefore, it becomes more difficult for the Fund to identify market timing or other abusive trading activities in these accounts, and the Fund may be unable to eliminate abusive traders in these accounts from the Fund. Further, identification of abusive traders may also be limited by operational systems and technical limitations. To the extent abusive or disruptive trading is identified, the Fund will encourage omnibus account intermediaries to address such trading activity in a manner consistent with how the Fund would address such activity directly, if it were able to do so.

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying market timing and other abusive trading practices, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s efforts will identify all market timing or abusive trading activities. Therefore, investors should not assume that the Fund will be able to detect or prevent all practices that may disadvantage the Fund.

You must contact the Fund in writing regarding any errors or discrepancies within 60 days after the date of the statement confirming a transaction. The Fund may deny your ability to refute a transaction if it does not hear from you within 60 days after the confirmation statement date.

The Fund reserves the right to cancel a purchase if the check or electronic funds transfer does not clear your bank, or if a wire is not received by settlement date. The Fund may charge a fee for insufficient funds and you may be responsible for any fees imposed by your bank and any losses that the Fund may incur as a result of the canceled purchase.

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when the Adviser believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board. The Fund may determine the fair value of investments based on information provided by pricing services and other third-party vendors, which may recommend fair value prices or adjustments with reference to other securities, indices or assets. In considering whether fair value pricing is required and in determining fair values, the Fund may, among other things, consider significant events (which may be considered to include changes in the value of U.S. securities or securities indices) that occur after the close of the relevant market and before the Fund values its securities.

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuation of securities based on readily available market quotations. A fund that uses fair value to price securities may value those securities higher or lower than another fund using market quotations or its own fair value methodologies to price the same securities. There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its net asset value.

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires the Fund or its agents to obtain certain personal information from you (or persons acting on your behalf) in order to verify your (or such person’s) identity when you open an account, including name, address, date of birth and other information (which may include certain documents) that will allow the Transfer Agent to verify your identity. If this information is not provided, the Transfer Agent may not be able to open your account. If the Transfer Agent is unable to verify your identity (or that of another person authorized to act on your behalf) shortly after your account is opened, or believes it has identified potential criminal activity, the Fund, the Distributor and the Transfer Agent each reserve the right to reject further purchase orders from you or to take such other action as they deem reasonable or required by law, including closing your account and redeeming your shares at their net asset value at the time of redemption.

Income Dividends. Income dividends are derived from net investment income (i.e., interest and other income, less any related expenses) the Fund earns from its portfolio securities and other investments. The Fund intends to distribute any net income to shareholders monthly.

Capital Gain Distributions. Capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when the Fund sells a portfolio security. Long-term capital gains are derived from gains realized when the Fund sells a portfolio security it has owned for more than one year, and short-term capital gains are derived from gains realized when a portfolio security was owned for one year or less. The Fund intends to distribute amounts derived from capital gains to shareholders annually.

The following information is a general summary of U.S. federal income tax consequences, and certain state and local tax consequences, of investments in the Fund for U.S. persons only, which include (i) U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) corporations organized in the United States or under the law of the United States or any state, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation of its source; or (iv) a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. Shareholders that are partnerships or nonresident aliens, foreign trusts or estates, or foreign corporations may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment. If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of Fund shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. You should rely on your own tax adviser for advice about the particular federal, state and local tax consequences regarding your investment in the Fund.

This discussion assumes that the Fund will qualify under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) as regulated investment companies and will satisfy certain distribution requirements so that it is not subject to U.S. income tax in general. There can be no guarantee that these assumptions will be correct. If a Fund qualifies under Subchapter M as regulated investment companies, it will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its net investment income and any realized capital gains.

The Fund expects to distribute substantially all of its investment income and net capital gain (in excess of any capital loss carryovers) to its shareholders every year. The Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that it distributes substantially all of its exempt interest dividend net of certain expenses, investment company taxable income and any realized capital gains. Shareholders will be taxed on such distributions that they receive (other than exempt-interest dividends), unless the shares are held by certain types of tax-exempt organizations or through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts), in which event special rules will apply.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, shareholders of the Fund are generally subject to taxation based on the underlying character of the income and gain recognized by the Fund and distributed to the shareholders. The Fund may pay three different types of distributions: exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and ordinary dividends.

The Fund anticipates that its distributions of the Fund’s net interest income from its tax-exempt securities generally will be “exempt-interest dividends,” which are exempt from federal income taxes.

Distributions properly reported as net capital gain of the Fund will be taxable to Fund shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long shares of the Fund are held. Other than distributions of exempt-interest dividends and net long-term capital gain, Fund distributions will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Dividends taxed as ordinary income may include dividends attributable to taxable interest, market discount or short-term capital gains.

A shareholder subject to U.S. federal income tax will be subject to tax on Fund ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions whether they are paid in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares.

Fund distributions of earnings and gains (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to a shareholder even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund prior to the shareholder’s investment and thus were included in the price paid for the shares. Thus, a shareholder who purchases shares on or just before the record date of the Fund distribution will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of his or her investment back as a taxable distribution. While in effect a return of capital to the shareholder, the distribution is still taxable even though the shareholder did not participate in these gains. An investor can avoid this by investing soon after the Fund has made a distribution.

Interest on indebtedness incurred by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the Fund generally will not be deductible for federal income tax purposes.

A portion of the exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund may constitute an item of tax preference for purposes of determining federal alternative minimum tax liability. Exempt-interest dividends will be taken into account in determining the taxable portion of any Social Security or railroad retirement benefits that an individual shareholder receives.

If a shareholder of the Fund receives an exempt-interest dividend with respect to any share held for six months or less, any loss on the sale or exchange of the share generally will be disallowed to the extent of such dividend amount.

Shareholders of the Fund will recognize taxable capital gain or loss on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund, based on the difference between the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares disposed of and the amount received for them.

Gain or loss on the sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares generally will be long-term if the shareholder’s holding period for the shares disposed of exceeds 12 months. Any loss realized on shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends that were received on the shares. Any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent that the shares disposed of are replaced with other substantially identical shares of the same Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

Generally, distributions on, sales, exchanges or redemptions of shares held in an IRA (or other tax-advantaged plans) are not currently taxable. Withdrawals from such plans are subject to special tax rules.

Cost-basis reporting. The Fund (or its administrative agent) generally must report to the IRS the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares. The Fund also must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, when subsequently sold or redeemed, and indicate whether such shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. These requirements do not apply to investments through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement plan. If a shareholder does not make an election among the available IRS-accepted cost basis methods, the Fund will use a default cost basis method for the shareholder. The cost basis method elected or applied may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares.

Medicare surtax. A Medicare surtax of 3.8% 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, but excluding exempt-interest dividends) of U.S. individuals, estates and certain trusts to the extent that such person’s gross income as adjusted exceeds a threshold amount. Any liability for this additional tax will be reported on, and paid with, the shareholder’s federal income tax return.

Backup withholding. A shareholder of the Fund may be subject to backup withholding on any distributions of income, capital gains, or proceeds from the sale or exchange of Fund shares if the shareholder (i) has provided either an incorrect tax identification number or no such number, (ii) has been identified by the IRS as otherwise subject to backup withholding, or (iii) has failed to certify that the shareholder is a U.S. person not subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate is 24% for tax years beginning before 2026.

Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest and certain capital gains earned from their foreign security investments. A shareholder will likely be ineligible for any offsetting tax credit or tax deduction under U.S. tax laws for the shareholder’s portion of the Fund’s foreign tax obligations.

Annual Notifications. Each year, the Fund will notify shareholders of the tax status of dividends and distributions.

State and Local Income Taxes. Shareholders may also be subject to state and local income taxes on distributions and redemptions. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the tax status of distributions in their state and locality.

Kansas State Income Taxes. The following summary addresses only the Kansas state income tax consequences to U.S. persons who are subject to Kansas state income tax and who invest in the Fund.

Individuals, trusts and estates resident in Kansas, and certain corporations subject to tax in Kansas, will not be subject to Kansas income tax on dividends from the Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund that are derived from interest that is exempt from federal income tax and that are received on (i) obligations issued by or on behalf of the State of Kansas or its political subdivision after 1987, (ii) certain bonds for which interest thereon has been exempted by state law, (iii) obligations issued by the government of Puerto Rico, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands, or (iv) obligations issued by the U.S. federal government. Such individuals, trusts, estates and corporations will be subject to Kansas income tax on other dividends received from the Fund, including dividends on other obligations and on capital gains.

For more information, see the SAI under “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.” Investors should consult with their tax advisers regarding and the U.S. federal, foreign, state and local tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

The Financial Highlights information presented for the Fund includes periods for a predecessor American Independence Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, a series of American Independence Funds Trust, which was reorganized into the Fund effective as of September 24, 2018 (the “Reorganization”). Prior to the Reorganization, the Fund was a “shell” fund with no assets and had not commenced operations. The Financial Highlights present the financial performance for the past five years or since inception, whichever is shorter. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund assuming reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. Except for periods ending prior to September 30, 2018, which were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm, the financial highlights have been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd., an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the most recent annual report to shareholders, which is available upon request.

Annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders provide additional information about the Fund’s investments. These reports, when available, will discuss the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

The Statement of Additional Information provides more detailed information about the Fund. It is incorporated by reference into (is legally a part of) this Prospectus.

The Fund sends only one report to a household if more than one account has the same address. Contact the Transfer Agent if you do not want this policy to apply to you.

You can obtain shareholder reports or the statement of additional information (without charge), make inquiries or request other information about the Fund by contacting the Transfer Agent at 1-833-287-7933, by writing the Fund at P.O. Box 1920, Denver, CO 80201, or by calling your financial consultant. This information is also available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.carret.com.

Copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports, prospectus and statement of additional information and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the Commission’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

If someone makes a statement about the Fund that is not in this Prospectus, you should not rely upon that information. Neither the Fund nor the Distributor is offering to sell shares of the Fund to any person to whom the Fund may not lawfully sell its shares.

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) expands upon and supplements the information contained in the current Prospectus for the Fund listed above, each of which is a separate series of ALPS Series Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (“Trust”). Each series of the Trust represents shares of beneficial interest in a separate portfolio of securities and other assets with its own objective and policies. Carret Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser of the Fund.

This SAI is not a prospectus and is only authorized for distribution when preceded or accompanied by the Fund’s current prospectus dated January 27, 2023, as supplemented from time to time (collectively, the “Prospectus”). This SAI supplements and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by writing the Fund at the address listed above, or by calling the Fund’s transfer agent at 1-833-287-7933. The Fund’s most recent Annual Report is incorporated by reference into this SAI and can be obtained free of charge, by calling the toll-free number printed above.

This SAI includes information about the Carret Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (the “Fund” and formerly known as the American Independence Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund). The Fund is a series of the ALPS Series Trust (“Trust”), an open-end, management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 12, 2012.

The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), classifies mutual funds as either diversified or non-diversified. The Carret Kansas Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is non-diversified.

The Fund’s principal investment objectives and strategies are discussed in the Prospectus under the “SUMMARY SECTION” for the Fund and under “INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.” In order to achieve its investment objective, the Fund generally makes investments of the sort described in the Prospectus.

The Fund may also invest in certain types of securities, or engage in certain investment activities, as generally discussed below. In addition, the Fund may be subject to additional risks in connection with its investments in such securities or as a result of the Fund’s investment strategies or activities.

Bank obligations that may be purchased by the Fund include certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and fixed time deposits. A certificate of deposit is a short-term negotiable certificate issued by a commercial bank against funds deposited in the bank and is either interest-bearing or purchased on a discount basis. A banker’s acceptance is a short-term draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction. The borrower is liable for payment, as is the bank, which unconditionally guarantees to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Fixed time deposits are obligations of branches of U.S. or non-U.S. banks which are payable at a stated maturity date and bear a fixed rate of interest. Although fixed time deposits do not have a market, there are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in the deposit to a third party. Bank obligations may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulation. Securities issued or guaranteed by non-U.S. banks and non-U.S. branches of U.S. banks are subject to many of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities generally.

Borrowing creates an opportunity for increased return, but, at the same time, creates special risks. Furthermore, if the Fund were to engage in borrowing, an increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares by increasing the Fund’s interest expense.

Subject to the limitations described under “Investment Limitations” below, the Fund may be permitted to borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Fund’s assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. Provisions of the 1940 Act require the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary emergency purposes in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as the Commission may prescribe by rules and regulations in order to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint if the Fund sells securities at that time. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased, if any. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowings or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by the Fund. See “Reverse Repurchase Agreements” below.

Depending on the investment techniques or types of securities used by the Fund, the Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts), multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of options, currency and interest rate transactions, instead of a single derivative, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the judgment of the Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions will normally be entered into by the Fund based on the Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase the risks or hinder achievement of the Fund’s investment objective.

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, which are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities, which may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities ordinarily provide a stream of income, which generate higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers but lower than the yield on non-convertible debt. Convertible securities are usually subordinate or are comparable to non-convertible securities but rank senior to common stock or shares in a company’s capital structure. The value of a convertible security is a function of (i) its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege and (ii) its worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock. Convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies whose stock prices may be volatile. The price of a convertible security often reflects such variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that non-convertible debt does not. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.

The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts. When used for hedging purposes, the Fund would be the buyer of a credit default swap contract. In that case, the Fund would be entitled to receive the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation, index or other investment from the counterparty to the contract in the event of a default by a third party, such as a U.S. or foreign issuer, on the referenced debt obligation. In return, the Fund would pay to the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would have spent the stream of payments and received no benefit from the contract. When the Fund is the seller of a credit default swap contract, it receives the stream of payments but is obligated to pay upon default of the referenced debt obligation. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

Credit default swaps may be subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or both. Both the CFTC and the SEC have issued or amended guidance and relief regarding the implementation of various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”) relating to the use of swaps. Further action by the CFTC or SEC may affect the Fund’s ability to use credit default swaps or may require additional disclosure by the Fund.

The fixed-income securities in which the Fund may invest will not be required to meet a minimum rating standard. Fixed-income securities that are not rated for creditworthiness by any internationally recognized credit rating organization are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” and involve significantly greater risks, including price volatility and risk of default of payment of interest and principal than higher rated securities. A description of the ratings used by Moody’s and S&P is set forth in Appendix A to this SAI.

Depositary receipts include sponsored and unsponsored depositary receipts that are or become available, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and other depositary receipts. Depositary receipts are typically issued by a financial institution (“depositary”) and evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities (“underlying securities”) that have been deposited with the depositary. The depositary for ADRs is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a non-U.S. issuer. ADRs are publicly traded on exchanges or OTC in the United States and are issued through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” arrangements. In a sponsored ADR arrangement, the non-U.S. issuer assumes the obligation to pay some or all of the depositary’s transaction fees, whereas under an unsponsored arrangement, the non-U.S. issuer assumes no obligation and the depositary’s transaction fees are paid by the ADR holders. In addition, less information is available in the United States about an unsponsored ADR than about a sponsored ADR, and the financial information about a company may not be as reliable for an unsponsored ADR as it is for a sponsored ADR. In the case of GDRs, the depositary can be a non-U.S. or a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a non-U.S. issuer. GDRs allow companies in Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America to offer shares in many markets around the world, thus allowing them to raise capital in these markets, as opposed to just in their home market. The advantage of GDRs is that shares do not have to be bought through the issuing company’s home exchange, which may be difficult and expensive, but can be bought on all major stock exchanges. In addition, the share price and all dividends are converted to the shareholder’s home currency. As for other depositary receipts, the depositary may be a non-U.S. or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a non-U.S. or a U.S. issuer. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depositary receipts purchased by the Fund may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted, in which case the Fund may be exposed to relative currency fluctuations.

The Fund may engage in a variety of derivative transactions in accordance with the applicable rules of the CFTC, and, to the extent applicable, the rules and regulations of certain national or foreign exchanges; however, the Fund will not be obligated to use derivatives and makes no representation as to the availability of these techniques at this time or at any time in the future. Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index and may relate to stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indexes and other assets. The types of derivatives in which the Fund may invest include, but are not limited to, futures contracts, the purchase and sale (or writing) of exchange listed and OTC put and call options on debt securities, entering into various interest rate transactions such as swaps, caps floors, and collars, entering into equity swaps, caps and floors, the purchase and sale of indexed debt securities or trading in other similar types of instruments.

Derivatives may be used, among other reasons, as part of the Fund’s investment strategy, to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held or to be purchased for the Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets fluctuations, to protect the Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its securities, to facilitate the sale of those securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of the Fund’s portfolio or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a temporary substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities or to seek to enhance the Fund’s income or gain. The Fund may use any or all types of derivatives which it is authorized to use at any time; no particular strategy will dictate the use of one type of transaction rather than another, as use of any authorized derivative will be a function of numerous variables, including market conditions. The ability of the Fund to utilize derivatives successfully will depend on numerous factors including the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. These skills are different from those needed to select the Fund’s portfolio securities.

Subject to the constraints described above, the Fund may (if and to the extent so authorized) enter into futures contracts, purchase and sell (or write) exchange listed and OTC put and call options on securities, loan participations and assignments, futures contracts, indices and other financial instruments, and the Fund may enter into interest rate transactions, equity swaps and related transactions and other similar transactions which may be developed to the extent the Adviser determines that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and applicable regulatory requirements. The Fund’s interest rate transactions may take the form of swaps, caps, floors and collars, and the Fund’s currency transactions may take the form of currency forward contracts, currency swaps and options on currencies.

Certain standardized swap transactions are currently subject to mandatory central clearing or may be eligible for voluntary central clearing. Central clearing is expected to decrease counterparty risk and increase liquidity compared to uncleared swaps because central clearing interposes the central clearinghouse as the counterpart to each participant’s swap. However, central clearing does not eliminate counterparty risk or illiquidity risk entirely. In addition, depending on the size of the Fund and other factors, the margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by the Fund to support its obligations under a similar uncleared swap.

In connection with the use of certain derivatives, the Adviser intends to comply with the requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by operating the Fund in a manner consistent with the restrictions of Rule 4.5, including filing a notice of eligibility of exemption from registration in accordance with applicable procedures and deadlines.

Derivatives involve special risks, including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of derivatives could result in significantly greater losses than if it had not been used. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce the Fund’s net asset value, and possibly income, and the losses may be significantly greater than if derivatives had not been used.

The Fund’s use of derivatives may be limited by certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”). When used, derivatives may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxes payable by shareholders. See “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.”

The Fund will invest in equity securities. Equity securities (which generally include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, securities convertible into common or preferred stocks and similar securities) are generally volatile and riskier than some other forms of investment. Equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies or broad equity market indices generally. Common stock and other equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies and other direct or indirect interests in business organizations.

Shares of ETFs and other similar instruments may be purchased by the Fund. Generally, an ETF is an investment company that is registered under the 1940 Act. Index ETFs that holds a portfolio of securities designed to track the performance of a particular index or index segment, actively managed ETFs are actively managed by an investment adviser. Similar instruments, issued by pools that are not investment companies, offer characteristics similar to index ETFs and may be designed to track the performance of an index or basket of securities of companies engaged in a particular market or sector. ETFs sell and redeem their shares at net asset value in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day.

Investments in ETFs and other similar instruments involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly-based portfolio of stocks including: (i) risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument; (ii) an index ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weightings of securities or number of stocks held; (iii) an ETF may also be adversely affected by the performance of the specific index, market sector or group of industries on which it is based; and (iv) an index ETF may not track an index as well as a traditional index mutual fund because ETFs are valued by the market and, therefore, there may be a difference between the market value and the ETF’s net asset value. The Fund may both purchase and effect short sales of shares of ETFs and may also purchase and sell options on shares of ETFs. These investments may be used for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return (which is considered a speculative activity).

Because ETFs and pools that issue similar instruments incur various fees and expenses, the Fund’s investment in these instruments will involve certain indirect costs, as well as transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions. The Adviser will consider expenses associated with an investment in determining whether to invest in an ETF or other instrument. In the case of ETFs that are investment companies, they invest substantially all of their assets in securities of various securities indices or a particular segment of a securities index. The market price of ETFs is expected to fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the asset values of their underlying indices and supply and demand of an ETF’s shares on the exchange. ETFs may trade at relatively modest discounts or premiums to net asset value. In general, most ETFs have a limited operating history and information may be lacking regarding the actual performance and trading liquidity of such shares for extended periods or over complete market cycles. In addition, there is no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of ETFs in which the Fund invests will continue to be met or will remain unchanged. In the event substantial market or other disruptions affecting the shares of ETFs held by the Fund should occur in the future, the liquidity and value of that Fund’s shares could also be adversely affected.

Limitations of the 1940 Act, which prohibit the Fund from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding shares of another investment company, may restrict the Fund’s ability to purchase shares of certain ETFs.

The Fund may purchase securities on a firm commitment basis, including when-issued securities. The Fund may also be entitled to receive when-issued securities in relation to its holdings in common stock of companies that undertake certain corporate actions and reorganizations. Securities purchased on a firm commitment basis are purchased for delivery beyond the normal settlement date at a stated price and yield. No income accrues to the purchaser of a security on a firm commitment basis prior to delivery. Such securities are recorded as an asset and are subject to changes in value based upon changes in the general level of interest rates. Purchasing a security on a firm commitment basis can involve a risk that the market price at the time of delivery may be lower than the agreed upon purchase price, in which case there could be an unrealized loss at the time of delivery. The Fund will only make commitments to purchase securities on a firm commitment basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities but may sell them before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. As when-issued securities are subject to delayed or deferred settlement, such securities may be either illiquid, or suffer from severe constraints in liquidity. When purchasing securities pursuant to a when-issued or forward commitment transaction, payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date. However, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations. When the Fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the Fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. The Fund may renegotiate a when-issued or firm commitment transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the Fund. When-issued and forward-commitment transactions will not be considered to constitute issuance by the Fund of a “senior security” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore, such transactions will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund, if the Fund reasonably believes, at the time it enters into such agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all of its unfunded commitment agreements, in each case as they come due.

The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities generally pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate or other factor. Fixed-income securities may include securities issued by U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. governments and other agencies and instrumentalities, and by a wide range of private or corporate issuers. Fixed-income securities include, among others, bonds, notes, bills, debentures, convertible securities, bank obligations, mortgage and other asset-backed securities, loan participations and assignments and commercial paper.

Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of the Fund for any particular period. Except to the extent that values are affected independently by other factors such as developments relating to a specific issuer or group of issuers, when interest rates decline, the value of fixed-income securities can generally be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities can generally be expected to decline. Prices of longer-term securities generally increase or decrease more sharply than those of shorter-term securities in response to interest rate changes, particularly if such securities were purchased at a discount. It should be noted that the market values of securities rated below investment grade and comparable unrated securities tend to react less to fluctuations in interest rate levels than do those of higher-rated securities.

Call or Buy-Back Features. In addition, many fixed-income securities contain call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders. Such securities may present risks based on payment expectations. Although the Fund may typically receive a premium if an issuer were to redeem a security, if an issuer exercises such a “call option” and redeems the security during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund may realize a capital loss on its investment if the security was purchased at a premium and the Fund may have to replace the called security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased rate of return to the Fund.

The Fund may invest in floating and variable rate obligations. Floating or variable rate obligations bear interest at rates that are not fixed but vary with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as the prime rate, and at specified intervals. Variable rate obligations invest include variable rate master demand notes, which are unsecured instruments issued pursuant to an agreement between the issuer and the holder that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. Certain floating or variable rate obligations may carry a demand feature that would permit the holder to tender them back to the issuer of the instrument or to a third party at par value prior to maturity. Some demand instruments may not be traded in a secondary market and derive their liquidity solely from the ability of the holder to demand repayment from the issuer or third-party providing credit support. If a demand instrument is not traded in a secondary market, the Fund will nonetheless treat the instrument as liquid for the purposes of its investment restriction limiting investments in illiquid securities unless the demand feature has a notice period of more than seven days; if the notice period is greater than seven days, such a demand instrument will be characterized as illiquid for such purpose. The Fund’s right to obtain payment at par on a demand instrument could be affected by events occurring between the date the Fund elects to demand payment and the date payment is due that may affect the ability of the issuer of the instrument or a third-party providing credit support to make payment when due. To facilitate settlement, some demand instruments may be held in book entry form at a bank other than the Fund’s custodian subject to a sub-custodian agreement approved by the Fund between that bank and the Fund’s custodian.

The Fund may invest in high-yield securities. High-yield securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligations. Under rating agency guidelines, any quality and protective characteristics of high-yield securities will likely be outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions. Medium and lower rated securities may have poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing, may have a current identifiable vulnerability to default, may be unlikely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal when due in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, and/or may be in default or not current in the payment of interest or principal.

Neither the Fund nor the Adviser can conclude that ratings issued by recognized agencies reflect the true financial position of the underlying issuer; nor can any Fund or the Adviser be certain an issuer will maintain its current credit rating in the future. When available, the Adviser may refer to selected ratings from recognized agencies. The Adviser may also choose to augment such ratings with its own analyses of issuers, which may include, among other things, review of historic and current financial conditions and anticipated future cash flows.

Liquidity. The secondary markets for high-yield securities are not as liquid as the secondary markets for higher rated securities. The secondary markets for high-yield securities are concentrated in relatively few market makers and participants in the market are mostly institutional investors, including insurance companies, banks, other financial institutions and mutual funds. In addition, the trading volume for high-yield securities is generally lower than that for higher-rated securities and the secondary markets could contract under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, decreasing the liquidity of high-yield securities held in general. These factors may have an adverse effect on the ability of the Fund holding such securities to dispose of particular portfolio investments at the price it would wish, may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value per share and may limit the ability of the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing securities and calculating net asset value.

Legislative and Regulatory Developments. Prices for high-yield securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. These laws could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in high-yield securities, the secondary market for high-yield securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the value of outstanding high-yield securities. For example, federal legislation requiring the divestiture by federally insured savings and loan associations of their investments in high-yield bonds and limiting the deductibility of interest by certain corporate issuers of high-yield bonds adversely affected the market in prior years.

High-Yield Corporate Securities. While the market values of securities rated below investment grade and comparable unrated securities tend to react less to fluctuations in interest rate levels than do those of higher-rated securities, the values of certain of these securities also tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher-rated securities. In addition, such securities present a higher degree of credit risk. Issuers of these securities are often highly leveraged and may not have more traditional methods of financing available to them, so that their ability to service their debt obligations during an economic downturn or during sustained periods of rising interest rates may be impaired. The risk of loss due to default by such issuers is significantly greater than with investment grade securities because such securities generally are unsecured and subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If the Fund holds such securities, the Fund also could incur additional expenses to the extent that it is required to seek recovery upon a default in the payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings. These risks may be greater for non-U.S. high-yield securities especially those of issuers located in emerging markets.

The Fund may invest in high-yield securities that bear interest at fixed rates, securities with variable rates of interest, or securities that involve equity features, such as contingent interest or participations based on revenues, sales or profits (i.e., interest or other payments, often in addition to a fixed rate of return, that are based on the borrower’s attainment of specified levels of revenues, sales or profits and thus enable the holder of the security to share in the potential success of the venture).

The Fund may invest up to 15% of the value of its net assets in illiquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities. Illiquid securities are considered to include, among other things, written OTC options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), and other securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws.

To the extent that instruments that the Fund holds become illiquid due to the lack of sufficient buyers or market or other conditions, the percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid assets would increase. The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, monitors Fund investments in assignments and loan participations and will, in such a case, consider appropriate measures to enable the Fund to maintain sufficient liquidity for operating purposes and to meet redemption requests.

Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or twenty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semiannual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and inflation over the first six months were 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. The Fund may also invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation.

The Fund may enter into interest rate and equity swaps and may purchase or sell (i.e., write) interest rate and equity caps, floors and collars. If the Fund enters into these types of transactions, the Fund expects that it would do so in order to hedge against either a decline in the value of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio, or against an increase in the price of the securities which it plans to purchase, in order to preserve or maintain a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or to achieve a particular return on cash balances, or in order to increase income or gain. Interest rate and equity swaps involve the exchange between the parties to the swap of their respective commitments to make or receive payments based on a notional principal amount. The purchase of an interest rate or equity cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined level, to receive payments on a contractually-based principal amount from the party selling the interest rate or equity cap. The purchase of an interest rate or equity floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined rate, to receive payments on a contractually-based principal amount from the party selling the interest rate or equity floor. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor which preserve a certain return within a predetermined range of values.

If the Fund enters into interest-rate and equity swaps, the Fund expects that it will usually enter into the swap on a net basis (i.e., the two payment streams are netted out), with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.

The use of interest rate and equity swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. There is a risk that is incorrect forecasts of market values, interest rates and other applicable factors, will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what it would have been if these investment techniques were not utilized. Moreover, even if the forecasts are correct, there is a risk that the swap position may correlate imperfectly with the price of the asset or liability being hedged.

As is the case with options strategies, the effective use of swaps and related transactions by the Fund may depend, among other things, on the Fund’s ability to terminate the transactions at times when the Adviser deems it desirable to do so. To the extent a transaction is not or cannot be terminated in a timely manner, the Fund may suffer a loss in excess of any amounts that it may have received, or expected to receive, as a result of entering into the transaction.

The liquidity of swap agreements will be determined based on various factors, including (i) the frequency of trades and quotations, (ii) the number of dealers and prospective purchasers in the marketplace, (iii) dealer undertakings to make a market, (iv) the nature of the security (including any demand or tender features), and (v) the nature of the marketplace for trades (including the ability to assign or offset the Fund’s rights and obligations relating to the investment).

There is no limit on the amount of interest rate and equity swap transactions that may be entered into by the Fund. Because swaps and related transactions are bilateral contractual arrangements between the counterparties to the transactions, the Fund’s ability to terminate such an arrangement may be considerably more limited than in the case of an exchange traded instrument. If the other party to a swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss is the net amount of payments that the Fund contractually is entitled to receive, if any.

Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers or dealers or other financial institutions in accordance with policies and procedures of the Trust, as may be adopted from time to time. The procedure for the lending of securities will typically include the following features and conditions. The collateral will consist either of U.S. Government Securities or the borrower of the securities will deposit cash with the Fund in an amount equal to a minimum of 100% of the market value of the securities lent. The Fund will seek to invest the collateral in short-term debt securities, cash equivalents (or pooled investment vehicle interests in cash, cash equivalents and short-term debt instruments) and earn the income thereon. A negotiated portion of the income so earned may be paid to the securities or lending agent (e.g., a bank or trust company) who arranged the loan. The collateral will be marked to market daily, and if the value of the collateral drops below the required minimum at any time, the borrower may typically be called upon to post additional collateral. These will be “demand” loans and may be terminated by the Fund at any time. The Fund will receive any payments in lieu of dividends and interest paid on the securities lent, although the U.S. federal income tax characteristics of such payment may change. The Fund’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned.

The terms of the structure of the loan arrangements, as well as the aggregate amount of securities loans, must be consistent with the 1940 Act and rules and interpretations of the SEC thereunder. These provisions limit the amount of securities the Fund may lend to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets and require (1) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit, or securities issued by the U.S. government having at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities lent; (2) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities lent rises; (3) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time; and (4) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the Fund’s investing any cash collateral in interest-bearing short-term investments), any distributions on the lent securities, and any increase in their market value. Loan arrangements made by the Fund will comply with all other applicable regulatory requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, which presently require the borrower, after notice, to redeliver the securities within the normal settlement time of three business days. The Adviser will consider the creditworthiness of the borrower, among other things, in making decisions with respect to lending securities, subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. At present time, the SEC does not object if any investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with lent securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s trustees. In addition, voting rights pass with the lent securities, but if the Fund has knowledge that a material event will occur affecting securities on loan, and with respect to which the holder of securities will be entitled to vote or consent, the lender must be entitled to call the loaned securities in time to vote or consent. The Fund bears the risk that there may be a delay in the return of the securities, which may impair the Fund’s ability to vote on such a matter. The Fund may include, as part of its total assets, the assets that it receives as collateral for loans of its portfolio securities, for purposes of determining compliance with the requirement that a mutual fund should not have on loan at any given time securities representing more than one-third of its total asset value.

These transactions must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some credit risk to the Fund if the borrower or the party (if any) guaranteeing the loan should default on its obligations. In the event of the default or bankruptcy of the other party to a securities loan, the Fund could experience delays in recovering the securities it lent. To the extent that, in the meantime, the value of the securities the Fund lent has increased or the value of the collateral decreased, the Fund could experience a loss. In the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except that the Fund may retain any such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest. The Fund may also lose money if it incurs losses on the reinvestment of cash collateral.

Although voting rights or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund, as the lender, generally retains the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will attempt to do so in order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters which the Adviser believes materially affect the investment; however, the Fund may not be able to recall the securities in time for the Fund to be the owner on the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote or consent on the matter. The Fund may typically also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved.

The Fund may hold money market instruments, including commercial paper, banker’s acceptances, certificates of deposit and other short-term debt securities. The Fund may hold money market instruments for many reasons including, (i) as part of the Adviser’s strategy in order to take advantage of investment opportunities as they arise, (ii) when the portfolio managers believe that market conditions are unfavorable for profitable investing for the Fund, (iii) when the portfolio managers are otherwise unable to locate attractive investment opportunities for the Fund, (iv) as a temporary measure in order to meet redemption requests, or (v) as a defensive measure in response to adverse market or economic conditions. During periods when the Fund maintains exposure to money market instruments, it may not participate in market movements to the same extent that it would if the Fund was more fully invested in equity securities.

Municipal bonds generally have a maturity at the time of issuance of more than one year. Municipal bonds may be issued to raise money for various public purposes—such as constructing public facilities and making loans to public institutions. There are generally two types of municipal bonds: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the taxing power of the issuing municipality and are considered the safest type of municipal bond. Revenue bonds are backed by the revenues of a project or facility—tolls from a toll road, for example. Certain types of municipal bonds are issued to obtain funding for privately operated facilities. Industrial development revenue bonds (which are private activity bonds) are a specific type of revenue bond backed by the credit and security of a private user, and therefore investments in these bonds have more potential risk. Investments in municipal bonds are rated investment grade or better by a NRSRO.

Municipal commercial paper is a debt obligation with a stated maturity of one year or less which is issued to finance seasonal working capital needs or as short-term financing in anticipation of longer-term debt. Investments in municipal commercial paper are limited to commercial paper which is rated at the date of purchase: (i) “P-1” by Moody’s and “A-1” or “A-1+” by S&P, “P-2” or better by Moody’s and “A-2” or better by S&P; or (ii) in a comparable rating category by any two of the NRSROs that have rated commercial paper; or (iii) in a comparable rating category by only one such organization if it is the only organization that has rated the commercial paper; or (iv) if not rated, is, in the opinion of the Adviser, of comparable investment quality and within the credit quality policies and guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. Issuers of municipal commercial paper rated “P-1” have a “superior capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations”. The “A-1” rating for commercial paper under the S&P classification indicates that the “degree of safety regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong.” Commercial paper with “overwhelming safety characteristics” will be rated “A-1+”. Commercial paper receiving a “P-2” rating has a strong capacity for repayment of short-term promissory obligations. Commercial paper rated “A-2” has the capacity for timely payment although the relative degree of safety is not as overwhelming as for issues designated “A-1”.

Municipal leases are instruments, or participations in instruments, issued in connection with lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations of municipalities. Although municipal lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the issuing municipality, a lease obligation is ordinarily backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate funds for, and make the payments due under the lease obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses, which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose in the relevant years. Municipal lease obligations will be treated as liquid only if they satisfy criteria set forth in guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, and there can be no assurance that a market will exist or continue to exist for any municipal lease obligation.

Municipal notes are generally sold as interim financing in anticipation of the collection of taxes, a bond sale or receipt of other revenue. Municipal notes generally have maturities at the time of issuance of one year or less. Investments in municipal notes are limited to notes which are rated at the date of purchase: (i) MIG 1 or MIG 2 by Moody’s and in a comparable rating category by at least one other nationally recognized statistical rating organization that has rated the notes, or (ii) in a comparable rating category by only one such organization, including Moody’s, if it is the only organization that has rated the notes, or (iii) if not rated, are, in the opinion of the Adviser, of comparable investment quality and within the credit quality policies and guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.

Notes rated “MIG 1” are judged to be of the “best quality” and carry the smallest amount of investment risk. Notes rated “MIG 2” are judged to be of “high quality, with margins of protection ample although not as large as in the preceding group”.

In addition to the options on instruments and indices described in this SAI, the Fund reserves the right to purchase or sell options on other instruments and indices and those which may be developed in the future to the extent consistent with applicable law, the Fund’s investment objective and the restrictions set forth herein.

A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy (if the option is exercised), the underlying security, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. If the Fund were to purchase a put option on a security, for example, it might do so in an attempt to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value of such instrument by giving the Fund the right to sell the instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy (if the option is exercised), and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. If the Fund were to purchase a call option on a security, index, currency or other instrument, for example, it might do so in an attempt to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase the instrument. An “American” style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period, whereas a “European” style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior to expiration. Exchange-listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to the options.

If the Fund writes a call, the Fund will generally limit its opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of the underlying investment above the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option continues. If the Fund writes a put, the Fund will generally limit its opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market value of the underlying investment below the exercise price of the option for as long as the Fund’s obligation as writer of the option continues. Upon the exercise of a put option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to the difference between the price at which the Fund is required to purchase the underlying investment and its market value at the time of the option exercise, less the premium received for writing the option. Upon the exercise of a call option written by the Fund, the Fund may suffer an economic loss equal to an amount not less than the Fund’s acquisition cost of the investment underlying the option, less the sum of the premium received for writing the option and the exercise price paid to the Fund.

The Fund may choose to exercise the options it holds, permit them to expire or terminate them prior to their expiration by entering into closing transactions. The Fund may enter into a closing purchase transaction in which the Fund purchases an option having the same terms as the option it had written or a closing sale transaction in which the Fund sells an option having the same terms as the option it had purchased.

Unless the parties provide for it, no central clearing or guaranty function is involved in an OTC option. As a result, if a counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with the Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Thus, the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each such counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be met.

If the Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments held by the Fund or will increase the Fund’s income. Similarly, the sale of put options can also provide gains for the Fund. The Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the OTC markets, and on securities indices and currencies. Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, use of options could result in losses to the Fund, force the purchase or sale of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher or lower than current market values, or cause the Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell or sell a security it might otherwise hold.

The Fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC-issued or exchange-listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the particular option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities, including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or the OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although any such outstanding options on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

Options on Stocks and Stock Indices. The Fund may purchase put and call options and write covered put and call options on stocks and stock indices in order to hedge against movements in the equity markets or to potentially increase income or gain to the Fund. In addition, the Fund may purchase options on stocks that are traded over-the-counter. Options on stock indices are similar to options on specific securities. However, because options on stock indices do not involve the delivery of an underlying security, the option represents the holder’s right to obtain from the writer cash in an amount equal to a fixed multiple of the amount by which the exercise price exceeds (in the case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a call) the closing value of the underlying stock index on the exercise date. Options are also traded in certain industry or market segment indices. Stock index options are subject to position and exercise limits and other regulations imposed by the exchange on which they are traded.

For example, a purchase of a call option on a stock index could be used as a hedge against an increase in prices of particular equity securities the Fund wanted ultimately to buy if the Adviser expected general stock market prices to rise. If the stock index does rise, the price of the particular equity securities intended to be purchased may also increase, but that increase should be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund’s index option resulting from the increase in the index. On the other hand, a purchase of a put option on the index could be used if the Adviser expected general stock market prices to decline. If that index does decline, the value of some or all of the equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio may also be expected to decline, but that decrease would be offset in part by the increase in the value of the Fund’s position in such put option.

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, including open-end investment companies, subject to limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses. No adjustments will be made to the advisory fee with respect to assets of the Fund invested in such investment companies.

The Fund’s investment in other investment companies may include securities of closed-end investment companies investing in foreign securities. The Fund will invest in closed-end investment companies only in furtherance of their investment objectives. Growth in appreciation and dividends in foreign markets sometimes occurs at a faster rate than in domestic markets. The ability of the Fund to invest in closed-end investment companies that invest in foreign securities provides, indirectly, greater variety and added expertise with respect to investments in foreign markets than if the Fund invested directly in such markets. Such companies themselves, however, may have policies that are different from those of the Fund.

The Fund’s investment in other investment companies may also include shares of ETFs, which are described elsewhere in this section under the heading “Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and Other Similar Instruments.”

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which the seller of a security commits itself at the time of sale to repurchase that security from the buyer at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Such transactions afford the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at relatively low market risk. When the Fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the Adviser will monitor the value of the securities underlying the repurchase agreement at the time the transaction is entered into and at all times during the term of the repurchase agreement to ensure that the value of the securities always equals or exceeds the repurchase price. The Fund will require that additional securities be deposited if the value of the securities purchased decreases below their resale price and does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under the repurchase obligation.

While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality of the U.S. government, the obligation of the seller is not guaranteed by the U.S. government and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, the Fund would attempt to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible disposition in the market. However, the Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (i) possible declines in the value of the underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto, (ii) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period, and (iii) inability to enforce rights and the expenses involved in the attempted enforcement.

Repurchase agreements with maturities of more than seven days will be treated as illiquid securities.

The Fund may enter into “reverse” repurchase agreements to avoid selling securities during unfavorable market conditions to meet redemptions. Pursuant to a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells portfolio securities and agree to repurchase them from the buyer at a particular date and price. The Fund will pay interest on amounts obtained pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings by the Fund. See “Borrowing” above.

Restricted Securities and Securities with Limited Trading Markets (Rule 144A)

The Fund may purchase securities for which there is a limited trading market or which are subject to restrictions on resale to the public. If the Fund were to acquire substantial positions in securities with limited trading markets, the activities of the Fund could have an adverse effect upon the liquidity and marketability of such securities and the Fund might not be able to dispose of its holdings in those securities at then current market prices. Circumstances could also exist (to satisfy redemptions, for example) when portfolio securities might have to be sold by the Fund at times which otherwise might be considered to be disadvantageous so that the Fund might receive lower proceeds from such sales than it had expected to realize. Investments in securities which are “restricted” may involve added expenses to the Fund should the Fund be required to bear registration costs with respect to such securities and could involve delays in disposing of such securities which might have an adverse effect upon the price and timing of sales of such securities and the liquidity of the Fund with respect to redemptions. Restricted securities and securities for which there is a limited trading market may be significantly more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations for such securities, and investment in such securities may have an adverse impact on net asset value. The Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities for which there may be a secondary market of qualified institutional buyers as contemplated by Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Liquidity determinations with respect to Rule 144A securities will be made by the Board of Trustees or by the Adviser pursuant to guidelines established by the Board. The Fund’s holdings of Rule 144A securities which are considered liquid securities will not be subject to the Fund’s applicable limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

The 1940 Act limits the Fund’s ability to invest in any equity security of an issuer which, in its most recent fiscal year, derived more than 15% of its revenues from “securities related activities,” as defined by the rules thereunder. These provisions may also restrict the Fund’s investments in certain non-U.S. banks and other financial institutions.

The Fund may make short sales of securities consistent with its strategies. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline.

When the Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver a security equal in value to the security sold short to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and may be obligated to pay over any accrued interest and dividends on such borrowed securities.

If the Fund sells a security short and the price of the security increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. The Fund may engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent the Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

The Fund may depart from its principal investment strategies to meet redemption requests in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions by taking temporary or defensive positions by investing some or all of its assets in cash and/or cash equivalent securities or invest in other securities that the Adviser believes are less risky than those normally invested in by the Fund.

Cash equivalent securities include, but are not limited to, obligations of the U.S. government or by its agencies or instrumentalities, money market fund shares, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and/or banker’s acceptances, as well as other interest bearing or discount obligations or debt instruments that carry an investment grade rating by a national rating agency. If the Fund invests all or a majority of its assets in cash or cash equivalents it will not achieve its investment objective.

The Fund may invest without limit in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agencies or instrumentalities. U.S. government securities in general include a wide variety of U.S. Treasury obligations consisting of bills, notes and bonds, which principally differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance. Securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities are debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities established or sponsored by the U.S. government and may be backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality. The Fund will invest in such obligations only where the Adviser is satisfied that the credit risk with respect to the issuer is minimal.

Securities issued by the U.S. Treasury generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from these securities are generally lower than the yields available from corporate fixed-income securities. Like other debt securities, however, the values of U.S. government securities change as interest rates fluctuate, which could affect the Fund’s net asset value. Under certain market conditions the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. Some U.S. government securities (such as Fannie Maes and Freddie Macs) are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity (e.g., FNMA or FHLMC) but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Therefore, the securities would generally be neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.

The collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) and stripped mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) markets were developed specifically to reallocate the various risks inherent in MBS across various bond classes (“tranches”). For example, CMO “companion” classes typically experience much greater average life variability than other CMO classes or MBS pass-throughs. Interest-only pass-through securities experience greater yield variability relative to changes in prepayments. “Inverse floaters” experience greater variability of returns relative to changes in interest rates. To the extent that the Fund concentrates its investments in these or other “derivative” securities, the prepayment risks, interest rate risks, and hedging risks associated with such securities will be severely magnified.

The Fund may invest in warrants and rights. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price until a stated expiration date. Buying a warrant generally can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an investment of equivalent amounts in the underlying common stock. The market value of a warrant does not necessarily move with the value of the underlying securities. If a holder does not sell the warrant, it risks the loss of its entire investment if the market price of the underlying security does not, before the expiration date, exceed the exercise price of the warrant. Investing in warrants is a speculative activity. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights (other than the right to purchase the underlying securities) with respect to the assets of the issuer. A right is a privilege granted, typically to existing shareholders of a corporation, to subscribe for shares of a new issue of stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, may be freely transferable and generally entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price.

The Fund may invest in zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities. Zero-coupon securities are debt securities that pay no cash income but are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When a zero-coupon security is held to maturity, its entire return, which consists of the amortization of discount, comes from the difference between its purchase price and its maturity value. This difference is known at the time of purchase, so that investors holding zero-coupon securities until maturity know at the time of their investment what the expected return on their investment will be. Zero-coupon securities may have conversion features. The Fund also may purchase pay-in-kind bonds. Pay-in-kind bonds pay all or a portion of their interest in the form of debt or equity securities. Deferred payment securities are securities that remain zero-coupon securities until a predetermined date, at which time the stated coupon rate becomes effective and interest becomes payable at regular intervals.

Zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities tend to be subject to greater price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates than are ordinary interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. The value of zero-coupon securities appreciates more during periods of declining interest rates and depreciates more during periods of rising interest rates than ordinary interest-paying debt securities with similar maturities. Zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind bonds and deferred payment securities may be issued by a wide variety of corporate and governmental issuers. Although these instruments are generally not traded on a national securities exchange, they are widely traded by brokers and dealers and, to such extent, will not generally be considered illiquid for the purposes of the Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

Current U.S. federal income tax law requires the holder of a zero-coupon security, certain pay-in-kind bonds, deferred payment securities and certain other securities acquired at a discount to accrue income with respect to these securities prior to the receipt of cash payments. Accordingly, to avoid liability for U.S. federal income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to distribute income accrued with respect to these securities and may have to dispose of portfolio securities under disadvantageous circumstances in order to generate cash to satisfy these distribution requirements. See “FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.”

The following restrictions apply to the Fund. Unless otherwise indicated, only Investment Restriction Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 15 are fundamental policies of the Fund, which can be changed only when permitted by law and approved by a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities. The nonfundamental investment restrictions can be changed by approval of a majority of the Board of Trustees. A “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares represented at a meeting at which more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares.

1. Invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets in investments that are illiquid;

2. Borrow money or pledge, mortgage or hypothecate its assets, except that the Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements or borrow from banks up to 33-1/3% of the current value of its net assets for temporary or emergency purposes or to meet redemptions. The Fund has adopted a nonfundamental policy to limit such borrowing to 10% of its net assets and those borrowings may be secured by the pledge of not more than 15% of the current value of its total net assets (but investments may not be purchased by the Fund while any such borrowings exist), except as permitted by the1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction;

3. Issue senior securities, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to have issued a senior security in connection with any repurchase agreement or any permitted borrowing, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction;

4. Make loans, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction;

5. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies that invest in the types of securities in which the particular Fund itself is permitted to invest. The Fund may not invest in securities of any registered investment company, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction or exemptive orders;

6. Invest in real property (including limited partnership interests but excluding real estate investment trusts and master limited partnerships, debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein, and securities issued by other companies that invest in real estate or interest therein); invest in physical commodities, except that the Fund may invest in currency and financial instruments and contracts in accordance with its investment objective and policies, including, without limitation, structured notes, futures contracts, swaps, options on commodities, currencies, swaps and futures, ETFs, investment pools and other instruments, regardless of whether such instrument is considered to be a commodity;

7. Engage in the business of underwriting securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the disposal of an investment position may technically cause it to be considered an underwriter as that term is defined under the 1933 Act;

8. Sell securities short, except to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns or has the right to acquire at no additional cost securities identical to those sold short;

9. Purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities;

10. Purchase or retain the securities of any issuer, if those individual officers and Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser, or the Distributor, each owning beneficially more than 1/2 of 1% of the securities of such issuer, together own more than 5% of the securities of such issuer;

11. Purchase a security if, as a result, more than 25% of the value of its total assets would be invested in securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that (a) this limitation shall not apply to obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities; (b) wholly-owned finance companies will be considered to be in the industries of their parents; and (c) utilities will be divided according to their services. For example, gas, gas transmission, electric and gas, electric, and telephone will each be considered a separate industry;

12. Invest more than 5% of its net assets in warrants which are unattached to securities, included within that amount, no more than 2% of the value of the Fund’s net assets, may be warrants which are not listed on a U.S. stock exchange;

13. Write, purchase or sell puts, calls or combinations thereof, except that the Fund may purchase or sell puts and calls as otherwise described in the Prospectus or SAI; however, the Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in these classes of securities for purposes other than bona fide hedging;

14. Invest more than 5% of the current value of its total assets in the securities of companies which, including predecessors, have a record of less than three years’ continuous operation (except (a) obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or (b) municipal securities which are rated by at least two NRSRO’s or determined by the Adviser to be of a comparable rating), provided the Fund may invest all or a portion of its assets in another open-end management investment company or ETF with substantially the same investment objective, policies and investment restrictions as the Fund.

As a matter of fundamental policy, notwithstanding any limitation otherwise noted, the Fund is authorized to seek to achieve its investment objectives by investing all of its investable assets in an investment company having substantially the same investment objectives and policies as the Fund subject to the 1940 Act.

Except as set forth in the investment limitation on borrowing and the investment limitation on illiquid securities, if a percentage restriction on investment policies or the investment or use of assets set forth in the Prospectus or SAI are adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from changing assets values will not be considered a violation. If events subsequent to a transaction result in the Fund exceeding the percentage limitation on illiquid securities, the Adviser will take appropriate steps to reduce the percentage held in illiquid securities, as may be required by law, within a reasonable amount of time.

It is the intention of the Fund, unless otherwise indicated, that with respect to the Fund’s policies that are the result of the application of law the Fund will take advantage of the flexibility provided by rules or interpretations of the SEC currently in existence or promulgated in the future or changes to such laws.

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities may be made as considered advisable by the Adviser in the best interests of the shareholders. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year, as well as within a year, as a result of the Fund’s actively-managed strategy. The Fund’s distributions of any net short-term capital gains realized from portfolio transactions are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, higher portfolio turnover rates can result in corresponding increases in portfolio transaction costs for the Fund. See “PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE” in this SAI.

For reporting purposes, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year. In determining such portfolio turnover, all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less are excluded. A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur, for example, if all of the securities in the Fund’s investment portfolio (other than short-term money market securities) were replaced once during the fiscal year. Portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor should the Adviser deem it advisable to purchase or sell securities.

This Policy sets forth the conditions under which Portfolio Holdings (defined below) data for the Trust on behalf of the Fund may be disclosed to Third Parties (defined below) (which may include the public) and Service Providers (defined below). No data about the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed except in accordance with this Policy.

Portfolio Holdings data includes, but is not limited to, the following information about the Fund: (i) specific securities held; (ii) industry sector breakdowns as a percentage of portfolio net assets; (iii) asset composition (e.g., equities versus bonds); (iv) U.S. versus foreign holdings percentage breakdowns and regional breakdowns (e.g., Asia, North America); and (v) top 10 portfolio holdings in order of position size, including percentage of portfolio.

The Board has adopted, on behalf of the Fund, policies and procedures relating to disclosure of the Portfolio Holdings. These policies and procedures are designed to protect the confidentiality of the Portfolio Holdings’ information and to prevent the selective disclosure of such information. These policies and procedures may be modified at any time with the approval of the Board.

In order to protect the Fund from any trading practices or other use by a Third Party that could harm the Fund, Portfolio Holdings’ and other Fund-specific information must not be selectively released or disclosed except under the circumstances described below.

Only officers of the Trust and their authorized agents, including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser, may approve the disclosure of the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings. Except as set forth under “Policy Exceptions” below, exceptions to this Policy may only be made if an officer of the Trust and its authorized agents, including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer of the Adviser, determines that the disclosure is being made for a legitimate business purpose and such disclosures must be documented and reported to the Board on a quarterly basis. In all cases, Third Parties and Service Providers are required to execute a non-disclosure agreement requiring the recipient to keep confidential any Portfolio Holdings data received and not to trade on the Confidential Portfolio Information (defined below) received. Neither the Trust nor its Service Providers (nor any persons affiliated with either) can receive any compensation or other consideration in connection with the sharing of the Fund’s Portfolio Holdings.

Disclosure of the Portfolio Holdings’ information that is not publicly available (“Confidential Portfolio Information”) may be made to Service Providers. In addition, to the extent permitted under applicable law, the investment adviser may distribute (or authorize the custodian or principal underwriter to distribute) Confidential Portfolio Information to the Fund’s relevant Service Providers and to facilitate the review of the Fund by certain mutual fund analysts and ratings agencies (such as Morningstar and Lipper Analytical Services) (“Rating Agencies”); provided that such disclosure is limited to the information that the Adviser believes is reasonably necessary in connection with the services to be provided. As noted above, except to the extent permitted under this Policy, Confidential Portfolio Information may not be disseminated for compensation or other consideration.

The Fund’s Adviser shall have primary responsibility for ensuring that the Portfolio Holdings’ information is disclosed only in accordance with this Policy. As part of this responsibility, the Adviser will maintain such internal policies and procedures as it believes are reasonably necessary for preventing the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Portfolio Information.

The disclosure policy currently authorizes the quarterly dissemination of full portfolio holdings of the Fund with a fifteen (15) calendar day lag. Except as set forth in this Policy, the full holdings of the Fund will also be disclosed on a quarterly basis on forms required to be filed with the SEC as follows: (i) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of each fiscal year will be filed as part of the annual report filed on Form N-CSR; (ii) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters will be filed in Form N-PORT; and (iii) Portfolio Holdings as of the end of the second fiscal quarter will be filed as part of the semi-annual report filed on Form N-CSR. The Trust’s Form N-CSRs and Form N-PORTs are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Portfolio holdings information may be separately provided to any person, including rating and ranking organizations such as Morningstar and Lipper, at the same time that it is filed with the SEC.

Except as set forth in this Policy, partial Portfolio Holdings information will only be provided to Third Parties for the most recent month-end period and only after a fifteen (15) calendar day delay from the end of the month being provided. These holdings may include any combination of the Portfolio Holdings information, except for full Portfolio Holdings.

The following disclosures of Portfolio Holdings are not prohibited by this Policy:

Investment decisions for the Fund are made with a view to achieving its investment objectives. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including the Fund). Some securities considered for investment by the Fund may also be appropriate for other clients served by the Adviser. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time.

When the Adviser determines that the purchase or sale of a particular security is appropriate for more than one client account, the Adviser may, but is not obligated to, aggregate client orders into one order (“Block Orders”) for execution purposes. Block trading can avoid the adverse effect on a security’s price when simultaneous separate and competing orders are placed. When aggregating orders and subsequently allocating Block Orders (purchases and sales) to individual client accounts, it is the policy of the Adviser to treat all clients fairly and to achieve an equitable distribution of aggregated orders.

The Adviser places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the Fund through several brokers or dealers. The general policy of the Adviser is to use their best efforts to seek to obtain best execution for all client portfolio transactions, taking into account a variety of factors such as: (i) the security price; (ii) the commission rate; (iii) the size and difficulty of the order and timing of the transaction; (iv) the broker-dealer’s execution capability, which includes the broker-dealer’s relative ability to execute an order at the best available price, as well as the speed, quality, overall cost and certainty of execution; (v) the broker-dealer’s responsiveness and financial responsibility, which includes the broker-dealer’s creditworthiness and other factors that may impact the Adviser’s confidence in the broker-dealer’s stability; (vi) any conflicts of interest associated with using a broker-dealer; (vii) confidentiality provided by the broker-dealer; (viii) other factors, such as, the broker-dealer’s integrity and quality of communication, the adequacy of information provided by the broker-dealer, the ability of the broker-dealer to provide ad hoc information or services, and the ability of the broker-dealer to handle client directed brokerage arrangements; and (ix) research capabilities of the broker-dealer. It is not the policy of the Adviser to seek the lowest available commission rate where it believes that a broker or dealer charging a higher commission rate would offer greater reliability or provide better price or execution. The Adviser cannot assure that best execution will be achieved for the Fund transaction. The Adviser maintains a list of approved broker-dealers they will use to place Fund and other client trades for execution. The Adviser will periodically reevaluate these broker-dealers to confirm that they meet the criteria and standards that have been set by the Adviser, including that they provide trade execution services that the Adviser view as satisfactory. Upon reevaluation, the Adviser may add or remove broker-dealers to or from the list of approved broker-dealers. Although the Fund may use a broker-dealer that sells Fund shares to effect transactions for the Fund’s portfolios, the Fund will not consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when selecting broker-dealers to execute those transactions.

Subject to the policy of seeking best execution for transactions, and subject to the criteria of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), the Adviser is permitted to place trades with a broker-dealer that provides brokerage and research services. The Adviser may have an incentive to select or recommend a broker based on its interest in receiving research or other products or services, rather than its interest in receiving the most favorable execution for the Fund. However, in selecting a broker for research, the Adviser makes a good faith determination that the amount of commission charged is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research received. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Adviser with respect to the accounts over which they exercise investment discretion. Research and brokerage services provided by broker-dealers chosen to place the Fund’s portfolio transactions may be useful to the Adviser in providing services to their other clients, although not all of these services may be necessarily useful and of value in managing the Fund. Conversely, brokerage and research products and services provided to the Adviser by broker-dealers in connection with trades executed on behalf of other clients may be useful to the Adviser in managing the Fund, although not all of these brokerage and research products and services may be necessarily useful and of value to the Adviser in managing such other clients. Subject to Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Adviser may pay a broker additional commission in recognition of the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by that broker. When the Adviser uses Fund brokerage commissions to obtain research or other products or services, the Adviser would receive a benefit because it does not have to produce or pay for the research, products or services. The advisory fees paid by the Fund are not reduced because the Adviser receives such services even though the receipt of such services relieves the Adviser from expenses it might otherwise bear.

The Adviser may place orders for the purchase and sale of exchange-listed portfolio securities with a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Adviser where, in the judgment of the Adviser, such firm will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified broker-dealers. Pursuant to rules of the SEC, a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of the Adviser may receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for the Fund on a securities exchange if the commissions paid to such an affiliated broker-dealer by the Fund on exchange transactions do not exceed “usual and customary brokerage commissions.” The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” As required by applicable SEC rules, the Board has adopted procedures which are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standards. As of the date hereof, the Adviser does not have any affiliated broker-dealer.

The following tables list the total amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund for the fiscal years noted below:

No brokerage commissions were paid to affiliated brokers during the three most recent fiscal years, nor did the Fund own any securities of brokers to which they paid commissions in the three most recent fiscal years.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“Transfer Agent”) will maintain an account for each shareholder upon which the registration and transfer of shares are recorded, and any transfers shall be reflected by bookkeeping entry, without physical delivery. Confirmations of each purchase or redemption are sent to each shareholder. Quarterly statements of account are sent which include shares purchased as a result of a reinvestment of Fund distributions. The Transfer Agent will require that a shareholder provide requests in writing, accompanied by a valid signature guarantee form, when changing certain information in an account (i.e., wiring instructions, telephone privileges, etc.).

The assets received by each class of the Fund for the issue or sale of its shares and all income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the rights of creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets of, that class of the Fund. The underlying assets of each class of the Fund are segregated and are charged with the expenses with respect to that class of the Fund along with a share of the general expenses of the Fund and the Trust. Any general expenses of the Fund that are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular class of the Fund are allocated by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees in such manner as they determine to be fair and reasonable.

Class A Share Sales Charge Schedule. If you choose to buy Class A shares, you will pay the Public Offering Price (“POP”) which is the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) plus the applicable sales charge. Since sales charges are reduced for Class A share purchases above certain dollar amounts, known as “breakpoint levels”, the POP is lower for these purchases. The dollar amount of the sales charge is the difference between the POP of the shares purchased (based on the applicable sales charge in the table below) and the NAV of those shares. Because of rounding in the calculation of the POP, the actual sales charge you pay may be more or less than that calculated using the percentages shown below. At its discretion, the Distributor may provide the broker-dealer the full front-end sales charge.

Class A Shares Sales Charge Reductions. If you believe you are eligible for any of the following reductions, it is up to you to ask the selling agent or the shareholder servicing agent for the reduction and to provide appropriate proof of eligibility.

You, or your fiduciary or trustee, also may tell us to extend volume discounts, including the reductions offered for rights of accumulation and letters of intent, to include purchases made by:

CDSC Waivers. The CDSC does not apply to: (1) redemption of shares when the Fund exercises its right to liquidate accounts which are less than the minimum account size; (2) redemptions following death or post-purchase disability (as defined by Section 72(m)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code); (3) the portion of a mandated minimum distribution from an IRA, SIMPLE IRA or an individual type 403(b)(7) plan equal to the percentage of your plan assets held in the applicable Class of shares of the Fund; (4) reinvested dividends and capital gains; and (5) a Systematic Withdrawal Plan of 10% where the minimum distribution is $500 per month with an initial account of $20,000 or greater.

Waivers for Certain Parties. If you are eligible for certain waivers, we will sell you Class A shares so you can avoid higher ongoing expenses. The following people can buy Class A shares at NAV:

Contact your selling agent for further information. The Adviser reserves the right to enter into agreements that reduce or eliminate sales charges for groups or classes of shareholders, or for Fund shares included in other investment plans such as “wrap accounts”. If you own Fund shares as part of another account or package such as an IRA or a sweep account, you must read the directions for that account. Those directions may supersede the terms and conditions discussed here.

The Trust has adopted a Distribution and Services Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Rule”) with respect to Class A shares of the Fund (“Plan”). Under the Plan, the Trust (i) may pay the Distributor or another person for distribution services provided and expenses assumed, and (ii) may pay, through the Distributor, broker-dealers or other financial institutions (“Service Organizations”) for services, as defined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the total amounts paid by Class A shares of the Fund to ADI (all of which ADI paid out as compensation to broker-dealers and other service providers) under the Fund’s Class A and Institutional Class Plan.

Shareholder Services Plan. Under the Shareholder Services Plan, the Fund is authorized to pay financial institutions, including the Adviser and its affiliates, or other persons who provide certain services to the Fund, a services fee, within the meaning of FINRA Rules under the Plan at an aggregate fee in an amount not to exceed on an annual basis 0.25% for Class A shares of the average daily net asset value of the respective class of shares of the Fund (“Services Fees”) as compensation for providing service activities pursuant to an agreement with each Service Organization. Institutional shares are offered without any Services Fees.

The Fund may pay a Services Fee to the Service Organizations at a lesser rate than the fees described above. The Services Fees will be computed daily and payable quarterly by the Fund. The Fund is not currently imposing a Services Fee and does not intend to impose a fee during the period as described in the Prospectus.

The Fund may waive minimum investment amounts in Institutional Class shares as described in the prospectus. Subsequent investments may be made at any time by mailing a check to the Transfer Agent, along with a detachable stub from the Statement of Account (or a letter providing the account number). Shareholders should be sure to write the Fund’s account number on the check. Purchases of Fund shares (initial or subsequent) may not be made by third-party check.

Shares of the Fund may be purchased on any business day at the net asset value per share next determined after receipt of a purchase order. Share certificates will not be issued. Share purchase orders are effective on the date the Fund receives a completed Account Application Form (and other required documents) and federal funds become available.

Initial and subsequent investments may also be made by wire transfer. Shareholders should note that their bank may charge a fee in connection with transferring money by bank wire.

For a share purchase order for the Fund to become effective on a particular business day, prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern time): (i) in the case of a wire transfer payment, a purchaser must call 1-833-287-7933 to inform the Transfer Agent of an incoming wire transfer; or (ii) in the case of payment by check or money order, a complete share purchase order must be actually received by the Transfer Agent, and, in either case, federal funds must be received by the Transfer Agent, on behalf of the Fund. If federal funds are received by the Transfer Agent that same day, the order will be effective on that day. If the Fund receives notification of a wire transfer or a complete share purchase order after 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), or if federal funds are not received by the Transfer Agent, such purchase order shall be executed as of the date that federal funds are actually received.

The price of the Fund’s shares and the valuation of Fund assets are discussed below in “NET ASSET VALUE.”

The following chart reflects the total front-end sales charges paid in connection with the sale of Class A shares of the Fund and the amount retained by ALPS Distributors, Inc. for the fiscal year or period indicated below:

If the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of the remaining shareholders of the Fund, the Fund may pay the redemption price in whole, or in part, by a distribution in kind from the Fund, in lieu of cash, taking such securities at their value employed for determining such redemption price, and selecting the securities in such manner as such Board may deem fair and equitable. A shareholder who receives a distribution in kind may incur a brokerage commission upon a later disposition of such securities and may receive less than the redemption value of such securities or property upon sale, particularly where such securities are sold prior to maturity. However, the Fund is required to redeem shares solely for cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. Should redemptions by any shareholder exceed such limitation, the Fund will have the option of redeeming the excess in cash or in-kind. Redemption in-kind is not as liquid as a cash redemption.

Redemption Procedures. The Fund will redeem all full and fractional shares of the Fund upon request on any business day at the applicable net asset value determined after the receipt of proper redemption instructions, less any applicable redemption fees. Shareholders liquidating their holdings will receive upon redemption all dividends reinvested through the date of redemption. If notice of redemption is received on any business day, the redemption will be effective on the date of receipt. Payment will ordinarily be made by wire on the next business day, but, in any case, within no more than seven business days from the date of receipt. If the notice is received on a day that is not a business day or after the close of regularly scheduled trading on the NYSE, the redemption notice will be deemed received as of the next business day. The value of shares at the time of redemption may be more or less than the shareholder’s cost.

Redemption requests for shares recently purchased by check will be accepted only after the Fund has confirmed receipt of payment for the shares, which may take up to 10 days.

Note: Under the 1940 Act, the Fund has the right to suspend or postpone redemptions of shares for any period (i) during which the NYSE or exchange is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings; (ii) during which trading on the NYSE or exchange is restricted; (iii) during which (as determined by the SEC or other regulatory authority by rule or regulation) an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or (iv) as otherwise permitted by the SEC or other regulatory authority. The Fund may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.

The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Board approves all significant agreements between/among the Fund and the persons or companies that furnish services to the Fund, including agreements with the Fund’s distributor, Adviser, administrator, custodian and transfer agent. The day-to-day operations of the Fund are delegated to the Adviser and the Fund’s administrator.

Ward D. Armstrong- Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Armstrong contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds and operating companies. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services and investment management experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Armstrong’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Armstrong received a B.S. in Business Administration (Finance Emphasis) from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.

J. Wayne Hutchens- Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Hutchens contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business and financial services experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Hutchens’ principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Hutchens is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder’s School of Business and has done graduate study at Syracuse University and the University of Colorado.

Merrillyn J. Kosier- Through her experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Ms. Kosier contributes her management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from her experience as a member of the board of other organizations. She was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on her business acumen, branding and distribution experience in the asset management industry. Additional information regarding Ms. Kosier’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Ms. Kosier is a graduate of Andrews University and earned an MBA from Loyola University Chicago.

Patrick Seese - Through his experience as a senior officer of and board member of financial and other organizations, Mr. Seese contributes his management and oversight experience to the Board. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other organizations. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based on his business, financial services and accounting experience. Additional information regarding Mr. Seese’s principal occupations and other directorships held is presented in the chart above. Mr. Seese is a graduate of the University of Colorado and earned an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is one of the founders of The Mile High Five Foundation (MH5), a charity dedicated to fund youth/health-related organizations.

None of the Independent Trustees own securities in Carret Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser, or ALPS Distributors, Inc., the Fund’s principal underwriter, nor do they own securities in any entity directly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with these entities.

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Trustees. The Trust has engaged the Adviser to manage the Fund on a day-to day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Trust’s Declaration of Trust. The Board is currently composed of four members, all of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board meets at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. As described below, the Board has established a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Ward D. Armstrong, an Independent Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with the Adviser, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate given the Trust’s characteristics and circumstances. These include the Trust’s series of Fund shares, the Fund’s single portfolio of assets, the fund’s net assets and the services provided by the Fund’s service providers.

Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board, directly or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Fund management, the Adviser, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund’s legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund regarding risks faced by the Fund. The Board, with the assistance of Fund management and the Adviser, reviews investment policies and risks in connection with its review of the Fund’s performance. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer to oversee the implementation and testing of the Fund’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and their principal service providers. In addition, as part of the Board’s periodic review of the Fund’s advisory and other service provider agreements, the Board may consider risk management aspects of these service providers’ operations and the functions for which they are responsible.

Independent Trustee Retirement Policy. The Trustees do not serve a specified term of office. Each Trustee will hold office until the termination of the Trust or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, incapacity, or removal. Under the Fund’s Independent Trustee Retirement Policy (“Retirement Policy”), upon reaching the age of 75, an Independent Trustee is deemed to tender an offer of retirement, which retirement, if accepted, shall become effective upon the September 30^th immediately following the tender of a retirement. The Board may decline the offer upon the vote of a majority of the continuing Trustees. If the Board declines an Independent Trustee’s offer, then the term of office of such Independent Trustee continues in accordance with the term under which such Independent Trustee was elected or appointed, provided that such Independent Trustee shall be deemed to tender another offer of retirement upon each subsequent birthday. The Trustees review the Fund’s Retirement Policy from time to time and may make changes as deemed appropriate.

As of December 31, 2022, the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by the Trustees were as follows:

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Trustees received the following compensation:

No officer, trustee or employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives any compensation from the Fund for serving as an officer or trustee of the Fund.

Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, the Fund pays the Adviser an annual management fee for the Fund of 0.30% based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is paid on a monthly basis. The initial term of the Advisory Agreement is two years. The Board may extend the Advisory Agreement for additional one-year terms. The Board and shareholders of the Fund may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon sixty (60) days’ notice. The Adviser may terminate the Advisory Agreement upon one hundred twenty (120) days’ notice.

The Adviser further agrees that such fee waivers and reimbursements for the Fund shall continue at least through January 31, 2024; and will thereafter continue in effect for successive twelve-month periods provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and the Adviser does not provide at least 30 days written notice of non-continuance prior to the end of the then effective term. Except due to the Adviser’s notice of non-renewal, this Agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.

The Adviser will be permitted to recover with respect to a Fund, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through this Agreement (whether through reduction of its management fee or otherwise) only to the extent that the applicable Fund’s expenses in later periods do not exceed the lesser of (1) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser waives or limits the expenses or (2) the contractual expense limit in effect at the time the Adviser seeks to recover the expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees or expenses more than three years after the date on which the fee and expense was reduced, as calculated on a monthly basis.

The table below shows the management fees for the Adviser for the fiscal year or period indicated below:

The Adviser began in its role as the Fund’s adviser on September 13, 2019. Prior to that date from the Fund’s reorganization into the Trust, Manifold Partners, LLC (“Manifold”) served as the Fund’s adviser, while Carret Asset Management, LLC was the Fund’s sub-adviser. For its services as the Fund’s adviser, the Fund paid Manifold an annual management fee for the Fund of 0.30% based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. While Manifold served as Adviser, it agreed to contractually limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses to materially the same amounts and under the same terms as the Adviser’s current agreement.

Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis through ALPS Distributors, Inc. (an affiliate of ALPS Fund Services, Inc.) (the “Distributor”), located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, as distributor pursuant to a distribution agreement between the Distributor and the Trust on behalf of the Fund. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of Fund shares.

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that the Fund may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with, and are available from, the SEC.

The Trust on behalf of the Fund currently employs ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (an affiliate of the Distributor) (“ALPS” or the “Administrator”), located at 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, Colorado 80203, under an administration agreement to provide certain administrative services to the Fund.

The table below shows the administrative fees earned by ALPS for the fiscal year indicated below:

Attached as Appendix B is the Trust’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures and a summary of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies that the Adviser uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, including the procedures that the Adviser uses when a vote presents a conflict between the interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Adviser, on the other. Appendix B provides a general indication as to how the Adviser will vote proxies relating to portfolio securities on each issue listed. However, Appendix B does not address all potential voting issues or the intricacies that may surround individual proxy votes. For that reason, there may be instances in which votes may vary from the Trust’s and the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Adviser always endeavors to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives. When applicable, information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent prior 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, (i) upon request, by calling 1-888-628-8208 and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

As of December 31, 2022, the following shareholders owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a class of the Fund as listed below:

As of December 31, 2022, the officers and Trustees of the Trust owned less than 1% of any class of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

The Fund’s expenses include taxes, interest, fees and salaries of the Trust’s Trustees and officers who are not trustees, officers or employees of the Fund’s service contractors, SEC fees, state securities qualification fees, costs of preparing and printing prospectuses for regulatory purposes and for distribution to existing shareholders, advisory and administration fees, charges of the custodian and of the transfer and dividend disbursing agent, certain insurance premiums, outside auditing and legal expenses, costs of shareholder reports and shareholder meetings and any extraordinary expenses. The Fund also pays for brokerage fees and commissions (if any) in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

The following sections set forth certain additional information with respect to the portfolio manager for the Fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of September 30, 2022.

The table below identifies as of September 30, 2022, the number of accounts (other than the Fund) for which the Fund’s portfolio managers have day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts.

Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists primarily of a variable pay component. The variable pay component is based on assets under management. The portfolio manager’s compensation is determined by a number of factors including the consistency of the portfolio manager’s performance, the total value of the assets managed by the portfolio managers, the profitability of the investment advisor and the portfolio manager’s contribution to profitability and the trends in industry compensation and levels.

Each Portfolio Manager also receives employee benefits, which may include health care and other insurance benefits as well as participation in the 401(k) program.

The structure of the portfolio manager’s compensation may be modified from time to time to reflect, among other things, changes in responsibilities or the competitive environment.

The Adviser and the Fund have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to mitigate various conflicts of interest that may arise for the Adviser and the individuals that it employs. For example, the Adviser’s Code of Ethics requires employees to place the Adviser’s clients’ interests ahead of the employee’s own interests. The Adviser has also adopted trade allocation procedures that are designed to facilitate the allocation of investment opportunities among multiple client accounts. There is no guarantee, however, that the policies and procedures adopted by the Adviser and the Fund will be able to detect and/or prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may appear. These potential conflicts include:

Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he exercises investment responsibility or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts.

The table below identifies ownership of Fund securities by each Portfolio Manager as of September 30, 2022.

The following is a description of the procedures used by the Fund in valuing its assets. For the purpose of pricing purchase and redemption orders, the net asset value per share of the Fund is determined once daily as of the close of regularly scheduled trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The Fund’s net asset value is calculated on each day that the NYSE is open for trading, i.e., Monday through Friday, except for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of those holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively.

Securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges generally are valued at the preceding closing values of such securities on their respective exchanges, except that when an occurrence subsequent to the time a value was so established is likely to have changed such value, then the fair value of those securities will be determined by consideration of other factors by the valuation designee. In valuing assets, prices denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents at the current exchange rate. Securities may be valued by independent pricing services which use prices provided by market-makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics. In certain circumstances, bid and ask prices may be obtained from (i) a broker/dealer specified and deemed reliable by the valuation designee, (ii) pink sheets, yellow sheets or the blue list, or (iii) a pricing agent that obtains quotations from broker/dealers or evaluates the value of the respective bid and ask prices. All other securities and other assets of the Fund will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the valuation designee. Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgement than valuation of securities based on readiliy available market quotations.

This section provides additional information primary concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Code, applicable Treasury Regulations, judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice, all as of the date of this SAI, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Except as specifically noted below, the following does not address any state, local or foreign or estate or gift tax matters.

A shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax consequences from acquiring, holding and disposing of shares in the Fund may vary depending upon his or her particular situation. This discussion only applies to shareholders who are U.S. persons. For purposes of this discussion, U.S. persons are: (i) U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) U.S. corporations (i.e. entities classified as corporations for U.S. tax purposes that are organized under the laws of the United States or any state), (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Except where otherwise noted, this discussion does not address issues of significance to U.S. persons in special situations such as: (i) certain types of tax-exempt entities, (ii) shareholders holding shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plan accounts or individual retirement accounts), (iii) shareholders holding investments through foreign institutions (financial and non-financial), (iv) financial institutions, (v) broker-dealers, and traders in securities that elect to mark-to-market their securities holdings, (vi) entities not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, (vii) shareholders holding shares as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction, and (viii) shareholders who are subject to either the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax or the U.S. federal corporate minimum tax.

The Fund has not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the U.S. federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. In addition, the foregoing discussion only addresses some of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting investments in the Fund. Prospective shareholders are urged to consult with their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund, as well as the applicability and effect of any state, local or foreign laws, and the effect of possible changes in applicable tax laws.

In general, it is the policy of the Fund to distribute to shareholders monthly substantially all of its investment company taxable income (which includes, among other items, interest and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses). It is the policy of the Fund to distribute annually the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryovers, as “capital gains dividends.” Capital gains for the Fund is distributed at least annually.

Distributions of investment company taxable income and capital gain distributions are payable as of the close of the Exchange on the record date for each dividend or distribution.

As required by federal law, detailed U.S. federal tax information will be furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year.

The Fund intends to elect to be treated and qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. The Fund also intends to be treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes. Thus, the provisions of the Code applicable to regulated investment companies generally will apply separately to the Fund even though the Fund is a series of the Trust. Furthermore, the Fund will separately determine its income, gain, losses and expenses for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships;” (ii) diversify its holdings so that at the end of each fiscal quarter, (a) at least 50% of the value of its total assets consists of cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited generally, with respect to any one issuer, to no more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in (1) the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, (2) the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (3) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships and (iii) distribute with respect to each taxable year an amount equal to or exceeding the sum of (a) 90% of its “investment company taxable income,” as that term is defined in the Code (which generally includes, among other things, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of any net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, as reduced by certain deductible expenses) without regard to the deduction for dividends paid, and (b) 90% of its tax-exempt interest income, net of expenses allocable thereto. For purposes of meeting the diversification requirement described in (ii) above, in the case of the Fund’s investment in loan participations, the issuer may be the financial intermediary or the borrower. The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company may significantly limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in some investments.

To the extent that it qualifies for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including capital gain dividends, defined below). In certain situations, the Fund can cure failures to meet the income and diversification tests described above, including, in some cases, by paying the Fund-level tax and, in the case of diversification failures, disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year – for example, because it was not sufficiently diversified under the applicable Code tests – the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. To qualify again to be taxed as a regulated investment company that is accorded special treatment in a subsequent year, the Fund could be required to pay substantial taxes, penalties and interest and make substantial distributions. In addition, if the Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund may be required to recognize and pay tax on any net built-in gain (the excess of aggregate gain, including items of income, over aggregate loss that would have been realized if the Fund had been liquidated) or, alternatively, to be subject to taxation on such built-in gain recognized for a period of five years, in order to qualify as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.

As a regulated investment company, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net capital gains (that is, any net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses) properly reported by the Fund in a written statement to shareholders as capital gain dividends (“capital gain dividends”) and its investment company taxable income if any, that the Fund distributes to shareholders on a timely basis. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gains, after offsetting any capital loss carryforwards, in a taxable year. If the Fund does retain any investment company taxable income, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. However, the Fund may elect to have certain distributions paid after the close of a tax year treated as having been paid during the tax year for purposes of the regulated investment company distribution requirements and for purposes of determining its taxable income (“spill-back dividends”). Spill-back dividends are taxed to shareholders in the year in which they are received.

If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it will also be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

Generally, the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net short-term capital loss over the net long-term capital gain for a taxable year will carry over as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the next tax year. In addition, the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital loss over the net short-term capital gain for the year will carry over as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the next tax year. Unused capital losses realized by the Fund may be carried forward indefinitely until they can be used to offset capital gains.

The Fund may be limited under Code Section 382 in its ability to offset its taxable income by capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses after an “ownership change” of the Fund. The term “net unrealized built-in loss” refers to the excess, if any, of the Fund’s aggregate adjusted basis in its assets immediately before an ownership change, over the fair market value of such assets at such time, subject to a de minimis rule. The Fund would experience an ownership change under Code Section 382 if and when 5-percent shareholders of the Fund increase their ownership by more than 50 percentage points in the aggregate over their respective lowest percentage ownership of the Fund’s shares in a 3-year period. Under Code Section 382, if the Fund experiences an ownership change, the Fund may use its pre-change tax capital loss carryforwards and net unrealized built-in losses in a year after the ownership change generally only up to the product of the fair market value of the Fund’s equity immediately before the ownership change and a certain interest rate published monthly by the U.S. Treasury known as the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate. The foregoing limitation on the use of pre-ownership change net unrealized built-in losses only applies for a period of five years after the ownership change, while the foregoing limitation on the use of pre-ownership change capital loss carryforwards lasts indefinitely.

If future capital gains are offset by carried-forward capital losses, such future capital gains are not subject to Fund-level federal income tax, regardless of whether they are distributed to shareholders. However, future capital gains offset by carried-forward capital losses are generally subject to taxation as ordinary dividends to shareholders if distributed. Accordingly, the Fund does not expect to distribute any capital gains offset by carried-forward capital losses. The Fund cannot carry back or carry forward any net operating losses. As of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, the Fund had no accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

If the Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year (taking into account certain deferrals and elections) and 98.2% of its net capital gain income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year, plus any retained amount for the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a non-deductible excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For these purposes, ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would be properly taken into account after October 31 are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Exempt-interest dividends are excluded from the Fund’s distributed amount for purposes of calculating any excise tax liability for a calendar year. For purposes of the excise tax, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year.

The Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. Moreover, the Fund reserves the right to pay an excise tax rather than make an additional distribution when circumstances warrant (for example, the amount of excise tax to be paid is deemed de minimis by the Fund).

The Fund may use “equalization accounting” to determine the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed with respect to each taxable year. Under equalization accounting, the Fund would allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Fund shares. This method would allow the Fund to reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes to non-redeeming shareholders but would not reduce the total return on a shareholder’s investment. If the IRS determines that the Fund’s equalization method is improper and that the Fund has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Fund may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. Equalization accounting is not available for the Fund that is a personal holding company for federal income tax purposes.

If the Fund is a “personal holding company” and fails to distribute (or to be treated as distributing) all of its investment company taxable income, the Fund may be subject to a 20% nondeductible tax on its “undistributed personal holding company income.” The Fund would generally be a personal holding company for a taxable year if five or fewer individuals own more than 50% of its outstanding shares at any time in the last half of the taxable year. The term “individual” for this purpose includes private foundations and certain trusts. The Fund does not expect to be subject to the tax on undistributed personal holding company income, although there can be no assurance that this will never occur.

Dividends and other distributions by the Fund to a shareholder are generally treated for federal income tax purposes as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, distributions declared and payable by the Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on December 31st of the year in which declared rather than the calendar year in which they were received.

The assets of the Fund will qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends if, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of the Fund consists of obligations described in Section 103(a) of the Code (generally, state or local bonds) or if the Fund is a “qualified fund of funds.” The term “qualified fund of funds” means a regulated investment company if (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) at least 50% of the value of its total assets is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies.

Exempt-interest dividends paid by the Fund are exempt from regular federal income taxes, whether paid in cash or in shares, and regardless of how long a shareholder has held shares of the Fund. No distributions paid by the Fund are expected to be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders or for any favorable tax rate that may apply to “qualified dividend income” in the hands of an individual shareholder.

Tax-exempt income must be taken into account in computing the portion, if any, of social security or railroad retirement benefits that must be included in an individual shareholder’s gross income subject to federal income tax.

Because the Fund will distribute exempt-interest dividends, interest on indebtedness incurred by shareholders, directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry shares in the Fund is not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Shares of the Fund generally would not be suitable for tax-exempt institutions and may not be suitable for retirement plans qualified under Section 401 of the Code and individual retirement accounts because the recognition of taxable income on the earnings of such plans and accounts is generally deferred and, not only would the shareholder not gain any current benefit from the Fund’s dividends being tax-exempt, but such dividends would be ultimately taxable to the beneficiaries when distributed from the plan.

Although interest on certain private activity bonds is exempt from regular federal income tax, such interest is a tax preference item for taxpayers when determining their alternative minimum tax under the Code and could subject a shareholder to or increase the shareholder’s liability under the federal alternative minimum tax, depending on the shareholder’s personal or corporate tax position. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, corporations are no longer subject to the alternative minimum tax although individuals remain subject to such tax.

In addition, the Fund may be an inappropriate investment for entities that are “substantial users” of facilities financed by “private activity bonds” owned by the Fund or “related persons” thereof. A “substantial user” is defined under U.S. Treasury Regulations to include a non-exempt person who regularly uses a part of such facilities in his or her trade or business provided one of the following is true: (i) the person’s gross revenues derived with respect to the facilities financed by the issuance of bonds are more than five percent of the total revenues derived by all users of such facilities; (ii) the person occupies more than five percent of the usable area of such facilities; or (iii) the facilities or a part thereof were specifically constructed, reconstructed or acquired for the person. “Related persons” generally includes certain (i) related natural persons, (ii) members of a controlled group of corporations, (iii) partnership and its partners (and their spouses and minor children), (iv) S corporations and its shareholders (and their spouses and minor children), and (v) two or more persons if the relationship between such persons would result in a disallowance of losses under certain sections of the Code.

Distributions paid by the Fund that are not exempt-interest dividends and are not properly designated as capital gain distributions will generally be taxable to the shareholders to the extent paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such dividends would generally be taxed as ordinary income. However, the Fund may designate certain taxable dividends as derived from “qualified dividend income,” which, when received by an individual, will be taxed at a maximum federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gain (assuming certain holding period requirements are satisfied), which (for this purpose) is 20%, in addition to the 3.8% Medicare tax discussed below.

Dividends received by corporate shareholders that are reported by the Fund in a written statement furnished to shareholders may qualify for a 50% dividends received deduction with respect to qualifying dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations and with respect to that portion (if any) of interest paid or accrued on certain high yield discount obligations owned by the Fund that is treated as dividends, so long as (in either case) certain holding period requirements are met.

If the Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is generally not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income of U.S. individuals, estates and certain trusts to the extent that such person’s gross income, as adjusted, exceeds threshold amounts. Net investment income includes distributions paid by the Fund (except exempt-interest dividends) and on capital gains from the sale or exchange of Fund shares. Net investment income also includes interest, dividends, royalties, rents, gross income from a trade or business involving passive activities, and net gain from disposition of property (other than property held in a non-passive trade or business). Net investment income is reduced by deductions properly allocable to such income.

Certain tax-exempt educational institutions are subject to a 1.4% tax on net investment income. For these purposes, certain dividends (other than exempt-interest dividends) and capital gain distributions, and certain gains from the disposition of the Fund’s shares (among other categories of income), are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

The sale or redemption of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount received for the shares and the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

The following discussion relates to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of the investment policies of the Fund.

Investments in non-U.S. securities may cause the Fund to be liable to non-U.S. governments for taxes relating primarily to investment income or capital gains on non-U.S. securities in the Fund’s portfolio. If at the close of its taxable year more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets consists of securities of foreign corporations (including foreign governments), the Fund may make an election under the Code that would allow Fund shareholders who are U.S. persons or U.S. corporations to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction (but not both) on their U.S. income tax return for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by that Fund to non-U.S. countries in respect of non-U.S. securities held at least a minimum period as specified in the Code. If the Fund were eligible for and were to make the election, the amount of each shareholder’s distribution reported on the information returns filed by the Fund with the IRS must be increased by the amount of the shareholder’s portion of the Fund’s foreign tax paid. A shareholder’s ability to claim all or a part of a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of non-U.S. taxes paid by the Fund would also be subject to certain holding period and other limitations imposed by the Code.

If the Fund were to qualify as a “qualified fund of funds,” the Fund could be entitled to elect to pass-through its foreign tax credits without regard to the above described 50% requirement.

The Fund does not anticipate that it will be eligible for the elections discussed in this section.

Transactions in non-U.S. currencies, non-U.S.-currency denominated debt obligations and certain non-U.S. currency options, future contracts, and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the non-U.S. currency concerned and may increase the amount and affect the timing and character of taxes payable by shareholders. Certain of the Fund’s transactions, if any, in foreign currencies and foreign currency denominated instruments are likely to result in a difference between the Fund’s book income and taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute a return of capital or capital gain for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to avoid excise tax liability and to qualify as a regulated investment company, which may have the effect of accelerating taxable distributions to shareholders of the Fund.

The Fund’s investments in equity securities of a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), if any, may result in such Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings. If the Fund receives such distributions all or a portion of these distributions will constitute a return of capital to such Fund. Receiving a return of capital distribution from a REIT will reduce the amount of income available to be distributed to Fund shareholders. Income from REIT securities generally will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

If the Fund invests in stock of a REIT, the Fund may be eligible to pay “section 199A dividends” to its shareholders with respect to certain dividends received by it from its investment in REITs. Section 199A dividends are taxable to individual and other noncorporate shareholders at a reduced effective federal income tax rate for years prior to 2026, provided that certain holding period requirements and other conditions are satisfied.

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The tax treatment of ETNs will depend upon the particular features of the ETN in question, and may present significant uncertainties.

Some ETNs may be properly treated as indebtedness for federal income tax purposes. The Fund will be required to take into account interest income on such ETNs on the accrual method. If the ETN is issued or purchased at a discount, the Fund may be required to take the discount into income as original issue discount or market discount. See “Securities Issued or Purchased at a Discount.”

Other ETNs may be properly treated as prepaid forward or derivative contracts for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The tax consequences of an investment in such ETNs are unclear under current law. With regards to such ETNs, the Fund may not report any taxable income or loss over the term of the ETNs prior to their taxable disposition (including at maturity or pursuant to an early redemption or call). Upon a taxable disposition of a note, the Fund would report gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the taxable disposition and the Fund’s tax basis in the note (the latter of which should equal the amount paid to acquire the note). This gain or loss should be long term capital gain or loss if the Fund has held the note for more than one year at that time.

In addition, some ETNs may be taxed as “section 1256 contracts.” See “Options and Other Financial Products” below.

There are significant uncertainties regarding the tax consequences of the Fund’s ownership and disposition of ETNs treated as a prepaid forward or derivative contract. For example, the Fund might be required to include amounts in income during the term of the ETN notes and/or to treat all or a portion of the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of the ETN as ordinary income or loss or as short term capital gain or loss, without regard to how long the Fund holds the ETN.

Moreover, an investment in an ETN that is linked to a commodities index would also present uncertainties concerning whether income from the investment is qualifying income for purposes of the Fund’s qualification as a regulated investment company. Qualifying income includes gains from the sale or other disposition of securities, as well as “other income” derived with respect to a regulated investment company’s business of investment in securities. For this purpose, the term “securities” has the meaning provided in the 1940 Act. However, the IRS’s position is that there is no conclusive authority concerning whether a derivative contract on commodities is included within the 1940 Act’s definition of “security.” For several years, the IRS regularly issued private rulings that treated commodity-linked notes as producing qualifying income, but since then the IRS has generally stopped issuing rulings that require a determination of whether a financial instrument is a security under the 1940 Act. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that income derived by the Fund from a commodities-linked ETN will be qualifying income.

The Fund’s investments, if any, in options, hedging transactions, forward contracts, swaps and certain other transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income recognized by the Fund, defer the Fund’s losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert capital gain into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to Fund shareholders.

Certain positions undertaken by the Fund may constitute “straddles” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The straddle rules may affect the character of gains or losses realized by the Fund. Losses realized by the Fund that are part of a straddle may be deferred beyond the point in time that they are realized. The straddle rules, if applicable, could increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders. Certain tax elections that the Fund may make with respect to straddles could affect the character and timing of recognition of gains and losses.

The Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gains realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income to the shareholders when distributed. Short sales may also constitute part of “constructive sales,” which would result in taxable income before the short-sale positions are terminated.

Certain of the Fund’s hedging activities including its transactions in options and foreign currencies, are likely to result in a difference between the Fund’s book income and taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute a return of capital or capital gain for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to avoid excise tax liability and to qualify as a regulated investment company, which may have the effect of accelerating taxable distributions to shareholders.

Rules governing the tax aspects of notional principal contracts in which the Fund may invest are not clear in various respects. As a result, the IRS could challenge the Fund’s methods of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes for such contracts, and such a challenge could affect the status of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

When the Fund sells a put or call option, the premium received generally is not included in income at the time of receipt. If the option expires, the premium is generally included in income of the Fund as short-term capital gain. If the Fund enters into a closing transaction, the difference between the amount paid to close out its position and the premium received is generally short-term capital gain or loss. If a call option written by the Fund is exercised, thereby requiring the Fund to sell the underlying security, the premium will increase the amount realized upon the sale of such security and any resulting gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss, and will be long-term or short-term depending upon the holding period of the security. With respect to a put or call option that is purchased by the Fund, if the option is sold any resulting gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss, and will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option expires, the resulting loss is a capital loss and is long-term or short-term, depending upon the holding period of the option. If the option is exercised, the cost of the option, in the case of a call option, is added to the basis of the purchased security and in the case of a put option, reduces the amount realized on the underlying security in determining gain or loss.

Some of the Fund’s investments, such as certain option transactions, futures contract transactions, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts may be “section 1256 contracts.” With certain exceptions, gains or losses attributable to section 1256 contracts generally are treated as sixty percent long-term capital gains or losses and forty percent short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”). Section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of a taxable year (and, generally, for purposes of the excise tax, on October 31 of each year) are “marked-to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as 60/40 gain or loss.

The application of certain requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company and the application of certain other federal income tax rules may be unclear in some respects in connection with investments in certain derivatives and other investments. As a result, the Fund may be required to limit the extent to which it invests in such investments and the IRS may not agree with the Fund’s treatment of such investments. In addition, the tax treatment of derivatives and certain other investments may be affected by future legislation, Treasury regulations and guidance issued by the IRS (which could apply retroactively) that could affect the timing, character and amount of the Fund’s income and gains and distributions to shareholders, affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid federal income and excise taxes or limit the extent to which the Fund may invest in certain derivatives and other investments in the future.

The Fund may acquire debt obligations that have original issue discount. “Original issue discount” is the excess of a debt obligation’s stated redemption price at maturity over the obligation’s issue price. Under long-standing tax rules, a taxpayer that acquires an obligation with original issue discount generally is required to include the original issue discount in income on a constant yield-to-maturity basis without regard to when, or whether, payments are made on the obligation. However, original issue discount on a tax-exempt obligation generally is treated as tax-exempt interest. Obligations owned by the Fund that have original issue discount may include investment in payment-in-kind securities, and certain other obligations. Obligations with original issue discount owned by the Fund will give rise to income that the Fund will be required to distribute even though the Fund does not receive an interest payment in cash on the obligation during the year. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Fund may realize gains or losses from such sales. If the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions.

Some debt obligations that are acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. “Market discount” is generally the excess of the stated redemption price of the bond at maturity over the basis of the bond immediately after its acquisition by the taxpayer. Generally, any gain recognized on the receipt of principal payments or on the disposition of a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Market discount generally accrues in equal daily installments. The Fund may make certain elections applicable to debt obligations having market discount, which could affect the character and timing of recognition of income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Gain on the disposition of market discount bonds is taxable as ordinary income even if interest on the debt obligation in question is tax exempt. In contrast, gain attributable to original issue discount, whenever recognized, on a tax-exempt obligation is treated as tax-exempt interest.

Exchanges of shares between classes of the Fund are generally not taxable transactions. Certain “significant holders” of the Fund within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3(c)(1) will be required to include in their federal income tax returns for the year of the exchange of one class of stock for another the information listed in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3(b). The term “significant holders” refers to shareholders of the Fund who own at least one percent (by vote or value) of the total outstanding shares of the Fund, as well as shareholders who own shares of the Fund (immediately before the exchange in question) having a tax basis of at least $1 million.

The Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. The application of the U.S. federal income tax rules with respect to these types of investments is complicated and will depend upon the application of the law to facts that may be unclear, which may result in uncertainty about the U.S. federal income tax treatment of these investments (e.g., such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts, or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income). These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund if it invests in such securities in order to seek to ensure that the Fund distributes sufficient income to avoid becoming subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

The Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who (i) fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), (ii) has been identified by the IRS as otherwise subject to backup withholding, or (iii) who fails to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding tax rate is 24% for tax years beginning before January 1, 2026.

The Fund (or their administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 (“covered shares”), when such shares are subsequently, redeemed, exchanged or otherwise sold and whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. In addition, the Fund is required to report the gross proceeds from the sale of all Fund shares (whether or not they are covered shares).

The Fund will allow shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods to calculate the cost basis of their covered shares. In the absence of such an election, the Fund will use its default cost basis method. Once a Fund shareholder has elected a cost basis reporting method, the election will apply to all future transactions in covered shares, unless the shareholder revokes or changes the standing election. The cost basis method elected or applied may not be changed after the settlement date of a sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers concerning the most desirable IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation.

If an individual shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund shares of $2 million or more or a corporate shareholder recognizes a loss of $10 million or more in any single taxable year (or twice such amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether or not the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (or “FATCA”), foreign financial institutions as defined by FATCA (“FFIs”) or non-financial foreign entities as defined by FATCA (“NFFEs”) that are shareholders of the Fund may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on: (1) income dividends paid by the Fund, and (2) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds of a sale of Fund shares. The FATCA withholding tax generally may be avoided: (a) by an FFI, if it reports 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 is has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) reports information relating to them to the withholding agent (which may be the Fund). The U.S. Treasury has negotiated intergovernmental agreements (each, an “IGA”) with certain countries and is in various stages of negotiations with other foreign countries with respect to one or more alternative approaches to implement FATCA. An entity in one of those countries may be required to comply with the terms of an IGA and applicable local law instead of U.S. Treasury regulations.

An FFI can avoid FATCA withholding by becoming a “participating FFI,” which requires the FFI to enter into a tax compliance agreement with the IRS under section 1471(b) of the Code under which it agrees to verify, report and disclose certain of its U.S. accountholders and provided that such entity meets certain other specified requirements. The FFI will report to the IRS, or, depending on the FFI’s country of residence, to the government of that country (pursuant to the terms and conditions of an applicable IGA and applicable law), which will, in turn, report to the IRS. An FFI that is resident in a country that has entered into an IGA with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the FFI shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of such agreement.

An NFFE that is the beneficial owner of a payment from the Fund can avoid FATCA withholding generally by certifying that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or by providing the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner. The NFFE will report to the Fund or other applicable withholding agent, which will, in turn, report information to the IRS.

Such foreign shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by U.S. Treasury regulations, IGAs, and other guidance regarding FATCA. An FFI or NFFE that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. The requirements imposed by FATCA are different from, and in addition to, the U.S. certification rules to avoid backup withholding described above.

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans, as well as investments by tax-exempt entities. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans or by such entities and the precise effect that investment in the Fund would have on their particular tax situation.

The foregoing discussion relates solely to U.S. federal income tax law. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to U.S. federal, state, local and, where applicable, foreign taxes. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the certification and filing requirements imposed on foreign investors in order to qualify for exemption from the backup withholding tax rates (or a reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty and the potential applicability of the U.S. estate tax).

Dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund also may be subject to state and local taxes, and their treatment under state and local income tax laws may differ from federal income tax treatment. Distributions from the Fund that are derived from interest on obligations of the U.S. Government and certain of its agencies and instrumentalities may be exempt from state and local income taxes in certain states. State and local tax treatment may change if the Fund ever fails to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes. The treatment also may change if the Fund fails to meet certain reporting and filing requirements under state laws and regulations.

The assets of the Fund include interest bearing obligations issued on behalf of the State of Kansas and political subdivisions thereof (the “Kansas Bonds”). The following discussion relating to Kansas state and local income tax only addresses the taxation of persons who are full-time residents of the State of Kansas.

Interest dividends distributed by the Fund are exempt from income tax imposed by the State of Kansas (“Kansas Income Tax”) if they are excluded from gross income for federal tax purposes and are attributable to interest on (i) Kansas Bonds issued after December 31, 1987, (ii) obligations exempted from tax under state law, including bonds issued by the Board of Regents Bonds for Kansas Colleges and Universities, Electrical Generation Revenue Bonds, Industrial Revenue Bonds, Kansas Highway Bonds, Kansas Turnpike Authority Bonds, and Urban Renewal Bonds; (iii) obligations issued by the government of Puerto Rico, Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands, or (iv) obligations issued by the U.S. federal government. Such tax-exempt interest from the Fund may nonetheless be subject to the privilege tax imposed by the State of Kansas for shareholders that are national banking associations, banks, trust companies, federally chartered savings banks and savings and loan associations.

Distributions from the Fund, other than interest dividends described in the foregoing paragraph will generally be subject to the Kansas Income Tax. You generally will be subject to the Kansas Income Tax on the gain recognized on the sale or redemption of a share of the Fund.

Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible for purposes of the Kansas Income Tax. Ownership of shares in the Fund may result in other Kansas tax consequences and prospective investors should consult their tax advisors.

This discussion is based on Kansas laws as enacted and construed on the date of this SAI and in certain cases on administrative guidance from state revenue departments. Such laws and interpretation are subject to change. Fund shares and Fund distributions may be subject to other state and local taxes not discussed above.

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 12, 2012 and consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. The Board may establish additional series in the future. The capitalization of the Trust consists solely of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest with no par value.

The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. When certain matters affect one Fund but not another, the shareholders vote as the Fund regarding such matters. Subject to the foregoing, on any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares then entitled to vote will be voted separately by the Fund unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act, in which case all shares will be voted in the aggregate. For example, a change in the Fund’s fundamental investment policies would be voted upon only by shareholders of the Fund. Additionally, approvals of Investment Advisory Contracts are matters to be determined separately by the Fund.

Approval by the shareholders of one Fund is effective as to that Fund whether or not sufficient votes are received from the shareholders of the other Fund to approve the proposal as to that Fund. The term “majority,” when referring to approvals to be obtained from shareholders of the Fund means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the shares of the Fund or class represented at a meeting if the holder of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund or class are present in person or by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the fund. The term “majority,” when referring to the approvals to be obtained from shareholders of the Trust as a whole means the vote of the lesser of (i) 67% of the Trust’s shares represented at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the Trust’s outstanding shares are present in person or proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Trust’s outstanding shares. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held.

The Trust is not required to hold regular annual meetings of the Fund’s shareholders and does not intend to do so. However, the Trust undertakes to hold a special meeting of its shareholders if the purpose of voting on the question of removal of a director or trustees is requested in writing by the holders of at least 10% of the Trust’s outstanding voting securities, and to assist in communicating with other shareholders as required by Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act. The Declaration of Trust provides that the holders of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust may remove a person serving as Trustee either by declaration in writing or at a meeting called for such purpose.

Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportional interest in the Fund with each other share and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of the income earned on the assets belonging to the Fund as are declared in the discretion of the Trustees. In the event of the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, shareholders of the Fund are entitled to receive the assets attributable to the Fund that are available for distribution, and a distribution of any general assets of the Trust not attributable to the Fund that are available for distribution in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion may determine.

Shareholders are not entitled to any preemptive rights. All shares, when issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust.

Custodian. U.S. Bank, N.A., located at 1555 North Rivercenter Dr., Suite 302, Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as the custodian for the Fund. As such, the Custodian holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to the Fund and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities in book-entry form belonging to the Fund. Upon instruction, the Custodian receives and delivers cash and securities of the Fund in connection with Fund transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with respect to Fund portfolio securities. The Custodian also maintains certain accounts and records of the Fund. Sub-custodians provide custodial services for any foreign assets held outside of the United States.

Transfer Agent. ALPS, pursuant to a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, serves as transfer agent for the Fund. As Transfer Agent, ALPS has, among other things, agreed to (i) issue and redeem shares of the Fund; (ii) make dividend and other distributions to shareholders of the Fund; (iii) effect transfers of shares; (iv) mail communications to shareholders of the Fund, including account statements, confirmations, and dividend and distribution notices; (v) facilitate the electronic delivery of shareholder statements and reports and (vi) maintain shareholder accounts. Under the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, ALPS receives from the Trust on behalf of the Fund an annual minimum fee and a fee based upon the number of shareholder accounts and is also reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. As described above, ALPS is an affiliate of the Distributor.

Yield and Total Return. The Fund may from time to time include the yield and/or total return of its shares in advertisements or information in advertisements or information furnished to present or prospective shareholders.

The Fund’s yield will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolios and operating expenses of the Trust allocated to the Fund. These factors, possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield, and the tax exempt status of distributions, should be considered when comparing the Fund’s yield to yields published for other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield should also be considered relative to changes in the value of the Fund’s shares and to the relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund.

At any time in the future, yields and total return may be higher or lower than past yields and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.

Investors in the Fund are specifically advised that share prices, expressed as the net asset value per share, will vary just as yield will vary. An investor’s focus on the yield of the Fund to the exclusion of the consideration of the share price of the Fund may result in the investor’s misunderstanding the total return he or she may derive from the Fund.

The audited financial statements of the Fund for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, and the report of Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022. The Annual Report was filed on Form N-CSR with the SEC on December 9, 2022. The Annual Report is available at no charge by writing or telephoning the Fund at the address or number on the front page of this Statement of Additional Information.