485BPOS 1 grstnfshr-tpm_485b.htm POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT grstnfshr-tpm_485b.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2011
1933 Act Registration File No. 333-62298
1940 Act File No. 811-10401

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
   
[   ]
Post-Effective Amendment No.
221
 
[X]

AND/OR

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[X]
Amendment No.
223
 
[X]
 
TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(414) 287-3338
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
 
Rachel A. Spearo, Esq.
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 2nd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
Copies to:
 
Carol A. Gehl, Esq.
Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(414) 273-3500

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
(Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering)
 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
 
[   ]                      immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b).
[X]                      on March 30, 2011 pursuant to paragraph (b).
[   ]                      60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).
[   ]                      on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1).
[   ]                      75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2).
[   ]                      on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.
 

If appropriate check the following box:

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

 
 



Gerstein Fisher logo


Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
Institutional Class Shares (GFMGX)



Prospectus

March 30, 2011






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

Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
A series of Trust for Professional Managers (the “Trust”)


 
 


 
 
 

 
 

Investment Objective
The investment objective of the Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is long-term capital appreciation.

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

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Redemption Fee
(as a percentage of amount redeemed within 60 days from the date of purchase)
1.00%
   
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees
0.85%
Other Expenses
0.44%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1)
0.05%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
1.34%
Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursements
-0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement(2)
1.30%
 
(1)
Please note that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses in the table above do not correlate to the Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets found within the “Financial Highlights” section of this prospectus, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.
 
(2)
Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Fund’s investment adviser, Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc. (the “Adviser”), and the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, leverage, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, dividends or interest on short positions, acquired fund fees and expenses or extraordinary expenses such as litigation) do not exceed 1.25% of the Fund’s average net assets through December 30, 2012.  The operating expense limitation agreement can only be terminated by, or with the consent of, the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”).  The Adviser is permitted to be reimbursed for management fee reductions and/or expense payments made in the prior three fiscal years, subject to the limitation on Fund expenses.

Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the costs of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.  The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
$132
$416
$726
$1,606

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  For the period ended November 30, 2010, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 141.07% of the average value of its portfolio.
 
 

 
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in equity securities.  The Fund seeks to invest primarily in common stocks of domestic companies of any size.  Equity securities may also include preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that invest in equities, individual stock options and options on indices.  At any one time, the combined value of options may be up to 5% of the Fund’s net assets.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges.  Additionally, the Fund may also sell shares of securities short for hedging purposes.

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a quantitative approach.  The Fund’s portfolio is managed using a model that combines fundamental factors, statistical factors and macroeconomic factors.  When evaluating fundamental factors, the Adviser will look at attributes of stocks or companies that are important in explaining cross-sectional differences in stock prices.  Within the context of the fundamental factors, the Fund will have an overall focus on growth stocks, with an emphasis within that focus on growth stocks of smaller and more value-oriented companies.  The Adviser defines “smaller” companies as companies below top 1,000 stocks in terms of market capitalization.  When evaluating statistical factors, the Adviser will apply statistical methods to price history data to determine “momentum” in a prospective investment.  The Adviser generally considers an investment to have “momentum” if its return over the prior six to twelve months ranks in the top quintile of its relevant market capitalization universe.  When evaluating macroeconomic factors, the Adviser will look for the economic variables that will significantly impact equity returns on a broad basis.

The Fund will purchase securities that the Adviser identifies as having the potential for long-term capital appreciation.  The Fund may sell securities at any time when, in the Adviser’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale.  While this sell strategy may cause the Fund to have an annual portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100%, it also means the Adviser will sell investments when it believes there are better investment alternatives.

Principal Risks
Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to leave your money invested and the amount of risk you are willing to take.  Remember, in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund.  The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

·  
Management Risk.  Risk that the Adviser’s investment strategies for the Fund may not result in an increase in the value of your investment or in overall performance equal to other investments.  Additionally, while the Adviser has been managing assets for investors since 1993, the Adviser has not previously managed a registered mutual fund.
·  
General Market Risk.  Risk that the value of the Fund’s shares will decrease based on the performance of the Fund’s investments and other factors affecting the securities markets generally.
·  
Equity Market Risk.  Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change.  Preferred stock is subject to the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer, and that participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited.
·  
Large-Cap Company Risk.  Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors.  Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
·  
Small-, Mid- and Micro-Cap Company Risk.  The risk that the securities of mid-cap, small-cap and micro-cap companies may be more volatile and less liquid than the securities of large-cap companies.
 
 
 
·  
Foreign Securities and Currency Risk.  Risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad and differences between U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements and market practices, including fluctuations in foreign currencies.
·  
Exchange-Traded Fund Risk.  Unlike mutual funds, ETFs do not necessarily trade at the net asset values of their underlying securities, which means an ETF could potentially trade above or below the value of the underlying portfolios  Additionally, because ETFs trade like stocks on exchanges, they are subject to trading and commission costs, unlike open-end investment companies.
·  
Short Sale Risk.  Short selling of securities may result in the Fund’s investment performance suffering if it is required to close out a short position earlier than it had intended.
·  
Options Risk.  Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities.
·  
High Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk. A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization by the Fund and distribution to shareholders of a greater amount of capital gains than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.  This may mean that you would be likely to have a higher tax liability.  Distributions to shareholders of short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income under federal tax laws.
·  
Value Stock Risk.  Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and may continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.
·  
Growth Stock Risk.  The prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks.
·  
Momentum Risk.  Securities with “momentum” have recently had above-average returns and may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities.
·  
Tax Risk.  Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies, including transactions in options and futures contracts, may be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may have adverse tax consequences for the Fund.

Performance
The bar chart and the Average Annual Total Returns table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.  Remember, the Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.gersteinfisher.com or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-473-1155.

Calendar Year Returns as of December 31
 
Bar Chart Page 3
 
 
The Fund’s calendar year-to-date return as of February 28, 2011 was 5.67%.  During the period shown in the bar chart, the best performance for a quarter was 13.50% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2010).  The worst performance was -12.99% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2010).

Average Annual Total Returns
 
Periods Ended
December 31, 2010
 
One Year
Since Inception
(12/31/2009)
     
Return Before Taxes
15.16%
15.16%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
15.09%
15.09%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
9.94%
9.94%
Russell 3000® Growth Total Return Index
17.64%
17.64%
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
   

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

Management
Investment Adviser
Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc. is the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Manager
Gregg S. Fisher, CFA, CFP, President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser since 1993, is the Portfolio Manager for the Fund and has managed the Fund since its inception in December 2009.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Fund shares are to be purchased and redeemed primarily through financial intermediaries.  Investors who wish to purchase or redeem Fund shares should contact the Adviser toll free at 800-473-1155.  The minimum initial amount of investment in the Fund is $10,000.  Subsequent investments in the Fund for all types of accounts may be made with a minimum investment of $250.

Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are taxable, and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase Fund shares 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 conflicts of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment.  Ask your adviser or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
 
 

 
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.  The Fund’s investment objective may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.  Should the Adviser determine that the Fund would benefit from reducing the percentage of assets invested in equity securities from 80% to a lesser amount, the Fund will provide you with at least 60 days’ written notice of such change as well as 60 days’ written notice of the change in the Fund’s name that would be required to enact such a reduction.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States or on foreign exchanges.  The Fund may also sell shares of securities short for hedging purposes.

Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in equity securities. The Adviser pursues the Fund’s investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks of domestic companies.  Equity securities may also include preferred stocks, ETFs that invest in equities, individual stock options and options on indices.  At any one time, the combined value of options may be up to 5% of the Fund’s net assets.

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a quantitative approach.  The Fund’s portfolio is maintained using a model that combines fundamental factors, statistical factors and macroeconomic factors.

When evaluating fundamental factors, the Adviser will look at attributes of stocks or companies that are important in explaining cross-sectional differences in stock prices.  Among these fundamental factors are the book value-to-price ratio, market capitalization, and the price-to-earnings ratio.  Within the context of the fundamental factors, the Fund will have an overall focus growth stocks, with an emphasis within that focus on growth stocks of smaller and more value-oriented companies.  The Adviser defines “smaller” companies as companies below the top 1,000 stocks in terms of market capitalization.

When evaluating statistical factors, the Adviser will apply statistical methods to price history data to determine “momentum” in a prospective investment.  One focus of the Fund will be to seek out and purchase those stocks with the most attractive “momentum” qualities.  The Adviser generally considers an investment to have “momentum” if its return over the prior six to twelve months ranks in the top quintile of its relevant market capitalization universe.

When evaluating macroeconomic factors, the Adviser will look for the economic variables that will significantly impact equity returns on a broad basis.  These factors include, but are not limited to:

·  
overall broad market return;
·  
change in interest rates;
·  
change in oil prices;
·  
change in the value of the U.S. dollar;
·  
slope of the term structure of interest rates;
·  
return of the industry in which the stock is classified; and
·  
return of large, mid, and small stock groupings.

The Adviser selects investments for the Fund’s portfolio using the models above, as well as by implementing arbitrage pricing theory (“APT”) to help predict what various stocks have in common, and the ways their prices will tend to move together in the future.  APT is a pricing model that relies on various macro-economic factors to price assets.  The Adviser utilizes APT in an attempt to ensure that the Fund’s portfolio avoids any uncompensated concentrations of risk.
 
 

 
The Fund will not purchase or sell securities based solely on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets, or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.  The Fund will not sell securities which have depreciated in value since their acquisition solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in security prices in general.  The Fund will not sell securities to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held.  The Fund may sell securities, including those eligible for purchase, at any time when in the Adviser’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including but not limited to, tender offers, mergers and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices.  While this sell strategy may cause the Fund to have an annual portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100%, it also means the Adviser will sell investments when it believes there are better investment alternatives.

Although the Fund may invest in securities across all market capitalizations, it may at any given time invest a significant portion of its assets in companies of one particular market capitalization category when the Adviser believes such overweighting will lead to performance over the long term that outweighs the risks associated with investing in companies of one particular market capitalization.

The Fund may be appropriate for investors who want to add an investment with potential for capital appreciation to diversify their investment portfolio.  The Fund is not appropriate for investors concerned primarily with principal stability or those pursuing a short-term goal.

Cash or Similar Investments.  For temporary defensive purposes, the Adviser may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s total assets in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments.  These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include shares of other mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements.  Taking a temporary defensive position may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective.  Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market funds’ management fees and operational expenses.

Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider your own investment goals, the amount of time you are willing to leave your money invested and the amount of risk you are willing to take.  Remember, in addition to possibly not achieving your investment goals, you could lose money by investing in the Fund.  The principal risks of investing in the Fund are:

·  
Management Risk.  The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the Adviser’s investment strategies for the Fund.  The value of your investment in the Fund may vary with the effectiveness of the Adviser’s research, analysis and asset allocation among portfolio securities.  If the Adviser’s investment strategies do not produce the expected results, your investment could be diminished or even lost.  Additionally, while the Adviser has been managing assets for investors since 1993, the Adviser has not previously managed a registered mutual fund.

·  
General Market Risk.  The market value of a security may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.  These fluctuations may cause a security to be worth less than the price originally paid for it, or less than it was worth at an earlier time.  Market risk may affect a single issuer, industry, sector of the economy or the market as a whole.  U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years.  The securities markets have experienced substantially lower valuations, reduced liquidity, price volatility, credit downgrades, increased likelihood of default and valuation difficulties, all of which may increase the risk of investing in the securities held by the Fund.
 
 

 
·  
Equity Market Risk.  Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in, and perceptions of, their issuers change.  These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies; inflation and interest rates; economic expansion or contraction; and global or regional political, economic and banking crises.  If you held common stocks of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer because common shareholders generally have inferior rights to receive payments from issuers in comparison with the rights of preferred shareholders, bondholders and other creditors of such issuers.

·  
Large-Cap Company Risk.  Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors.  Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.

·  
Small-, Mid- and Micro-Cap Company Risk.  Generally, small-, mid- and micro-cap and less seasoned companies have more potential growth than large-cap companies.  They also often involve greater risk than large-cap companies, and these risks are passed on to the Fund.  Small-, mid- and micro-cap companies may not have the management experience, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of large-cap companies, and, therefore, their securities tend to be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies, making them less liquid than other securities.  Small-, mid- and micro-cap company stocks tend to be bought and sold less often and in smaller amounts than larger company stocks.  Because of this, if the Fund wants to sell a large quantity of a small-, mid- or micro-cap company’s stock, it may have to sell at a lower price than the Adviser might prefer, or it may have to sell in smaller than desired quantities over a period of time.  An investment in the Fund that is subject to these risks may be more suitable for long-term investors who are willing to bear the risk of these fluctuations.

·  
Foreign Securities and Currency Risk.  To the extent that the Fund invests in securities of foreign companies, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs), your investment in the Fund is subject to foreign securities risk.  These include risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad and differences between U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements and market practices.  Securities that are denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the further risk that the value of the foreign currency will fall in relation to the U.S. dollar and/or will be affected by volatile currency markets or actions of U.S. and foreign governments or central banks.

·  
Exchange Traded Fund Risk.  ETFs are investment companies that are bought and sold on a national securities exchange.  To the extent that the Fund invests in ETFs, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such funds’ management fees and operational expenses.  Because the Fund invests in ETFs, it is subject to additional risks that do not apply to conventional mutual funds, including the risks that the market price of an ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to its net asset value (“NAV”) per share, an active secondary trading market may not develop or be maintained, and trading may be halted by, or the ETF may be delisted from, the exchange in which they trade, which may impact the Fund’s ability to sell its shares.  The lack of liquidity in a particular ETF could result in it being more volatile than the ETF’s underlying portfolio of securities.  ETFs are also subject to the risks of the underlying securities or sectors the ETF is designed to track.  In addition, there are brokerage commissions paid in connection with buying or selling ETF shares.
 
 

 
·  
Short Sale Risk.  The Fund is subject to short sale risk.  Short selling shares of equities and ETFs may result in the Fund’s investment performance suffering if it is required to close out a short position earlier than it had intended.  This would occur if the lender required the Fund to deliver the securities it borrowed at the commencement of the short sale and the Fund was unable to borrow the securities from other securities lenders.  Furthermore, until the Fund replaces a security borrowed, or sold short, it must pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividends that accrue during the period of the short sale.  The Board of Trustees has considered the Fund’s short sales strategy and its attendant risks and has determined that the strategy does not impair the Fund’s ability to meet redemptions or meet other regulatory requirements.  The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures, and regularly reviews the adequacy of those policies and procedures, to ensure that the Fund’s short positions are continuously monitored, comply with regulatory requirements and are in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.

·  
Options Risk.  Options transactions involve certain risks.  For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between those markets.  A given hedging transaction may not achieve its objectives, resulting in possible losses.  Decisions as to whether and when to use options involve the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events.  Options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances, and the Fund may not be able to complete or neutralize an options transaction in the manner desired. Covered call options enhance Fund income by the generation of premiums upon the sale of the options, but may result in the Fund losing the benefit of a portion of the appreciation in the underlying equity security to the extent the value increases to an amount in excess of the option exercise price.  Call option premiums received by the Fund will be recognized upon exercise, lapse or other disposition of the option and generally will be treated by the Fund as short-term capital gain or loss.

·  
High Portfolio Turnover Rate Risk.  The Fund’s investment strategy may result in high portfolio turnover rates.  This could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income tax rates (currently as high as 35%) and could increase brokerage commission costs.  To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund.

·  
Value Stock Risk.  Value stocks can react differently to issuer, political, market, and economic developments than the market as a whole and other types of stocks.  Value stocks tend to be inexpensive relative to their earnings or assets compared to other types of stocks.  However, value stocks can continue to be inexpensive for long periods of time and may not ever realize their full value.

·  
Growth Stock Risk.  Growth stocks are stocks of companies believed to have above-average potential for growth in revenue and earnings.  The prices of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the prices of other stocks.  Growth stocks may not perform as well as value stocks or the stock market in general.

·  
Momentum Risk.  Investing in securities with “momentum” entails investing in securities that have recently had above-average returns.  These securities may be more volatile than a broad cross-section of securities.  In addition, there may be periods when the “momentum” style is out of favor, and during which the investment performance of a fund using a “momentum” strategy may suffer.
 
 

 
·  
Tax Risk.  The Fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, derivatives, synthetic instruments and swap contracts may be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, wash sale, straddle and short sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term capital gains or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could, therefore, affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund's use of such transactions may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains (subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates) and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions. Furthermore, to the extent that any futures contract or option on a futures contract held by the Fund is a “Section 1256 contract” under Section 1256 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the contract will be marked-to-market annually and any gain or loss will be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term, regardless of the holding period for such contract. Section 1256 contracts include Fund transactions involving foreign currency contracts, call options on a broad based securities index, certain futures contracts and other financial contracts.

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the Statement of Additional Information (the ‘SAI”).  Disclosure of the Fund’s holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  The annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders are available by contacting Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund, 100 William Street, Suite 1825, New York, NY 10038, or by calling 800-473-1155, or on the Fund’s website at www.gersteinfisher.com.  The Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) with Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser, located at 100 William Street, Suite 1825, New York, NY 10038, under which the Adviser manages the Fund’s investments subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees.  The Adviser has been managing assets since it was founded in 1993 and now employs over twenty investment professionals.  The Adviser, through its investment professionals, employs common principles and processes across many of its strategies and believes that this collective knowledge is an asset to its clients.  The Adviser is entitled to an annual management fee of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  As of February 28, 2011, the Adviser managed approximately $960,505,625 in accounts other than the Fund.

Fund Expenses.  The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  Pursuant to an operating expense limitation agreement between the Adviser and the Fund, the Adviser has agreed to waive its management fees and/or reimburse expenses of the Fund to ensure that the total amount of Fund operating expenses (exclusive generally of interest, acquired fund fees and expenses, leverage and tax expenses, brokerage commissions, dividends and interest expenses on short positions and extraordinary expenses) does not exceed 1.25% of the average net assets of the Fund through December 30, 2012.  Any waiver in management fees or payment of expenses made by the Adviser may be reimbursed by the Fund in subsequent fiscal years if the Adviser so requests.  This reimbursement may be requested if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Adviser is permitted to be reimbursed for management fee reductions and/or expense payments made in the prior three fiscal years.  Any such reimbursement will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees.  The Fund must pay its current ordinary operating expenses before the Adviser is entitled to any reimbursement of management fees and/or Fund expenses.  In addition, any such reimbursement from the Fund to the Adviser will be subject to the applicable limitation on the Fund’s expenses.  This agreement may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
 
 

 
A discussion regarding the basis of the approval by the Board of Trustees of the Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, is included in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders dated May 31, 2010.

Gregg S. Fisher, CFA, CFP, is the Portfolio Manager for the Fund and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.  Mr. Fisher has served as President and Chief Investment Officer of the Adviser since 1993.  As chair of the Adviser’s Investment Policy Committee, Mr. Fisher is ultimately responsible and accountable for all investment decisions made on behalf of the Adviser’s clients.

Although Mr. Fisher is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, he is supported by an investment team comprised of the Adviser’s investment committee, portfolio managers and trading personnel.  With the approval of Mr. Fisher, the Fund’s investment strategies are set by the Adviser’s investment committee, which meets on a regular basis, and also as needed to consider investment issues.  Mr. Fisher and the investment team review all investment related policies and procedures, and approve any changes regarding approved allocation of assets or security types.  At Mr. Fisher’s discretion, the portfolio managers and trading personnel implement the policy and procedures established by the investment team.

The SAI provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager’s compensation, other accounts managed and ownership of securities in the Fund.

The price of the Fund’s shares is the Fund’s NAV.  The NAV per share is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets, less its liabilities, by the number of its shares outstanding.  In calculating the NAV, portfolio securities are valued using current market values or official closing prices, if available.  The NAV is calculated at the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time).  The NAV will not be calculated on days that the NYSE is closed for trading.

Each security owned by the Fund that is listed on a securities exchange is valued at its last sale price on that exchange on the date as of which assets are valued.  Where the security is listed on more than one exchange, the Fund will use the price on the exchange that the Fund generally considers to be the principal exchange on which the stock is traded.  Portfolio securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price, which may not necessarily represent the last sale price.  If there has been no sale on such exchange or on NASDAQ on such day, the security is valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices on such day.  When market quotations are not readily available, a security or other asset is valued at its fair value as determined under fair value pricing procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.  These fair value pricing procedures will also be used to price a security when corporate events, events in the securities market and/or world events cause the Adviser to believe that a security’s last sale price may not reflect its actual market value.  The intended effect of using fair value pricing procedures is to ensure that the Fund is accurately priced.  The Board of Trustees will regularly evaluate whether the Fund’s fair value pricing procedures continue to be appropriate in light of the specific circumstances of the Fund and the quality of prices obtained through their application by the Trust’s valuation committee.
 
 

 
When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by the Fund to calculate its NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.  Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the fair value determined for a particular security may be materially different from the price of the security quoted or published by others or the value when trading resumes or realized upon its sale.  Therefore, if a shareholder purchases or redeems Fund shares when the Fund holds securities priced at a fair value, the number of shares purchased or redeemed may be higher or lower than it would be if the Fund were using market value pricing.

With respect to the Fund’s investments in one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Fund’s NAV is calculated in part upon the NAVs of such investment companies.  The prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

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

Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a financial intermediary.  The Fund has authorized one or more brokers or financial intermediaries (“Authorized Intermediary”) to receive on its behalf purchase and redemption orders.  Such Authorized Intermediaries may be authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf.  In such cases, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an Authorized Intermediary or, if applicable, an Authorized Intermediary’s authorized designee, receives the order.  Customer orders will be priced at the applicable Fund’s NAV per share next computed after the order is received by an Authorized Intermediary or its authorized designee.

Shares of the Fund are purchased at the next NAV calculated after your purchase order is received by the Fund, or by an Authorized Intermediary.

Minimum Investments.  The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $10,000.  The minimum investment amount for subsequent investments of the Fund is $250 for all types of accounts.  Shareholders will be given at least 30 days’ written notice of any increase in the minimum dollar amount of initial or subsequent investments.

Shares of the Fund are generally available for investment only by institutional clients of select registered investment advisers, clients of select financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Adviser (“Eligible Investors”).  Eligible Investors include, but are not limited to, employees of the Adviser, former employees of the Adviser, shareholders and directors of the Adviser, and friends and family members of such persons.  All investments are subject to the approval of the Adviser and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms.  The Adviser reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investments.
 
 

 
Investors wishing to purchase Fund shares should contact the Adviser toll free at 800-473-1155.  Shares of the Fund are primarily offered through certain financial intermediaries (including broker-dealers) and their agents in fee based and other programs.  In these programs, financial intermediaries have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund and charge their customers transaction or other distribution or service fees with respect to their customers’ investments in the Fund.  If you are purchasing shares through a financial intermediary, you must follow the procedures established by your financial intermediary.  Your financial intermediary is responsible for sending your purchase order and wiring payment to U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”).  Your financial intermediary holds the shares in your name and receives all confirmations of purchases and sales.

If you are purchasing shares through financial intermediaries, you must follow the procedures established by your financial intermediary.  Your financial intermediary is responsible for sending your purchase order and wiring payment to the Transfer Agent.  Your financial intermediary holds the shares in your name and receives all confirmations of purchases and sales.  Financial intermediaries placing orders for themselves or on behalf of their customers should call the Fund toll free at 800-473-1155.

If you place an order for the Fund’s shares through a financial intermediary in accordance with such financial intermediary’s procedures, and such financial intermediary then transmits your order to the Transfer Agent in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s instructions, your purchase will be processed at the applicable NAV per share next calculated after the Transfer Agent receives your order.  The financial intermediary must promise to send to the Transfer Agent immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price in accordance with the Transfer Agent’s procedures.  If payment is not received within the time specified, the Transfer Agent may rescind the transaction and the financial intermediary will be held liable for any resulting fees or losses.

In the case of Authorized Intermediaries that have made satisfactory payment or redemption arrangements with the Fund, orders will be processed at the price next calculated after receipt by the Authorized Intermediary, consistent with applicable laws and regulations.  Financial intermediaries, including Authorized Intermediaries, may set cut-off times for the receipt of orders that are earlier than the cut-off times established by the Fund.  For more information about your financial intermediary’s rules and procedures and whether your financial intermediary is an Authorized Intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Trust has established an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program (the “Program”) as required by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”) and related anti-money laundering laws and regulations.  In order to ensure compliance with these laws, you may be asked to provide the following information when establishing an account with a financial intermediary (as those terms are defined in rules adopted pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act):

·  
full name;
·  
date of birth (individuals only);
·  
Social Security or taxpayer identification number; and
·  
permanent street address (a P.O. Box alone is not acceptable).

In general, orders to sell or “redeem” shares may be placed directly with the Fund or through a financial intermediary.  However, if you originally purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, your redemption order must be placed with the same financial intermediary in accordance with the procedures established by that financial intermediary.  For more information on how to redeem shares purchased this way, please contact the Adviser at 800-473-1155.  Your financial intermediary is responsible for sending your order to the Transfer Agent and for crediting your account with the proceeds.  You may redeem all or part of your investment in the Fund’s shares on any business day that the applicable Fund calculates its NAV.  Your redemption request must be received prior to the close of the regular trading session of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) by the Transfer Agent or by your Authorized Intermediary in order to obtain that day’s closing NAV.  Redemption requests received after the close of the NYSE will be treated as though received on the next business day.  Financial institutions, including Authorized Intermediaries, may set cut-off times for the receipt of orders that are earlier than the cut-off times established by the Fund.  For more information about your financial institution’s rules and procedures and whether your financial institution is an Authorized Intermediary, you should contact your financial institution directly.
 
 

 
The Fund’s Right to Redeem an Account.  The Fund reserves the right to redeem the shares of any shareholder whose account balance is less than $1,000, other than as a result of a decline in the NAV of the Fund or for market reasons.  The Fund will provide shareholders with written notice 30 days prior to redeeming the shareholder’s account.

Redemption-in-Kind.  The Fund generally pays redemption proceeds in cash.  However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise (and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders), the Fund may pay all or part of a shareholder’s redemption proceeds in liquid securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption-in-kind).

Specifically, if the amount you are redeeming during any 90-day period is in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund being redeemed, valued at the beginning of such period, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of the Fund being redeemed in securities instead of cash.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.

Redemptions of short-term holdings may create missed opportunity costs for the Fund, as the Adviser may be unable to take or maintain positions in securities that employ certain strategies that require a longer period of time to achieve anticipated results.

For these reasons, the Fund will assess a 1.00% fee on the redemption of Fund shares held for 60 days or less.  The Fund uses the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method to determine the 60-day holding period. Under this method, the date of the redemption will be compared to the earliest purchase date of shares held in the account.  If this holding period is 60 days or less, the redemption fee will be assessed.  The redemption fee will be applied on redemptions of each investment made by a shareholder that does not remain in the Fund for at least a 60-day period from the date of purchase.  This fee does not apply to Fund shares acquired through reinvested distributions (net investment income and capital gains).

Although the Fund has the goal of applying this redemption fee to most redemptions of shares held for 60 days or less, the Fund may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through financial intermediaries in non-disclosed or omnibus accounts.  While the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with such financial intermediaries as described under the section entitled “Tools to Combat Frequent Transactions,” below, which contractually require such financial intermediaries to provide the Fund with information relating to their customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to it from financial intermediaries and may not always be able to track short-term trading effected through these financial intermediaries.  In addition, because the Fund is required to rely on information from the financial intermediary as to the applicable redemption fee, the Fund cannot ensure that the financial intermediary is always imposing such fee on the underlying shareholder in accordance with the Fund’s policies.  The Fund also reserves the right to waive the redemption fee, subject to its sole discretion, in instances deemed by the Advisor not to be disadvantageous to the Fund or its shareholders and which do not indicate market timing strategies.
 
 

 
The Fund reserves the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fees or waivers at any time and will give shareholders 30 days’ prior written notice of any material changes, unless otherwise provided by law.  The redemption fee policy may be modified or amended in the future to reflect, among other factors, regulatory requirements mandated by the SEC.

The Fund is intended for long-term investors.  Short-term “market-timers” who engage in frequent purchases and redemptions can disrupt the Fund’s investment program and create additional transaction costs that are borne by all of the Fund’s shareholders.  The Board of Trustees has adopted polices and procedures that are designed to discourage excessive, short-term trading and other abusive trading practices that may disrupt portfolio management strategies and harm performance.  The Fund takes steps to reduce the frequency and effect of these activities in the Fund.  These steps may include, among other things, monitoring trading activity and using fair value pricing, as determined by the Board of Trustees, when the Adviser determines current market prices are not readily available.  Although these efforts are designed to discourage abusive trading practices, these tools cannot eliminate the possibility that such activity will occur.  The Fund seeks to exercise its judgment in implementing these tools to the best of its ability in a manner that it believes is consistent with shareholder interests.  Except as noted herein, the Fund will apply all restrictions uniformly in all applicable cases.

Monitoring Trading Practices.  The Fund uses a variety of techniques to monitor for and detect abusive trading practices.  These techniques may change from time to time as determined by the Fund in its sole discretion.  To minimize harm to the Fund and its shareholders, the Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order (but not a redemption request) in whole or in part, for any reason (including, without limitation, purchases by persons whose trading activity in Fund shares is believed by the Adviser to be harmful to the Fund) and without prior notice.  The Fund may decide to restrict purchase and sale activity in its shares based on various factors, including whether frequent purchase and sale activity will disrupt portfolio management strategies and adversely affect Fund performance.

Fair Value Pricing.  The Fund employs fair value pricing selectively to ensure greater accuracy in its daily NAV and to prevent dilution by frequent traders or market timers who seek to take advantage of temporary market anomalies.  The Board of Trustees has developed procedures which utilize fair value pricing when reliable market quotations are not readily available or the Fund’s pricing service does not provide a valuation (or provides a valuation that, in the judgment of the Adviser, does not represent the security’s fair value), or when, in the judgment of the Adviser, events have rendered the market value unreliable.  Valuing securities at fair value involves reliance on judgment.  Fair value determinations are made in good faith in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which a Fund determines its NAV per share.  More detailed information regarding fair value pricing can be found in this Prospectus under the heading entitled “Share Price.”

Due to the complexity and subjectivity involved in identifying abusive trading activity and the volume of shareholder transactions the Fund handles, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s efforts will identify all trades or trading practices that may be considered abusive.  In particular, since the Fund receives purchase and sale orders through financial intermediaries that use group or omnibus accounts, the Fund cannot always detect frequent trading.  However, the Fund will work with financial institutions as necessary to discourage shareholders from engaging in abusive trading practices and to impose restrictions on excessive trades.  In this regard, the Fund has entered into information sharing agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which these intermediaries are required to provide to the Fund, at the Fund’s request, certain information relating to their customers investing in the Fund through non-disclosed or omnibus accounts.  The Fund will use this information to attempt to identify abusive trading practices.  Financial intermediaries are contractually required to follow any instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit future purchases from shareholders that are found to have engaged in abusive trading in violation of the Fund’s policies.  However, the Fund cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided to them from financial intermediaries and cannot ensure that they will always be able to detect abusive trading practices that occur through non-disclosed and omnibus accounts.  As a result, the Fund’s ability to monitor and discourage abusive trading practices in non-disclosed or omnibus accounts may be limited.
 
 

 
Telephone Transactions.  If you elect telephone privileges on the account application or in a letter to the Fund, you may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone orders as long as the Fund has taken reasonable precautions to verify your identity.  In addition, once you place a telephone transaction request, it cannot be canceled or modified.

During periods of significant economic or market change, telephone transactions may be difficult to complete.  If you are unable to contact the Fund by telephone, you may also mail the requests to the Fund at the address listed previously in the “How to Purchase Shares” section.

Telephone trades must be received by or prior to market close.  During periods of high market activity, shareholders may encounter higher than usual call waiting times.  Please allow sufficient time to ensure that you will be able to complete your telephone transaction prior to market close.

Householding.  In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund intends to reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses and annual and semi-annual reports you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shared by two or more accounts and to shareholders the Fund reasonably believes are from the same family or household.  Once implemented, if you would like to discontinue householding for your accounts, please call the Adviser toll-free at 800-473-1155 to request individual copies of these documents.  Once the Fund receives notice to stop householding, the Fund will begin sending individual copies 30 days after receiving your request.  This policy does not apply to account statements.

Policies of Other Financial Intermediaries.  Your Authorized Intermediary or it’s authorized designee may establish policies that differ from those of the Fund.  For example, the institution may charge transaction fees, set higher minimum investments or impose certain limitations on buying or selling shares in addition to those identified in this Prospectus.  Please contact your Authorized Intermediary for details.

Inactive Accounts.  Your mutual fund account may be transferred to your state of residence if no activity occurs within your account during the “inactivity period” specified in your state’s abandoned property laws.

Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) is located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, and serves as distributor and principal underwriter to the Fund.  The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.  Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.

The Fund will make distributions of net investment income and net capital gains, if any, at least annually, typically in December.  The Fund may make additional distributions if it deems it desirable at another time during any year.

All distributions will be reinvested in Fund shares unless you choose one of the following options: (1) receive distributions of net capital gains in cash, while reinvesting net investment income distributions in additional Fund shares; (2) receive all distributions in cash; or (3) reinvest net capital gain distributions in additional Fund shares, while receiving distributions of net investment income in cash.
 
 
 
If you wish to change your distribution option, write to the Transfer Agent in advance of the payment date of the distribution.  However, any such change will be effective only as to distributions for which the record date is five or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service is unable to deliver your check, or if a check remains uncashed for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account at the applicable Fund’s then current NAV per share and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.

Distributions of the Fund’s net investment company taxable income (which includes, but is not limited to, interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains and net gains from foreign currency transactions), if any, are generally taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income.  To the extent that the Fund’s distributions of net investment company taxable income are reported as attributable to “qualified dividend” income, such income may be subject to tax at the reduced rate of federal income tax applicable to non-corporate shareholders for net long-term capital gains, if certain holding period requirements have been satisfied by the Fund and the shareholder.  To the extent the Fund’s distributions of net investment company taxable income are attributable to net short-term capital gains, such distributions will be treated as ordinary income for the purposes of income tax reporting and will not be available to offset a shareholder’s capital losses from other investments.

To the extend the Fund’s distributions of net capital gains (net long-term capital gains less net short-term capital losses) are reported as capital gain distributions, such distributions will generally be taxable as long-term capital gains (currently at a maximum rate of 15%) regardless of the length of time that a shareholder has owned Fund shares.

You will be taxed in the same manner whether you receive your distributions (whether of net investment company taxable income or net capital gains) in cash or reinvest them in additional Fund shares.  Distributions are generally taxable when received.  However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31.

Shareholders that sell or redeem shares generally will have a capital gain or loss from the sale or redemption.  The amount of the gain or loss and the applicable rate of federal income tax will depend generally upon the amount paid for the shares, the amount received from the sale or redemption and how long the shares were held by a shareholder.  Any loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares held for six months or less, however, is treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions of net capital gain received on such shares.  In determining the holding period of such shares for this purpose, any period during which your risk of loss is offset by means of options, short sales or similar transactions is not counted. If you purchase Fund shares within 30 days before or after redeeming other Fund shares at a loss, all or part of that loss will not be deductible and will instead increase the basis of the newly purchased shares.

The federal tax status of all distributions made by the Fund for the preceding year will be annually reported to shareholders.  Distributions by the Fund may also be subject to state and local taxes.  Additional tax information may be found in the SAI.

This section is not intended to be a full discussion of federal tax laws and the effect of such laws on you.  There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations applicable to a particular investor.  You are urged to consult your own tax adviser.
 
 

 
The financial highlights table below shows the Fund’s financial performance information for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010.  Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of the Fund.  The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming you reinvested all distributions).  This information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s 2010 annual report, which is available free of charge upon request.


Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period
 
   
   
Period Ended November 30, 2010(1)
 
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period
  $ 10.00  
         
Income (loss) from investment operations:
       
Net investment income(2)
    0.03  
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments
    0.87  
         
Total from investment operations
    0.90  
         
Paid-in capital from redemption fees(3)
     
         
Net Asset Value, End of Period
  $ 10.90  
         
Total Return (4)
    9.00 %
         
Supplemental Data and Ratios:
       
Net assets at end of period (000’s)
  $ 65,228  
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
       
Before waiver and expense reimbursement(5)
    1.29 %
After waiver and expense reimbursement(5)
    1.25 %
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
       
Before waiver and expense reimbursement(5)
    0.28 %
After waiver and expense reimbursement(5)
    0.32 %
Portfolio turnover rate(4)
    141.07 %

(1)  
The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2009.
(2)  
Per share net investment income has been calculated using the daily average share method.
(3)  
Rounds to less than 0.5 cent per share.
(4)  
Not annualized.
(5)  
Annualized.




PRIVACY NOTICE

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

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

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

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

 
 

 
Investment Adviser
Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc.
100 William Street, Suite 1825
New York, New York 10038


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
555 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Legal Counsel
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


Custodian
U.S. Bank, N.A.
Custody Operations
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212


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


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
 
 
 
Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
A series of Trust for Professional Managers


FOR MORE INFORMATION

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

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

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

You can obtain a free copy of these documents, request other information, or make general inquiries about the Fund by calling the Fund (toll-free) at 800-473-1155, by visiting the Fund’s website at www.gersteinfisher.com, or by writing to:

Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
100 William Street
Suite 1825
New York, NY 10038

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

·  
free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov;
·  
for a fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-1520; or
·  
for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.



(The Trust’s SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-10401)
 
 
 



Gerstein Fisher logo


Statement of Additional Information

March 30, 2011



Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
Institutional Class Shares (GFMGX)



This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Trust for Professional Managers (the “Trust”).  This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current prospectus dated March 30, 2011 (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference.  The Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010 are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders.  To obtain a copy of the Prospectus and/or the Fund’s 2010 Annual Report to Shareholders free of charge, please write or call the Fund at the address or telephone number below or visit the Fund’s website at www.gersteinfisher.com.

Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund
100 William Street
Suite 1825
New York, NY 10038
800-473-1155
 
 
 
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A-1
   
B-1
 
 
 
 

 

 
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on May 29, 2001, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company.  The Fund is one series, or mutual fund, formed by the Trust.  The Fund is a diversified series and has its own investment objective and policies.  As of the date of this SAI, shares of twenty-six other series of the Trust are offered in separate prospectuses and SAIs.  The Trust may start additional series and offer shares of a new fund under the Trust at any time.

The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of interests (or shares).  Interests in the Fund are represented by shares of beneficial interest each with a par value of $0.001.  Each series of the Trust has equal voting rights and liquidation rights, and are voted in the aggregate and not by the series except in matters where a separate vote is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or when the matters affect only the interests of a particular series.  When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each full share owned and fractional votes for fractional shares owned.  The Trust does not normally hold annual meetings of shareholders.  The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”) shall promptly call and give notice of a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon removal of any trustee when requested to do so in writing by shareholders holding 10% or more of the Trust’s outstanding shares.

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

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

Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc. is the investment adviser to the Fund (the “Adviser”).

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation.  The Fund is diversified.  Under applicable federal laws, to qualify as a diversified fund, the Fund, with respect to 75% of its total assets, may not invest greater than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer and may not hold greater than 10% of the securities of one issuer.  The remaining 25% of the Fund’s total assets does not need to be “diversified” and may be invested in securities of a single issuer, subject to other applicable laws.  The diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time the fund purchases a security.  However, if the Fund purchases a security and holds it for a period of time, the security may become a larger percentage of the Fund’s total assets due to movements in the financial markets.  If the market affects several securities held by the Fund, the Fund may have a greater percentage of its assets invested in securities of fewer issuers.  Because the Fund is diversified, the Fund is less subject to the risk that its performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few securities despite the Fund qualifying as a diversified fund under applicable federal laws.
 
 
 
 
 
There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.  The following discussion supplements the description of the Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies set forth in the Prospectus.  Except for the fundamental investment limitations listed below (see “Fundamental Investment Limitations”), the Fund’s investment strategies and policies are not fundamental and may be changed by sole action of the Board of Trustees, without shareholder approval.  While the Fund is permitted to hold securities and engage in various strategies as described hereafter, it is not obligated to do so.  The Fund’s investment objective and strategies may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders upon 30 days’ written notice to shareholders.

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

Recent Market Events
U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years.  The securities markets have experienced substantially lower valuations, reduced liquidity, price volatility, credit downgrades, increased likelihood of default and valuation difficulties, all of which may increase the risk of investing in securities held by the Fund.

Equity Securities
Under normal market conditions, at least 80% of the Fund’s net assets will be invested in equity securities.  Should the Adviser determine that the Fund would benefit from reducing the percentage of assets invested in equity securities from 80% to a lesser amount, the Fund will provide you with at least 60 days’ notice of such change.

An equity security (such as a stock, partnership interest or other beneficial interest in an issuer) 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.  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.  More information regarding common stock, preferred stock and convertible securities appears below.

The risks of investing in companies in general include business failure and reliance on erroneous reports.  Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in consumer tastes or innovative smaller competitors.  Also, large-cap companies are sometimes unable to attain the high growth rates of successful, smaller companies, especially during extended periods of economic expansion.
 
 
 
Common Stock
A common stock represents a proportionate share of the ownership of a company and its value is based on the success of the company’s business, any income paid to stockholders, the value of its assets, and general market conditions.  In addition to the general risks set forth above, investments in common stocks are subject to the risk that in the event a company in which the Fund invests is liquidated, the holders of preferred stock and creditors of that company will be paid in full before any payments are made to the Fund as a holder of common stock.  It is possible that all assets of that company will be exhausted before any payments are made to the Fund.

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

Convertible Securities
The Fund may invest in convertible securities.  Convertible securities (such as debt securities or preferred stock) 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 dividends paid on preferred stock until the convertible stock matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.  While no securities investment is without some risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the issuer’s common stock.   However, the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security.  In addition to the general risk associated with equity securities discussed above, the market value of convertible securities is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions.  While convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than nonconvertible debt securities of similar quality, they do enable the investor to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.

Government Obligations
The Fund may make short-term investments in U.S. government obligations.  Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds, and issues of such entities as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”).  Some of these obligations, such as those of the GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.

Fixed-Income Securities
The Fund may invest in a wide range of fixed-income securities as a non-principal strategy.

The Fund may invest in investment grade corporate debt securities.  Investment grade corporate bonds are those rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor’s Rating Service (“S&P”) or Baa or better by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”).  Securities rated BBB by S&P are considered investment grade, but Moody’s considers securities rated Baa to have speculative characteristics.  See Appendix A for a description of corporate bond ratings.  The Fund may also invest in unrated securities.

Corporate Debt Securities.  Corporate debt securities are fixed-income securities issued by businesses to finance their operations, although corporate debt instruments may also include bank loans to companies.  Notes, bonds, debentures and commercial paper are the most common types of corporate debt securities, with the primary difference being their maturities and secured or unsecured status.  Commercial paper has the shortest term and is usually unsecured.
The broad category of corporate debt securities includes debt issued by domestic or foreign companies of all kinds, including those with small-, mid- and large-capitalizations.  Corporate debt may be rated investment-grade or below investment-grade and may carry variable or floating rates of interest.
 
 

 
Because of the wide range of types and maturities of corporate debt securities, as well as the range of creditworthiness of its issuers, corporate debt securities have widely varying potentials for return and risk profiles.  For example, commercial paper issued by a large established domestic corporation that is rated investment-grade may have a modest return on principal, but carries relatively limited risk.  On the other hand, a long-term corporate note issued by a small foreign corporation from an emerging market country that has not been rated may have the potential for relatively large returns on principal, but carries a relatively high degree of risk.

Corporate debt securities carry both credit risk and interest rate risk.  Credit risk is the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer of a corporate debt security is unable to pay interest or repay principal when it is due.  The credit risk of a particular issuer’s debt security may vary based on its priority for repayment.  For example, higher ranking (senior) debt securities have a higher priority than lower ranking (subordinated) securities.  This means that the issuer might not make payments on subordinated securities while continuing to make payments on senior securities.  In addition, in the event of bankruptcy, holders of higher-ranking senior securities may receive amounts otherwise payable to the holders of more junior securities.  Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of certain corporate debt securities will tend to fall when interest rates rise.  In general, corporate debt securities with longer terms tend to fall more in value when interest rates rise than corporate debt securities with shorter terms.

Zero-Coupon Securities.  Zero-coupon securities make no periodic interest payments, but are sold at a deep discount from their face value.  The buyer recognizes a rate of return determined by the gradual appreciation of the security, which is redeemed at face value on a specified maturity date.  The discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity, as well as market interest rates, liquidity of the security and the issuer’s perceived credit quality.  If the issuer defaults, the holder may not receive any return on its investment.  Because zero-coupon securities bear no interest and compound semiannually at the rate fixed at the time of issuance, their value generally is more volatile than the value of other fixed-income securities.  Since zero-coupon bondholders do not receive interest payments, when interest rates rise, zero-coupon securities fall more dramatically in value than bonds paying interest on a current basis.  When interest rates fall, zero-coupon securities rise more rapidly in value because the bonds reflect a fixed rate of return.  An investment in zero-coupon and delayed interest securities may cause the Fund to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on its investment.

Unrated Debt Securities.  Unrated debt, while not necessarily lower in quality than rated securities, may not have as broad a market.  Because of the size and perceived demand for the issue, among other factors, certain issuers may decide not to pay the cost of getting a rating for their bonds.  The creditworthiness of the issuer, as well as any financial institution or other party responsible for payments on the security, will be analyzed to determine whether to purchase unrated bonds.

Securities Lending
The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions (but not individuals) in order to increase the return on its portfolio.  The value of the loaned securities may not exceed one-third of the Fund’s total net assets and loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.  The Fund will not enter into any portfolio security lending arrangement having a duration of longer than one year.  The principal risk of portfolio lending is potential default or insolvency of the borrower.  In either of these cases, the Fund could experience delays in recovering securities or collateral or could lose all or part of the value of the loaned securities.  The Fund may pay reasonable administrative and custodial fees in connection with loans of portfolio securities and may pay a portion of the interest or fee earned thereon to the borrower or a placing broker.
 
 
 
In determining whether or not to lend a security to a particular broker, dealer or financial institution, the Adviser considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including the size, creditworthiness and reputation of the broker, dealer or financial institution.  Any loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.  Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become part of the Fund’s investment portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest.  During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, however, such payments of accrued income will not constitute qualified dividend income and will be taxable as ordinary income.  For loaned securities, the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash-equivalent collateral.  The Fund will be responsible for the risks associated with the investment of the cash collateral, including the risk that the Fund may lose money on the investment or may fail to earn sufficient income to meets its obligations to the borrower.  While the Fund does not have the right to vote securities on loan, it would terminate the loan and regain the right to vote if that were considered important with respect to the investment.

Cash or Similar Investments
For temporary defensive purposes, the Adviser may invest up to 100% of the Fund’s total assets in high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments.  These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include shares of other mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements.  Taking a temporary defensive position may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objective.  Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market funds’ management fees and operational expenses.

The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

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

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

Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits.  The Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits.  Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against monies deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.  Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning in effect that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity.  Certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances acquired by the Fund will be dollar-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign banks or financial institutions which at the time of purchase have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million (including assets of both domestic and foreign branches), based on latest published reports, or less than $100 million if the principal amount of such bank obligations are fully insured by the U.S. Government.
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
Foreign Investments and Currencies
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities of foreign issuers that are publicly traded in the United States, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), and on foreign exchanges, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”).  The Fund may also purchase and sell foreign currency on a spot basis and enter into forward currency contracts (see “Forward Currency Contracts,” below).

Depositary Receipts.  The Fund may invest its assets in securities of foreign issuers in the form of depositary receipts, such as ADRs and EDRs, which are securities representing securities of foreign issuers.  A purchaser of unsponsored depositary receipts may not have unlimited voting rights and may not receive as much information about the issuer of the underlying securities as with a sponsored depositary receipt.  Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, while EDRs, in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets.  ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities.  EDRs are European receipts evidencing similar arrangements.  For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, ADRs and EDRs are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent.  Thus, an ADR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.

Risks of Investing in Foreign Securities.  Investments in foreign securities involve certain inherent risks, including the following:

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

Currency Fluctuations.  The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies.  Accordingly, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in that currency.  Such changes will also affect the Fund’s income.  The value of the Fund’s assets may also be affected significantly by currency restrictions and exchange control regulations enacted from time to time.

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

 
Legal and Regulatory Matters.  Certain foreign countries may have less supervision of securities markets, brokers and issuers of securities, and less financial information available from issuers, than is available in the United States.

Taxes.  The interest and dividends payable on certain of the Fund’s foreign portfolio securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, thus reducing the net amount of income available for distribution to Fund shareholders.

Costs.  To the extent that the Fund invests in foreign securities, its expense ratio is likely to be higher than those of investment companies investing only in domestic securities, since the cost of maintaining the custody of foreign securities is higher.

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

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

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

Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest its assets in shares of other investment companies, including money market funds, other mutual funds or ETFs.  The Fund’s investments in money market funds may be used for cash management purposes and to maintain liquidity in order to satisfy redemption requests or pay unanticipated expenses.  The Fund limits its investments in securities issued by other investment companies in accordance with the 1940 Act.  Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act precludes the Fund from acquiring: (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of another investment company; (ii) shares of another investment company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) shares of another registered investment company and all other investment companies having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.  However, Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act provides that the provisions of paragraph 12(d) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if: (i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding shares of such investment company is owned by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund; and (ii) the Fund has not offered or sold, and is not proposing to offer or sell its shares through a principal underwriter or otherwise at a public or offering price that includes a sales load of more than 1 1/2%.
 
 

 
If the Fund invests in investment companies, including ETFs, pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F), it must comply with the following voting restrictions: when the Fund exercises voting rights, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to investment companies owned by the Fund, the Fund will either seek instruction from the Fund’s shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies and vote in accordance with such instructions, or vote the shares held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.  In addition, an investment company purchased by the Fund pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(F) shall not be required to redeem its shares in an amount exceeding 1% of such investment company’s total outstanding shares in any period of less than thirty days.  In addition to the advisory and operational fees the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operation, the Fund also bears its pro rata portion of the advisory and operational expenses of each other investment company.

Exchange Traded Funds
The Fund may also invest in shares of ETFs.  ETFs are typically open-end investment companies that are bought and sold on a national securities exchange.  An ETF is similar to a traditional mutual fund, but trades at different prices during the day on a securities exchange like a stock.  Similar to investments in other investment companies discussed above, the Fund’s investments in ETFs will involve duplication of advisory fees and other expenses since the Fund will be investing in another investment company.  In addition, the Fund’s investment in ETFs is also subject to its limitations on investments in investment companies discussed above.  To the extent the Fund invests in ETFs which focus on a particular market segment or industry, the Fund will also be subject to the risks associated with investing in those sectors or industries.  The shares of the ETFs in which the Fund will invest will be listed on a national securities exchange and the Fund will purchase and sell these shares on the secondary market at their current market price, which may be more or less than their net asset value.  Investors in the Fund should be aware that ETFs that seek to replicate a particular benchmark index are subject to “tracking risk,” which is the risk that an ETF will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the index it tracks.

As a purchaser of ETF shares on the secondary market, the Fund will be subject to the market risk associated with owning any security whose value is based on market price.  ETF shares historically have tended to trade at or near their net asset value, but there is no guarantee that they will continue to do so.  Unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of an ETF may be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund only in large blocks (typically 50,000 shares or more) and only through participating organizations that have entered into contractual agreements with the ETF.  The Fund does not expect to enter into such agreements and therefore will not be able to purchase and redeem its ETF shares directly from the ETF.

Short Sales
The Fund may engage in short sales of securities, provided the securities are fully listed on a national securities exchange.  In a short sale, the Fund sells a security it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security.  To complete the transaction, a Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.  This price may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund.  The Fund will incur a loss on a short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security.  The Fund will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates.  The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with the short sale.

Typically, the Fund will segregate liquid assets, which are marked-to-market daily, equal to the difference between (a) the market value of the securities sold short at the time they were sold short and (b) the value of the collateral deposited with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds from the short sale).  While the short position is open, the Fund must maintain segregated assets at such a level that the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral equal the current market value of the securities sold short.
 
 
 
Options, Futures and Other Strategies
The Fund may invest in options on equities, debt and stock indices (collectively, “options”).  At any one time, the combined value of options may be up to 5% of the Fund’s net assets.  The Fund may also invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (collectively, “futures”).  The Fund may make these investments as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying security, to attempt to hedge or limit the exposure of the Fund’s position, to create a synthetic money market position for certain tax-related purposes and to effect closing transactions.  The Fund will not invest in futures for speculative purposes.

The use of futures and options (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.  In addition, the Fund’s ability to use Financial Instruments will be limited by tax considerations.  See “Tax Matters.”

In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below and in the Prospectus, the Advisor may discover additional opportunities in connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques.  These new opportunities may become available as the Advisor develops new techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed.  The Advisor may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and permitted by the Fund’s investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities.  The Prospectus or this SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described below or in the Prospectus.

The use of Financial Instruments involves special considerations and risks which include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1)           Successful use of most Financial Instruments depends upon the Advisor’s ability to predict movements of the overall securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.  The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion.  Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of stock market trends by the Advisor may still not result in a successful transaction.  The Advisor may be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of market movements or the time span within which the movements take place, which, thus, may result in the strategy being unsuccessful.

(2)           Options and futures prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments.  Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way.  Imperfect or no correlation also may result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, and from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts.

(3)           As described below, the Fund might be required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties (e.g., Financial Instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund were unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expired or matured.  These requirements might impair the Fund’s ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment when it would otherwise be favorable to do so or require that the Fund sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time.  The Fund’s ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counter-party”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund.
 
 

 
The Fund will not enter into any transactions using Financial Instruments (except for purchased options) unless it owns either (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or futures contracts or (2) cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above.  The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and will, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid assets in an account with its custodian in the prescribed amount as determined daily.

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

(4)           Losses may arise due to unanticipated market price movements, lack of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time or due to losses from premiums paid by the Fund on options transactions.

Options on Securities and Securities Indices

The Fund normally will purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest or a positive change in the currency in which such securities are denominated.  The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities or a specified amount of a foreign currency at a specified price during the option period.  The Fund normally will purchase put options in anticipation of a decrease in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest or a negative change in the currency in which such securities are denominated.  The purchase of a put option would entitle the Fund, in return for the premium paid, to sell specified securities or a specified amount of a foreign currency at a specified price during the option period.

The Fund may purchase and sell options traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges and “over-the-counter” with other parties.  Although the Fund will generally purchase only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an exchange or “over-the-counter” will exist for any particular option or at any particular time.  For some options, no secondary market on an exchange or “over-the-counter” may exist.  In such event, it might not be possible to effect closing transactions in particular options, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise its options in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of the underlying securities.

Secondary markets on an exchange may not exist or may not be liquid for a variety of reasons including: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on opening transactions or closing transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances which interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) inadequate facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation to handle current trading volume at all times; or (vi) discontinuance in the future by one or more exchanges for economic or other reasons, of trading of options (or of a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

The Fund may write (i.e., sell) covered put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies in which it may invest.  A covered call option involves the Fund’s giving another party, in return for a premium, the right to buy specified securities owned by the Fund at a specified future date and price set at the time of the contract.  A covered call option serves as a partial hedge against a price decline of the underlying security.  However, by writing a covered call option, the Fund gives up the opportunity, while the option is in effect, to realize gain from any price increase (above the option exercise price) in the underlying security.  In addition, the Fund’s ability to sell the underlying security is limited while the option is in effect unless the Fund effects a closing purchase transaction.
 
 

 
The Fund may also write covered put options that give the holder of the option the right to sell the underlying security to the Fund at the stated exercise price.  The Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, but will be obligated for as long as the option is outstanding to purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than the market value of that security at the time of exercise.  In order to “cover” put options it has written, the Fund will cause its custodian to segregate cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or other liquid equity or debt securities with at least the value of the exercise price of the put options.

There is no assurance that higher than anticipated trading activity or other unforeseen events might not, at times, render certain of the facilities of the Options Clearing Corporation inadequate, and result in the institution by an exchange of special procedures that may interfere with the timely execution of the Fund’s option orders.

Futures and Options on Futures

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security or currency at a specified future time at a specified price.  An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option.  Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (contracts traded on the same exchange, on the same underlying security or index, and with the same delivery month).  If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain; if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss.  Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss.  The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.  The Fund may use futures contracts and related options for bona fide hedging purposes, such as to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of or to minimize fluctuations in foreign currencies.  The Fund will minimize the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on national futures exchanges.

An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck.  No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made; generally contracts are closed out prior to their expiration date.

In order to avoid leveraging and related risks, when the Fund invests in futures contracts, the Fund will cover positions by depositing an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the market value of the futures positions held, less margin deposits, in a segregated account and that amount will be marked-to-market on a daily basis.

There are risks associated with these activities, including the following:  (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or lack of correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures.
 
 
 
The Fund may buy and sell futures contracts and related options to manage exposure to changing interest rates and securities prices.  Some strategies reduce the Fund’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase market exposure.  Futures and options on futures can be volatile instruments and involve certain risks that could negatively impact the Fund’s return.  No price is paid upon entering into futures contracts.  Instead, the Fund would be required to deposit an amount of cash or U.S. Treasury securities known as “initial margin.”  Subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the broker, would be made on a daily basis as the value of the future position varies (a process known as “marked to market”).  The margin is in the nature of performance bond or good-faith deposit on a futures contract.  Futures and options on futures are taxable instruments.

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

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.”  Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”).  Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.

Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets.  Accordingly, if a swap is entered into on a net basis, if the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.

The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to a swap agreement entered into on a net basis will be accrued daily and an amount of cash or liquid asset having an aggregate NAV at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Custodian that satisfies the 1940 Act.  The Fund will also establish and maintain such accounts with respect to its total obligations under any swaps that are not entered into on a net basis.  Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.

Because they are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund illiquid investment limitations.  The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.  The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.

The Fund may enter into a swap agreement in circumstances where the Adviser believes that it may be more cost effective or practical than buying the underlying securities or a futures contract or an option on such securities.  The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer.  The counterparty will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks represented in the index, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks.  The Fund will agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks.  Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.
 
 
 
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments that are traded in the OTC market.  The Adviser, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for determining and monitoring the liquidity of Fund transactions in swap agreements.

The use of equity swaps is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions.

Borrowing
As a non-principal investment strategy, the Fund may borrow money for investment purposes, which is a form of leveraging, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.  Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk while increasing investment opportunity.  Leverage will magnify changes in the Fund’s net asset value and on the Fund’s investments.  Although the principal of such borrowings will be fixed, the Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding.  Leverage also creates interest expenses for the Fund.  To the extent the income derived from securities purchased with borrowed funds exceeds the interest the Fund will have to pay, the Fund’s net income will be greater than it would be if leverage were not used.  Conversely, if the income from the assets obtained with borrowed funds is not sufficient to cover the cost of leveraging, the net income of the Fund will be less than it would be if leverage were not used, and therefore the amount available for distribution to shareholders as dividends will be reduced.  The use of derivatives in connection with leverage creates the potential for significant loss.

The Fund may also borrow funds to meet redemptions or for other emergency purposes.  Such borrowings may be on a secured or unsecured basis at fixed or variable rates of interest.  The 1940 Act requires the Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage of not less than 300% with respect to all borrowings.  If such asset coverage should decline to less than 300% due to market fluctuations or other reasons, the Fund may be required to dispose of some of its portfolio holdings within three days in order to reduce the Fund’s debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to dispose of assets at that time.

The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing 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.

Borrowing by the Fund creates an opportunity for increased net income, but at the same time, creates special risk considerations.  For example, leveraging may exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio.

Illiquid Securities
As a non-principal strategy, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid at the time of purchase, which means that there may be legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, or that there are no readily available market quotations for such a security.  Illiquid securities present the risks that the Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired.  There are generally no restrictions on the Fund’s ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid.  Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.  The Adviser is responsible for making the determination as to the liquidity of restricted securities (pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees).  The Fund will determine a security to be illiquid if it cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at the value at which the Fund has valued the security.  Factors considered in determining whether a security is illiquid may include, but are not limited to: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of the security, including whether it is registered or unregistered, and the market place; whether the security has been rated by a NRSRO; the period of time remaining until the maturity of a debt instrument or until the principal amount of a demand instrument can be recovered through demand; the nature of any restrictions on resale; and with respect to municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, there is reasonable assurance that the obligation will remain liquid throughout the time the obligation is held and, if unrated, an analysis similar to that which would be performed by an NRSRO is performed.  If a restricted security is determined to be liquid, it will not be included within the category of illiquid securities, which may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets.  Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that the Fund, at a particular point in time may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the securities.  The Fund is permitted to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.
 
 

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

The Fund may not:

 
1.
Issue senior securities, borrow money or pledge its assets, except that (i) the Fund may borrow from banks in amounts not exceeding one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); and (ii) this restriction shall not prohibit the Fund from engaging in options transactions or short sales in accordance with its objectives and strategies;

 
2.
Act as underwriter (except to the extent the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the sale of securities in its investment portfolio);

 
3.
Invest more than 25% of its net assets, calculated at the time of purchase and taken at market value, in securities of issuers in any one industry (other than U.S. Government securities);

 
4.
Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities (although the Fund may purchase and sell securities which are secured by real estate and securities of companies that invest or deal in real estate);

 
5.
Purchase or sell commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Fund from engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon or investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by commodities;

 
6.
Make loans of money (except for the lending of its portfolio securities, purchases of debt securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and except for repurchase agreements); or

 
7.
With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets, computed at the time of investment, in securities of a single issuer or hold more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer (does not apply to investment in the securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or other investment companies).
 
 

 
The following lists the non-fundamental investment restrictions applicable to the Fund.  These restrictions can be changed by the Board of Trustees, but the change will only be effective after notice is given to shareholders of the Fund.

The Fund may not:

1.  
Invest more than 15% of the value of its net assets, computed at the time of investment, in illiquid securities.  Illiquid securities are those securities without readily available market quotations, including repurchase agreements having a maturity of more than seven days.  Illiquid securities may include restricted securities not determined by the Board of Trustees to be liquid, non-negotiable time deposits, over-the-counter options, and repurchase agreements providing for settlement in more than seven days after notice.

2.  
Make any change in its investment policy of investing at least 80% of net assets in investments suggested by the Fund’s name without first changing the Fund’s name and providing shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior written notice.

Except with respect to borrowing and investments in illiquid securities, if a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth herein or in the Prospectus is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation.


The management and affairs of the Fund are supervised by the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees consists of four individuals.  The Trustees are fiduciaries for the Fund’s shareholders and are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware in this regard.  The Board of Trustees establishes policies for the operation of the Fund and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Fund.  The Trustees and officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years.

The Trustees and the officers of the Trust are listed below with their addresses, present positions with the Trust and principal occupations over at least the last five years.
 
 

 
Name, Address and Age
Position(s) Held with the Trust
Term of Office and Length of
Time Served
Number of Portfolios in Trust Overseen
by Trustee
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee
Independent Trustees
Dr. Michael D. Akers
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 55
Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
27
Professor and Chair, Department of Accounting, Marquette University (2004-present); Associate Professor of Accounting, Marquette University (1996-2004).
 
Independent Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
Gary A. Drska
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 54
Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
27
Captain, Midwest Airlines, Inc. (airline company) (2000-present); Director, Flight Standards & Training (July 1990-December 1999).
Independent Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
 
Jonas B. Siegel
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 67
Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since October 23, 2009
27
Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer (“CAO”) and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), Granite Capital International Group, L.P. (an investment management firm) (1994-Present); Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and CCO of Granum Series Trust (an open-end investment company) (1997-2007); President, CAO and CCO, Granum Securities, LLC (an investment banking firm) (1997-2007).
 
Independent Trustee, Gottex Multi-Asset Endowment Fund complex (three closed-end investment companies); Independent Trustee, Gottex Multi-Alternatives Fund complex (three closed-end investment companies).
 
 
 
Name, Address and Age
Position(s) Held with the Trust
Term of Office and Length of
Time Served
Number of Portfolios in Trust Overseen
by Trustee
Principal Occupation(s)
During the Past Five Years
Other Directorships Held
by Trustee
Interested Trustee and Officers
Joseph C. Neuberger*
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 48
Chair-person, President and Trustee
Indefinite Term; Since August 22, 2001
27
Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (1994-present).
Trustee, Buffalo Funds (an open-end investment company with ten portfolios); Trustee, USA MUTUALS (an open-end investment company with two portfolios).
John Buckel
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI
53202
Age: 53
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer
Indefinite Term; Since January 10, 2008 (Vice President) and Since September 10, 2008 (Treasurer)
N/A
Mutual Fund Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2004-Present); Mutual Fund Administrator, United Missouri Bank (2000-2004).
N/A
Robert M. Slotky
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI
53202
Age: 63
 
Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President and Anti-Money Laundering Officer
 
Indefinite Term; Since January 26, 2011
N/A
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, (July 2001 – present).
N/A
Rachel A. Spearo
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 31
Secretary
Indefinite Term; Since November 15, 2005
N/A
Vice President and Legal Compliance Officer, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (September 2004-present).
 
N/A
Jennifer A. Lima
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 37
Assistant Treasurer
Indefinite Term; Since January 10, 2008
N/A
Mutual Fund Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (2002-Present).
 
N/A
* Mr. Neuberger is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined by the 1940 Act by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Fund’s principal underwriter.
 
 

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

The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to effectively perform its oversight function.  The Board of Trustees is comprised of three Independent Trustees – Dr. Michael D. Akers, Mr. Gary A. Drska and Mr. Jonas B. Siegel – and one Interested Trustee – Mr. Joseph C. Neuberger.  Accordingly, 75% of the members of the Board are Independent Trustees, who are Trustees who are not affiliated with the Adviser or its affiliates, or any other investment adviser or other service provider to the Trust or any underlying fund.  The Board of Trustees has established three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Valuation Committee, which are discussed in greater detail under “Board Committees” below.  Each of the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee are comprised entirely of Independent Trustees.  The Independent Trustees have engaged their own independent counsel to advise them on matters relating to their responsibilities in connection with the Trust.

The Trust’s Chairperson, Mr. Neuberger, is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined by the 1940 Act, by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”), which acts as principal underwriter to the Fund and many of the Trust’s other underlying funds.  Mr. Neuberger also serves as the Trust’s President and the Executive Vice President of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s administrator (the “Administrator”).  The Trust has not appointed a lead Independent Trustee.

In accordance with the fund governance standards prescribed by the SEC under the 1940 Act, the Independent Trustees on the Nominating Committee select and nominate all candidates for Independent Trustee positions.  Each Trustee was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees because of his experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as set forth in the subsection “Trustee Qualifications” below.

The Board reviews its structure regularly in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including: the unaffiliated nature of each investment adviser and the fund(s) managed by such adviser; the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; the committee structure of the Trust; and the independent distribution arrangements of each of the Trust’s underlying funds.

The Board has determined that the function and composition of the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee are appropriate means to address any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from the Chairperson’s status as an Interested Trustee.  In addition, the inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of the Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board of Trustees’ oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes discussed below.  Given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust as described above, the Trust has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate.
 
 

 
As part of its oversight function, the Board receives and reviews various risk management reports and assessments and discusses these matters with appropriate management and other personnel, including personnel of the Trust’s service providers.  Because risk management is a broad concept comprised of many elements (such as, for example, investment risk, issuer and counterparty risk, compliance risk, operational risks, business continuity risks, etc.) the oversight of different types of risks is handled in different ways.  For example, the Chief Compliance Officer regularly reports to the Board during Board Meetings and meets in executive session with the Independent Trustees and their legal counsel to discuss compliance and operational risks.  In addition, the Independent Trustee designated as the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert” meets with the Treasurer and the Trust’s independent public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function. The full Board receives reports from the investment advisers to the underlying funds and the portfolio managers as to investment risks as well as other risks that may be discussed during Audit Committee meetings.

The following is a brief discussion of the experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills that led to the Board of Trustees’ conclusion that each individual identified below is qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Trust.

Dr. Michael D. Akers.  Dr. Akers has served as a Trustee of the Trust since August 2001.  Dr. Akers has also served as an independent trustee of USA Mutuals, an open-end investment company, since 2001.  Dr. Akers has been a Professor and Chair of the Department of Accounting of Marquette University since 2004, and was Associate Professor of Accounting of Marquette University from 1996 to 2004.  Through his experience as a trustee of mutual funds and his employment experience, Dr. Akers is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.

Gary A. Drska.  Mr. Drska has served as a Trustee of the Trust since August 2001.  Mr. Drska has also served as an independent trustee of USA Mutuals since 2001.  Mr. Drska has served as a Captain of Midwest Airlines, Inc., an airline company, since 2000.  Through his experience as a trustee of mutual funds, Mr. Drska is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.

Joseph C. Neuberger.  Mr. Neuberger has served as a Trustee of the Trust since August 2001.  Mr. Neuberger has also served as a trustee of USA Mutuals since 2001 and Buffalo Funds, an open-end investment company, since 2003.  Mr. Neuberger has served as Executive Vice President of the Administrator, a multi-service line service provider to mutual funds, since 1994.  Through his experience as a trustee of mutual funds and his employment experience, Mr. Neuberger is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.

Jonas B. Siegel.  Mr. Siegel has served as a Trustee of the Trust since November 2009.  Mr. Siegel has also served as a trustee of the Gottex Multi-Asset Endowment Fund complex and the Gottex Multi-Alternatives Fund complex, each of which is comprised of three closed-end investment companies, since 2010.  Mr. Siegel has also served as the Managing Director, CAO and CCO of Granite Capital International Group, LP, an investment management firm, since 1994, and previously served as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and CCO of Granum Series Trust, an open-end investment company, from 1997 to 2007, and as President, CAO and CCO of Granum Securities, LLC, a broker-dealer, from 1997 to 2007.  Through his experience as a trustee of mutual funds and his employment experience, Mr. Siegel is experienced with financial, accounting, regulatory and investment matters.
 
 

 
As of December 31, 2010, no Trustee or officer of the Trust beneficially owned shares of the Fund or any other series of the Trust.

Furthermore, as of December 31, 2010, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund, nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially, or of record, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of its affiliates.  Accordingly, neither the Trustees who are not “interested” persons of the Fund nor members of their immediate family, have a direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates.

Audit Committee.  The Trust has an Audit Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Michael D. Akers, Mr. Gary A. Drska and Mr. Jonas B. Siegel.  The Audit Committee reviews financial statements and other audit-related matters for the Fund.  The Audit Committee also holds discussions with management and with the Fund’s independent auditor concerning the scope of the audit and the auditor’s independence.  The Audit Committee met once with respect to the Fund during the Fund’s prior fiscal year.

Nominating Committee.  The Trust has a Nominating Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Michael D. Akers, Mr. Gary A. Drska and Mr. Jonas B. Siegel.  The Nominating Committee is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for the position of trustee and meets only as necessary.  The Nominating Committee did not meet with respect to the Fund during the Fund’s prior fiscal year.

The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders for vacancies on the Board of Trustees.  Recommendations for consideration by the Nominating Committee should be sent to the President of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed nominee, and such recommendation must comply with the notice provisions set forth in the Trust’s By-Laws.  In general, to comply with such procedures, such nominations, together with all required information, must be delivered to and received by the Secretary of the Trust at the principal executive office of the Trust not later than 60 days prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on. Shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board of Trustees will be accepted on an ongoing basis and such recommendations will be kept on file for consideration when there is a vacancy on the Board of Trustees.  The Nominating Committee’s procedures with respect to reviewing shareholder nominations will be disclosed as required by applicable securities laws.

Valuation Committee.  The Trust has a Valuation Committee.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for the following: (1) monitoring the valuation of Fund securities and other investments; and (2) as required, when the Board of Trustees is not in session, determining the fair value of illiquid securities and other holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations are reported to the Board.  The Valuation Committee is currently comprised of Mr. Neuberger, Mr. John Buckel and Ms. Jennifer Lima, who each serve as an officer of the Trust.  The Valuation Committee meets as necessary when a price for a portfolio security is not readily available.  The Valuation Committee did not meet with respect to the Fund during the Fund’s prior fiscal year.

For their service as Trustees for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010, the Independent Trustees receive a retainer fee of $25,000 per year, $1,500 for each in-person Board meeting and $750 for each telephonic Board meeting of the Trust, as well as reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at board meetings. Interested Trustees do not receive any compensation for their service as Trustee.
 
 

 
Name of Person/Position
Aggregate Compensation From the Fund1
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as
Part of Fund Expenses
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement
Total Compensation from Fund and the Trust2
Paid to Trustees
Dr. Michael D. Akers,
Independent Trustee
$496
None
None
$32,750
Gary A. Drska,
Independent Trustee
$496
None
None
$32,750
Jonas B. Siegel,
Independent Trustee
$496
None
None
$31,500
Joseph C. Neuberger,
Interested Trustee
None
None
None
None
1
Trustees fees and expenses are allocated among the Fund and any other series comprising the Trust.  Prior to July 1, 2010, the Independent Trustees received a retainer fee of $15,000 per year, $1,000 per in-person board meeting and $500 per telephonic board meeting.
2
There are currently twenty-six other portfolios comprising the Trust.

A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.  A controlling person possesses the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder vote by the Fund.  As of February 28, 2011, the following shareholders were considered to be principal shareholders or control persons of the Fund:

Name and Address
% Ownership
Type of Ownership
Parent Company
Jurisdiction
SEI Private Trust – C/O ID 370
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, PA 19456-9989
 
61.19%
Record
N/A
N/A
Pershing, LLC
P.O. Box 2052
Jersey City, NJ 07303-2052
 
24.63%
Record
N/A
N/A
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
101 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
 
14.11%
Record
N/A
N/A

As stated in the Prospectus, investment advisory services are provided to the Fund by the Adviser, Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc., pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”).  Mr. Gregg S. Fisher is a control person of the Adviser, owning 100% of the firm.

After an initial two-year period, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year only if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities and by a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or interested persons of any such party, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on the Advisory Agreement.  The Advisory Agreement is terminable without penalty by the Trust on behalf of the Fund upon 60 days’ written notice when authorized by either: (i) a majority vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; or (ii) by a vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees, or by the Adviser upon 60 days’ written notice to the Trust.  The Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” as defined under the 1940 Act.  The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser under such agreement shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in the execution of portfolio transactions for the Fund, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties thereunder.
 
 

 
In consideration of the services provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund a management fee computed daily and paid monthly, based on a rate equal to 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, as specified in the Prospectus.  However, the Adviser may voluntarily agree to waive a portion of the management fees payable to it on a month-to-month basis, including additional fees above and beyond any contractual agreement the Adviser may have to waive its management fees and/or reimburse Fund expenses.

The table below sets forth, for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010, the advisory fees accrued by the Fund under the Advisory Agreement, the amount of the advisory fees and Fund operating expenses waived or reimbursed by the Adviser, and the total advisory fees paid by the Fund to the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement:

Fiscal Period Ended
Advisory Fee
Recoupment/ (Waiver)
Advisory Fee after Waiver
November 30, 2010
$408,539
($21,573)
$386,966

Fund Expenses.  The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  The Adviser has agreed to reduce management fees payable to it by the Fund and/or to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses (exclusive generally of interest, acquired fund fees and expenses, leverage and tax expenses, dividends and interest on short positions, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses) to the limit set forth in the Fees and Expenses table of the Prospectus.  Any such reductions made by the Adviser in its management fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Fund to the Adviser, if so requested by the Adviser, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Adviser is permitted to be reimbursed only for fee reductions and expense payments made in the previous three fiscal years from the date the expense was incurred.  Any such reimbursement is also contingent upon the Board of Trustees’ subsequent review and ratification of the reimbursed amounts.  Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses.

As stated in the Prospectus, Mr. Gregg S. Fisher is the Portfolio Manager and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio (the “Portfolio Manager”).
 
 

 
The following provides information regarding other accounts managed by Mr. Fisher as of November 30, 2010:

Category of Account
Total Number of
Accounts Managed
Total Assets in
Accounts Managed
Number of Accounts for which Advisory Fee is
Based on Performance
Assets in Accounts for which Advisory Fee is
Based on Performance
Other Registered
Investment Companies
0
$0
0
$0
Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
0
$0
0
$0
Other Accounts
3513
$1,030,000,000
0
$0

The Portfolio Manager’s compensation is a fixed base salary as well as access to a retirement and profit sharing plan.  Additionally, because the Portfolio Manager is the sole owner of the Adviser, he participates directly in all profits and losses of the Adviser, including the advisory fees paid by the Fund.

The Adviser offers several separately managed accounts in addition to the Fund.  Some of these offerings include portfolios of investments substantially identical to the Fund, which could create certain conflicts of interest.  As the Fund and any separate accounts managed similarly to the Fund will be managed concurrently, all portfolio transactions will be implemented according to the Adviser’s trade allocation procedures.  These procedures, among other things, insure that all trades allocated to advisory clients (including the Fund) fulfill the Adviser’s fiduciary duty to each client and otherwise allocate securities on a basis that is fair and nondiscriminatory.  Such procedures are generally applied in numerous instances, including, among other things, block and bunched trades, cross transactions and private placements.  In determining a fair allocation, the Adviser takes into account a number of factors, including among other things, the Adviser’s fiduciary duty to each client, any potential conflicts of interest, the size of the transaction, the relative size of a client’s portfolio, cash available for investment, suitability as well as each client’s investment objectives.

As of November 30, 2010, the Portfolio Manager beneficially owned shares of the Fund as shown below:

Portfolio Manager
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Gregg S. Fisher
$50,001 - $100,000

Pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) between the Trust and the Administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202, the Administrator acts as the Fund’s administrator.  The Administrator provides certain administrative services to the Fund, including, among other responsibilities, coordinating the negotiation of contracts and fees with, and the monitoring of performance and billing of, the Fund’s independent contractors and agents; preparation for signature by an officer of the Trust of all documents required to be filed for compliance by the Trust and the Fund with applicable laws and regulations excluding those of the securities laws of various states; arranging for the computation of performance data, including net asset value and yield; responding to shareholder inquiries; and arranging for the maintenance of books and records of the Fund, and providing, at its own expense, office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary to carry out its duties.  In this capacity, the Administrator does not have any responsibility or authority for the management of the Fund, the determination of investment policy, or for any matter pertaining to the distribution of Fund shares.  Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, for its services the Administrator receives from the Fund a fee computed daily and payable monthly based on the Fund complex’s average net assets at the annual rate of 0.12 of 1% on the first $50 million, 0.08 of 1% on the next $250 million and 0.05 of 1% on the average net assets in excess of $300 million, subject to an annual minimum of $35,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses.
 
 

 
Administration Fees
Paid During Fiscal Period Ended November 30, 2010
$57,783

USBFS also acts as fund accountant (“Fund Accountant”), transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”) and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements with the Trust.

Pursuant to a custody agreement between the Trust and the Fund, U.S. Bank, N.A., an affiliate of USBFS, serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets (the “Custodian”), whereby the Custodian provides for fees on a transaction basis plus out-of-pocket expenses.  The Custodian’s address is 1555 North River Center Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53212.  The Custodian does not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.  U.S. Bank, N.A. and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.

Godfrey & Kahn S.C., 780 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as counsel to the Fund.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, 555 East Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, serves as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following table shows the Fund’s total commissions and transactions paid for research services for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010:

Commissions
Transactions
$151,142
$249,686,596
 
 

 
The following table shows the amounts paid by the Fund in brokerage commissions for the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010.

Brokerage Commissions
Paid During Fiscal Period Ended November 30, 2010
$224,141

Although the Fund generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action.  Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year.  A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year.  A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to above-average transaction costs and could generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as short-term capital gains taxed at ordinary income rates (currently as high as 35%).   To the extent that the Fund experiences an increase in brokerage commissions due to a higher portfolio turnover rate, the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by the increased expenses incurred by the Fund and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions.

For the fiscal period ended November 30, 2010, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was as follows:

Portfolio Turnover
During Fiscal Period Ended November 30, 2010
141.07%

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

The Board of Trustees has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policies”) wherein the Trust has delegated to the Adviser the responsibility for voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Fund as part of its investment advisory services, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Board.  The Proxy Voting Policies of the Adviser are attached as Appendix B.  Notwithstanding this delegation of responsibilities, however, the Fund retains the right to vote proxies relating to its portfolio securities.  The fundamental purpose of the Proxy Policies is to ensure that each vote will be in a manner that reflects the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders, taking into account the value of the Fund’s investments.

The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th are available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free, (800) SEC-0330 or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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

 
Procedures to implement the Program include, but are not limited to: determining that the Distributor and the Transfer Agent have established proper anti-money laundering procedures; reporting suspicious and/or fraudulent activity; and a complete and thorough review of all new account applications.  The Fund will not transact business with any person or entity whose identity cannot be adequately verified under the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act.

As a result of the Program, the Fund may be required to “freeze” the account of a shareholder if the shareholder appears to be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of known terrorists or other suspicious persons, or the Fund may be required to transfer the account or proceeds of the account to a governmental agency.

The Trust on behalf of the Fund has adopted portfolio holdings disclosure policies (“Portfolio Holdings Policies”) that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure of portfolio holdings of the Fund.  The Adviser has also adopted the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  Information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings will not be distributed to any third party except in accordance with these Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Adviser and the Board of Trustees have considered the circumstances under which the Fund’s portfolio holdings may be disclosed under the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Adviser and the Board of Trustees also considered actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and the interests of the Adviser, Distributor or any other affiliated person of the Fund.  After due consideration, the Adviser and the Board of Trustees have determined that the Fund has a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to persons described in the Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Board of Trustees also authorized the Adviser or appointed officers to consider and authorize dissemination of portfolio holdings information to additional parties, after considering the best interests of the shareholders and potential conflicts of interest in making such disclosures.

The Board of Trustees exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Portfolio Holdings Policies, codes of ethics and other relevant policies of the Fund and its service providers by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “CCO”), (2) by considering reports and recommendations by the CCO concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act), and (3) by considering whether to approve any amendment to these Portfolio Holdings Policies.  The Board of Trustees reserves the right to amend the Portfolio Holdings Policies at any time without prior notice in its sole discretion.

Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter, in the annual and semi-annual reports to Fund shareholders, and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  These reports will be made available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

In the event of a conflict between the interests of the Fund and the interests of the Adviser or an affiliated person of the Adviser, the CCO of the Adviser, in consultation with the Trust’s CCO, shall make a determination in the best interests of the Fund, and shall report such determination to the Board of Trustees at the end of the quarter in which such determination was made.  Any employee of the Adviser who suspects a breach of this obligation must report the matter immediately to the Adviser’s CCO or to his or her supervisor.
 
 

 
In addition, material non-public holdings information may be provided without lag as part of the normal investment activities of the Fund to each of the following entities which, by explicit agreement or by virtue of their respective duties to the Fund, are required to maintain the confidentiality of the information disclosed: the Administrator; the Fund’s Accountant; the Custodian; the Transfer Agent; the Fund’s independent auditor; counsel to the Fund or the Board of Trustees (current parties are identified in this SAI); broker-dealers (in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or requests for price quotations or bids on one or more securities); and regulatory authorities.  Portfolio holdings information not publicly available with the SEC may only be provided to additional third parties, in accordance with the Portfolio Holdings Policies, when the Fund has a legitimate business purpose, and the third party recipient is subject to a confidentiality agreement.  Portfolio holdings information may be separately provided to any person, including rating and ranking organizations such as Lipper and Morningstar, at the same time that it is filed with the SEC or one day after it is first published on the Fund’s website.  Portfolio holdings disclosure may be approved under the Portfolio Holdings Policies by the Trust’s CCO, Treasurer or President.

In no event shall the Adviser, its affiliates or employees, or the Fund receive any direct or indirect compensation in connection with the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
 
There can be no assurance that the Portfolio Holdings Policies and these procedures will protect the Fund from potential misuse of that information by individuals or entities to which it is disclosed.

The NAV of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate and is determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (generally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) each business day.  The NYSE annually announces the days on which it will not be open for trading.  The most recent announcement indicates that it will not be open on the following days: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  However, the NYSE may close on days not included in that announcement.

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

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

The Fund’s securities, including depositary receipts, which are traded on securities exchanges are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which such securities are traded, as of the close of business on the day the securities are being valued or, lacking any reported sales, at the mean between the last available bid and asked price.

Securities that are traded on more than one exchange are valued on the exchange determined by the Adviser to be the primary market.  Securities primarily traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”).  If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. OTC securities that are not traded on NASDAQ shall be valued at the most recent trade price.
 
 

 
Short-term debt obligations with remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at current market prices, as discussed above.  Short-term debt obligations with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are, unless conditions indicate otherwise, amortized to maturity based on their cost to the Fund if acquired within 60 days of maturity or, if already held by the Fund on the 60th day, based on the value determined on the 61st day.

Exchange traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes (“NBBO”).  NBBO consists of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across any of the exchanges on which an option is quoted, thus providing a view across the entire U.S. options marketplace.  Specifically, composite pricing looks at the last trades on the exchanges where the options are traded.  If there are no trades for the option on a given business day composite option pricing calculates the mean of the highest bid price and lowest ask price across the exchanges where the option is traded.

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

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

Shares of the Fund are sold in a continuous offering and may be purchased and redeemed on any business day through financial intermediaries, (each an “Authorized Intermediary”), as described in the Prospectus.  The Fund may authorize one or more Authorized Intermediaries to accept purchase orders on a shareholder’s behalf.  Authorized Intermediaries are authorized to designate intermediaries to accept orders on the Fund’s behalf.  In such cases, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an Authorized Intermediary or, if applicable, an Authorized Intermediary’s authorized designee, receives the order.

Shares of the Fund are generally available for investment only by institutional clients of select registered investment advisers, clients of select financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Adviser (“Eligible Investors”).  Eligible Investors include, but are not limited to, employees of the Adviser, former employees of the Adviser, shareholders and directors of the Adviser, and friends and family members of such persons.  All investments are subject to the approval of the Adviser and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms.  The Adviser reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investments.

Investors wishing to purchase Fund shares should contact the Adviser toll free at 800-473-1155.  Shares of the Fund are primarily offered through certain financial intermediaries (including broker-dealers) and their agents in fee based and other programs.  In these programs, financial intermediaries have made arrangements with the Fund and are authorized to buy and sell shares of the Fund that charge their customers transaction or other distribution or service fees with respect to their customers’ investments in the Fund.  If you are purchasing shares through financial intermediaries, you must follow the procedures established by your financial intermediary.  Your financial intermediary is responsible for sending your purchase order and wiring payment to the Transfer Agent.  Your financial intermediary holds the shares in your name and receives all confirmations of purchases and sales.

Orders received by financial intermediaries other than an Authorized Intermediary by the close of trading on the NYSE on a business day that are transmitted to the Fund by 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on that day will be effected at the NAV per share determined as of the close of trading on the NYSE on that day.  Otherwise, the orders will be processed at the next determined price.  It is the financial intermediary’s responsibility to transmit orders so that they will be received by the Fund before 4:00 p.m., Eastern time.  Financial intermediaries may set cut-off times for the receipt of orders that are earlier than the cut-off times established by the Fund.  For more information about your financial intermediary’s rules and procedures and whether your financial intermediary is an Authorized Intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.
 
 

 
Redemption-in-Kind
The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash.  The Trust, however, has filed a notice of election under Rule 18f-1 of the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to redeem in-kind redemption requests of a certain amount.  Specifically, if the amount you are redeeming during any 90-day period is in excess of the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the applicable share class of the Fund, valued at the beginning of such period, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the share class of the Fund in securities instead of cash.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash, and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.

Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.  The Fund, as a series of the Trust, intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), provided it complies with all applicable requirements regarding the source of its income, diversification of its assets and timing of distributions.  The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its net investment company taxable income and any net realized long-term capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes based on net income.  However, the Fund can give no assurances that its anticipated distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

If the Fund does not qualify as a regulated investment company and is unable to obtain relief from such failure, it would be taxed as a corporation and, in such case, it would be more beneficial for a shareholder to directly own the Fund’s underlying investments rather than indirectly owning the underlying investments through the Fund.  If the Fund fails to distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year (i) at least 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) at least 98.2% of capital gain net income for the 12-month period ending on October 31 during such year and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which the Fund paid no federal income tax, the Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax.

Net investment income generally consists of interest, dividends and short-term capital gains, less expenses.  Capital gain net income is the excess of the gain from the Fund’s sales or exchanges of capital assets over the losses from such sales or exchanges, including any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.  The Fund may elect to defer certain losses for tax purposes.  At November 30, 2010, the Fund had accumulated net realized capital loss carryovers of $2,688,386 which will expire on November 30, 2018.

Distributions of net investment income are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.  For individual shareholders, a portion of the distributions paid by the Fund may consist of qualified dividends eligible for taxation at the rate applicable to long-term capital gains to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as a qualified dividend and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to his or her Fund shares.  In the case of corporate shareholders, a portion of the distributions may qualify for the intercorporate dividends-received deduction to the extent the Fund reports the amount distributed as eligible for deduction and the shareholder meets certain holding period requirements with respect to its Fund shares.  The aggregate amount so reported to either individuals or corporate shareholders cannot, however, exceed the aggregate amount of such dividends received by the Fund for its taxable year.  In view of the Fund’s investment policies, it is expected that part of the distributions by the Fund may be eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment for individual shareholders and the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.
 
 

 
Any long-term capital gain distributions are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held.  Net capital gains distributions are not eligible for the qualified dividend income treatment or the dividends-received deduction referred to in the previous paragraph.

Distributions of any net investment income and net realized capital gains will be taxable as described above, whether received in shares or in cash.  Shareholders who choose to receive distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share on the reinvestment date.  Distributions are generally taxable when received.  However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31.  Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.

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

Except in the case of certain exempt shareholders, if a shareholder does not furnish the Fund with its correct Taxpayer Identification Number and certain certifications or the Fund receives notification from the Internal Revenue Service requiring back-up withholding, the Fund is required by federal law to withhold federal income tax from the shareholder’s distributions and redemption proceeds currently at a rate of 28% for U.S. residents.

Foreign taxpayers (including nonresident aliens) are generally subject to a flat withholding rate, currently 30% on U.S. source income.  This withholding rate may be lower under the terms of a tax convention.  Certain distributions of short-term capital gains and qualified interest income of the Fund will not be subject to such withholding for tax years beginning prior to 2012.

This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by Fund management, and counsel to the Fund has expressed no opinion in respect thereof.

This section is not intended to be a full discussion of federal tax laws and the effect of such laws on you.  There may be other federal, state, foreign or local tax considerations to a particular investor.  You are urged to consult your own tax adviser.

The Fund will receive income in the form of dividends and interest earned on its investments in securities.  This income, less the expenses incurred in its operations, is the Fund’s net investment income, substantially all of which will be distributed to the Fund’s shareholders.

The amount of the Fund’s distributions is dependent upon the amount of net investment income received by the Fund from its portfolio holdings, is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the Board of Trustees.  The Fund does not pay “interest” or guarantee any fixed rate of return on an investment in their shares.

The Fund also may derive capital gains or losses in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities.  Any net gain the Fund may realize from transactions involving investments held less than the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing short-term capital gains and losses (taking into account any carryover of capital losses from previous taxable years), although a distribution from capital gains, will be distributed to shareholders with and as a part of the distributions of net investment income giving rise to ordinary income.  If during any year the Fund realizes a net gain on transactions involving investments held for the period required for long-term capital gain or loss recognition or otherwise producing long-term capital gains and losses, the Fund will have a net long-term capital gain.  After deduction of the amount of any net short-term capital loss, the balance (to the extent not offset by any capital losses carried over from previous taxable years) will be distributed and treated as long-term capital gains in the hands of the shareholders regardless of the length of time the Fund’s shares may have been held by the shareholders.  Net capital losses of the Fund may be carried over indefinitely, and will generally retain their character as short-term or long-term capital losses.  For more information concerning applicable capital gains tax rates, see your tax adviser.
 
 

 
Any distribution paid by the Fund reduces that Fund’s NAV per share on the date paid by the amount of the distribution per share.  Accordingly, a distribution paid shortly after a purchase of shares by a shareholder would represent, in substance, a partial return of capital (to the extent it is paid on the shares so purchased), even though it would be subject to income taxes.

Distributions will be made in the form of additional shares of the Fund unless the shareholder has otherwise indicated.  Investors have the right to change their elections with respect to the reinvestment of distributions by notifying the Transfer Agent in writing.  However, any such change will be effective only as to distributions for which the record date is five or more business days after the Transfer Agent has received the written request.

The audited financial statements, accompanying notes and report of independent registered public accounting firm appearing in the Annual Report to Shareholders of the Fund dated November 30, 2010, are incorporated by reference.
 
 
 


Standard & Poor’s Issue Credit Rating Definitions


A Standard & Poor's issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about 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 opinion reflects Standard & Poor's view of the obligor's capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

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.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

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. Ratings of 'B-1', 'B-2', and 'B-3' may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the 'B' category. 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.

B-1
A short-term obligation rated 'B-1' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

B-2
A short-term obligation rated 'B-2' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
 
 

 
B-3
A short-term obligation rated 'B-3' is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

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, including a regulatory capital instrument, 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.

SPUR (Standard & Poor's Underlying Rating)
This is a rating of a stand-alone capacity of an issue to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer/obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. Standard & Poor's maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.

Dual Ratings
Standard & Poor's assigns "dual" ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure.  The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, 'AAA/A-1+'). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, 'SP-1+/A-1+').

The ratings and other credit related opinions of Standard & Poor's and its affiliates are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions.  Standard & Poor's assumes no obligation to update any information following publication. Users of ratings and credit related opinions should not rely on them in making any investment decision.  Standard &Poor's opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor. While Standard & Poor's has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, Standard & Poor's does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Ratings and credit related opinions may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.
 
 

 
Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)

i
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation.  The 'i' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the interest portion of the obligation only.  The 'i' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'p' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal.  For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp NRi" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.

L
Ratings qualified with 'L' apply only to amounts invested up to federal deposit insurance limits.

p
This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation.  The 'p' subscript indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only.  The 'p' subscript will always be used in conjunction with the 'i' subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of interest.  For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of "AAAp NRi" indicating that the principal portion is rated "AAA" and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.

pi
Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are based on an analysis of an issuer's published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain.  They do not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer's management and therefore may be based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a 'pi' subscript.  Ratings with a 'pi' subscript are reviewed annually based on a new year's financial statements, but may be reviewed on an interim basis if a major event occurs that may affect the issuer's credit quality.

preliminary

Preliminary ratings, with the 'prelim' qualifier, may be assigned to obligors or obligations, including financial programs, in the circumstances described below. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt by Standard & Poor's of appropriate documentation. Standard & Poor's reserves the right not to issue a final rating. Moreover, if a final rating is issued, it may differ from the preliminary rating.
 
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations, most commonly structured and project finance issues, pending receipt of final documentation and legal opinions.
Preliminary ratings are assigned to Rule 415 Shelf Registrations. As specific issues, with defined terms, are offered from the master registration, a final rating may be assigned to them in accordance with Standard & Poor's policies
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon the obligor's emergence from bankruptcy or similar reorganization, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation and discussions with the obligor. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligors. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or postbankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s).
 
 

 
Preliminary ratings may be assigned to entities that are being formed or that are in the process of being independently established when, in Standard & Poor's opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to these entities' obligations.
Preliminary ratings may be assigned when a previously unrated entity is undergoing a well-formulated restructuring, recapitalization, significant financing or other transformative event, generally at the point that investor or lender commitments are invited. The preliminary rating may be assigned to the entity and to its proposed obligation(s). These preliminary ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the obligor, as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s), assuming successful completion of the transformative event. Should the transformative event not occur, Standard & Poor's would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.
A preliminary recovery rating may be assigned to an obligation that has a preliminary issue credit rating.
 
sf
The (sf) subscript is assigned to all issues and issuers to which a regulation, such as the European Union Regulation on Credit Rating Agencies, requires the assignment of an additional symbol which distinguishes a structured finance instrument or obligor (as defined in the regulation) from any other instrument or obligor. The addition of this subscript to a credit rating does not change the definition of that rating or our opinion about the issue's or issuer's creditworthiness.
 
t
This symbol indicates termination structures that are designed to honor their contracts to full maturity or, should certain events occur, to terminate and cash settle all their contracts before their final maturity date.

unsolicited
Unsolicited ratings are those credit ratings assigned at the initiative of Standard & Poor's and not at the request of the issuer or its agents.

Inactive Qualifiers (No longer applied or outstanding)

 
*
This symbol indicated continuance of the ratings is contingent upon Standard & Poor's receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.

c
This qualifier was used to provide additional information to investors that the bank may terminate its obligation to purchase tendered bonds if the long-term credit rating of the issuer is below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer's bonds are deemed taxable.  Discontinued use in January 2001.

pr
The letters 'pr' indicate that the rating is provisional. A provisional rating assumes the successful completion of the project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements is largely or entirely dependent upon the successful, 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.

q
A 'q' subscript indicates that the rating is based solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available information.  Discontinued use in April 2001.
 
 

 
r
The 'r' modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are not covered in the credit rating.  The absence of an 'r' modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. Standard & Poor's discontinued the use of the 'r' modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks
Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor's analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis.  An obligor's capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government's own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt.  These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues.  Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.
 
 
 
Moody’s Credit Rating Definitions

Purpose
The system of rating securities was originated by John Moody in 1909. The purpose of Moody's ratings is to provide investors with a simple system of gradation by which relative creditworthiness of securities may be noted.

Rating Symbols
Gradations of creditworthiness are indicated by rating symbols, with each symbol representing a group in which the credit characteristics are broadly the same. There are nine symbols as shown below, from that used to designate least credit risk to that denoting greatest credit risk:

Aaa Aa A Baa Ba B Caa Ca C
Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa.

Absence of a Rating
Where no rating has been assigned or where a rating has been withdrawn, it may be for reasons unrelated to the creditworthiness of the issue.

Should no rating be assigned, the reason may be one of the following:

1. An application was not received or accepted.

2. The issue or issuer belongs to a group of securities or entities that are not rated as a matter of policy.

3. There is a lack of essential data pertaining to the issue or issuer.

4. The issue was privately placed, in which case the rating is not published in Moody's publications.

Withdrawal may occur if new and material circumstances arise, the effects of which preclude satisfactory analysis; if there is no longer available reasonable up-to-date data to permit a judgment to be formed; if a bond is called for redemption; or for other reasons.

Changes in Rating
The credit quality of most issuers and their obligations is not fixed and steady over a period of time, but tends to undergo change. For this reason changes in ratings occur so as to reflect variations in the intrinsic relative position of issuers and their obligations.

A change in rating may thus occur at any time in the case of an individual issue. Such rating change should serve notice that Moody's observes some alteration in creditworthiness, or that the previous rating did not fully reflect the quality of the bond as now seen. While because of their very nature, changes are to be expected more frequently among bonds of lower ratings than among bonds of higher ratings. Nevertheless, the user of bond ratings should keep close and constant check on all ratings — both high and low — to be able to note promptly any signs of change in status that may occur.

Limitations to Uses of Ratings*
Obligations carrying the same rating are not claimed to be of absolutely equal credit quality. In a broad sense, they are alike in position, but since there are a limited number of rating classes used in grading thousands of bonds, the symbols cannot reflect the same shadings of risk which actually exist.
 
 
 
As ratings are designed exclusively for the purpose of grading obligations according to their credit quality, they should not be used alone as a basis for investment operations. For example, they have no value in forecasting the direction of future trends of market price. Market price movements in bonds are influenced not only by the credit quality of individual issues but also by changes in money rates and general economic trends, as well as by the length of maturity, etc. During its life even the highest rated bond may have wide price movements, while its high rating status remains unchanged.

The matter of market price has no bearing whatsoever on the determination of ratings, which are not to be construed as recommendations with respect to "attractiveness". The attractiveness of a given bond may depend on its yield, its maturity date or other factors for which the investor may search, as well as on its credit quality, the only characteristic to which the rating refers.

Since ratings involve judgements about the future, on the one hand, and since they are used by investors as a means of protection, on the other, the effort is made when assigning ratings to look at "worst" possibilities in the "visible" future, rather than solely at the past record and the status of the present. Therefore, investors using the rating should not expect to find in them a reflection of statistical factors alone, since they are an appraisal of long-term risks, including the recognition of many non-statistical factors.

Though ratings may be used by the banking authorities to classify bonds in their bank examination procedure, Moody's ratings are not made with these bank regulations in mind. Moody's Investors Service's own judgement as to the desirability or non-desirability of a bond for bank investment purposes is not indicated by Moody's ratings.

Moody's ratings represent the opinion of Moody's Investors Service as to the relative creditworthiness of securities. As such, they should be used in conjunction with the descriptions and statistics appearing in Moody's publications. Reference should be made to these statements for information regarding the issuer. Moody's ratings are not commercial credit ratings. In no case is default or receivership to be imputed unless expressly stated.

*As set forth more fully on the copyright, credit ratings are, and must be construed solely as, statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities. Each rating or other opinion must be weighed solely as one factor in any investment decision made by or on behalf of any user of the information, and each such user must accordingly make its own study and evaluation of each security and of each issuer and guarantor of, and each provider of credit support for, each security that it may consider purchasing, selling or holding.
 
Short-Term  Ratings

Moody's short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody's employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

P-1
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
 
 
 
P-2
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

P-3
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

NP
Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

Note: Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.

Chart SAI Appendix A page A-8
 
 
 
Fitch’s National Credit Ratings

For those countries in which foreign and local currency sovereign ratings are below 'AAA', and where there is demand for such ratings, Fitch Ratings will provide National Ratings. It is important to note that each National Rating scale is unique and is defined to serve the needs of the local market in question.

The National Rating scale provides a relative measure of creditworthiness for rated entities only within the country concerned. Under this rating scale, a 'AAA' Long-Term National Rating will be assigned to the lowest relative risk within that country, which, in most but not all cases, will be the sovereign state.

The National Rating scale merely ranks the degree of perceived risk relative to the lowest default risk in that same country. Like local currency ratings, National Ratings exclude the effects of sovereign and transfer risk and exclude the possibility that investors may be unable to repatriate any due interest and principal repayments. It is not related to the rating scale of any other national market. Comparisons between different national scales or between an individual national scale and the international rating scale are therefore inappropriate and potentially misleading. Consequently they are identified by the addition of a special identifier for the country concerned, such as 'AAA(arg)' for National Ratings in Argentina.

In certain countries, regulators have established credit rating scales, to be used within their domestic markets, using specific nomenclature. In these countries, the agency's National Short-Term Rating definitions for 'F1+(xxx)', 'F1(xxx)', 'F2(xxx)' and 'F3(xxx)' may be substituted by the regulatory scales, e.g. 'A1+', 'A1', 'A2' and 'A3'. The below definitions thus serve as a template, but users should consult the individual scales for each country listed on the agency's web-site to determine if any additional or alternative category definitions apply.

National Short-Term Credit Ratings

F1(xxx)
Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Under the agency's National Rating scale, this rating is assigned to the lowest default risk relative to others in the same country. Where the liquidity profile is particularly strong, a "+" is added to the assigned rating.

F2(xxx)
Indicates a good capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.

F3(xxx)
Indicates an adequate capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, such capacity is more susceptible to near-term adverse changes than for financial commitments in higher rated categories.

B(xxx)
Indicates an uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Such capacity is highly susceptible to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C(xxx)
Indicates a highly uncertain capacity for timely payment of financial commitments relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
 
 

 
D(xxx)
Indicates actual or imminent payment default.

Notes to Long-Term and Short-Term National Ratings:

The ISO country code suffix is placed in parentheses immediately following the rating letters to indicate the identity of the National market within which the rating applies. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used.

"+" or "-" may be appended to a National Rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA(xxx)' Long-Term National Rating category, to categories below 'CCC(xxx)', or to Short-Term National Ratings other than 'F1(xxx)'.
 
 

 
LONG-TERM RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor's analysis of 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;
   
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.

Issue ratings are an assessment of default risk, but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default.  Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect the lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above.  (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

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 to a 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 'BBB' 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.

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C
Obligations rated 'BB', 'B', 'CCC', 'CC', and 'C' are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. 'BB' indicates the least degree of speculation and 'C' the highest.  While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be 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.

CC
An obligation rated 'CC' is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C
A 'C' rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the 'C' rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument's terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D
An obligation rated 'D' is in payment default.  The 'D' rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, 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 similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation's rating is lowered to 'D' upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

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.

NR
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.

See active and inactive qualifiers following Standard & Poors Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings beginning on page A-3.
 
 

 
Moody’s Long-Term Debt Ratings


Long-Term Obligation Ratings
Moody's long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed-income obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised. Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default and any financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Moody's Long-Term Rating Definitions:

Aaa
Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa
Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A
Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa
Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba
Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B
Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa
Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca
Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C
Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Moody's appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.
 
 
 
 
Fitch’s National Long-Term Credit Ratings


AAA(xxx)
'AAA' National Ratings denote the highest rating assigned by the agency in its National Rating scale for that country. This rating is assigned to issuers or obligations with the lowest expectation of default risk relative to all other issuers or obligations in the same country.

AA(xxx)
'AA' National Ratings denote expectations of very low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. The default risk inherent differs only slightly from that of the country's highest rated issuers or obligations.

A(xxx)
'A' National Ratings denote expectations of low default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions may affect the capacity for timely repayment to a greater degree than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.

BBB(xxx)
'BBB' National Ratings denote a moderate default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. However, changes in circumstances or economic conditions are more likely to affect the capacity for timely repayment than is the case for financial commitments denoted by a higher rated category.

BB(xxx)
'BB' National Ratings denote an elevated default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Within the context of the country, payment is uncertain to some degree and capacity for timely repayment remains more vulnerable to adverse economic change over time.

B(xxx)
'B' National Ratings denote a significantly elevated default risk relative to other issuers or obligations in the same country. Financial commitments are currently being met but a limited margin of safety remains and capacity for continued timely payments 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.

CCC(xxx)
'CCC' National Ratings denote that default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic conditions.

CC(xxx)
'CC' National Ratings denote that default of some kind appears probable.

C(xxx)
'C' National Ratings denote that default is imminent.

D(xxx)
'D' National Ratings denote an issuer or instrument that is currently in default.
 
 
 
 
Notes to Long-Term and Short-Term National Ratings:
The ISO country code suffix is placed in parentheses immediately following the rating letters to indicate the identity of the National market within which the rating applies. For illustrative purposes, (xxx) has been used.

"+" or "-" may be appended to a National Rating to denote relative status within a major rating category. Such suffixes are not added to the 'AAA(xxx)' Long-Term National Rating category, to categories below 'CCC(xxx)', or to Short-Term National Ratings other than 'F1(xxx)'.
 
 
 
 
MUNICIPAL NOTE RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings Definitions

A Standard & Poor's U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor's opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes.  Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating.  In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, Standard & Poor's analysis will review the following considerations:

Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
   
Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

Note rating symbols are as follows:

SP-1
Strong capacity to pay principal and interest.  An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

SP-2
Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

SP-3
Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

See active and inactive qualifiers following Standard & Poors Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings  beginning on page A-3.


 Moody’s US Municipal Short-Term Debt And Demand Obligation Ratings

Short-Term Debt Ratings

There are three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment grade. These ratings are designated as Municipal Investment Grade (MIG) and are divided into three levels -- MIG 1 through MIG 3. In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated SG, or speculative grade. MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation.

MIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

MIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

MIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
 
 

 
SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Demand Obligation Ratings

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody's evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand ("demand feature"), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating.

When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1.

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue's specific structural or credit features.
 
VMIG 1
This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 2
This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

VMIG 3
This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

SG
This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

Updated October 7, 2010
976863_10
 
 


 The following policy and procedure is used only when referring to the 1940 Act, whereby the Gerstein Fisher is acting as the Adviser to a Mutual Fund.
 
A.  
General Proxy Voting Policies

Material Positions
Adviser will vote proxies for all Discretionary Account portfolio company securities that are Material Holdings after carefully considering all proxy solicitation materials and other available facts and the following policies:

Company Information
Adviser will review all proxy solicitation materials it receives concerning securities held in a Discretionary Account and may seek additional information from the party soliciting the proxy and independent corroboration of such information when Adviser considers it appropriate and when it is reasonably available.

1.  
"For" Votes
Adviser will vote FOR a proposal when it believes that the proposal serves the best interests of the Discretionary Account whose proxy is solicited because, on balance, the following factors predominate:
 
·  
the proposal has a positive economic effect on shareholder value;
 
·  
the proposal poses no threat to existing rights of shareholders;
 
·  
the dilution, if any, of existing shares that would result from approval of the proposal is warranted by the benefits of the proposal; and
 
·  
the proposal does not limit or impair accountability to shareholders on the part of management and the board of directors.
 
2.  
"Against" Votes
Adviser will vote AGAINST a proposal if it believes that, on balance, the following factors predominate:
 
·  
the proposal has an adverse economic effect on shareholder value;
 
·  
the proposal limits the rights of shareholders in a manner or to an extent that is not warranted by the benefits of the proposal;
 
·  
the proposal causes significant dilution of shares that is not warranted by the benefits of the proposal;
 
·  
the proposal limits or impairs accountability to the shareholders on the part of management or the board of directors; or
 
·  
the proposal is a shareholder initiative that Adviser believes wastes time and resources of the company or reflects the grievance of one individual.
 
 
 

3.  
"Abstain" Votes
Adviser will ABSTAIN from voting proxies when Adviser believes that it is appropriate.  Usually, this occurs when Adviser believes that a proposal holds negative but non-quantifiable implications for shareholder value but may express a legitimate concern.

4.  
Non-Material Positions
Adviser generally will vote proxies for all Discretionary Account portfolio company securities that are not Material Positions in accordance with the recommendation of the issuer's board of directors.

B.  
Specific Voting Policies for Material Positions in Discretionary Accounts

The Board of Directors
1.  Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
Votes on director nominees are made on a case-by-case basis, examining the following factors:
 
·  
Long-term corporate performance record relative to a market index;
 
·  
Composition of board and key board committees;
 
·  
Nominee’s attendance at meeting (past two years);
 
·  
Nominee’s investment in the company;
 
·  
Whether a retired chief executive officer ("CEO") sits on the board; and
 
·  
Whether the chairman is also serving as CEO

 
2.Voting on Director Nominees – Special Situations
In cases of significant votes and when information is readily available, Adviser also reviews:
 
·  
Corporate governance provisions and takeover activity;
 
·  
Board decisions regarding executive pay;
 
·  
Director compensation;
 
·  
Number of other board seats held by nominee; and
 
·  
Interlocking directorships

3.  
Chairman And CEO are the Same Person
Adviser votes on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals that would require the positions of chairman and CEO to be held by different persons.

4.  
Majority of Independent Directors
Adviser generally votes for shareholders proposals that request that the board be comprised of a majority of independent directors.

5.  
Committees
Independent Directors
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals that request that the board audit, compensation and/or nominating committees include independent directors exclusively.

6.  
Excessive Compensation
Adviser withholds votes for nominees who serve on the compensation committee if they approve excess compensation arrangements or propose equity-based compensation plans that unduly dilute the ownership interests of stockholders.
 
 

 
7.  
Stock Ownership Requirements
Adviser votes against shareholder proposals requiring directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board.

8.  
Term of Office
Adviser votes against shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors.

9.  
Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

a.  
 Case-by-Case Basis
Adviser generally reviews proposals concerning director and officer indemnification and liability protection on a case-by-case basis.

b.  
Liability Protection
Adviser votes against proposals to limit or eliminate entirely director and officer liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care.

c.  
Expanded Indemnification Coverage
Adviser votes for only those proposals that provide such expanded coverage in cases when a director’s or officer’s legal defense was unsuccessful if:
 
·  
The director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and
 
 
·  
Only the director’s legal expenses would be covered.
 

10.  
Charitable Contributions
Adviser votes against shareholder proposals to eliminate, direct or otherwise restrict charitable contributions.

11.  
Auditors
Adviser votes for proposals to ratify auditors, unless:
 
·  
The auditors are not considered “independent” pursuant to the rules of the relevant securities exchange or the rules issued pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; or
 
·  
Adviser has a reasonable basis to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion that is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position.

C.  
Proxy Contests

1. Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections
Adviser votes in a contested election of directors on a case-by-case basis, considering the following factors:
 
·  
Long term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
 
·  
Management’s track record;
 
·  
Background to the proxy contest;
 
 
 
·  
Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
 
·  
Evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met; and
 
·  
Sock ownership positions.
 
2.      Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses
 
Adviser makes decisions to provide full reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest on a case-by-case basis.
 
D.  
Proxy Contest Defenses
 
1. Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections

a.  
Classification
Adviser votes against proposals to classify the board.

b.  
Repeal Classification
Adviser votes for proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

2.  
Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors

 
a.
Removal for Cause
Adviser votes against proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause

b.  
Removal Without Cause
Adviser votes for proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or without cause.

c.  
Directors Filling Vacancies
Adviser votes against proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect replacements to fill board vacancies.

d.  
Shareholders Filling Vacancies
Adviser votes for proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies.

E.  
Cumulative Voting

 
1.
Eliminating Cumulative Voting
Adviser votes for proposals to eliminate cumulative voting. Adviser believes directors should be chosen for their ability to serve all shareholders, without obligation to special interests. We therefore believe it is generally in the best interests of shareholders to vote for proposals to eliminate cumulative voting.
 
 

 
2.  
Restoring Cumulative Voting
Adviser votes against proposals to permit cumulative voting.

F.  
Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

 
1.
Adding Restrictions
Adviser votes against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder to call special meetings.

2.  
Removing Restrictions
Adviser votes for proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management.

G.  
Shareholder Ability to Act by Written  Consent

i.  
Prohibiting
Adviser votes against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by written consent.

ii.  
Permitting
Adviser votes for proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written consent.

H.  
Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board

i.  
Fixing Size
Adviser votes for proposals that seek to fix the size of the board.

ii.  
Management Discretion
Adviser votes against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of  the board without shareholder approval.

I.  
Tender Offer Defenses

 
1.
Poison Pills

a.  
Submisssion to Shareholder Ratification
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification,

b.  
Shareholder Redemption Proposals
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to redeem a company’s poison pill,

c.  
Management Ratification Proposals
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis management proposals to ratify a poison pill,

d.  
Guidelines
Adviser is more likely to support a poison pill with a short-term (less than three years) sunset provision, qualified bid/permitted offer provisions (“chewable pills”) and/or mandatory review by a committee of independent directors at least every three (3) years(so-called “TIDE” provisions).
 
 

 
J.  
Fair Price Provisions

a.  
Factors Considered
Adviser votes case-by-case on fair price proposals, taking into consideration whether the shareholder vote requirement embedded in the provision is no more than a majority of disinterested shares

b.  
Lower Shareholder Vote Requirements
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals to lower the shareholder vote requirement in existing fair price provisions.

K.  
Greenmail

a.  
Anti-Greenmail Provisions
Adviser votes for proposals to adopt anti-greenmail proposals when they are bundled with other charter or bylaw

b.  
Payment of Greenmail
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis restructuring plans that involve the payment of pale greenmail.

c.  
Pale Greenmail
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis restructuring plans that involve the payment of pale greenmail.

L.  
Unequal Voting Rights

a.  
Dual Class Exchange Offers
Adviser votes against dual class exchange offers.

b.  
Dual Class Recapitalizations
Adviser votes against dual class recapitalizations.

M.  
Supermajority Shareholder Votes to Amend the Charter or Bylaws

a.  
Imposing Requirements
Adviser generally votes against proposals to impose supermajority requirement and specifically will vote against management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve charter and bylaw amendments.

b.  
Lowering Requirements
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for charter and bylaw amendments.

N.  
Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers

a.  
Imposing Supermajority Requirements
Adviser votes against management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve mergers and other significant business combinations.
 
 

 
b.  
Lowering Supermajority Requirements
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for mergers and other significant business combinations.

O.  
White Squire Placements
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals to require approval of blank check preferred stock issues for other than general corporate purposes.

P.  
Miscellaneous Governance Provisions

 
1.
Confidential Voting

a.  
Shareholder Proposals
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals that request corporations to adopt confidential voting, use independent tabulators and use independent inspectors of election as long as the proposals include clauses for proxy contests as follows:  In the case of a contested election, management is permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy.  If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place.  If the dissents do not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.

b.  
Management Proposals
Adviser votes for management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

c.  
Equal Access
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals that would allow significant company shareholders equal access to management’s proxy material in order to evaluate and propose voting recommendations on proxy proposals and director nominees, and in order to nominate their own candidates tot eh board.

d.  
Bundled Proposals
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals.  In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, we examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholder’s best interests, Adviser votes against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, we support such proposals.

e.  
Shareholder Advisory Committees
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposal to establish a shareholder advisory committee.
 
 

 
Q.  
Capital Structure

 
1.
Common Stock Authorization

a.  
Increases
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposal to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issue.

b.  
Excessive Increases
Adviser votes against proposed common stock authorizations that increase the existing authorizations that increase the existing authorization by more than 100 percent unless a clear need for the excess shares is presented by the company.

c.  
Stock Distribution: Splits and Dividends
Adviser votes for management proposals to increase common share authorization for a stock split, provided that he split does no result in an increase of authorized but unissued shares of more than 100% after giving effect to the shares needed for the split.

d.  
Reverse Stock Splits
Adviser votes for management proposals to implement a reverse stock split, provided that the reverse split does not result in an increase of authorized but unissued shares of more than 100% after giving effect to the shares needed for the reverse split.

2.  
Blank Check Preferred Authorization

 
a.
Takeover Defense or Superior Voting Rights
Adviser votes for proposals to create blank check preferred stock in cases when the company expressly states that the stock will not be used as a takeover defense or carry superior voting rights.

b.  
Unspecified Rights
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposal that would authorize the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend and distribution, and other rights.

c.  
Increase Number
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposal to increase the number of authorized blank check preferred shares.

d.  
Shareholder Proposals Regarding Blank Check Preferred
Adviser votes for shareholder proposals to have blank check preferred stock placements, other than those shares issued for the purpose of raising capital or making acquisitions in the normal course of business, submitted for shareholder ratification.

3.  
Adjust Par Value of Common Stock
Adviser votes for management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.

4.  
Preemptive Rights
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan.  Adviser considers the following issues:
 
 

 
·  
Dilution – How much will ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?
 
·  
Change in Control – Will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?
 
·  
Bankruptcy - Is the threat of bankruptcy, which would result in severe losses in shareholder value, the main factor driving the debt restructuring?

Generally, Adviser approves proposals that facilitate debt restructuring unless Adviser reasonably can discern clear signs of self-dealing or other abuses.

5.  
Share Repurchase Programs
Adviser votes for management proposals to institute open-market repurchase plans in which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.

R.  
Executive and Director Compensation

a.  
Evaluation of Pay Plans
In general, Adviser votes on a case-by-case basis on executive and director compensation plans, with the view that viable compensation programs reward the creation of stockholder wealth by having a high payout sensitivity to increase in shareholder value

b.  
Dilutive Effects
In evaluating a pay plan, Adviser measures the plan's dilutive effect both on shareholder wealth and on voting power.  Adviser values equity-based compensation along with the cash components of pay   Adviser estimates the present value of all short- and long-term incentives, derivative awards, and cash/bonus compensation – which enables Adviser to assign a dollar value to the amount of potential shareholder wealth transfer.

c.  
Comparisons
Adviser's vote is based, in part, on a comparison of company-specific adjusted allowable dilution cap and a weighted average estimate of shareholder wealth transfer and voting power dilution.  Administrative features are also factored into our vote.  For example, Adviser believes that the plan should be administered by a committee of disinterested persons; insiders should not serve on compensation committees.

d.  
Other Factors
Other factors, such as re-pricing underwater stock options without shareholder approval, would cause us to vote against a plan.  Additionally, in some cases Adviser would vote against a plan deemed unnecessary

e.  
Generally

1.           Shareholder Approval
Adviser votes for proposals to submit such plans for shareholder approval.

2.           Disfavored Features
Adviser votes against plans that have any of the following structural features:
 
 
 
·  
Ability to reprice underwater options without shareholder approval
 
·  
Ability to issue options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price
 
·  
Ability to issue reload options
 
·  
Automatic share replenishment (“evergreen”)

3.  
Guidelines

a.  
Aggregate Dilution
Adviser generally votes against plans where total potential dilution (including all equity-based plans) exceeds 15% of the shares outstanding.

b.  
Option Grants
Adviser generally votes against plans if annual option grants have exceeded 2% of shares outstanding.

Both the total and annual dilution thresholds are guidelines, not ceilings, and when assessing a plan’s impact Adviser may consider other factors such as the nature of the industry and the size of the company.

4.  
OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals: Amendments

a.  
Caps on Annual Grants
Adviser votes for plans that simply amend shareholder-approved plans to include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.

b.  
Increases of Shares and Retain Tax Deductions
Adviser evaluates votes on Amendments to existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify the plan for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) on a case-by-case basis.

5.  
Approval of Cash or Cash-and-Stock Bonus Plans
Vote for cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans to exempt the compensation from taxes under the provisions of Section 12(m) of OBRA

6.  
Shareholder Proposals to Limit Executive and Director Pay

a.  
Additional Disclosure
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis all shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.

b.  
Limiting Pay
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis all other shareholder proposals that seek to limit executive and director pay.

c.  
Golden and Tin Parachutes
 
 

 
i.  
Requiring Shareholder Ratification
Adviser votes for shareholders proposals to have golden and tin parachutes submitted for shareholder ratification.

ii.  
Generally
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis all proposals to ratify or cancel golden or tin parachutes.

d.  
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)
Adviser votes for proposals that request shareholder approval in order to implement an ESOP or to increase authorized shares for existing ESOPs, except in cases when the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is “excessive” (i.e., generally greater than five percent (5%) of outstanding shares)
e.  
Employee Benefit Plans
Adviser votes for proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

S.  
State of Incorporation

 
1.
Voting on State Takeover Statutes
Adviser reviews on a case-by-case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freeze-out provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail provisions and disgorgement provisions).

2.  
Voting on Reincorporation Proposals
Adviser examines proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation on a case-by-case basis

T.  
Mergers and Corporate Restructuring

 
1.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Adviser considers votes on mergers and acquisitions on a case-by-case basis, taking into account at least the following:
 
·  
Anticipated financial operating benefits;
 
·  
Offer price (cost vs. premium):
 
·  
Prospects of the combined companies;
 
·  
How the deal was negotiated: and
 
·  
Changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights.
 
U.  
Corporate Restructurings

a.  
Restructurings
Adviser considers corporate restructuring proposals, including minority squeeze-outs, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales, on a case-by-case basis.
 
 

 
b.  
Spin-offs
Adviser considers spin-offs on a case-by-case basis depending on the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives

c.  
Asset Sales
Votes on asset sales are made on a case-by-case basis after considering the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of diseconomies.

d.  
Liquidations
Votes on liquidations are made on a case-by-case basis after reviewing management’s efforts to pursue other alternatives, appraisal value of assets, and the compensation plan for executive managing the liquidation.

e.  
Appraisal Rights
Adviser votes for proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal.

f.  
Changing Corporate Name
Adviser votes for changing the corporate name.

V.  
Mutual Fund Proxies

a.  
Election of Trustees
Adviser votes on trustee nominees on a case-by-case basis.

b.  
Investment Advisory Agreement
Adviser votes on investment advisory agreements on a case-by-case basis.

c.  
Fundamental Investment Restrictions
Adviser votes on amendments to a fund’s fundamental investment restrictions on a case-by-case basis.

f.  
Distribution Agreements
Adviser votes on distribution agreements on a case-by-case basis.

g.  
Social and Environmental Issues

 
h.   Impact on Shareholder Value
In general, we abstain from voting on shareholder social and environmental proposals, on the basis that their impact on share value can rarely be anticipated with any high degree of confidence.

                           ii. Additional Disclosure
In most cases, however, Adviser votes for disclosure reports that seek additional information, particularly when it appears companies have not adequately addressed shareholders’ social and environmental concerns.
 
 

 
iii. Factors
In determining our vote on shareholder social and environmental proposals, we also analyze the following factors:
 
·  
Whether adoption of the proposal would have either a positive or negative impact on the company’s short-term or long-term value;
 
·  
The percentage of sales, assets and earnings affected;
 
·  
The degree to which the company’s stated position on the issues could affect its reputation or sales, or leave it vulnerable to boycott or selective purchasing;
 
·  
Whether the issues presented should be dealt with through government or company-specific action;
 
·  
Whether the company has already responded in some appropriate manner to the request embodied in a proposal;
 
·  
Whether the company’s analysis and voting recommendation to shareholders is persuasive;
 
·  
Whether other companies have done in response to the issue;
 
·  
Whether the proposal itself is well framed and reasonable;
 
·  
Whether implementation of the proposal would achieve the objectives sought in the proposal; and
 
·  
Whether the subject of the proposal is best left to the discretion of the board.
 
h.  
Registered Fund Client
With respect to the proxy votes in respect of the portfolio securities a Registered Fund, Adviser will provide that Registered Fund with the information required to be disclosed by that Registered Fund pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 of the ICA and SEC Form N-PX promulgated thereunder, including:
 
·  
The name of the issuer of the portfolio security;
 
·  
The exchange ticker symbol of the portfolio security;
 
·  
The Council on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures number for the portfolio security (unless not available through reasonably practical means, e.g., in the case of certain foreign issuers);
 
·  
The shareholder meeting date;
 
·  
A brief identification of the matter voted on;
 
·  
Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a security holder;
 
 
 
·  
Whether the registrant cast its vote on the matter;
 
·  
How the registrant cast its vote (e.g., for or against proposal, or abstain; for or withhold regarding election of directors); and
 
·  
Whether the registrant cast its vote for or against management.
 
W.  
Records

a.  
Proxy Vote-Related Materials
Adviser will keep a copy of:
 
·  
Each proxy statement it receives regarding securities held in Discretionary Accounts
 
·  
A record of each vote cast by Adviser with respect to securities in each Discretionary Account
 
·  
Any document created by Adviser that is material to Adviser’s decision on voting a proxy or that describes the basis for that decision
 
·  
Each written request from a Discretionary Account client or an investor in an Investment Fund (other than a registered Fund) for information about how Adviser votes proxies of that Discretionary Account or Investment Fund
 
·  
Each written response by Adviser to any oral or written request from a Discretionary Account client or an investor in an Investment Fund other than a Registered Fund for such information
 
·  
With respect to a Registered Fund the information required by the immediately preceding bulleted paragraph.
 
b.  
Delegation of Recordkeeping
Adviser may delegate to a third party the duty to keep the records identified in the first two bulleted paragraphs of Section 3.1 if that third party agrees to furnish such records to Adviser and, with respect to any records pertaining to any Registered Fund, to that Registered Fund, promptly on request, and agrees that such records pertaining to the Registered Fund proxy voting are the property of Adviser and that Registered Fund.

c.  
Preservation of Records
Each such record will be maintained by Adviser or such third party for at least six years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry is made in that record, and for the first two years in Adviser’s office (or such third party's office, as the case may be).  Adviser or such third party may elect not to keep a copy of a proxy statement if it can obtain such statement electronically via the SEC’s EDGAR system.

 
 
TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS
PART C

GERSTEIN FISHER MULTI-FACTOR GROWTH EQUITY FUND

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28.    Exhibits.
 
(a)
   
Declaration of Trust.
 
(1)
(i)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust, previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on April 18, 2008, and is incorporated by reference.
   
(ii)
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, previously filed with Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 140 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on June 22, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
(b)
   
Amended and Restated By-Laws.
 
(1)
 
Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 140 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on June 22, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
(c)
   
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are incorporated by reference to the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws.
(d)
   
Investment Advisory Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
(e)
   
Underwriting Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
(f)
   
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – Not Applicable.
(g)
   
Custody Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
(h)
   
Other Material Contracts.
 
(1)
 
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(2)
 
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(3)
 
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(4)
 
Power of Attorney was previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 216 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on March 1, 2011, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(5)
 
Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
(i)
   
Legal Opinions.
 
(1)
 
Opinion and Consent of Counsel was previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(2)
 
Consent of Counsel – Filed herewith.
(j)
   
Other Opinions.
 
(1)
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Filed herewith.
(k)
   
Omitted Financial Statements – Not Applicable.
(l)
   
Agreement Relating to Initial Capital.
 
(1)
 
Previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on December 19, 2003, and is incorporated by reference.
(m)
   
Rule 12b-1 Plan – Not Applicable.
(n)
   
Rule 18f-3 Plan – Not Applicable.
(o)
   
Reserved.
(p)
   
Code of Ethics.
 
(1)
 
Code of Ethics for Registrant was previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 162 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 9, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(2)
 
Code of Ethics for Fund and Adviser previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on November 23, 2009, and is incorporated by reference.
 
(3)
 
Code of Ethics for Principal Underwriter was previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 38 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on December 14, 2006, and is incorporated by reference.

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

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

Item 30.    Indemnification

Reference is made to Article X of the Registrant’s Declaration of Trust.

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

Item 31.    Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser for the Gerstein Fisher Multi-Factor Growth Equity Fund (the “Fund”).  The principal business address of the Adviser is 100 William Street, Suite 1825, New York, NY 10038.  With respect to the Adviser, the response to this Item is incorporated by reference to the Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and dated February 4, 2011.  The Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
 
 
 
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Item 32.    Principal Underwriter.

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

Academy Funds Trust
Jensen Portfolio, Inc.
Advisors Series Trust
Keystone Mutual Funds
Allied Asset Advisors Funds
Kiewit Investment Fund, LLLP
Alpine Equity Trust
Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc.
Alpine Income Trust
LKCM Funds
Alpine Series Trust
Masters’ Select Funds Trust
Artio Global Funds
Matrix Advisors Value Fund, Inc.
Brandes Investment Trust
Monetta Fund, Inc.
Brandywine Blue Funds, Inc.
Monetta Trust
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.
MP63 Fund, Inc.
Buffalo Funds
Nicholas Family of Funds, Inc.
Country Mutual Funds Trust
Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds, Inc.
DoubleLine Funds Trust
Perritt Funds, Inc.
Empiric Funds, Inc.
Perritt Microcap Opportunities Fund, Inc.
Evermore Funds Trust
PineBridge Mutual Funds
First American Funds, Inc.
PRIMECAP Odyssey Funds
First American Investment Funds, Inc.
Professionally Managed Portfolios
First American Strategy Funds, Inc.
Prospector Funds, Inc.
Fort Pitt Capital Funds
Purisima Funds
Glenmede Fund, Inc.
Quaker Investment Trust
Glenmede Portfolios
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
Greenspring Fund, Inc.
RBC Funds Trust
Guinness Atkinson Funds
SCS Financial Funds
Harding Loevner Funds, Inc.
Thompson Plumb Funds, Inc.
Hennessy Funds Trust
TIFF Investment Program, Inc.
Hennessy Funds, Inc.
Trust for Professional Managers
Hennessy Mutual Funds, Inc.
USA Mutuals Funds
Hennessy SPARX Funds Trust
Wall Street Fund
Hotchkis and Wiley Funds
Wexford Trust
Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust
Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
Jacob Funds, Inc.
WY Funds
 
 
 
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(b)           
To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of Quasar Distributors, LLC are as follows:

Name and Principal
Business Address
Position and Offices with
Quasar Distributors, LLC
Positions and Offices with
Registrant
James R. Schoenike(1)
President, Board Member
None
Andrew M. Strnad(2)
Secretary
None
Joe D. Redwine(1)
Board Member
None
Robert Kern(1)
Board Member
None
Eric W. Falkeis(1)
Board Member
None
Susan LaFond(1)
Treasurer
None
Teresa Cowan(1)
Assistant Secretary
None
(1)  This individual is located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202.
(2)  This individual is located at 6602 East 75th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46250.

(c)           Not applicable.

Item 33.    Location of Accounts and Records.

The books and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are maintained at the following locations:
 
Records Relating to:
Are located at:
 
Registrant’s Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant, and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
 
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
Gerstein, Fisher & Associates, Inc.
100 William Street, Suite 1825
New York, NY 10038
 
Registrant’s Custodian
U.S. Bank, National Association
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212
 
Registrant’s Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
 

Item 34.    Management Services

All management-related service contracts entered into by Registrant are discussed in Parts A and B of this Registration Statement.

Item 35.    Undertakings

The Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a Prospectus for one or more of the series of the Registrant is delivered with a copy of the relevant latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and without charge.
 
 
 
4

 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed below on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, on the 24th day of March, 2011.


 
TRUST FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS
 
By:  /s/ John Buckel
John Buckel
Vice President, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below on March 24, 2011 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.


Signature
 
Title
Joseph C. Neuberger*
Joseph C. Neuberger
 
Chairperson, President and Trustee
Dr. Michael D. Akers*
Dr. Michael D. Akers
 
Independent Trustee
Gary A. Drska*
Gary A. Drska
 
Independent Trustee
Jonas B. Siegel*
Jonas B. Siegel
 
Independent Trustee
* By        /s/ John Buckel                                
John Buckel
*Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed with Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 216 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A with the SEC on March 11, 2011, and is incorporated by reference.
 


 
5

 


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Exhibit No.
 
Consent of Counsel
EX-99.i.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
EX-99.j.1
 

 
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