485BPOS 1 polype48.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933    _

Pre-Effective Amendment No.                                                                               _

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Post-Effective Amendment No. 48                                                                         X

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and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT                             

COMPANY ACT OF 1940                                                                                    X

 

Unified Series Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified In Charter)

 

431 North Pennslyvania Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 317-917-7000

 

Anthony J. Ghoston

President

431 North Pennslyvania Street

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

 

(Name and Address of Agent of Service)

 

Copies to:

 

Dee Anne Sjogren, Esq.

Thompson Coburn LLP

One US Bank Plaza

St. Louis, MO 63101

(314) 552-6295

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:                                          

X immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)                                        

_ on (date) 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 this box:                                                                       

_ this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously

filed post-effective amendment                                                                  

 


Polynous Growth Fund

 

 

 

 

 

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Prospectus dated November 30, 2005

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Investment Objective: long-term capital appreciation

 

(800) 528-8069

 

Investment Advisor:

Polynous Capital Management, Inc.

One Pine Street, Suite 2208

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 956-3384

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

PAGE

 

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

2

FEES AND EXPENSES OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

6

HOW TO BUY SHARES

7

SALES CHARGES

8

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

13

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

13

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

16

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

16

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

18

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

20

PRIVACY POLICY

21

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Back Cover

 

 

 

 

RISK/RETURN SUMMARY

 

Investment Objective

 

The investment objective of the Polynous Growth Fund is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Principal Strategies

 

The Fund primarily invests in the equity securities of U.S. companies with total market capitalization at the time of purchase of between $50 million and $10 billion and which are typically described as small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies. Within this market capitalization range, the Fund focuses on companies that are typically considered “growth” companies and that the Fund’s advisor expects to have annual revenue growth rates between 15% and 30%. The Fund occasionally may invest in securities of companies with capitalizations smaller than $50 million or larger than $10 billion if doing so contributes to the Fund’s investment objective.

 

The advisor’s “Dynamic Value” investment strategy seeks to combine the opportunity for dynamic growth and potential capital appreciation available from growth stock investing with the strict valuation disciplines of “value investing.” Value investing refers to a strategy that invests in stocks that are undervalued and priced at a discount relative to some static valuation parameter such as book value. With the Fund’s advisor focusing on growth stocks, however, the advisor’s “valuation discipline” focuses on investing in stocks that are undervalued and priced at a discount relative to a more dynamic valuation parameter such as a company’s projected growth rate. The advisor believes this strategy offers the Fund a more structured and disciplined process for investing in higher growth equities.

 

The investment strategy is divided into two distinct processes: (1) research and (2) portfolio management. Both have the same structure, control and discipline that may often be associated with a well-managed business. Each process is further divided into the following distinct tasks for greater structure:

 

The Research Process

The Portfolio Management Process

Economic/Sector/Industry Analysis

Valuation

Initial Screening

Portfolio Characteristics

Opportunity Assessment

Buy Discipline

Financial Assessment

Portfolio Monitoring

Functional Assessment

Sell Discipline/Portfolio Optimization

Comprehensive Risk Assessment

 

Continuing Review

 

 

The research process determines if individual companies meet the advisor’s quality and growth requirements before being considered for purchase by the Fund. The portfolio management process determines and controls the actual buy and sell decisions for the Fund. Within the overall portfolio management process are policies that control how

 

 

securities are valued and how the overall Fund portfolio will typically be structured as well as providing a disciplined process by which buy and sell decisions are made.

 

Buy and sell decisions are determined by the advisor’s projected capital appreciation for individual companies. The buy discipline requires minimum projected capital appreciation of 20 percent annually before a security can be purchased. The sell discipline requires that a security is sold when its projected annual capital appreciation reaches zero percent. The advisor’s sell discipline is the main factor determining portfolio turnover. If individual stocks reach sell targets in a shorter period of time, then portfolio turnover will increase. This investment strategy may result in a high turnover of portfolio positions. High portfolio turnover, if other tax management strategies are not employed, may also result in the Fund producing a high level of short-term gains for tax purposes.

 

The overall “Dynamic Value” strategy is intended to result in both high levels of knowledge about a company before it is considered for the Fund’s portfolio and high capital appreciation prospects for the companies which satisfy the buy discipline. The overall strategy also considers risk management to be of equal importance as stock selection. Risk management is of primary importance due to the higher risks of investing in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities. The Fund’s advisor believes that company operating risk is managed by having a greater knowledge about the Fund’s portfolio companies and that stock valuation risk is managed by having less expensive companies in the Fund’s portfolio than might be typical for a growth stock portfolio.

 

Principal Risks

 

Equity Security Risk. Equity securities do not have guaranteed rates of return.

Stock Market Risk. Movements in the market will affect the Fund’s share prices on a daily basis. The overall market and the specific securities held by the Fund may decline in value. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets and could cause the Fund’s share price to fall. The value of an individual company can be more volatile than the market as a whole.

Small or New Companies. Small or newly public companies may be subject to greater price fluctuations and significant losses due to unseasoned management, increased competition, or entrance into new markets. Shares of a small company may pose greater risks than shares of a large company because of narrow product lines, limited financial resources, and less depth of management. The earnings and prospects of small companies are more volatile than large companies, and small companies may experience higher failure rates than do large companies.

Less Liquid Trading Markets. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies have less liquid trading markets than do large-capitalization companies. A less liquid trading market can magnify the volatility of a company’s stock price.

Stock Selection Risk. The stocks in the Fund’s portfolio may decline in value or not increase in value when the stock market in general is increasing in value.

 

 

 

 

Volatility Risk. From time to time, the Fund may hold a security that substantially increases in value, or the total net assets of the Fund may fluctuate, so that the Fund will hold larger positions in one or more securities. This may occur at a time that the Fund still qualifies as a diversified fund. To the extent the Fund holds larger positions in one or more securities, the Fund may be subject to greater price risk than if it did not hold such positions. The Fund may also be subject to substantially more investment risk and potential for volatility than a typical diversified fund.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may at times have a portfolio turnover rate that is higher than other stock funds. A higher portfolio turnover would result in correspondingly greater brokerage commission expenses and may result in the distribution to shareholders of additional capital gains for tax purposes. These factors may negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

Management. The advisor’s skill in choosing appropriate investments will play a large part in determining whether the Fund is able to achieve its investment objective. If the advisor’s projections about the prospects for individual companies are incorrect, such errors in judgment by the advisor may result in significant losses in individual securities, which can then also result in possible losses for the overall Fund.

Sector Risk. If the Fund’s portfolio is overweighted in a certain sector, any negative development affecting that sector will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that is not overweighted in that sector. The Fund may have a greater concentration in technology and consumer services (retail) companies, and weakness in either sector could result in significant losses to the Fund. Technology companies can be significantly affected by falling prices and profits and intense competition, and their products may be subject to rapid obsolescence. Retail companies can be significantly affected by consumer confidence and spending, intense competition, and changing consumer tastes.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

The Fund may not be appropriate for use as a complete investment program.

As with any mutual fund investment, the Fund’s returns will vary and you could lose money.

 

Is the Fund Right for You?

 

The Fund may be appropriate for investors who seek capital appreciation and are able to accept short-term fluctuations in return for the potential of greater long-term growth. Investors who are seeking current income or who have a conservative or short-term investment approach should not invest in this Fund.

 

General

 

The investment objective of the Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

From time to time, the Fund may take temporary defensive positions, which are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies, in attempting to respond to

 

 

adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. For example, the Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in money market instruments, including money market funds or repurchase agreements. If the Fund invests in a money market fund, the shareholders of the Fund generally will be subject to duplicative management fees. As a result of engaging in these temporary measures, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund may also invest in money market instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.

Past Performance

 

The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund’s returns, which is one indicator of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s returns from year to year. Sales loads are not reflected in the bar chart; if they were, returns would be less than shown. The table shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare over time to those of a broad-based securities market index. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of its future performance.

 

 

                                                                  (Chart Omitted)

 

1997

18.51%

1998

-12.29%

1999

-18.33%

2000

0.11%

2001

24.50%

2002

-40.70%

2003

64.40%

2004

12.66%

 

 

1 The Fund acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Polynous Growth Fund, a series of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust (the “Predecessor Fund), in tax-free reorganization effective as of September 26, 2005. On March 30, 2001, the Predecessor Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of another mutual fund (the Polynous Growth Fund, a series of the Polynous Trust) in a tax-free reorganization. The Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor Fund and, therefore, the bar chart includes the Predecessor Fund’s returns.

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2 The Fund’s year- to-date return as of September 30, 2005 was 6.27%.

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During the period shown, the highest return for a quarter was 51.08% (Dec. 2001); and the lowest return was –32.16% (Sep. 2002).

 

Average annual total returns as of December 31, 2004

 

 

 

1 Year

 

5 Years

 

Since Inception1

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fund2

 

Return Before Taxes

 

Return After Taxes on

Distributions3

 

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares3

 

 

7.62%

 

 

7.62%

 

 

4.96%

 

 

5.51%

 

 

5.51%

 

 

4.76%

 

 

1.93%

 

 

1.49%

 

 

1.52%

Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

18.33%

 

6.95%

 

9.98%

1Inception of the Predecessor Fund, August 12, 1996

2 The Fund’s performance reflects payment of sales loads.

3After–tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF INVESTING IN THE FUND

 

The tables describe 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)

 

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases1

4.50%

 

 

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)2

1.00%

 

 

Redemption Fee3

NONE

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

 

Management Fee

1.00%

 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

0.25%

 

Other Expenses

1.64%

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

2.89%

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement4

0.94%

 

Net Annual Fund Operations Expenses

1.95%

 

1 Reduced for purchases of $50,000 and over.

2 Applies only to purchases of $500,000 or more if the sales load was waived and shares are redeemed within 12 months of purchase.

3 A wire transfer fee of $15 is charged to defray custodial charges for redemptions paid by wire transfer. This fee is subject to change.

4 The advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and/or reimburse expenses in order to keep the Fund’s total annual operating expenses at 1.90% though November 30, 2005 and, thereafter, at 1.95% for the period December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. Any waiver or

 

 

reimbursement by the advisor is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the waiver and/or reimbursement occurred, if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding the applicable expense limitation. The advisor’s obligation to reimburse expenses excludes brokerage costs, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividends on securities sold short), taxes, and extraordinary expenses.

 

Example:

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated, reinvest dividends and distributions, 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 (except for reimbursement through October 1, 2006). 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

 

 

$639

$1220

$1826

$3455

 

 

HOW TO BUY SHARES

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you: When you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask for other identifying documents or information.

 

The minimum initial investment in the Fund is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRAs and other qualified retirement accounts, $500 for UGMA or UTMA) and minimum subsequent investments are $100. These minimums may be waived by the advisor for accounts participating in an automatic investment program. If your investment is aggregated into an omnibus account established by an investment advisor, broker or other intermediary, the account minimums apply to the omnibus account, not to your individual investment. If you choose to purchase or redeem shares directly from the Fund, you will not incur charges on purchases and redemptions. However, if you purchase or redeem shares through a broker/dealer or another intermediary, you may be charged a fee by that intermediary.

 

Initial Purchase

 

By Mail - To be in proper form, your initial purchase request must include:

 

a completed and signed investment application form (which accompanies this Prospectus); and

 

a check (subject to the minimum amounts) made payable to the Fund.

 

 

 

 

Mail the application and check to:

 

U.S. Mail:

Polynous Growth Fund

Overnight:

Polynous Growth Fund

c/o Unified Fund Services, Inc.                                      c/o Unified Fund Services, Inc.

P.O. Box 6110                                                                       431 North Pennsylvania Street

Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110                                 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

 

By Wire - You may also purchase shares of the Fund by wiring federal funds from your bank, which may charge you a fee for doing so. To wire money, you must call Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069 to obtain instructions on how to set up your account and to obtain an account number.

 

You must provide a signed application to Unified Fund Services Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent, at the above address in order to complete your initial wire purchase. Wire orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund, custodian and transfer agent are open for business. A wire purchase will not be considered made until the wired money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Fund. The purchase price will be the net asset value next determined after the wire is received by the Fund. Any delays which may occur in wiring money, including delays which may occur in processing by the banks, are not the responsibility of the Fund or the transfer agent. There is presently no fee for the receipt of wired funds, but the Fund may charge shareholders for this service in the future.

 

Additional Investments

 

You may purchase additional shares of the Fund at any time (subject to minimum investment requirements) by mail, wire, or automatic investment. Each additional mail purchase request must contain:

 

 

-your name

-the name of your account(s)

 

 

-your account number(s)

-a check made payable to Polynous Growth Fund

 

Checks should be sent to the Polynous Growth Fund at the address listed under the heading “Initial Purchase – By Mail” in this prospectus. To send a bank wire, follow the instructions outlined under the heading “Initial Purchase – By Wire” in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

SALES CHARGES

 

Initial Sales Charges

 

Shares of the Fund are purchased at the public offering price. The public offering price for the Fund’s shares is the next determined net asset value (“NAV”) plus a sales charge as shown in the following table.

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of Investment

Sales Charge as % of:

Public                                    Net

Offering                             Amount

Price                                    Invested

 

Dealer Reallowance as % of Public Offering Price

Less than $50,000

$50,000 but less than $100,000

$100,000 but less than $250,000

$250,000 but less than $500,000

$500,000 or more*

4.50%                                    4.71%

  4.00%                                     4.17%

  3.00%                                     3.09%

  2.00%                                     2.04%

  0.00%                                     0.00%

4.00%

3.50%

2.75%

1.75%

0.00%

 

* There is no initial sales charge on purchases of shares of $500,000 or more; however, the dealer receives a 1% fee from the Fund’s underwriter and a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% is imposed on redemptions of such shares within 12 months of purchase.

 

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

 

While there is no initial sales charge on purchases of shares of $500,000 or more, a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% is imposed on redemptions of such shares within 12 months of purchase. The CDSC is based on the lower of the shares’ cost or current net asset value. In determining whether a CDSC is payable, the Fund will first redeem shares not subject to any charge. Redemption of shares of the Polynous Money Market Account in the LGA – Huntington MMKT Class A Fund (see Exchange Privilege) are generally not subject to a CDSC; however, a CDSC may be applicable to redemption of shares of the Polynous Money Market Account if the redeemed shares were exchanged from the Fund. No CDSC charge is imposed on the redemption of shares acquired through reinvestment of income dividends or capital gains distributions. The Fund’s underwriter receives the entire amount of the CDSC to defray its expense in providing certain distribution-related services to the Fund, including payment of a sales commission to selling dealers or qualifying financial institutions, as described above.

 

Purchases Without an Initial Sales Charge. The persons described below may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund without paying an initial sales charge. In order to purchase shares without paying a sales charge, you must notify the Fund’s transfer agent as to which conditions apply.

 

any financial advisor regulated by federal or state governmental authority when the advisor is purchasing shares for its own account or for an account for which the advisor is authorized to make investment decisions (i.e., a discretionary account).

trustees, officers and employees of the Fund, the advisor, and the Fund’s underwriter (including members of their immediate families and their retirement plans).

trustees, officers and employees of the Fund’s service providers.

customers, clients or accounts of the advisor or other investment advisors or financial planners who charge a fee for their services.

 

 

 

 

retirement accounts or plans, or deferred compensation plans and trusts funding such plans for which a depository institution, trust company or other fiduciary holds shares purchased through the omnibus accounts for the Fund.

qualified employee benefits plans created under Sections 401 or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code (but not IRAs or SEPs).

any non-profit institution investing $1 million or more.

investors purchasing shares of the Fund with redemption proceeds from other mutual funds, on which the investor had paid a front-end sales charge or was subject to a deferred sales charge, whether or not paid, if such redemption has occurred no more than 30 days prior to such purchase.

registered representatives, employees or principals of securities dealers (including members of their immediate families) having a sales agreement with the Fund’s underwriter.

 

In addition, shares of the Fund may be purchased at net asset value through processing organizations (broker-dealers, banks or other financial institutions) that have a sales agreement or have made special arrangements with the Fund’s distributor. When shares are purchased this way, the processing organization, rather than its customer, may be the shareholder of record of the shares. The minimum initial and subsequent investments in the Fund for shareholders who invest through a processing organization generally will be set by the processing organization. Processing organizations may also impose other charges and restrictions in addition to or different from those applicable to investors who remain the shareholder of record of their shares. Thus, an investor contemplating investing with the Fund through a processing organization should read materials provided by the processing organization in conjunction with this Prospectus.

 

Right of Accumulation. You may buy shares of the Fund at a reduced sales charge by aggregating the dollar amount of the new purchase (based on the offering price) and the total net asset value of all shares of the Fund held in all accounts by you, members of your immediate family, or any person sharing your residential address and applying the sales charge applicable to the aggregate. Immediate family members include your spouse, children and parents. In addition, you may also include the amount of all investments in the Fund under a qualified retirement plan of which you are a participant.

 

Letter of Intent. A Letter of Intent for amounts of $50,000 or more provides an opportunity for an investor to obtain a reduced sales charge by aggregating investments (based on the offering price) over a 13 month period made by the investor, members of his or her immediate family or any person sharing the same residential address with the investor, provided that the investor refers to such Letter when placing orders. Immediate family members include your spouse, children and parents. For purposes of a Letter of Intent, the “Amount of Investment” as referred to in the preceding sales charge table includes all purchases of shares of the Fund over the 13 month period based on the total amount of intended purchases plus the value of all shares previously purchased and still owned. An alternative is to compute the 13 month period starting up to 90 days before the date of execution of a Letter of Intent. Each investment made during the period receives the reduced sales charge applicable to the total amount of the investment goal. If

 

 

the goal is not achieved within the period, the investor must pay the difference between the sales charges applicable to the purchases made and the charges previously paid, or an appropriate number of escrowed shares will be redeemed. Please contact the Fund’s transfer agent to obtain a Letter of Intent application.

 

Shareholder’s Responsibility With Respect to Sales Charge Discounts. In order to obtain any of the sales charge discounts set forth above, you must inform your financial advisor of the existence of any eligible amounts under any Rights of Accumulation or Letters of Intent, in accounts held by you and your immediate family members at the time of purchase. You must inform your financial advisor of all shares of the Fund held (i) in your account(s) at the financial advisor, (ii) in your account(s) by another financial intermediary, and (iii) in any other accounts held at any financial intermediary belonging to members of your immediate family. IF YOU FAIL TO INFORM YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR THE FUND OF ALL ELIGIBLE HOLDINGS OR PLANNED PURCHASES, YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE A SALES CHARGE DISCOUNT TO WHICH YOU WOULD OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED. The Fund will require the names and account numbers of all accounts claimed in connection with a request for a sales charge discount. You may also be required to provide verification of holdings (such as account statements and/or copies of documents that reflect the original purchase cost of your holdings) that qualify you for a sales charge reduction. As such, it is very important that you retain all records that may be needed to substantiate an original purchase price of your holdings, as the Fund, its transfer agent, and financial intermediaries may not maintain this information.

 

Website Disclosure. The Fund maintains a website at www.polynous.com. Information about sales charges, including sales load breakpoints, the Right of Accumulation and Letters of Intent, is fully disclosed in this prospectus, which is available on the website free of charge. The Fund believes that is very important that an investor fully consider all aspects of their investment and be able to access all relevant information in one location. Therefore, the Fund does not make the sales charge information available to investors on the Fund’s website independent of the prospectus.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that allows it to pay distribution and service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares. Under the plan, the Fund will pay an annual fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund to the Fund’s underwriter to make payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, and broker-dealers who assist in the distribution of the Fund or provide services to the Fund, pursuant to service agreements with the Fund. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

 

 

 

Automatic Investment Plan

 

You may make regular investments in the Fund with an Automatic Investment Plan by completing the appropriate section of the account application and attaching a voided personal check. Investments may be made monthly to allow dollar-cost averaging by automatically deducting $50 or more from your bank checking account. You may change the amount of your monthly purchase at any time. If an Automatic Investment Plan purchase is rejected by your bank, your shareholder account will be charged a fee to defray bank charges.

 

Tax Sheltered Retirement Plans

 

Since the Fund is oriented to longer-term investments, the Fund may be an appropriate investment for tax-sheltered retirement plans, including: individual retirement plans (IRAs); simplified employee pensions (SEPs); 401(k) plans; qualified corporate pension and profit-sharing plans (for employees); tax deferred investment plans (for employees of public school systems and certain types of charitable organizations); and other qualified retirement plans. You should contact the Fund’s transfer agent for the procedure to open an IRA or SEP plan, as well as more specific information regarding these retirement plan options. Please consult with an attorney or tax advisor regarding these plans. You must pay custodial fees for your IRA by redemption of sufficient shares of the Fund from the IRA unless you pay the fees directly to the IRA custodian. Call the Fund’s transfer agent about the IRA custodial fees.

 

Other Purchase Information

 

The Fund may limit the amount of purchases and refuse to sell shares to any person. If your check or wire does not clear, you will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund. You may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in the Fund. Checks should be made payable to the Fund. The Fund and its transfer agent may refuse any purchase order for any reason. Cash, third party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), counter checks, starter checks, traveler’s checks, money orders, credit card checks, and checks drawn on non-U.S. financial institutions will not be accepted. Cashier’s checks and bank official checks may be accepted in amounts greater than $10,000. In such cases, a fifteen (15) business day hold will be applied to the funds (which means that you may not redeem your shares until the holding period has expired). Signature guarantee stamps may be required on identification documentation. All documentation requiring a signature guarantee stamp must utilize a New Technology Medallion stamp, generally available from the bank where you maintain a checking or savings account.

 

The Fund has authorized certain broker-dealers and other financial institutions (including their designated intermediaries) to accept on its behalf purchase and sell orders. The Fund is deemed to have received an order when the authorized person or designee accepts the order, and the order is processed at the net asset value next calculated thereafter. It is

 

 

the responsibility of the broker-dealer or other financial institution to transmit orders promptly to the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE

 

By telephoning the Fund at (800) 528-8069 or writing the Fund at P.O. Box 6110, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110, you may exchange, without charge, any or all of your shares in the Fund for the shares of the Polynous Money Market Account in the LGA-Huntington MMKT Class A Fund, a separately managed money market fund. You may also exchange shares of the Polynous Money Market Account for shares of the Fund. Exchanges may be made only if the money market fund is registered in your state of residence. The exchange privilege with the money market fund does not constitute an offering or recommendation of the money market fund.

 

It is your responsibility to obtain and read a prospectus of the money market fund before you make an exchange with the money market fund. By giving exchange instructions for the money market fund, you will be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of the prospectus for the money market fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject any exchange request or otherwise modify or terminate the exchange privilege at any time upon at least 30 days’ prior notice. There currently is no limit on exchanges out of the money market fund. In times of extreme economic or market conditions, exchanging Fund or the money market fund shares by telephone may be difficult.

 

Redemptions of shares in connection with exchanges into or out of the Fund are made at the net asset value per share next determined after the exchange request is received. To receive a specific day’s price, your letter or call must be received before that day’s close of the New York Stock Exchange. Each exchange represents the sale of shares from one fund and the purchase of shares in another, which may produce a gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes. Neither the Fund, the money market fund, nor the transfer agent assume responsibility for the authenticity of exchange instructions communicated by telephone or in writing which are believed to be genuine.

 

HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

 

You may receive redemption payments in the form of a check or federal wire transfer. The proceeds may be more or less than the purchase price of your shares, depending on the market value of the Fund’s securities at the time of your redemption. A wire transfer fee of $15 is charged to defray custodial charges for redemptions paid by wire transfer. This fee is subject to change. Any charges for wire redemptions will be deducted from your account by redemption of shares. The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the amount you are redeeming is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net asset value, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net asset value in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses, such as the payment of brokerage commissions, on the sale or other

 

 

disposition of the securities received from the Fund. If you redeem your shares through a broker-dealer or other institution, you may be charged a fee by that institution.

 

By Mail - You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund at no charge by mail. Your request should be addressed to:

 

 

Polynous Growth Fund

 

 

c/o Unified Fund Services, Inc.

 

 

P.O. Box 6110

 

 

Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6110

 

 

“Proper order” means your request for a redemption must include:

 

the Fund name and account number,

 

 

account name(s) and address,

 

 

the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem.

 

 

Requests to sell shares that are received in proper order are processed at the net asset value next calculated after we receive your order, including your letter of instruction, in proper form. The Fund may require that signatures be guaranteed if you request the redemption check be made payable to any person other than the shareholder(s) of record or mailed to an address other than the address of record, or if the mailing address has been changed within 30 days of the redemption request. The Fund may also require a signature guarantee for redemptions of $25,000 or more. Signature guarantees are for the protection of shareholders. You can obtain a signature guarantee from most banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public. All documentation requiring a signature guarantee must utilize a New Technology Medallion Stamp. Please call Shareholder Services as (800) 528-8069 if you have questions. At the discretion of the Fund or its transfer agent, you may be required to furnish additional legal documents to insure proper authorization.

 

By Telephone - You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund by calling Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069. You must first complete the Optional Telephone Redemption and Exchange section of the investment application to institute this option. The Fund, the transfer agent and the custodian are not liable for following redemption or exchange instructions communicated by telephone to the extent that they reasonably believe the telephone instructions to be genuine. However, if they do not employ reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine, they may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Procedures employed may include recording telephone instructions and requiring a form of personal identification from the caller.

 

The Fund may terminate the telephone redemption procedures at any time. During periods of extreme market activity it is possible that shareholders may encounter some difficulty in telephoning the Fund, although neither the Fund nor the transfer agent has ever experienced difficulties in receiving and in a timely fashion responding to telephone requests for redemptions or exchanges. If you are unable to reach the Fund by telephone, you may request a redemption or exchange by mail.

 

 

 

 

Fund Policy on Market Timing

The Fund discourages market timing. Market timing is an investment strategy using frequent purchases, redemptions and/or exchanges in an attempt to profit from short term market movements. Market timing may result in dilution of the value of Fund shares held by long term shareholders, disrupt portfolio management and increase Fund expenses for all shareholders. The Board of Trustees has adopted a policy directing the Fund to reject any purchase order with respect to any one investor, a related group of investors or their agent(s), where it detects a pattern of purchases and sales of the Fund that indicates market timing or trading that it determines is abusive. This policy generally applies to all Fund shareholders. While the Fund attempts to deter market timing, there is no assurance that it will be able to identify and eliminate all market timers. For example, certain accounts called “omnibus accounts” include multiple shareholders. Omnibus accounts typically provide the Fund with a net purchase or redemption request on any given day where purchasers of Fund shares and redeemers of Fund shares are netted against one another and the identities of individual purchasers and redeemers whose orders are aggregated are not known by the Fund. The netting effect often makes it more difficult for the Fund to detect market timing, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to do so. The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order for any reason, including purchase orders that it does not think are in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders, or if the Fund thinks that the trading is abusive. The Fund has not entered into any arrangements with any person to permit frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares.

Additional Information

 

If you are not certain of the requirements for a redemption please call Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069. Redemptions specifying a certain date or share price cannot be accepted and will be returned. You will be mailed the proceeds on or before the fifth business day following the redemption. However, payment for redemption made against shares purchased by check will be made only after the check has been collected, which normally may take up to fifteen calendar days. Also, when the New York Stock Exchange is closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing or under any emergency circumstances, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may suspend redemptions or postpone payment dates. You may be assessed a fee if the Fund incurs bank charges because you request that the Fund re-issue a redemption check.

 

Because the Fund incurs certain fixed costs in maintaining shareholder accounts, the Fund may require you to redeem all of your shares in the Fund on 30 days’ written notice if the value of your shares in the Fund is less than $500 due to redemptions, or such other minimum amount as the Fund may determine from time to time. You may increase the value of your shares in the Fund to the minimum amount within the 30 day period. All shares of the Fund are also subject to involuntary redemption if the Board of Trustees determines to liquidate the Fund. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or a

 

 

capital loss, which may have tax consequences about which you should consult your tax advisor.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

The price you pay for your shares is based on the Fund’s net asset value per share (NAV). The NAV is calculated at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business (the Stock Exchange is closed on weekends, most Federal holidays and Good Friday). The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s total assets (including interest and dividends accrued but not yet received) minus liabilities (including accrued expenses) by the total number of shares outstanding. Requests to purchase and sell shares are processed at the NAV next calculated after the Fund receives your order in proper form.

 

The Fund’s assets generally are valued at their market value. If market quotations are not readily available, the security will be valued at fair value (the amount which the Fund might reasonably expect to receive for the security upon its current sale) as determined in good faith by the advisor. Good faith pricing also is permitted if, in the advisor’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the advisor is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations. Without good faith pricing, short-term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short-term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund’s NAV by short-term traders or that the Fund will realize fair valuation upon the sale of a security.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

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

 

Taxes. Investment income distributed by the Fund generally will consist of interest income, if any, and dividends received on investments, less expenses. The dividends you receive, whether or not reinvested, will be taxed as ordinary income.

 

The Fund will distribute net realized capital gains to its shareholders normally once a year. Capital gains are generated when the Fund sells its assets for a profit. Capital gains are taxed differently depending on how long the Fund has held the asset sold.

 

 

 

Distributions of gains recognized on the sale of assets held for one year or less are taxed at ordinary income rates; distributions of gains recognized on the sale of assets held longer than one year are taxed at long-term capital gains rates. If the Fund distributes an amount exceeding its income and gains, this excess will generally be treated as a non-taxable return of capital.

 

Unless you indicate another option on your account application, any dividends and capital gain distributions paid to you by the Fund automatically will be invested in additional shares of the Fund. Alternatively, you may elect to have: (1) dividends paid to you in cash and the amount of any capital gain distributions reinvested; or (2) the full amount of any dividends and capital gain distributions paid to you in cash.

 

You may want to avoid making a substantial investment when the Fund is about to make a taxable distribution because you would be responsible for any taxes on the distribution regardless of how long you have owned your shares.

 

Selling shares (including redemptions) and receiving distributions (whether reinvested or taken in cash) usually are taxable events to the Fund’s shareholders. These transactions typically create the following tax liabilities for taxable accounts:

 

Summary of Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences for Taxable Accounts

 

The following discussion reflects the enactment of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the “2003 Tax Act”).

Type of Transaction

Tax Status

 

Qualified dividend income

Generally maximum 15% on non-corporate

taxpayers

Net short-term capital gain distributions

Ordinary income rate

 

Net long-term capital gain distributions

Generally maximum 15% on non-corporate taxpayers*

 

Sales of shares (including redemptions) owned

more than one year

Gains taxed at generally maximum 15% on non-corporate taxpayers*

 

Sales of shares (including redemptions) owned

for one year or less

Gains are taxed at the same rate as ordinary income; losses are subject to special rules

 

 

*For gains realized between May 6, 2003 and December 31, 2008.

 

 

Under the 2003 Tax Act, effective for taxable years after December 31, 2002 through December 31, 2008, designated income dividends paid by the Fund to non-corporate shareholders generally will qualify for a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% to the

 

 

extent such income dividends are attributable to qualified dividend income from the Fund’s investment in common and preferred stock of U.S. and foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met. However, to the extent that the Fund has ordinary income from investments in debt securities, for example, such as interest income, income dividends paid by the Fund and attributable to that income will not qualify for the reduced tax rate.

 

If shares of the Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after redeeming other shares of the Fund at a loss, all or a portion of that loss will not be deductible and will increase the basis of the newly purchased shares. If shares of the Fund are sold at a loss after being held by a shareholder for six months or less, the loss will be long-term, instead of short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on the shares.

 

If you are a non-corporate shareholder and if the Fund does not have your correct social security or other taxpayer identification number, federal law requires us to withhold and pay to the Internal Revenue Service 28% of your distributions and sales proceeds. If you are subject to back up withholding, we also will withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of your distributions (under current law). Any tax withheld may be applied against the tax liability on your federal income tax return.

 

Because your tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state and local tax consequences.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

Polynous Capital Management, Inc. (“Polynous”), One Pine Street, Suite 2208, San Francisco, California 94111, main phone: (415) 956-3384, toll free: (800) 924-3863, serves as investment advisor to the Fund. Polynous was founded in May 1996. In addition to the Fund, Polynous manages a limited partnership that essentially has the same overall investment focus as the Fund, although it may sell stocks short, which is an investment strategy not available to the Fund. In the past, Polynous has managed separate accounts for institutional investors and private individuals and possibly may again manage such accounts in the future.

 

The Fund pays the advisor a monthly fee for providing investment advisory services, which is calculated daily by applying the following annual rates: 1.00% on net assets of $100 million and below; 0.75% on the next $150 million; 0.60% on the next $250 million; 0.50% on the next $500 million; and 0.40% on all net asset amounts above $1 billion. The advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and/or reimburse expenses in order to keep the Fund’s total annual operating expenses at 1.95% for the period December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. Any waiver or reimbursement by the advisor is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred, if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding its current expense limitations. The advisor’s obligation to reimburse expenses excludes brokerage costs, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividends on securities sold short), taxes, and extraordinary expenses. For

 

 

the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, the Predecessor Fund paid the advisor a fee equal to 1.00% of its average daily net assets.

 

The advisor, not the Fund, may pay certain financial institutions (which may include banks, brokers, securities dealers and other industry professionals) a fee for providing distribution related services and/or for performing certain administrative servicing functions for Fund shareholders to the extent these institutions are allowed to do so by applicable statute, rule or regulation. The Fund may from time to time purchase securities issued by financial institutions that provide such services; however, in selecting investments for the Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.

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The Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, contains information about the factors that the Board of Trustees considered in approving the Fund’s management agreement.

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The Portfolio Manager. Kevin L. Wenck, President of the advisor, has been primarily responsible for the day to day management of the Fund since the inception of the Predecessor Fund. Mr. Wenck founded the advisor in 1996. Mr. Wenck also served as a consultant to Kingsgate Capital Management, a manager of a private equity limited partnership until 2004. Mr. Wenck’s experience before founding the advisor includes five years managing mid-cap and small-cap growth stock portfolios with G.T. Capital Management. Part of Mr. Wenck’s responsibilities at G.T. Capital Management (renamed LGT Asset Management in 1996 and subsequently acquired by AIM Management in 1998) included serving as portfolio manager for the G.T. Global: America Growth Fund, which he managed from July 1, 1991 through April 30, 1996. Mr. Wenck also spent three years managing small-cap growth stock portfolios with Matuschka & Co. Mr. Wenck earned an M.B.A. degree in 1985 from Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and was awarded his C.F.A. designation in 1986. Mr. Wenck also received a B.A degree in Philosophy and Classical Literature from Marlboro College in 1981.

 

The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Fund’s portfolio manager, including his compensation, other accounts that he manages, and his ownership of shares of the Fund.

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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The following table is intended to help you better understand the Fund’s financial performance since the inception of the Predecessor Fund. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns represent the rate you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (including the Predecessor Fund), assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2005 and 2004 has been audited by Cohen McCurdy, Ltd., whose report, along with the Predecessor Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Predecessor Fund’s annual report, which is available from the Fund upon request and without charge. The information for prior years has been audited by another independent public accounting firm.

 

Polynous Growth Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a share outstanding during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

July 31, 2005

 

July 31, 2004

 

July 30, 2003

 

July 30, 2002

 

July 30, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, beginning of period

 

$           10.46

 

$           10.26

 

$ 5.96

 

$          10.13

 

$             9.20

 

Income from investment operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (loss)

 

(0.15)

 

(0.14)

 

-

*

(0.15)

*

(0.01)

*

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

 

2.97

 

0.34

 

4.30

 

  (4.02)

 

0.94

 

Total from investment operations

 

2.82

 

0.20

 

4.30

 

  (4.17)

 

0.93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value, end of period

 

$           13.28

 

$           10.46

 

$ 10.26

 

$            5.96

 

$             10.13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Return (a)

 

26.96%

 

1.95%

 

72.15%

 

(41.16%)

 

10.09%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratios and Supplemental Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets, end of period (000)

 

$           9,749

 

$           7,453

 

$ 8,237

 

$           4,148

 

$            7,631

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

 

1.90%

 

1.90%

 

1.90%

 

1.90%

 

1.90%

 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waiver & reimbursement

 

2.93%

 

2.89%

 

3.44%

 

3.17%

 

4.42%

 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets

 

(1.27)%

 

(1.32)%

 

(0.05)%

 

(1.57)%

 

(0.12)%

 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets before waiver & reimbursement

 

(2.30)%

 

(2.31)%

 

(1.60)%

 

(2.83)%

 

(2.64)%

 

Portfolio turnover rate

 

275.53%

 

418.73%

 

194.90%

 

405.11%

 

494.19%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Total return calculation does not reflect load.

* Net investment income amounts were calculated using the average shares method

 

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PRIVACY POLICY

 

The following is a description of the Fund’s policies regarding disclosure of nonpublic personal information that you provide to the Fund or that the Fund collects from other sources. In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your nonpublic personal information would be shared with nonaffiliated third parties.

 

Categories of Information the Fund Collects. The Fund collects the following nonpublic personal information about you:

 

 

Information the Fund receives from you on or in applications or other forms, correspondence, or conversations (such as your name, address, phone number, social security number, assets, income and date of birth); and

 

Information about your transactions with the Fund, its affiliates, or others (such as your account number and balance, payment history, parties to transactions, cost basis information, and other financial information).

 

Categories of Information the Fund Discloses. The Fund does not disclose any nonpublic personal information about its current or former shareholders to unaffiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law. The Fund is permitted by law to disclose all of the information it collects, as described above, to its service providers (such as the Fund’s custodian, administrator and transfer agent) to process your transactions and otherwise provide services to you.

 

Confidentiality and Security. The Fund restricts access to your nonpublic personal information to those persons who require such information to provide products or services to you. The Fund maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard your nonpublic personal information.

 

 

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

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

 

Call Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069 to request free copies of the SAI and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, to request other information about the Fund and to make shareholder inquiries. Alternatively, you may obtain these documents from the advisor’s Internet site at www.polynous.com, under “Polynous Growth Fund.”

 

You may review and copy information about the Fund (including the SAI and other reports) at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at 1-202-942-8090 for room hours and operation. You may also obtain reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http.//www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: href="mailto:publicinfo@sec.gov">publicinfo@sec.gov , or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.

 

Investment Company Act #811-21237

POLYNOUS GROWTH FUND

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

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November 30, 2005

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Polynous Growth Fund dated November 30, 2005. This SAI incorporates by reference the annual report to shareholders of the Polynous Growth Fund for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 (“Annual Report”). A free copy of the Prospectus or Annual Report can be obtained by writing the transfer agent at 431 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204, or by calling Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                                                                                                         PAGE

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

                            29

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS  30

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS                   

33

 

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

35

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

40

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

43

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

44

 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

44

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

46

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

48

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

49

 

REDEMPTION IN-KIND

51

 

STATUS AND TAXATION OF THE FUND

51

 

CUSTODIAN

53

 

FUND SERVICES

53

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

54

 

DISTRIBUTOR

54

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

55

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS           

57

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND

The Polynous Growth Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of Unified Series Trust (the “Trust”) to acquire all the assets of the Polynous Growth Fund, a series of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust (the “Predecessor Fund”), in a tax-free reorganization, effective September 26, 2005. The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on August 3, 1999. On March 30, 2001, the Predecessor Fund acquired all of the assets and assumed all of the liabilities of the Polynous Growth Fund, a series of the Polynous Trust, in a tax free reorganization. The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated October 17, 2002 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a series of funds currently authorized by the Trustees. The investment advisor to the Fund is Polynous Capital Management, Inc. (the “Advisor”).

 

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

 

Any Trustee of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Trust does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each whole share he owns and fractional votes for fractional shares he owns. All shares of the Fund have equal voting rights and liquidation rights. The Trust Agreement can be amended by the Trustees, except that any amendment that adversely affects the rights of shareholders must be approved by the shareholders affected. All shares of the Fund are subject to involuntary redemption if the Trustees determine to liquidate the Fund. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or a capital loss, which may have tax consequences about which you should consult your tax advisor.

For information concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund, see “How to Buy Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares” in the Prospectus. For a description of the methods used to determine the share price and value of the Fund’s assets, see “Determination of Net Asset Value” in the Prospectus and this SAI.

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following supplements the information contained in the Prospectus regarding the permitted investments and risk factors and the investment objective and policies of the Fund. Unless stated that a policy is fundamental, all policies will be deemed non-fundamental (i.e., may be changed without shareholder approval).

 

A. Equity Securities. Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks and preferred stocks.

 

B. Rule 144A Securities. The Fund may invest in Rule 144A securities that the Advisor determines to be liquid. Rule 144A allows a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restriction on their resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act of resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A securities are not considered to be illiquid for purposes of the Fund’s illiquid securities policy, which prohibits the Fund from investing in illiquid securities, if such securities satisfy the conditions enumerated in Rule 144A and are determined to be liquid by the Advisor in accordance with the requirements established by the Trust. In determining the liquidity of such securities, the Advisor will consider, among other things, the following factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers and other potential purchasers or sellers of the security; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security and (4) the nature of the security and of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

 

 

 

C. Covered Call Options. The Fund will write call options on equity securities only if they are “covered.” In the case of a call option on a security, the option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, has available liquid assets, such as cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid high-grade debt obligations, in such amount as are held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund. For a call option on an index, the option is covered if the Fund maintains with its custodian a diversified stock portfolio or liquid assets equal to the contract value. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security or index as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is: (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written; or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in liquid assets such as cash, U.S. government securities and other high-grade debt obligations in a segregated account with its custodian. The Fund will write put options only if they are “secured” by liquid assets maintained in a segregated account by the custodian in an amount not less than the exercise price of the option at all times during the option period.

 

The Fund’s obligation to sell a security subject to a covered call option written by it, or to purchase a security subject to a secured put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series as the previously written option. Such a purchase does not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have incurred a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer, unable to effect a closing purchase transaction, will not be able to sell the underlying security (in the case of a covered call option) or liquidate the segregated account (in the case of a secured put option) until the option expires or the optioned security is delivered upon exercise with the result that the writer in such circumstances will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the security during such period.

 

D. U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. These securities may be backed by the credit of the government as a whole or only by the issuing agency. It is possible that the U.S. government would not provide financial support to its agencies if not required to do so by law. U.S. Treasury bonds, notes, and bills, and some agency securities, such as those issued by the Federal Housing Administration and the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government

 

 

as to payment of principal and interest and are the highest quality government securities. Other securities issued by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, and not by the U.S. government. Securities issued by the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Land Banks and the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) are supported by the agency’s right to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury under certain circumstances, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. If a U.S. government agency in which the Fund invests defaults and the U.S. government does not stand behind the obligation, the Fund’s share price could fall.

 

E. Repurchase Agreements. Although the Fund has no current intention of employing repurchase agreements in its investment program, it may in the future choose to do so and such change will be noted in the Prospectus. The financial institutions with which the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements are banks and non-bank dealers of U.S. government securities that are listed on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s list of reporting dealers and banks, if such banks and non-bank dealers are deemed creditworthy by the Advisor. The Advisor will continue to monitor the creditworthiness of the seller under a repurchase agreement, and will require the seller to maintain during the term of the agreement the value of the securities subject to the agreement at not less than the repurchase price. The Fund will only enter into a repurchase agreement where the market value of the underlying security, including interest accrued, will at all times be equal to or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement.

 

F. Convertible Securities. The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Common stock occupies the most junior position in a company’s capital structure. Convertible securities entitle the holder to exchange such securities for a specified number of shares of common stock, usually of the same company, at specified prices within a certain period of time, and to receive interest or dividends until the holder elects to convert. The provisions of any convertible security determine its ranking in a company’s capital structure. In the case of subordinated convertible debentures, the holder’s claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of other creditors, and are senior to the claims of preferred and common shareholders. In the case of preferred stock and convertible preferred stock, the holder’s claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of all creditors but are senior to the claims of common shareholders.

 

To the extent that a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will be primarily a reflection of such investment value, and its price will be likely to increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, as is the case with a fixed income security. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will rise above its investment value and, in addition, may sell at some premium over its conversion value. At such times, the

 

 

price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security.

 

G. Other Investments. Subject to prior disclosure to shareholders, in the future, the Board of Trustees may authorize the Fund to invest in securities other than those listed here and in the Prospectus, provided that such investment would be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, and that it would not violate any fundamental investment policies or restrictions applicable to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The investment restrictions set forth below are fundamental restrictions and may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting shares (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) of the Fund. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentage limitations listed below apply only at the time of the transaction. If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in the percentage which results from a relative change in values or from a change in the Fund’s total assets will not be considered a violation.

 

Except as set forth under “Risk/Return Summary” in the Prospectus:

 

1. Diversification. The Fund may not purchase securities of any one issuer if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of that issuer or the Fund would own or hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer, except that up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to this limitation and, further, except that this limit does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities or to securities issued by other investment companies;

 

2. Concentration. The Fund may not purchase any security if, as a result of that purchase, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, except that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities;

 

3. Senior Securities. The Fund may not issue senior securities or borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act and then not in excess of 33% of the Fund’s total assets (including the amount of the senior securities issued but reduced by any liabilities not constituting senior securities) at the time of the issuance or borrowing, except that the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets (not including the amount borrowed) for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund will not purchase securities when borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets;

 

4. Loans. The Fund may not make loans, except if collateral values are continuously maintained at no less than 100% by “marking to market” daily and through loans of securities or through repurchase agreements, provided that, for purposes of this

 

 

restriction, the acquisition of bonds, debentures, other debt securities or instruments, or participations or other interest therein and investments in government obligations, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or similar instruments will not be considered the making of a loan;

 

5. Underwriting. The Fund may not engage in the business of underwriting the securities of others, except to the extent that the Fund might be considered an underwriter under the federal securities laws in connection with its disposition of securities;

 

6. Real Estate. The Fund may not purchase or sell real property, including real estate limited partnership interests, except that investments in securities of issuers that invest in real estate or other instruments supported by interests in real estate are not subject to this limitation, and except that the Fund may exercise rights under agreements relating to such securities, including the right to enforce security interests to hold real estate acquired by reason of such enforcement until that real estate can be liquidated in an orderly manner; or

 

7. Commodities. The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of owning securities or other instruments, but the Fund may purchase, sell or enter into financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

 

The following investment limitations are not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval:

 

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

 

2.           Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings representing more than 5% of its total assets are outstanding. The Fund will not invest in reverse repurchase agreements.

 

3.           Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.” This limitation does not apply to short term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options and other permitted investments and techniques.

 

4.             Short Sales. The Fund will not effect short sales except that the Fund may (a) sell short (“against the box”) and (b) maintain short positions in connection with its

 

 

use of financial options and futures, forward and spot currency contracts, swap transactions and other financial contracts or derivative instruments.

 

5.           Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not purchase illiquid securities which cannot be sold in the ordinary course of business or due to contractual or legal restrictions on resale.

 

6.         Other Investment Companies. The Fund will not purchase securities of other investment companies except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

7.        Control. The Fund will not invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control or management.

 

8.         Oil, Gas and Other Minerals. The Fund will not invest in oil, gas or mineral exploration or development programs or leases, except that investment in securities of issuers that invest in such programs or leases and investments in asset-backed securities supported by receivables generated by such programs or leases are not subject to this prohibition.

 

9.         Warrants. The Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in warrants, and no more than 2% in warrants which are not listed on the New York or American Stock Exchanges, except for warrants acquired as a result of its holdings of common stocks.

 

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

 

The Fund’s investment advisor is Polynous Capital Management, Inc., One Pine Street, Suite 2208, San Francisco, California 94111, (800) 924-3863 or (415) 956-3384. Kevin L. Wenck owns 100% of the Advisor and, as such, may be deemed to control the Advisor due to his ownership of the Advisor.

 

Under the terms of the advisory agreement (the “Agreement”), the Advisor manages the Fund’s investments subject to approval of the Board of Trustees. For providing investment advisory services, the Fund pays the Advisor a monthly fee at the following annual rates: 1.00% on net assets of $100 million and below; 0.75% on the next $150 million; 0.60% on the next $250 million; 0.50% on the next $500 million; and 0.40% on all net asset amounts above $1 billion. The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and/or reimburse expenses in order to keep the Fund’s total annual operating expenses at 1.90% through November 30, 2005, and, thereafter, at 1.95% for the period December 1, 2005 through November 30, 2006. The Advisor’s obligation to reimburse expenses excludes brokerage costs, borrowing costs (such as interest and dividends on securities sold short), taxes, and extraordinary expenses. Any waiver or reimbursement by the advisor is subject to repayment by the Fund within the three fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the expenses occurred, if the Fund is able to make the repayment without exceeding its current expense limitations.

 

 

 

 

The following table describes the advisory fees paid to the Advisor by the Predecessor Fund during the last three fiscal periods.

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Fiscal Year Ended

Advisory Fees Earned

Fund Expenses Waived and/or Reimbursed by Advisor

Advisory Fees Paid (after fee waiver)

July 31, 2003

$54,813

($84,944)

 

$0

July 31, 2004

$76,376

($71,112)

 

$5,264

July 31, 2005

$80,747

($83,191)

$0

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The Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) was approved by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or interested parties to the Agreement (collectively, the “Independent Trustees” and, each an “Independent Trustee”) at an in-person meeting held on September 12, 2005, and a subsequent meeting on September 21, 2005. The Trustees reviewed and discussed reports comparing the performance and expenses of the Fund to the performance and expenses of several other funds with similar objectives and asset levels. The Board then reviewed the materials provided by the Advisor in advance of the meeting, which included, among other items, a description of the Advisor’s business and any personnel changes, and description of the compensation received by the Advisor from the Fund and a discussion of the Advisor’s profitability. The Trustees also reviewed current financial statements for the Advisor and the Advisor’s Form ADV Part II, which discusses the Advisor’s policies and procedures regarding best execution, trade allocation, soft dollars, Code of Ethics and insider trading, and a representation from the Advisor that it is not involved in any material legal or securities enforcement proceedings.

 

In determining whether to approve the Agreement, the Trustees primarily considered that: (1) the Advisor has successfully managed the Predecessor Fund since its inception in 1996; (2) the Fund has outperformed its benchmark for the past one, three and five years, and has outperformed its peer group during the past year; (3) although the Fund’s expenses after reimbursement and/or waiver are higher than the average of its peer group, the Fund’s expenses are lower than the maximum charged by other advisors in the Fund’s peer group and the Advisor has a time intensive management style that justifies the higher management fee; (5) the Advisor has agreed to cap the Fund’s total operating expenses at 1.95% of average daily net assets for the next fiscal year; (6) the Advisor engages in soft dollar arrangements pursuant to which mutual fund brokerage is directed to a broker-dealer in exchange for research services that benefit the Advisor in providing portfolio management services to the Fund; and (7) the Fund has a small asset base and, therefore, requiring breakpoints in the management fee based on increased assets not yet realized would not be necessary at this time. As a result of their considerations, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, unanimously determined that the Management Agreement (with the expense

 

 

cap agreement) is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Under the Management Agreement, the Advisor is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its duties and obligations thereunder.

The Agreement is terminable with respect to the Fund by vote of the Board of Trustees or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, at any time without penalty, on 60 days written notice to the Advisor. The Advisor may also terminate its advisory relationship with respect to the Fund on 60 days written notice to the Fund. The Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

The Advisor may make payments to banks or other financial institutions that sell Fund shares, provide shareholder services or administer shareholder accounts. If a bank or other financial institution were prohibited from continuing to perform all or a part of such services, management of the Fund believes that there would be no material impact on the Fund or its shareholders. Banks may charge their customers fees for offering these services to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory authorities, and the overall return to those shareholders availing themselves of the bank services will be lower than to those shareholders who do not. The Fund may from time to time purchase securities issued by banks which provide such services; however, in selecting investments for the Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.

Kevin L. Wenck, President of the Advisor, serves as the portfolio manager of the Fund solely responsible for making investment decisions for the Fund (“Portfolio Manager. As of July 31, 2005, the Portfolio Manager was responsible for management of the following types of accounts in addition to the Fund:

 

Account Type

Number of Accounts by Account Type

Total Assets By Account Type

Number of Accounts by Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Total Assets By Account Type Subject to a Performance Fee

Registered Investment Companies

0

N/A

0

 

N/A

Pooled Investment Vehicles

1

$1,268,603

0

 

N/A

Retail Accounts

0

N/A

0

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

As the sole owner of the Advisor, the Portfolio Manager is compensated through distributions of net profits of the Advisor, if any. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, the Portfolio Manager did not receive any compensation from the Advisor as a result of the Advisor having to absorb expenses, both with respect to the Fund and other accounts managed by the Advisor.

 

The Portfolio Manager provides investment advisory and other services to a client other than the Fund. In addition, the Portfolio Manager may carry on investment activities for his own account(s) and/or the accounts of family members. The Fund has no interest in these activities. As a result of the foregoing, the Portfolio Manager is engaged in substantial activities other than on behalf of the Fund, and may have differing economic interests in respect of such activities and may have conflicts of interest in allocating investment opportunities. For example, the Portfolio Manager may manage such other account on terms that are more favorable than the terms on which the Advisor manages the Fund, such as for a higher fee than the management fee received from the Fund.

 

There may be circumstances under which the Portfolio Manager will cause the other account to commit a larger percentage of its assets to an investment opportunity than the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Portfolio Manager commits to such investment. There also may be circumstances under which the Portfolio Manager purchases or sells an investment for the other account and does not purchase or sell the same investment for the Fund, or purchases or sells an investment for the Fund and does not purchase or sell the same investment for the other account.

 

However, it is generally the Advisor’s and the Portfolio Manager’s policy that investment decisions for all accounts that the Portfolio Manager manages be made based on a consideration of their respective investment objectives and policies, and other needs and requirements affecting the accounts and that investment transactions and opportunities be fairly allocated among the Fund and other accounts. For example, the Advisor has written policies and procedures with respect to allocation of block trades and/or investment opportunities among the Fund and the other client. When feasible, the Portfolio Manager will group or block various orders to more efficiently execute orders and receive reduced commissions in order to benefit the Fund and other account. Typically, purchases and sales are made on a pro rata average price per share basis. Moreover, because of the similarities in the investment strategies between the Fund and the other account, many of the Portfolio Manager’s duties overlap. As a result of combining responsibilities such as research and asset selection, the Portfolio Manger believes that he is able to provide both the Fund and the other account with more thorough research and higher quality asset selection.

 

As of July 31, 2005, the Portfolio Manager owned over $1 million in shares of the Fund.

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

 

The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed.

The following table provides information regarding the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).

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The following table provides information regarding the Independent Trustees.

 

Name, Address*, (Date of Birth), Position with Trust,** and Term of Position

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

and Other Directorships

Gary E. Hippenstiel (1947)

 

Independent Trustee, December 2002 to present

Director, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Legacy Trust Company, N.A. since 1992; Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from July 2002 to September 2005; Trustee of Access Variable Insurance Trust from April 2003 to August 2005; Trustee of AmeriPrime Funds from 1995 to July 2005; Trustee of CCMI Funds from June 2003 to March 2005.

Stephen A. Little (1946)

 

Chairman, December 2004 to present; Independent Trustee, December 2002 to present

President and founder of The Rose, Inc., a registered investment advisor, since April 1993; Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from November 2002 to September 2005; Trustee of AmeriPrime Funds from December 2002 to July 2005; Trustee of CCMI Funds from June 2003 to March 2005.

Daniel J. Condon (1950)

 

Independent Trustee, December 2002 to present

President of International Crankshaft Inc., an automotive equipment manufacturing company, since 2004, Vice President and General Manager from 1990 to 2003; Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from November 2002 to September 2005; Trustee of The Unified Funds from 1994 to 2002; Trustee of Firstar Select Funds, a REIT mutual fund, from 1997 to 2000; Trustee of AmeriPrime Funds from December 2002 to July 2005; Trustee of CCMI Funds from June 2003 to March 2005.

*

The address for each trustee is 431 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

** The Trust currently consists of 34 series.

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The Trust’s audit committee consists of the Independent Trustees. The audit committee is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

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

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Name, Address*, (Date of Birth), Position with Trust,** and Term of Position

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

and Other Directorships

Ronald C. Tritschler (1952)***

 

Trustee, December 2002 to present

Chief Executive Officer, Director and Legal Counsel of The Webb Companies, a national real estate company, since 2001, Executive Vice President and Director from 1990 to 2000; Director of First State Financial since 1998; Director, Vice President and Legal Counsel of The Traxx Companies, an owner and operator of convenience stores, since 1989; Trustee of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from November 2002 to September 2005; Trustee of AmeriPrime Funds from December 2002 to July 2005; Trustee of CCMI Funds from June 2003 to March 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony J. Ghoston (1959)

 

President, July 2004 to present

President of Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Trust’s administrator, since June 2005, Executive Vice President from June 2004 to June 2005, Senior Vice President from April 2003 to June 2004; Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Unified Financial Services, Inc., the parent company of the Trust’s administrator and distributor, from 1997 to November 2004; President of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from July 2004 to September 2005; President of AmeriPrime Funds from July 2004 to July 2005; President of CCMI Funds from July 2004 to March 2005.

Freddie Jacobs, Jr., CPA (1970)

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, July 2005 to present

 

Vice President of Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Trust’s administrator, since December 2003; Assistant Vice President of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services LLC from 2000 to December 2003, Trust Officer from 1998 to 2000; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from July 2005 to September 2005; Secretary of AmeriPrime Funds and AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from September 2004 to June 2005; Secretary of CCMI Funds from September 2004 to March 2005; Principal Accounting Officer of Lindbergh Funds from February 2004 to February 2005.

Lynn E. Wood (1946)

 

Chief Compliance Officer, October 2004 to present

Chief Compliance Officer of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from October 2004 to September 2005; Chief Compliance Officer of AmeriPrime Funds from October 2004 to July 2005; Chief Compliance Officer of CCMI Funds from October 2004 to March 2005; Chief Compliance Officer of Unified Financial Securities, Inc., the Trust’s distributor, from December 2004 to October 2005 and from 1997 to 2000, Chairman from 1997 to December 2004, President from 1997 to 2000; Director of Compliance of Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Trust’s administrator, from October 2003 to September 2004; Chief Compliance Officer of Unified Financial Services, Inc., the parent company of the Trust’s administrator and distributor, from 2000 to 2004.

Heather A. Barnes (1975)

Secretary, July 2005 to present

Employed by Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Trust’s administrator, since January 2004 and from December 1999 to January 2002; Regional Administrative Assistant of The Standard Register Company from February 2003 to January 2004; Full time student at Indiana University from January 2002 to June 2002; Secretary of AmeriPrime Advisors Trust from July 2005 to September 2005.

*

The address for each of the trustees and officers is 431 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

** The Trust currently consists of 34 series.

*** Mr. Tritschler may be deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust because he has an ownership interest in Unified Financial Services, Inc., the parent of the distributor of certain series in the Trust.

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The following table provides information regarding shares of the Fund and other portfolios of the Fund Complex owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2004.

 

 

Trustee

 

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares of All Funds Within the Trust*

Gary E. Hippenstiel

None

None

Ronald Tritschler

None

None

Stephen Little

None

None

Daniel Condon

None

None

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* The Trust currently consists of 34 series.

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Set forth below are estimates of the annual compensation to be paid to the Trustees and officers by each series in the Fund Complex on an individual basis and by the Fund

 

 

Complex on an aggregate basis. Trustees’ and officers’ fees and expenses of the Trust are Fund Complex expenses and each series incurs its expenses at the same rate.

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Independent Trustees

Aggregate Compensation

from the Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from Trust*

Gary E. Hippenstiel, Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee

$ 1,059

$0

$0

$36,000

Stephen A. Little, Chairman of the Board

$1,059

$0

$0

$36,000

Daniel Condon, Trustee

$706

$0

$0

$24,000

Non-Independent Trustees and Officers

Aggregate Compensation

from the Fund

Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued As Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from Trust*

Ronald C. Tritschler, Trustee

$706

$0

$0

$24,000

Anthony Ghoston, President and CEO

$0

$0

$0

$0

Freddie Jacobs, CFO and Treasurer

$0

$0

$0

$0

Lynn Wood, Chief Compliance Officer

$4,265

$0

$0

$145,000

Heather Barnes, Secretary

$0

$0

$0

$0

 

* The Trust currently consists of 34 series.

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

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A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund or acknowledges the existence of such control. As a controlling shareholder, each of these persons could control the outcome of any proposal submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Fund’s fundamental policies or the terms of the management agreement with the Advisor. As of November 15, 2005, the following persons were deemed to be control persons or principal holders of securities of the Predecessor Fund:

 

Name and Address

 

% Ownership

Type of Ownership

Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust 

1013 Centre Road

Wilmington, DE 19805

26.84%

Record

AmeriTrade Inc.

P.O. Box 2226

 

9.77%

Record

Legent Clearing

9300 Underwood Ave.

 

6.32%

Record

Richard & Lynda Hynan Trust

15 Vista Sole Street

CA 92629

5.82%

Beneficial

 

As of November 15, 2005, the Trustees and Officers of the Fund as a group beneficially owned less than 1% of the Predecessor Fund.

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PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

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The Fund may sell portfolio securities without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment considerations warrant such action. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is a measure of the Fund’s portfolio activity, and is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of securities by the average value of the portfolio securities held during the period. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions. For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2004 and 2005, the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 418.73% and 275.53%, respectively.

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

 

 

 

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees, the Advisor is responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions for the Fund, the Advisor uses its best efforts to ensure that the best available price and most favorable execution are obtained. In evaluating price and execution, the Advisor takes into account factors such as the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread, execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer, and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Advisor generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

 

The following table provides information regarding the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Predecessor Fund during the last three fiscal years:

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Fiscal Year End

Brokerage Commissions Paid

 

July 31, 2003

$109,467

July 31, 2004

$222,833

July 31, 2005

$162,070

 

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

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For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, the Predecessor Fund directed the following brokerage transactions to brokers due to research services provided by such brokers to the Predecessor Fund:

Brokerage Transactions Directed Relating to Research Services

Brokerage Commissions Paid Relating to Research Services

 

$41,836,998

$162,070

 

</r>

 

Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Advisor in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Advisor, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the

 

 

research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Advisor that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Advisor of performing its duties to the Fund under the Agreement.

 

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

 

When the Fund and another of the Advisor’s clients seek to purchase or sell the same security at or about the same time, the Advisor may execute the transaction on a combined (“blocked”) basis. Blocked transactions can produce better execution for the Fund because of the increased volume of the transaction. If the entire blocked order is not filled, the Fund may not be able to acquire as large a position in such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price for the security. Similarly, the Fund may not be able to obtain as large an execution of an order to sell, or as high a price for any particular portfolio security, if the other client desires to sell the same portfolio security at the same time. In the event that the entire blocked order is not filled, the purchase or sale will normally be allocated in a manner deemed equitable by the Advisor, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts, the amount being purchased or sold and other factors deemed relevant by the Advisor.

 

The Trust, the Advisor and the distributor each have adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Rule 17j-1 Code”) pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, and the Advisor’s Code of Ethics also conforms to Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The personnel subject to the Codes are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. You may obtain a copy of the Code from the Fund or the Advisor, free of charge, by calling the Fund Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069. You may also obtain copies of the Trust’s Code from documents filed with the SEC and available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Fund is required to include a schedule of portfolio holdings in its annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, which is sent to shareholders within 60 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters and which is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR within 70 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Fund also is required to file a schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund must provide a copy of the complete schedule of portfolio holdings as filed with the SEC to any shareholder of the Fund, upon request, free of charge. This policy is applied uniformly to all shareholders of the Fund without regard to the type of requesting shareholder (i.e., regardless of whether the shareholder is an individual or institutional investor).

 

The Fund releases portfolio holdings to third party servicing agents on a daily basis in order for those parties to perform their duties on behalf of the Fund. These third party

 

 

servicing agents include the Advisor, Distributor, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent, Administrator and Custodian. The Fund also may disclose portfolio holdings, as needed, to auditors, legal counsel, proxy voting services (if applicable), printers, pricing services, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisors or sub-advisors. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel or prospective sub-advisors at any time. This information is disclosed to all such third parties under conditions of confidentiality. “Conditions of confidentiality” include (i) confidentiality clauses in written agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential. Third party servicing agents generally are subject to an independent obligation not to trade on confidential information under their code of ethics and/or as a result of common law precedents; however, the Fund does not require an independent confirmation from the third parties that they will not trade on the confidential information.

 

Additionally, the Fund may enter into ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings to Morningstar, Inc., Lipper, Inc., Bloomberg, Standard & Poor’s, Thompson Financial and Vickers-Stock (“Rating Agencies”) in order for those organizations to assign a rating or ranking to the Fund.  In these instances portfolio holdings will be supplied within approximately 25 days after the end of the month.  The Rating Agencies may make the Fund’s top portfolio holdings available on their websites and may make the Fund’s complete portfolio holdings available to their subscribers for a fee.  Neither the Fund, the Advisor nor any of their affiliates receive any portion of this fee.  Information released to Rating Agencies is not released under conditions of confidentiality nor is it subject to prohibitions on trading based on the information.  The Fund also may post its complete portfolio holdings to its website within approximately 25 days after the end of the month.  The information will remain posted on the website until replaced by the information for the succeeding month.  If the Fund’s website is, for some reason inoperable, the information will be supplied no more frequently than monthly and on a delayed basis. 

 

Except as described above, the Fund is prohibited from entering into any arrangements with any person to make available information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings without the prior authorization of the Chief Compliance Officer and the specific approval of the Board.  The Advisor must submit any proposed arrangement pursuant to which the Advisor intends to disclose the Fund’s portfolio holdings to the Board, which will review such arrangement to determine whether the arrangement is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. Additionally, the Advisor, and any affiliated persons of the Advisor, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Finally, the Fund will not disclose portfolio holdings as described above to third parties that the Fund knows will use the information for personal securities transactions.

 

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTION PLAN

 

Shares of the Fund are subject to a distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Distribution Plan”). As provided in the Distribution Plan, the Fund will pay an annual fee of 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets to reimburse the Fund’s distributor, Polynous Securities, LLC (the “Distributor”), for expenses in distributing shares and promoting sales of the Fund. From this amount, the Distributor may make payments to financial institutions and intermediaries such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors and broker-dealers as compensation for services, reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or provision of shareholder services.

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For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, the Predecessor Fund paid distribution fees of $20,185 under the Distribution Plan, relating to the following types of activities:

 

Activity

Amount

Allocation

Advertising/Marketing

$0

0%

Printing and Mailing Prospectus to potential investors

$0

0%

Compensation to Underwriter

$0

0%

Compensation to Broker-Dealers

$20,185

100%

Compensation to Sales Personnel

$0

0%

Interest, carrying, or other financing charges

$0

0%

Other

$0

0%

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The Fund intends to operate the Distribution Plan in accordance with its terms and pursuant to the rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. concerning sales charges.

 

The Trustees expect that the Distribution Plan could significantly enhance the Fund’s ability to expand distribution of shares of the Fund. It is also anticipated that an increase in the size of the Fund will facilitate more efficient portfolio management and assist the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective. The Distribution Plan will continue in effect from year to year, provided that each such continuance is approved at least annually by a vote of the Board of Trustees, including a majority vote of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such continuance. The Distribution Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the independent Trustees or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund on not more than 60 days, nor less than 30 days written notice to any other party to the Distribution Plan. Any amendment increasing the maximum percentage payable under the Distribution Plan must be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and all material amendments to the Distribution Plan or any related agreement must be approved by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the independent Trustees. The Distribution Plan will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. Pursuant to the Distribution Plan, the Board of Trustees will review at least quarterly a written report of the distribution expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund. The report will include an itemization of the distribution expenses and the purpose of such expenditures.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

 

 

 

The price (net asset value) of the shares of the Fund is determined at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business (the Exchange is closed on weekends, most federal holidays, and Good Friday). For a description of the methods used to determine the net asset value (share price), see “Determination of Net Asset Value” in the Prospectus.

Equity securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Advisor believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an exchange traded security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Advisor determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value or when restricted securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Advisor, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The fund accounting agent maintains a pricing review committee, which may seek valuation directly from an Independent Trustee if good faith pricing issues arise. Manually priced securities held by the Fund (if any) are reviewed by the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis.

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

 

The Fund’s net asset value 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, as shown below:

 

 

Net Assets

= Net Asset Value Per Share

 

Shares Outstanding

 

 

 

<r>

 

An example of how the Predecessor Fund calculated its net asset value per share as of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 is as follows:

 

 

$9,748,144          =

$13.28  

 

734,000

 

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REDEMPTION IN-KIND

 

The Fund does not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the amount you are redeeming is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net asset value, pursuant to a Rule 18f-1 plan filed by the Trust on behalf of the Fund, the Fund has the right to redeem your shares by giving you the amount that exceeds $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net asset value in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses, such as the payment of brokerage commissions, on the sale or other disposition of the securities received from the Fund.

 

STATUS AND TAXATION OF THE FUND

 

The Fund was organized as a series of a business trust, and intends to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) in each taxable year. There can be no assurance that it actually will so qualify. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, its dividend and capital gain distributions generally are subject only to a single level of taxation, to the shareholders. This differs from distributions of a regular business corporation which, in general, are taxed first as taxable income of the distributing corporation, and then again as dividend income of the shareholder.

 

If the Fund does qualify as a RIC but (in a particular tax year) distributes less than 98% of its ordinary income and its capital gain net income (as the Code defines each such term), the Fund is subject to an excise tax. The excise tax, if applicable, is 4% of the excess of the amount required to have been distributed over the amount actually distributed for the applicable year. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC, its income will be subject to taxation as a regular business corporation, without reduction by dividends paid to shareholders of the Fund.

 

To continue to qualify for treatment as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must, among other requirements:

 

 

Derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, and certain other income (including gains from options, futures, or forward contracts derived with respect to the RIC’s

 

 

business of investing in stock securities, or foreign currencies) (the “Income Requirement”);

 

Diversify its investments in securities within certain statutory limits; and

 

Distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally, taxable net investment income less net capital gain) (the “Distribution Requirement”).

 

The Fund may acquire zero coupon or other securities issued with original issue discount (including pay-in-kind securities). If it does so, the Fund will have to include in its income its share of the original issue discount that accrues on the securities during the taxable year, even if the Fund receives no corresponding payment on the securities during the year. Because the Fund annually must distribute (a) 98% of its ordinary income in order to avoid imposition of a 4% excise tax, and (b) 90% of its investment company taxable income, including any original issue discount, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, the Fund may be required in a particular year to distribute as a dividend an amount that is greater than the total amount of cash it actually receives. Those distributions would be made from the Fund’s cash assets, if any, or from the sales of portfolio securities, if necessary. The Fund might realize capital gains or losses from any such sales, which would increase or decrease the Fund’s investment company taxable income and/or net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss).

 

Fund distributions received by your qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, are generally tax-deferred; this means that you are not required to report Fund distributions on your income tax return when paid to your plan, but, rather, when your plan makes payments to you or your beneficiary. Special rules apply to payouts from Roth and Education IRAs.

 

The portion of the dividends the Fund pays that does not exceed the aggregate dividends it receives from U.S. corporations will be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations; however, dividends received by a corporate shareholder and deducted by it pursuant to the dividends received deduction are subject indirectly to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

If you are a non-retirement plan holder, the Fund will send you a Form 1099 each year that tells you the amount of distributions you received for the prior calendar year, the tax status of those distributions, and a list of reportable sale transactions. Generally, the Fund’s distributions are taxable to you in the year you received them. However, any dividends that are declared in October, November or December but paid in January are taxable as if received in December of the year they are declared. Investors should be careful to consider the tax consequences of buying shares shortly before a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time may reflect the amount of the anticipated distribution. However, any such distribution will be taxable to the purchaser of the shares and may result in a decline in the share value by the amount of the distribution.

 

 

 

 

If shares of the Fund are sold at a loss after being held by a shareholder for six months or less, the loss will be treated as long-term, instead of a short-term, capital loss to the extent of any capital gain distributions received on such shares.

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The Fund’s net realized capital gains from securities transactions will be distributed only after reducing such gains by the amount of any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital losses may be carried forward to offset any capital gains for eight years, after which any undeducted capital loss remaining is lost as a deduction. As of July 31, 2005, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards of $3,887,172, of which $1,623,152 expires in 2008, $1,539,782 expires in 2009, and $724,238 expires in 2011.

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The foregoing is only a summary of some of the important federal income tax considerations affecting the Fund and its shareholders and is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors for more detailed information regarding the above and for information regarding federal, state, local and foreign taxes.

 

CUSTODIAN

 

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

 

FUND SERVICES

 

Unified Fund Services, Inc. (“Unified”), 431 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, acts as the Fund’s transfer agent. A Trustee and the officers of the Trust are members of management and/or employees of Unified and/or shareholders of Unified Financial Services, Inc. (“UFS”), the parent company of Unified. Unified maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other transfer agent and shareholder service functions. Unified receives a monthly fee of $1.25 per shareholder account (subject to various monthly minimum fees, the maximum being $1,250 per month for assets of $10 million or more).

 

In addition, Unified provides the Fund with fund accounting services, which include certain monthly reports, record-keeping and other management-related services. For its services as fund accountant, Unified receives an annual fee equal to 0.05% of the Fund’s assets up to $50 million, 0.04% of the Fund’s assets from $50 million to $100 million, and 0.03% of the Fund’s assets over $100 million (subject to various monthly minimum fees, the maximum being $1,667 per month for assets of $10 million or more).

 

 

 

 

Unified also provides the Fund with administrative services, including all regulatory reporting and necessary office equipment, personnel and facilities. Unified receives a monthly fee equal to an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s assets under $50 million, 0.07% of the Fund’s assets from $50 million to $100 million, and 0.05% of the Fund’s assets over $100 million (subject to a minimum fee of $2,500 per month).

 

The following table provides information regarding fees paid by the Predecessor Fund to Unified during the last three fiscal years in connection with its transfer agency, fund accounting and administrative services.

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Fiscal Year Ended 7/31/05

Fiscal Year Ended 7/31/04

Fiscal Year Ended 7/31/03

Transfer Agent Fees

$24,313

$24,521

$22,647

Fund Accounting Fees

$18,000

$18,000

$16,000

Administrative Services Fees

$30,000

$29,583

$30,000

 

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

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The firm of Cohen McCurdy, Ltd., 826 Westpoint Parkway, Suite 1250, Westlake, Ohio 44145, has been selected as independent registered public accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2006. Cohen McCurdy, Ltd. performs an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides financial, tax and accounting consulting services as requested.

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

Polynous Securities, LLC, One Pine Street, Suite 2208, San Francisco, California 94111 serves as the Fund’s Distributor. The Distributor is considered an affiliated company, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, of the Advisor because both are deemed to be under the common control of Kevin Wenck due to his ownership interest in each company. The Distributor serves the limited purpose of facilitating the registration of shares of the Fund under state securities laws and assisting in the sale of shares. The Distributor is obligated to sell the shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis only against purchase orders for the shares. Shares of the Fund are offered to the public on a continuous basis.

 

The following table provides information regarding the commission paid by the Predecessor Fund to the Distributor during the last three fiscal years in connection with distribution services.

<r>

Fiscal Year End

Amount Paid on Sale of Fund Shares

 

Amount Retained by Distributor

July 31, 2003

$19,407

$2,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 31, 2004

$19,036

$3,542

July 31, 2005

$1,929

$572

 

</r>

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

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

 

 

electing a board of directors – a board should be composed primarily of independent directors, and key board committees should be entirely independent. The Advisor generally supports efforts to declassify boards or other measures that permit shareholders to remove a majority of directors at any time;

 

approving independent auditors – the relationship between a company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit engagement;

 

providing equity-based compensation plans - appropriately designed equity-based compensation plans, approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of shareholders and the interests of directors, management, and employees by providing incentives to increase shareholder value. Conversely, the Advisor is opposed to plans that substantially dilute ownership interests in the company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have inherently objectionable structural features;

 

corporate voting structure - shareholders should have voting power equal to their equity interest in the company and should be able to approve or reject changes to a company’s by-laws by a simple majority vote. The Advisor opposes super-majority requirements and generally supports the ability of shareholders to cumulate their votes for the election of directors; and

 

shareholder rights plans - shareholder rights plans, also known as poison pills, may tend to entrench current management, which the Advisor generally considers to have a negative impact on shareholder value.

 

 

 

 

In some instances, the Advisor may be asked to cast a proxy vote that presents a conflict between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and those of the Advisor or an affiliated person of the Advisor. In such a case, the Trust’s policy requires that the Advisor abstain from making a voting decision and to forward all necessary proxy voting materials to the Trust to enable the Board of Trustees to make a voting decision. When the Board of Trustees of the Trust is required to make a proxy voting decision, only the Trustees without a conflict of interest with regard to the security in question or the matter to be voted upon shall be permitted to participate in the decision of how the Fund’s vote will be cast.

 

You may obtain a copy of the Trust’s and the Advisor’s proxy voting policy by calling Shareholder Services at (800) 528-8069 or by writing to Unified Fund Services, Inc., the Fund’s transfer agent, at 431 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Attn: Unified Series Trust Chief Compliance Officer. A copy of the policies will be mailed to you within three days of receipt of your request. You also may obtain a copy of the policies from Fund documents filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are filed by the Fund with the SEC on Form N-PX. The Fund’s proxy voting record is also available to shareholders free of charge upon request by calling or writing the Fund as described above or from the SEC’s web site.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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The financial statements and independent registered accountants’ report required to be included in this Statement of Additional Information are incorporated herein by reference to the Fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005. The Fund will provide the annual report without charge at written request or by calling the Fund at (800) 528-8069.

 

</r>

 

 

 

PART C. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 22.

Exhibits

<r>

 

(1)

(a)           Financial Statements included in Part A: Financial Highlights Table for the Polynous Growth Fund.

 

 

(b)

Financial Statements included in Part B: Audited Financial Statements for the Polynous Growth Fund.

</r>

 

(2)

(a)           Agreement and Declaration of Trust as filed with the State of Ohio on October 17, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s initial registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 21, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(b)

By-laws adopted as of October 17, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s initial registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 21, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders – None.

 

 

(d)

Investment Advisory Contracts.

 

 

1.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Ariston Capital Management Corp. with regard to the ACM Convertible Securities Fund, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

2.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent with regard to the GJMB Growth Fund, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

3.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with GLOBALT, Inc. with regard to the GLOBALT Growth Fund, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

4.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc. (“Spectrum”) with regard to the Marathon Value Portfolio, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

5.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC with regard to the StoneRidge Equity Fund, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

6.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC with regard to the StoneRidge Small Cap Growth Fund, approved December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

7.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Becker Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the Becker Value Equity Fund, approved September 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 15, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

8.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Dreman Value Management, LLC with regard to the Dreman Contrarian Large Cap Value Fund, approved September 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated

 

 

September 12, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

9.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Dreman Value Management, LLC with regard to the Dreman Contrarian Mid Cap Value Fund, approved September 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 12, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

10.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Dreman Value Management, LLC with regard to the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund, approved September 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 12, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

11.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Crawford Investment Counsel, Inc. with regard to the Crawford Dividend Growth Fund approved December 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

12.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with IMS Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the IMS Capital Value Fund approved June 6, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

13.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with IMS Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the IMS Strategic Allocation Fund approved June 6, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

14.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with IMS Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the IMS Strategic Income Fund approved June 6, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

15.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Chinook Capital Management approved September 13, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

16.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Marco Investment Management, LLC with regard to the Marco Targeted Return Fund approved December 13, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 15, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

17.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Becker Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the Becker Small Cap

 

 

Value Equity Fund approved December 13, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 20, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

18.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Dobson Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the Dobson Covered Call Fund approved March 14, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 21, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

19.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Leader Capital Corporation with regard to the Leader Short-Term Bond Fund approved March 14, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated May 11, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

20.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Financial Counselors, Inc. with regard to the FCI Equity Fund approved June 13, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated June 15, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

21.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Financial Counselors, Inc. with regard to the FCI Bond Fund approved June 13, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated June 15, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

22.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Chicken Little Fund Group Inc. with regard to the Chicken Little Growth Fund approved June 13, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated June 16, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

23.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Archer Investment Corporation with regard to the Archer Balanced Fund approved June 13, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated July 27 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

24.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with The Roosevelt Investment Group with respect to the Bull Moose Growth Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

25.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Polynous Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the Polynous Growth Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

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(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Polynous Capital Management, Inc. regarding fee waiver and expense reimbursement with respect to the Polynous Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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26.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Iron Financial Management, Inc. with regard to Iron Market Opportunity Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Iron Market Financial Management, Inc. regarding fee waiver and expense reimbursement with respect to the Iron Market Opportunity Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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27.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation with regard to Monteagle Fixed Income Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation regarding fee waiver with respect to the Monteagle Fixed Income Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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28.

Copy of Sub-advisory Agreement between Nashville Capital Corporation and Howe & Rusling Inc. with regard to Monteagle Fixed Income Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

29.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation with regard to Monteagle Value Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation regarding fee waiver with respect to the Monteagle Value Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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30.

Copy of Sub-advisory Agreement between Nashville Capital Corporation and Robinson Investment Group, Inc. with regard to Monteagle Value Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

31.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation with regard to Monteagle Large Cap Growth Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Nashville Capital Corporation regarding fee waiver with respect to the Monteagle Large Cap Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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32.

Copy of Sub-advisory Agreement between Nashville Capital Corporation and Northstar Capital Management Inc. with regard to Monteagle Large Cap Growth Fund, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

33.

Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with SMI Advisors, LLC with regard to the Sound Mind Investing Fund approved August 29, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A August 6, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

34.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with Quixote Capital Management, LLC with regard to the QCM Absolute Return Fund approved August 29, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with Quixote Capital Management, LLC regarding fee waiver and expense reimbursement with respect to the QCM Absolute Return Fund - Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

35.

(a)     Copy of Registrant’s Management Agreement with The Symphony Wealth Management, Inc. with regard to The Symphony Wealth Management Ovation Fund approved August 29, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

Form of Side Letter Agreement with The Symphony Wealth Management regarding fee waiver and expense reimbursement with respect to The Symphony Wealth Management Ovation Fund - Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(e)

(1)           Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Registrant’s Distribution Agreement with Unified Financial Securities, Inc., dated December 18, 2002, as amended December 13, 2004 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Distribution Agreement among Registrant, Becker Capital Management, Inc. and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., dated October 17, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(3)

Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Distribution Agreement among Registrant, Dreman Value Management, LLC and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., dated October 17, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(4)

Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Distribution Agreement among Registrant, Crawford Investment Counsel, Inc. and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., approved December 7, 2003 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(5)

Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Distribution Agreement among Registrant, Leader Capital Corporation and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., approved March 14, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated May 11, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(6)

Underwriting Contracts. Copy of Distribution Agreement among Registrant, Polynous Securities, LLC, approved September 12, 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(f)

Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – None.

 

 

(g)

(1)           Custodian Agreement. Copy of Registrant’s Custodian Agreement with Huntington National Bank, dated December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-

 

 

1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(2)

Custodian Agreement. Copy of Registrant’s Custodian Agreement with U.S. Bank, N.A., dated September 2005 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

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(h)

(1)           Other Material Contracts. Mutual Fund Services Agreement between Registrant and Unified Fund Services, Inc., dated December 18, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

(a)           Sub-Administration Agreement by and among Unified Fund Services, Inc., Nashville Capital Corporation and First Farmers & Merchants Bank of Columbia, Tennessee with regard to the Monteagle Funds, dated as of September 23, 2005.

 

 

(b)

Letter Agreement between Nashville Capital Corporation and First Farmers & Merchants Bank of Columbia, Tennessee with regard to the Monteagle Funds waiving fees for 2006 fiscal year.

 

 

(i)

Legal Opinion and Consent – None.

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(j)

Other Opinions – Consent of McCurdy & Associates issued in connection with use of the audited financial statements of Polynous Growth Fund – Filed herewith.

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(k)

Omitted Financial Statements – None.

 

 

(l)

Initial Capital Agreements. Copy of Letter of Investment Intent from Unified Fund Services, Inc., dated December 30, 2002 – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(m)

(1)               Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for the ACM Convertible Securities Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 31, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for each of Dreman Contrarian Large Cap Value Fund, the Dreman Contrarian Mid Cap Value Fund and the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 12, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

(3)

Copy of Distribution Coordination Agreement for each of the Dreman Contrarian Large Cap Value Fund, the Dreman Contrarian Mid Cap Value Fund and the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 12, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(4)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Crawford Dividend Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(5)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Chinook Emerging Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(6)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Leader Short-Term Bond Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(7)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Dobson Covered Call Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 21, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(8)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Chicken Little Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated June 16, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(9)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for Archer Balanced Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated July 27, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(10)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for the Bull Moose Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(11)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for the Polynous Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 5, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(12)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for FCI Equity Fund and FCI Bond Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 30, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(13)

Copy of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan for QCM Absolute Return Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

(14)

Copy of Distribution Coordination Agreement for each of The Symphony Wealth Management Ovation Fund Class A and Class C shares – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(n) (1)

Copy of Rule 18f-3 Plan for Crawford Dividend Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

Copy of Rule 18f-3 Plan for The Symphony Wealth Management Ovation Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(o)

Reserved.

 

 

(p)

(1)          Registrant’s Amended Code of Ethics – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

Code of Ethics for Senior Executive Officers – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(q)

(1)          Registrant’s Revised Proxy Voting Policy – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(2)

ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines adopted by Becker Capital Management, Inc. - Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(3)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Dreman Value Management, LLC – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(4)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Crawford Investment Counsel, Inc. – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 29, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(5)

Glass Lewis & Co. Proxy Voting Guidelines as adopted by GLOBALT, Inc. with regard to the GLOBALT Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated February 25, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

 

(6)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc. – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated February 27, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(7)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Ariston Capital Management Corp. – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated March 3, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(8)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent with regard to the GJMB Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated May 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(9)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by IMS Capital Management, Inc. with regard to each of the IMS Funds – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(10)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Chinook Capital Management with regard to the Chinook Emerging Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated December 13, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(11)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Marco Investment Management, LLC with regard to the Marco Targeted Return Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated October 15, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(12)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Leader Capital Corporation with regard to the Leader Short-Term Bond Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(13)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Dobson Capital Management, Inc. with regard to the Dobson Covered Call Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated April 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(14)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Financial Counselors, Inc. with regard to each of the FCI Funds – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on

 

 

Form N-1A dated June 15, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(15)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Chicken Little Fund Group, Inc. with regard to the Chicken Little Growth Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated July 27, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(16)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Archer Investment Corporation with regard to the Archer Balanced Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated July 27, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

(17)

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures adopted by Quixote Capital Management, LLC with regard to the QCM Absolute Return Fund – Filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated August 22, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Item 23.

Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant

 

 

None.

 

Item 24.

Indemnification

 

Article VI, Section 6.4 of the Declaration of Trust of Unified Series Trust, an Ohio business trust, provides that:

 

Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, etc. Subject to and except as otherwise provided in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the 1940 Act, the Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees and officers (including persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) against all liabilities, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and expenses, including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees, incurred by any Covered Person in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or legislative body, in which such Covered Person may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which such person may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Trustee or officer, director or trustee, and except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office.

 

 

 

 

 

Item 25.

Business and Other Connections of the Investment Advisers

 

 

1.

Archer Investment Corporation (“Archer”) serves as investment adviser to the Archer Balanced Fund, a series of Registrant. Mr. Troy Patton is the Managing Director of Archer. Further information about Archer can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I filed via the NASDR’s CRD/IARD system, and available on the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure Website (“IAPD”).

 

 

2.

Ariston Capital Management Corp (“Ariston”) serves as the investment adviser for the ACM Convertible Securities Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. Richard B. Russell serves as President of Ariston and Mr. Daniel P. Jacoy as Vice President. Further information about Ariston and its officers can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on IAPD.

 

 

3.

Becker Capital Management, Inc. (“Becker”) serves as the investment adviser for the Becker Value Equity Fund and the Becker Small Cap Value Equity Fund, each a series of the Trust. Patrick E. Becker serves as the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Becker. Further information about Becker can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

4.

Crawford Investment Counsel, Inc. (“Crawford”) serves as the investment adviser for the Crawford Dividend Growth Fund, a series of the Trust. John H. Crawford III serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of Crawford. Further information about Crawford can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

5.

Chicken Little Fund Group, Inc. (“CLG”) serves as investment adviser to the Chicken Little Growth Fund, a series of Registrant. Mr. Stephen Coleman serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of CLG. Further information about CLG can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I of CLG available on the IAPD.

 

 

6.

Chinook Capital Management serves as the investment adviser to the Chinook Emerging Growth Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. Gregory Houser is a managing member of Chinook. Further information about Chinook can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

7.

Dobson Capital Management, Inc. serves as investment adviser to the Dobson Covered Call Fund, a series of Registrant. Mr. Charles Dobson serves as President of Dobson. Further information about Dobson can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I of Dobson available on the IAPD.

 

 

8.

Dreman Value Management, LLC (“Dreman”) serves as the investment adviser for the Dreman Contrarian Large Cap Value

 

 

Fund, the Dreman Contrarian Mid Cap Value Fund and the Dreman Contrarian Small Cap Value Fund, each a series of the Trust. Mr. David Dreman is the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Dreman. Further information about Dreman can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

9.

Financial Counselors, Inc. (“FCI”) serves as the investment adviser to the FCI Equity Fund and FCI Bond Fund, each a series of the Trust. Mr. Robert T. Hunter serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of FCI. Further information about FCI can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

10.

Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent (“GJMB”) serves as the investment adviser for the GJMB Growth Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. Thomas W. Bent serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Christopher E. Morphy as President, and David M. Davis as Chief Operations Officer. Ashley A. Jones and Alison Gamble are both partners of GJMB. Further information about GJMB, its officers and partners can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on IAPD.

 

 

11.

GLOBALT, Inc. serves as the investment adviser for the GLOBALT Growth Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. Henry W. Roach serves as the President of GLOBALT, Samuel E. Allen as Chief Executive Officer, Arthur F. Mann as Chief Financial Officer. Further information about GLOBALT and all its officers can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

12.

Howe & Rusling, Inc. (“H&R”) serves as sub-adviser to Monteagle Fixed Income Fund. Mr. Thomas Rusling is the Senior Investment Officer of H&R. Further information about H&R can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

13.

IMS Capital Management, Inc.(“IMS”) serves as the investment adviser to the IMS Capital Value Fund, IMS Strategic Allocation Fund and IMS Strategic Income Fund, each a series of the Trust. Mr. Carl W. Marker serves as Chairman and President of IMS. Further information about IMS can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

14.

Iron Financial Management, Inc. serves as investment advisor to the Iron Market Opportunity Fund. Mr. Aaron Izenstark is the President, while Mr. Richard Lakin is the Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operations Officer of Iron Financial. Further information about Iron Financial can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

15.

Leader Capital Corporation (“Leader”) serves as the investment

 

 

advisor to the Leader Short-Term Bond Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. John E. Lekas serves as President of Leader. Further information about Leader can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

16.

Marco Investment Management, LLC serves as the investment advisor to the Marco Targeted Return Fund, a series of the Trust. Mr. Steven S. Marco is the Managing Member. Further information about Marco can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

17.

Nashville Capital Corporation (“NCC”) serves as investment advisor to each of Monteagle Large Cap Growth Fund, Monteagle Value Fund and Monteagle Fixed Income Fund, each a series of Registrant. Mr. Lawrence Catlett is the President of NCC. Further information about NCC can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

18.

Northstar Capital Management, Inc. (“Northstar”) serves as sub-advisor to Monteagle Large Cap Growth Fund. Mr. H. Kent Mergler is the Chairman, and Mr. Stephen Mergler is the President, of Northstar. Further information about Northstar can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

19.

Polynous Capital Management, Inc. (“Polynous”) serves as investment advisor to the Polynous Growth Fund. Mr. Kevin Wenck is the President of Polynous. Further information about Polynous can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

20.

Quixote Capital Management, LLC (“Quixote”) serves as investment advisor to the QCM Absolute Return Fund, a series of Registrant. Mr. Troy Johnson, and Mr. Jerry Pal are both principals of Quixote. Further information about Quixote can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I of Quixote available on the IAPD.

 

 

21.

Robinson Investment Group, Inc. (“Robinson”) serves as sub-advisor to Monteagle Value Fund. Mr. Russell Robinson is the President of Robinson. Further information about Robinson can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

22.

SMI Advisory Services, LLC (“SMI”) serves as investment advisor to the Sound Mind Investing Fund, a series of Registrant. Mr. Eric Collier, Mr. Mark Biller, and Mr. Anthony Ayers are all principals of SMI. Further information about SMI can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I of SMI available on the IAPD.

 

 

23.

Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc. (“Spectrum”) serves as the investment advisor for the Marathon Value Portfolio, a series of

 

 

the Trust. Mr. Marc Heilweil serves as President of Spectrum. Further information about Spectrum and Mr. Heilweil can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

24.

StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC (“SIPL”) serves as the investment advisor for the StoneRidge Equity Fund and the StoneRidge Small Cap Growth Fund, each a series of the Trust. Mr. James E. Minnick is the Manager of SIPL and Mr. Dennis C. Haynes the Chief Operating Officer. Messieurs Philip H. Brown, Joseph E. Stocke, Daniel Cook, Todd L. Rich and Christopher A. Thorsheim are all managing directors of SIPL. Further information about SIPL can be obtained from the Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

25.

The Roosevelt Investment Group (“Roosevelt”) serves as investment advisor to the Bull Moose Growth Fund. Mr. Arthur Sheer serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Roosevelt. Further information about Roosevelt can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

26.

The Symphony Wealth Management (“Symphony”) serves as investment advisor to The Symphony Wealth Management Ovation Fund. Mr. Chris Bach serves as the President of Symphony, Dr. William Breen is the Chief Investment Officer and Mr. James Breen is the Chief Portfolio Manager. Further information about Symphony can be obtained from its Form ADV Part I available on the IAPD.

 

 

Item 26.

Principal Underwriters

 

 

Unified Financial Securities, Inc. Unified Financial Securities, Inc. serves as the principal underwriter for the Trust

 

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(a)

Unified Financial Securities, Inc. also serves as a principal underwriter for the following investment companies:  American Pension Investors Trust, Ancora Funds, Eastern Point Advisors Funds, Sparrow Funds, TrendStar Investment Trust, TANAKA Funds, Inc, and Weldon Capital Funds, Inc.

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(b)

The directors and officers of Unified Financial are as follows:

 

 

Name

Title

Position with Trust

Gregory S. Drose                      

President

None

Thomas G. Napurano

Director, CFO and Exec. Vice President

 

None

Stephen D. Highsmith, Jr.

Director and Senior Vice President

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

D. Eric McKenzie              

 

Assistant Vice President

 

None

Karyn E. Cunningham

Controller

None

 

Terry Gallagher

Chief Compliance Officer

None

 

 

(c)

Not applicable.

 

Item 27.

Location of Accounts and Records

 

Unified Fund Services, Inc.

431 N. Pennsylvania Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

Will maintain physical possession of the accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Rule 31a-(b)(1), 31a-1(b)(2), and 31a-1(b)(4) through 31a-1(b)(11).

 

 

Huntington National Bank

41 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43215 

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

425 Walnut Street

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

Will maintain physical possession of accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by Rule 31(b)(3) for each separate series for which the entity acts as custodian.

 

Unified Financial Securities, Inc.

431 N. Pennsylvania Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

Polynous Securities, LLC

One Pine Street, Suite 2208

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

Will maintain physical possession of the accounts, books, and other documents required to be maintained by a principal underwriter under by Rule 31a-1(d) for each separate series for which the entity acts as principal underwriter.

 

 

Archer Investment Corporation

 

7970 Clearwater Court

 

Indianapolis, IN 46256

 

Ariston Capital Management Corp

 

 

 

 

40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Suite 220

Bellevue, Washington 98005

 

Becker Capital Management, Inc.

 

1211 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2185

Portland, OR 97204

 

 

Chicken Little Fund Group, Inc.

 

1310 Papin Street, Suite 104

 

St. Louis, MO 63103

 

Chinook Capital Management

 

4380 SW Macadam Ave

 

Suite 250

 

 

Portland, OR 97239

 

 

Crawford Investment Counsel, Inc.

100 Galleria Parkway

Suite 980

Atlanta, GA 30339

 

 

Dobson Capital Management, Inc.

 

1422 S. Van Ness Street

 

Santa Ana, California 92707

 

Dreman Value Management, LLC

 

520 East Cooper Avenue

 

Suite 230-4

 

Aspen, CO 81611

 

 

Financial Counselors, Inc.

 

442 West 47th Street

 

Kansas City, Missouri

 

Gamble, Jones, Morphy & Bent

301 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 802

Pasadena, California 91101

 

GERONIMO Partners Asset Management, LLC

700 17th Street, 24th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

 

GLOBALT, Inc.

3060 Peachtree Road, N.W.

One Buckhead Plaza, Suite 225

Atlanta, Georgia 30305

 

Howe & Rusling, Inc.

120 East Avenue

Rochester, NY 14604

 

 

 

 

IMS Capital Management, Inc.

8995 S.E. Otty Road

Portland, Oregon 97266

 

Iron Financial Management, Inc.

Two Northfield Plaza

Suite 250

Northfield, Illinois 60093

 

 

Leader Capital Corporation

 

121 SW Morrison St.

 

 

Suite 425

 

 

Portland, OR 97204

 

 

 

Marco Investment Management, LLC

 

300 Atlanta Financial Center

 

3343 Peachtree Road, NE

Atlanta, GA 30326

 

Nashville Capital Corporation

209 10th Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37203

 

Northstar Capital Management, Inc.

4400 PGA Boulevard, Suite 600

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

 

Polynous Capital Management, Inc.

One Pine Street, Suite 2208

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

Quixote Capital Management, LLC

5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 100

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

 

Robinson Investment Group, Inc.

5301 Virginia Way, Suite 150

Brentwood, TN 37027

 

 

SMI Advisory Services, LLC

 

422 Washington Street

 

 

Columbus, IN 47201

 

 

Spectrum Advisory Services, Inc.

1050 Crown Pointe Parkway

Atlanta, GA 30338

 

StoneRidge Investment Partners, LLC

 

3421 Saint Davids Road

Newtown Square, PA 19073

 

 

 

 

The Roosevelt Investment Group

317 Madison Ave., Suite 1004

New York, New York 10017

 

 

Each advisor will maintain physical possession of the accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Rule 31a-1(f) at the address listed above for each separate series of the Trust that the advisor manages.

 

Item 28.

Management Services

 

 

None.

 

Item 29.

Undertakings

 

Registrant hereby undertakes, if requested by the holders of at least 10% of the Registrant’s outstanding shares, to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of a trustee(s) and to assist in communications with other shareholders in accordance with Section 16(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as though Section 16(c) applied.

 

Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish each person to whom a prospectus is delivered with a copy of its latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and without charge.

 

 

Registrant hereby undertakes to carry out all indemnification provisions of its Declaration of Trust in accordance with Investment Company Act Release No. 11330 (Sept. 4, 1980) and successor releases.

 

Insofar as indemnifications for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling person of the Registrant pursuant to the provision under Item 27 herein, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefor, 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication.

 

 

 

 

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 pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana on November 30, 2005.

 

 

UNIFIED SERIES TRUST

 

/s/ Anthony J. Ghoston                          

 

Anthony J. Ghoston, President

 

Attest:

 

/s/         Freddie Jacobs, Jr.                      

Freddie Jacobs, Jr., Treasurer and

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

Title

Date

 

/s/          Freddie Jacobs, Jr. *      

Daniel Condon

Trustee

November 30, 2005

 

 

/s/          Freddie Jacobs, Jr. *      

Gary E. Hippenstiel

 

Trustee

 

November 30, 2005

/s/          Freddie Jacobs, Jr. *        

Stephen Little

Trustee

November 30, 2005

 

 

/s/          Freddie Jacobs, Jr. *      

Ronald Tritschler

 

Trustee

November 30, 2005

 

 

*Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated September 13, 2004 filed with Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-1A dated September 28, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number

Description

 

EX.99.j

Consent of Independent Auditors – Cohen McCurdy, Ltd.