485APOS 1 longbow-tap_485a.htm POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT longbow-tap_485a.htm

 
Filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2014
 
1933 Act Registration File No. 333-108394
1940 Act File No. 811-21422
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-1A
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
x
Pre-Effective Amendment No.          
¨
Post-Effective Amendment No.   31  
x
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
x
Amendment No.   32  
x
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
 
 
Trust for Advised Portfolios
 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
 
(Registrant’s Telephone Numbers, Including Area Code) (414) 765-6609
 
Christopher E. Kashmerick, President
Trust for Advised Portfolios
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 10th Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
 
Copies to:
 
Christopher D. Menconi, Esquire
Bingham McCutchen LLP
2020 K Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20006-1806

As soon as practical after the effective date of this Registration Statement
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering

 
It is proposed that this filing will become effective
 
[  ]
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)
[x]
75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[  ]
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box

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

Explanatory Note:  This Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement of the Trust for Advised Portfolios (the “Trust”) is being filed for the purpose of introducing one new series to the Trust:  Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund.
 

 
 

 
 
 
Subject to Completion—Dated July 23, 2014
 
The information in this Prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.


Longbow logo
Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund

Investor Class
[ticker]
Institutional Class
[ticker]


PROSPECTUS
[Date of Prospectus]

A series of Trust for Advised Portfolios (the “Trust”)














Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor the U.S. Commodities and Futures Trading Commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

Investment Objective
The Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is to achieve differentiated, risk-adjusted investment returns with low volatility and low correlation to both the U.S. equity and bond markets through a value-oriented investment strategy, focused on long-term capital appreciation.

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

SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
Investor
Class
Institutional Class
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
None
None
Redemption Fee
(as a percentage of amount redeemed on shares held for 30 days or less)
2.00%
2.00%
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees
1.50%
1.50%
Distribution and Service (Rule 12b-1) Fees
0.25%
None
Other Expenses (1)
   
Shareholder Servicing Plan Fees
0.10%
0.10%
Interest Expense and Dividends on Securities Sold Short
1.57%
1.57%
All Remaining Other Expenses
0.70%
0.70%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
4.12%
3.87%
Less: Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement(2)
-0.31%
-0.31%
Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses
3.81%
3.56%
 
(1)  
Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(2)  
Longbow Capital Partners, L.P. (the “Adviser” or “Longbow”) has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses (“AFFE”), taxes, interest expense, dividends on securities sold short and extraordinary expenses) in order to limit the Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses to 2.24% and 1.99% of average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively (the “Expense Caps”).  The Expense Caps will remain in effect through at least [     ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”).  The Adviser may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were waived or paid, subject to the Expense Caps.

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

 
1 Year
3 Years
Investor Class
$383
$1,224
Institutional Class
$359
$1,153
 

 

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance.  Because the Fund is newly organized, portfolio turnover information is not yet available.

Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
The Fund executes a fundamental, value-based investment strategy investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in the energy infrastructure, utilities and power sectors, including up to 25% in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”), where Longbow Capital Partners, L.P. (the “Adviser” or “Longbow”) has determined that market prices differ meaningfully from estimates of long-term, full economic cycle earnings and/or intrinsic value.  The Fund will invest in long and short positions in U.S. publicly traded common stocks. The Fund’s long exposure will be between 60% and 100% of net assets and its short exposure will be between 40% and 90% of net assets. The Fund’s gross equity market exposure (long exposure plus short exposure) may be up to 150% of net assets.  The Fund may reinvest the proceeds of its short sales by taking additional long positions, thus allowing the Fund to maintain long positions in excess of 100% of net assets.

To take a long position, the Fund purchases a security outright; with a short position, the Fund sells a security that it has borrowed. When the Fund sells a security short, it borrows the security from a third party and sells it at the then current market price. The Fund is then obligated to buy the security on a later date so that it can return the security to the lender. Short positions may be used either to hedge long positions or to seek positive returns in instances where the Adviser believes a security’s price will decline. The Fund will either realize a profit or incur a loss from a short position, depending on whether the value of the underlying stock decreases or increases, respectively, between the time it is sold and the time when the Fund replaces the borrowed security.

From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies in the same sector of the market.  The Fund may also invest up to 10% of its net assets in derivatives including futures, options, swaps and forward foreign currency contracts.  These instruments may be used to modify or hedge the Fund’s exposure to a particular investment market related risk, as well as to manage the volatility of the Fund.  The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in equity swaps, where payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate.  By entering into an equity swap, the receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks.

The Fund is dedicated to achieving superior risk-adjusted investment returns through fundamental proprietary research and stock selection.  The Adviser creates and maintains its own earnings models for each of the companies in its investment universe, primarily to estimate the long-term, full economic cycle earnings and cash flow potential of these companies.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”), U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities, direct foreign securities (purchased on a foreign exchange), foreign currency, and securities of companies incorporated outside the U.S., or a combination thereof, as applicable.
 
 

 
The Adviser’s fundamental analysis concentrates on financial statement analysis, management, earnings quality, cost structure, the regulatory environment, end market exposures, strategic initiatives and industry dynamics.  The Adviser relies upon a variety of primary and secondary sources for this analysis, including discussions with industry executives, regulators, independent industry consultants, rating agency representatives, members of the private equity community, competitors and other research and investment professionals.

The Fund’s strategies will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover (typically greater than 100%).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account.  These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example above, affect the Fund’s performance.

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund
Losing all or a portion of your investment is a risk of investing in the Fund.  The following risks could affect the value of your investment:

·  
Correlation of Industry Returns Risk:  A high correlation of returns within Longbow’s investment universe arising from more thematic or non-fundamental considerations may limit the efficacy of the portfolio managers’ fundamental, long/short stock selection strategy.

·  
Derivatives Risk:  The Fund’s use of derivatives (which may include futures, options, swaps, contracts for differences, forward foreign currency contracts and other synthetic instruments) may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or increase volatility.  The fluctuations in the values of the derivatives may not correlate perfectly with the overall securities markets.

·  
Energy Infrastructure, Utility and Power Industry Risk:  The Fund invests in companies involved in, or supporting, the production, transportation and distribution of energy, power and the related infrastructure.  These companies may be sensitive to fluctuations in supply and demand, interest rates, special risks of sourcing energy, constructing and operating facilities (including nuclear facilities). Regulation, environmental considerations and public and political opinion can represent non-fundamental risks.

·  
Equity Securities Risk:  The Fund's investment portfolio includes equity securities of U.S. listed companies.  Equity securities fluctuate in value in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete, industry market conditions, interest rates and general economic environments.

·  
Foreign Investments Risk: Investments in securities of foreign issuers involve risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities and instruments of U.S. issuers, including risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad, differences between U.S. and foreign regulatory and accounting requirements, tax risks, and market practices, as well as fluctuations in foreign currencies.

·  
High Portfolio Turnover Risk.  To the extent that the Fund makes investments on a shorter-term basis (including in derivative instruments and instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less) the Fund may as a result trade more frequently and incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, and cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.
 
 

 
·  
MLP Risk: MLPs are subject to many risks, including those that differ from the risks involved in an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership and are exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the obligations of that MLP. Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully distributed to them. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investment in an MLP will depend largely on the MLP’s treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Furthermore, MLP interests may not be as liquid as other more commonly traded equity securities.

·  
New Fund Risk.  The Fund is new with no operating history, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate the Fund.

·  
RIC Qualification Risk.  To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), the Fund must meet certain income source, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. The Fund’s MLP investments may make it more difficult for the Fund to meet these requirements. The asset diversification requirements include a requirement that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets is invested in the securities (including debt securities) of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.  The Fund anticipates that the MLPs in which it invests will be qualified publicly traded partnerships.  If the Fund’s MLP investments exceed this 25% limitation, which could occur if the Fund’s investment in an MLP affiliate were re-characterized as an investment in an MLP, then the Fund would not satisfy the diversification requirements and could fail to qualify as a RIC.  If, in any year, the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any reason, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation and would become (or remain) subject to corporate income tax.  The resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Fund’s net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.

·  
Sector Risk:   To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies in the same sector of the market, the Fund is more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory and other occurrences influencing those sectors.

·  
Short Selling Risk: A short sale creates the risk of a theoretically unlimited loss, in that the price of the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost to the Fund of buying those securities to cover the short position.  Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential gains and increase potential losses.

·  
U.S. Tax Code Risk:  The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Tax Code convey certain tax attributes to MLPs. A change in the U.S. Tax Code which limits long standing tax-advantaged status of MLPs may adversely affect an MLP’s ability to maintain its dividend policy and thus affect its valuation.

Performance
When the Fund has been in operation for a full calendar year, performance information will be shown here.  Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.longbowcap.com or by calling the Fund toll-free at [           ].
 
 
 
Management
Investment Adviser: Longbow Capital Partners, L.P. is the Fund’s investment adviser.

Portfolio Managers:
Thomas M. Fitzgerald, III and Steven S. Strassberg are the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and each has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

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

 
Investor Class
Institutional Class
Minimum Initial Investment
$2,500
$100,000
Minimum Subsequent Investment
$250
$10,000

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

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

 

Investment Objective
The Fund’s investment objective is to achieve differentiated, risk-adjusted, investment returns with low volatility and low correlation to both the U.S. equity and bond markets through a value-oriented investment strategy, focused on long-term capital appreciation.  The investment objectives is not fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval.

Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund executes a fundamental, value-based investment strategy investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in the energy infrastructure, utilities and power sectors, including up to 25% in MLPs, where the Adviser has determined that market prices differ meaningfully from estimates of long-term, full economic cycle earnings and/or intrinsic value.  The Fund will invest in long and short positions in U.S. publicly traded common stocks.  The Fund’s long exposure will be between 60% and 100% of net assets and its short exposure will be between 40% and 60% of net assets.  The Fund’s gross equity market exposure (long exposure plus short exposure) may be up to 150% of net assets.  The Fund may reinvest the proceeds of its short sales by taking additional long positions, thus allowing the Fund to maintain long positions in excess of 100% of net assets.
 
 

 
From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies in the same sector of the market.  The Fund may also invest up to 10% of its net assets in derivatives including futures, options, swaps and forward foreign currency contracts.  These instruments may be used to modify or hedge the Fund’s exposure to a particular investment market related risk, as well as to manage the volatility of the Fund.  The Fund may enter into equity swap contracts for investment purposes.  In a typical equity swap, payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index).  That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate.  By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks.

The Fund is dedicated to achieving superior risk-adjusted investment returns through fundamental proprietary research and stock selection.  The Adviser creates and maintains its own earnings models for each of the companies in its investment universe, primarily to estimate the long-term, full economic cycle earnings and cash flow potential of these companies.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in foreign securities including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”), U.S. dollar-denominated foreign securities, direct foreign securities (purchased on a foreign exchange), foreign currency, and securities of companies incorporated outside the U.S., or a combination thereof, as applicable.

The Adviser’s fundamental analysis concentrates on financial statement analysis, management, earnings quality, cost structure, the regulatory environment, end market exposures, strategic initiatives and industry dynamics.  The Adviser relies upon a variety of primary and secondary sources for this analysis, including discussions with industry executives, regulators, independent industry consultants, rating agency representatives, members of the private equity community, competitors and other research and investment professionals.

The stock selection process incorporates proprietary valuation and risk management models which complement its fundamental research work.  The portfolio managers use a dividend discount model (a procedure for valuing the price of a stock by using predicted dividends and discounting them back to present value) or discounted cash flow analysis (a valuation method that uses future free cash flow projections and discounts them to arrive at a present value, which is used to evaluate the potential for investment and is used to estimate the attractiveness of an investment opportunity), as appropriate, which incorporates its estimates of long-term, full economic cycle earnings or cash flow as a screen for value.  The portfolio managers rank investments within specific subsectors on the basis of expected returns (the difference between Fund’s target price and the current stock price).  The portfolio managers then perform further analysis on the subset of stocks that present the most compelling expected return opportunities.  During this step in the process, the portfolio managers seek to further understand each stock and the range of potential earnings outcomes, and to examine the prospective catalysts which drive the portfolio managers return expectations. 

The Fund builds conviction and differentiation versus the market through a disciplined and systematic team-oriented investment process.  The Fund seeks to leverage its research through fundamental proprietary research and stock selection.  It is the aggregate ranking of risk, expected return and confidence in our analysis and the asymmetry of prospective returns which informs the Adviser’s investment decisions and the construction of the Fund’s portfolio.  
 
 

 
More About MLPs

An MLP is an entity receiving partnership taxation treatment under the, Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) the partnership interests or “units” of which are traded on securities exchanges like shares of corporate stock.  To qualify as an MLP for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an entity must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources such as interest, dividends, income and gain from mineral or natural resources activities, income and gain from the transportation or storage of certain fuels, and, in certain circumstances, income and gain from commodities or futures, forwards and options with respect to commodities.  For this purpose, mineral or natural resources activities include exploration, development, production, mining, refining, marketing and transportation (including pipelines) of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal energy, fertilizer, timber or industrial source carbon dioxide.

A typical MLP consists of a general partner and limited partners; however, some entities receiving partnership taxation treatment under the Code are established as limited liability companies (LLCs).  The general partner of an MLP manages the partnership, has an ownership stake in the partnership and in some cases the general partners are eligible to receive an incentive distribution.  The limited partners provide capital to the partnership, receive common units of the partnership, have a limited role in the operation and management of the partnership and are entitled to receive cash distributions with respect to their units.  Currently, most MLPs operate in the energy, natural resources and real estate sectors.  Due to their partnership structure, MLPs generally do not pay income taxes.  Thus, unlike investors in corporate securities, direct MLP investors are generally not subject to double taxation (i.e., corporate level tax and tax on corporate dividends).

The Adviser believes that MLPs are attractive investments for several reasons, including: higher yields relative to most common equity and investment grade debt, generally low correlation to other asset classes, cash flows that remain relatively stable regardless of broader market conditions, and the potential for deferred taxation for taxable investors.

MLPs are generally publicly traded, are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and must make public filings like any publicly traded corporation.  The Fund may also invest in privately placed securities of publicly traded MLPs.

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

Correlation of Industry Returns Risk:  A high correlation of returns within Longbow’s investment universe arising from more thematic or non-fundamental considerations may limit the efficacy of the Portfolio Managers fundamental, long/short stock selection strategy.

Derivatives Risk. In general, a derivative instrument typically involves leverage, i.e., it provides exposure to potential gain or loss from a change in the level of the market price of the underlying security, currency or commodity (or a basket or index) in a notional amount that exceeds the amount of cash or assets required to establish or maintain the derivative instrument.  Adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset or index can result in a loss to the Fund substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.  Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment.  The use of derivative instruments also exposes the Fund to additional risks and transaction costs.  These instruments come in many varieties and have a wide range of potential risks and rewards, and may include futures contracts, options (both written and purchased), swaps, and forward currency contracts.  Some over-the-counter derivative instruments may expose the Fund to the credit risk of its counterparty. In the event the counterparty to such a derivative instrument becomes insolvent, the Fund potentially could lose all or a large portion of its investment in the derivative instrument.
 
 
 
 
 
Investing for hedging purposes or to increase the Fund’s return may result in certain additional transaction costs that may reduce the Fund’s performance. In addition, when used for hedging purposes, no assurance can be given that each derivative position will achieve a close correlation with the security or currency that is the subject of the hedge, or that a particular derivative position will be available when sought by the Adviser.  While hedging strategies involving derivatives can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments.  Use of derivatives and other forms of leverage by the Fund may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements.  Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be magnified when the Fund uses leverage. Certain derivatives may create a risk of loss greater than the amount invested.

Forward Contracts. The Fund may invest in forward contracts for speculative or hedging purposes. A forward contract involves a negotiated obligation to purchase or sell a specific asset at a future date (with or without delivery required), which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Risks associated with forwards include: (i) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of forward contracts and the securities underlying them; (ii) there may not be a liquid market for forwards; and (iii) forwards may be difficult to accurately value.  Forwards are also subject to credit risk, liquidity risk and leverage risk, each of which is further described elsewhere in this section.

The Fund may engage in non-deliverable forward transactions. A non-deliverable forward transaction is a transaction that represents an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty (usually a commercial bank) to buy or sell a specified (notional) amount of a particular currency at an agreed upon foreign exchange rate on an agreed upon future date. The non-deliverable forward transaction position is closed using a fixing rate, as defined by the central bank in the country of the currency being traded, that is generally publicly stated within one or two days prior to the settlement date. Unlike other currency transactions, there is no physical delivery of the currency on the settlement of a non-deliverable forward transaction. Rather, the Fund and the counterparty agree to net the settlement by making a payment in U.S. dollars or another fully convertible currency that represents any differential between the foreign exchange rate agreed upon at the inception of the non-deliverable forward agreement and the actual exchange rate on the agreed upon future date. Thus, the actual gain or loss of a given non-deliverable forward transaction is calculated by multiplying the transaction's notional amount by the difference between the agreed upon forward exchange rate and the actual exchange rate when the transaction is completed.  Under definitions recently adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments need to be exchange-traded and centrally cleared.  These changes are expected to reduce counterparty/credit risk as compared to bi-laterally negotiated contracts.

Open positions in forwards will be covered by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid, and are marked to market daily, if required by the 1940 Act.
 
 

 
Writing Call Options. The Fund may write covered call options.  A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute right to acquire the security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as held in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian).  The writer of a call option receives a premium and gives the purchaser the right to buy the security underlying the option at the exercise price.  The writer has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price during the option period.  If the writer of an exchange-traded option wishes to terminate his obligation, he may effect a “closing purchase transaction.”  This is accomplished by buying an option of the same series as the option previously written.  A writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after it has been notified of the exercise of an option.

Effecting a closing transaction in a written call option will permit the Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with either a different exercise price, expiration date or both.  Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the cash or proceeds from the concurrent sale of any securities subject to the option to be used for other investments of the Fund.  If the Fund desires to sell a particular security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the security.

A Fund will realize a gain from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are more than the premium paid to purchase the option.  A Fund will realize a loss from a closing transaction if the cost of the closing transaction is more than the premium received from writing the option or if the proceeds from the closing transaction are less than the premium paid to purchase the option.  However, because increases in the market price of a call option will generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss to the Fund resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the Fund.

In addition to covered call options, the Fund may write uncovered (or “naked”) call options on securities, including ETFs, and indices; however, SEC rules require that the Fund segregates assets on its books and records with a value equal to the value of the securities or the index that the holder of the option is entitled to call.  Segregated securities cannot be sold while the option strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets.  As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Writing Covered Index Call Options.  The Fund may sell index call options.  The Fund may also execute a closing purchase transaction with respect to the option it has sold and then sell another option with either a different exercise price and/or expiration date.  The Fund’s objective in entering into such closing transactions is to increase option premium income, to limit losses or to protect anticipated gains in the underlying stocks.  The cost of a closing transaction, while reducing the premium income realized from the sale of the option, should be offset, at least in part, by the appreciation in the value of the underlying index, and by the opportunity to realize additional premium income from selling a new option.

When the Fund sells an index call option, it does not deliver the underlying stocks or cash to the broker through whom the transaction is effected.  In the case of an exchange-traded option, the Fund establishes an escrow account.  The Custodian (or a securities depository acting for the Custodian) acts as the Fund’s escrow agent.  The escrow agent enters into documents known as escrow receipts with respect to the stocks included in the Fund (or escrow receipts with respect to other acceptable securities).  The escrow agent releases the stocks from the escrow account when the call option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. Until such release, the underlying stocks cannot be sold by the Fund.  The Fund may enter into similar collateral arrangements with the counterparty when it sells over-the-counter index call options.
 
 

 
When the Fund sells an index call option, it is also required to “cover” the option pursuant to requirements enunciated by the staff of the SEC.   The staff has indicated that a mutual fund may “cover” an index call option by (1) owning and holding for the term of the option a portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index underlying the call option; (2) purchasing an American-style call option on the same index with an exercise price not greater than the exercise price of the written option; or (3) establishing and maintaining for the term of the option a segregated account consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or other high-grade debt securities, equal in value to the aggregate contract price of the call option (the current index value times the specific multiple).  A Fund generally “covers” the index options it has sold by owning and holding stocks substantially replicating the movement of the applicable index.  As an alternative method of “covering” the option, the Fund may purchase an appropriate offsetting option.

The purchaser of an index call option sold by the Fund may exercise the option at a price fixed as of the closing level of the index on exercise date.  Unless the Fund has liquid assets sufficient to satisfy the exercise of the index call option, the Fund would be required to liquidate portfolio securities to satisfy the exercise.  The market value of such securities may decline between the time the option is exercised and the time the Fund is able to sell the securities.  If the Fund fails to anticipate an exercise, it may have to borrow from a bank (in amounts not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets) pending settlement of the sale of the portfolio securities and thereby incur interest charges.  If trading is interrupted on the index, the Fund would not be able to close out its option positions.

Transactions in Options.  There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and indices.  Options may be more volatile than the underlying securities and, therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation in value than an investment in the underlying securities themselves.  There are also significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objective.  In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options may be absent for reasons which include the following:  there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options of underlying securities; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or clearing corporation may not be adequate to handle current trading volume at all times; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by a clearing corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.  The extent to which the Fund may enter into options transactions may be limited by the requirements of the Code, for qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company.

Over-the-Counter Options. The Fund may engage in transactions involving over-the-counter options as well as exchange-traded options.  Certain additional risks are specific to over-the-counter options.  The Fund may engage a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, but if the Fund purchased an over-the-counter option, it must then rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option if the option is exercised.  Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
 
 

 
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while over-the-counter options may not.  Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of an over-the-counter option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it.  Similarly, when the Fund writes an over-the-counter option, the Fund may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option.  While the Fund will seek to enter into over-the-counter options only with dealers who will agree to and are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate an over-the-counter option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration.  Unless the Fund, as a covered over-the-counter call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised.  In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate an over-the-counter option.  With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund.  For example, since the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option.  This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

The SEC has taken the position that purchased over-the-counter options are illiquid securities.  The Fund may treat the cover used for written over-the-counter options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the over-the-counter option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula.  In such cases, the over-the-counter option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option.  Accordingly, the Fund will treat over-the-counter options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities.  If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of over-the-counter options, the Fund will change the treatment of such instruments accordingly.

Stock Index Options. The Fund may invest in options on indices, including broad-based security indices. Puts and calls on indices are similar to puts and calls on other investments except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities. When a fund writes a call on an index, it receives a premium and agrees that, prior to the expiration date, the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the call is based is greater than the exercise price of the call. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”), which determines the total dollar value for each point of such difference. When a fund buys a call on an index, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When a fund buys a put on an index, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the seller of the put, upon the fund’s exercise of the put, to deliver to the Fund an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the put is based is less than the exercise price of the put, which amount of cash is determined by the multiplier, as described above for calls. When a fund writes a put on an index, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the closing level of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.

The risks of investment in options on indices may be greater than options on securities. Because index options are settled in cash, if a fund writes a call on an index it cannot provide in advance for its potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying index. A fund can offset some of the risk of writing a call index option by holding a diversified portfolio of securities or instruments similar to those on which the underlying index is based. However, a fund cannot, as a practical matter, acquire and hold a portfolio containing exactly the same securities or instruments as underlie the index and, as a result, bears a risk that the value of the securities or instruments held will vary from the value of the index..
 
 

 
Even if the Fund could assemble a portfolio that exactly reproduced the composition of the underlying index, it still would not be fully covered from a risk standpoint because of the “timing risk” inherent in writing index options. When an index option is exercised, the amount of cash that the holder is entitled to receive is determined by the difference between the exercise price and the closing index level on the date when the option is exercised. As with other kinds of options, a fund as the call writer will not learn of the assignment until the next business day at the earliest. The time lag between exercise and notice of assignment poses no risk for the writer of a covered call on a specific underlying security or instrument, such as common stock, because there the writer’s obligation is to deliver the underlying security or instrument, not to pay its value as of a fixed time in the past. So long as the writer already owns the underlying security or instrument, it can satisfy its settlement obligations by simply delivering it, and the risk that its value may have declined since the exercise date is borne by the exercising holder.  In contrast, even if the writer of an index call holds investments that exactly match the composition of the underlying index, it will not be able to satisfy its assignment obligations by delivering those investments against payment of the exercise price. Instead, it will be required to pay cash in an amount based on the closing index value on the exercise date. By the time it learns that it has been assigned, the index may have declined, with a corresponding decline in the value of its portfolio. This “timing risk” is an inherent limitation on the ability of index call writers to cover their risk exposure by holding security or instrument positions.
 
If the Fund has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change. If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

Futures Contracts.  The Fund may purchase interest rate and Treasury futures contracts (“financial futures”). Interest rate futures contracts obligate the long or short holder to take or make delivery of a specified quantity of a financial instrument during a specified future period at a specified price.
There are special risks associated with entering into financial futures contracts. The skills needed to use financial futures contracts effectively are different from those needed to select the Fund’s fixed income investments. There may be an imperfect correlation between the price movements of financial futures contracts and the price movements of the securities in which the Fund invests. There is also a risk that the Fund will be unable to close a futures position when desired because there is no liquid secondary market for it.

The risk of loss in trading financial futures can be substantial due to the low margin deposits required and the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. Relatively small price movements in a financial futures contract could have an immediate and substantial impact, which may be favorable or unfavorable to the Fund. It is possible for a price-related loss to exceed the amount of the Fund’s margin deposit.

Although some financial futures contracts by their terms call for the actual delivery or acquisition of securities at expiration, in most cases the contractual commitment is closed out before expiration. The offsetting of a contractual obligation is accomplished by purchasing (or selling as the case may be) on a commodities or futures exchange an identical financial futures contract calling for delivery in the same month. Such a transaction, if effected through a member of an exchange, cancels the obligation to make or take delivery of the securities. The Fund will incur brokerage fees when it purchases or sells financial futures contracts, and will be required to maintain margin deposits. If a liquid secondary market does not exist when the Fund wishes to close out a financial futures contract, it will not be able to do so and will continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin in the event of adverse price movements. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to enter into closing transactions.
 
 

 
The Fund may enter into futures contracts on other underlying assets or indexes, including physical commodities and indexes of physical commodities.

At any time prior to expiration of a futures contract, the Fund may seek to close the position by taking an opposite position which would typically operate to terminate the Fund’s position in the futures contract. A final determination of any variation margin is then made, additional cash is required to be paid by or released to the Fund and the Fund realizes a loss or gain.
 
When purchasing a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.  When selling a futures contract, the Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid that are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract (or, in the case of an index futures contract, a portfolio with a volatility substantially similar to that of the index on which the futures contract is based), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the custodian).
 
With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to “cash settle,” the Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or “earmarking” liquid assets in an amount equal to the market value of the futures contract. With respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, the Fund is permitted to set aside or “earmark” liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market (net) obligation, if any, rather than the market value of the futures contract.  By setting aside or “earmarking” assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, the Fund will have the ability to utilize these contracts to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or “earmark” assets equal to the full market value of the futures contract.

Interest Rate or Financial Futures Contracts.  The Fund may invest in interest rate or financial futures contracts.  Bond prices are established in both the cash market and the futures market.  In the cash market, bonds are purchased and sold with payment for the full purchase price of the bond being made in cash, generally within five business days after the trade.  In the futures market, a contract is made to purchase or sell a bond in the future for a set price on a certain date.  Historically, the prices for bonds established in the futures markets have generally tended to move in the aggregate in concert with cash market prices, and the prices have maintained fairly predictable relationships.

The sale of an interest rate or financial futures contract by the Fund would create an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price.  A futures contract purchased by the Fund would create an obligation by the Fund, as purchaser, to take delivery of the specific type of financial instrument at a specific future time at a specific price.  The specific securities delivered or taken, respectively, at settlement date, would not be determined until at or near that date.  The determination would be in accordance with the rules of the exchange on which the futures contract sale or purchase was made.
 
 

 
Although interest rate or financial futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance of securities, in most cases the contracts are closed out before the settlement date without delivery of securities. Closing out of a futures contract sale is effected by the Fund’s entering into a futures contract purchase for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument and the same delivery date.  If the price in the sale exceeds the price in the offsetting purchase, the Fund is paid the difference and thus realizes a gain. If the offsetting purchase price exceeds the sale price, the Fund pays the difference and realizes a loss.  Similarly, the closing out of a futures contract purchase is effected by the Fund’s entering into a futures contract sale.  If the offsetting sale price exceeds the purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain, and if the purchase price exceeds the offsetting sale price, the Fund realizes a loss.

The exchange typically guarantees performance under contract provisions through a clearing corporation, a nonprofit organization managed by the exchange membership.  Domestic interest rate futures contracts may be traded in an auction environment on the floor of an exchange, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  A public market now exists in domestic futures contracts covering various financial instruments including long-term United States Treasury bonds and notes, GNMA modified pass-through mortgage-backed securities, three-month United States Treasury bills, and 90-day commercial paper.  The Fund may trade in any futures contract for which there exists a public market, including, without limitation, the foregoing instruments.  International interest rate futures contracts are traded on various international exchanges.  Engaging in futures contracts on international exchanges may involve additional risks, including varying regulatory standards and supervision, fewer laws to protect investors, greater counterparty risk, greater transaction costs, greater volatility, and less liquidity, which could make it difficult for the fund to transact.

Interest Rate and Total Return Swap Agreements.  The Fund may purchase interest rate swaps.  The Fund may use interest rate swaps to increase or decrease exposure to a particular interest rate or rates, which may result in the Fund experiencing a gain or loss depending on whether the interest rates increased or decreased during the term of the agreement.  For temporary, defensive purposes only, the Fund may also engage in total return swaps, in which payments made by the Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as a fixed-income security, a combination of securities, or an index). The value of the Fund’s swap positions would increase or decrease depending on the changes in value of the underlying rates, currency values, volatility or other indices or measures. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s investments and its share price. The Fund’s ability to engage in certain swap transactions may be limited by tax considerations.

The Fund’s ability to realize a profit from such transactions will depend on the ability of the financial institutions with which it enters into the transactions to meet their obligations to the Fund. If a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses. If a default occurs by the other party to such transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction, which may be limited by applicable law in the case of a counterparty’s insolvency. Under certain circumstances, suitable transactions may not be available to the Fund, or the Fund may be unable to close out its position under such transactions at the same time, or at the same price, as if it had purchased comparable publicly traded securities. Swaps carry counterparty risks that cannot be fully anticipated. Also, because, in some cases, swap transactions involve a contract between the two parties, such swap investments can be extremely illiquid, as it is uncertain as to whether another counterparty would wish to take assignment of the rights under the swap contract at a price acceptable to the Fund.

The Fund may enter into swap agreements that would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net  amount”).  The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid.
 
 

 
Currency Swaps. The Fund may enter into currency swap agreements for investment purposes.  Currency swaps are similar to interest rate swaps, except that they involve multiple currencies.  The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has exposure to one currency and desires exposure to a different currency. Typically the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. In addition to paying and receiving amounts at the beginning and termination of the agreements, both sides will also have to pay in full periodically based upon the currency they have borrowed. Change in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

Credit Default Swaps.  For temporary defensive purposes only, the Fund may purchase credit default swaps. A credit default swap is an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that enables the Fund to buy or sell protection against a credit event related to a particular issuer. One party, acting as a protection buyer, makes periodic payments, which may be based on, among other things, a fixed or floating rate of interest, to the other party, a protection seller, in exchange for a promise by the protection seller to make a payment to the protection buyer if a negative credit event (such as a delinquent payment or default) occurs with respect to a referenced bond or group of bonds. Credit default swaps may also be structured based on the debt of a basket of issuers, rather than a single issuer, and may be customized with respect to the default event that triggers purchase or other factors, or defaults by a particular combination of issuers within the basket, may trigger a payment obligation). As a credit protection seller in a credit default swap contract, the Fund would be required to pay the par (or other agreed-upon) value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty following certain negative credit events as to a specified third-party debtor, such as default by a U.S. or non-U.S. corporate issuer on its debt obligations. In return for its obligation, the Fund would receive from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments, which may be based on, among other things, a fixed or floating rate of interest, over the term of the contract provided that no event of default has occurred. If no default occurs, the Fund would keep the stream of payments, and would have no payment obligations to the counterparty. The Fund may sell credit protection in order to earn additional income and/or to take a synthetic long position in the underlying security or basket of securities.

The Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts as protection buyer in order to hedge against the risk of default on the debt of a particular issuer or basket of issuers or attempt to profit from a deterioration or perceived deterioration in the creditworthiness of the particular issuer(s) (also known as buying credit protection). This would involve the risk that the investment may expire worthless and would only generate gain in the event of an actual default by the issuer(s) of the underlying obligation(s) (or, as applicable, a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve the risk that the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund. The purchase of credit default swaps involves costs, which will reduce the Fund’s return.

Credit default swaps involve a number of special risks. A protection seller may have to pay out amounts following a negative credit event greater than the value of the reference obligation delivered to it by its counterparty and the amount of periodic payments previously received by it from the counterparty. When the Fund acts as a seller of a credit default swap, it is exposed to, among other things, leverage risk because if an event of default occurs the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation. Each party to a credit default swap is subject to the credit risk of its counterparty (the risk that its counterparty may be unwilling or unable to perform its obligations on the swap as they come due). The value of the credit default swap to each party will change based on changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness of the underlying issuer.
 
 

 
A protection buyer may lose its investment and recover nothing should an event of default not occur. The Fund may seek to realize gains on its credit default swap positions, or limit losses on its positions, by selling those positions in the secondary market. There can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist at any given time for any particular credit default swap or for credit default swaps generally.

The market for credit default swaps has become more volatile in recent years as the creditworthiness of certain counterparties has been questioned and/or downgraded. The parties to a credit default swap may be required to post collateral to each other. If the Fund posts initial or periodic collateral to its counterparty, it may not be able to recover that collateral from the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the swap. In addition, if the Fund receives collateral from its counterparty, it may be delayed or prevented from realizing on the collateral in the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty. The Fund may exit its obligations under a credit default swap only by terminating the contract and paying applicable breakage fees, or by entering into an offsetting credit default swap position, which may cause the Fund to incur more losses.

The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund).  In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a marked-to-market basis.  In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the seller, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid, or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund).  Such segregation or “earmarking” seeks to ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction and will limit any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio.  However, such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulates the trading of commodity interests, including commodity futures contracts, options on commodity futures, and swaps (which includes cash-settled currency forwards and swaps.  A fund that invests in commodity interests is subject to certain CFTC regulatory requirements, including certain limits on its trading of commodity interests to qualify for certain exclusions or exemptions from registration requirements.  As such, the Adviser is a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”) with respect to the Fund and is registered with and regulated by the CFTC.

Total Return Swaps. The Fund may enter into total return swap contracts for investment purposes.  Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments based on the change in market value of the underlying assets, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or security indexes during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate of the total return from other underlying assets. Total return swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or market, including in cases in which there may be disadvantages associated with direct ownership of a particular security. In a typical total return equity swap, payments made by a Fund or the counterparty are based on the total return of a particular reference asset or assets (such as an equity security, a combination of such securities, or an index). That is, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, basket of stocks, or stock index in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Total return swaps involve not only the risk associated with the investment in the underlying securities, but also the risk of the counterparty not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement.
 
 

 
Energy Infrastructure, Utility and Power Industry Risk.  The Fund invests in companies involved in, or supporting, the production, transportation and distribution of energy, power and the related infrastructure.  These companies may be sensitive to fluctuations in supply and demand, interest rates, special risks of sourcing energy, constructing and operating facilities (including nuclear facilities). Regulation, environmental considerations and public and political opinion can represent non-fundamental risks.

Equity Securities Risk:  The Fund's investment portfolio includes equity securities of U.S. listed companies.  Equity securities fluctuate in value in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete, industry market conditions, interest rates and general economic environments. The risks that could affect the value of the Fund’s shares and the total return on your investment include the possibility that the equity securities held by the Fund will experience sudden, unpredictable drops in value or long periods of decline in value.  This may occur because of factors that affect the securities market generally, such as adverse changes in: economic conditions, the general outlook for corporate earnings, interest rates, or investor sentiment.  Equity securities may also lose value because of factors affecting an entire industry or sector, such as increases in production costs, or factors directly related to a specific company, such as decisions made by its management.

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

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

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

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

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

An investment in rights and warrants may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments.  Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer.  In addition, although their value is influenced by the value of the underlying security, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date.  Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

Foreign Investments Risk.  The Fund’s investments in foreign instruments, including depositary receipts, involve risks not associated with investing in U.S. instruments.  Foreign markets may be less liquid, more volatile and subject to less government supervision than domestic markets.  There may be difficulties enforcing contractual obligations, and it may take more time for trades to clear and settle. The specific risks of investing in foreign instruments, among others, include:

o  
Currency Risk: The risk that changes in currency exchange rates will negatively affect instruments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies.  Adverse changes in currency exchange rates (relative to the U.S. dollar) may erode or reverse any potential gains from the Fund’s investments in instruments denominated in a foreign currency or may widen existing losses.  To the extent that the Fund is invested in foreign instruments while also maintaining currency positions, it may be exposed to greater combined risk.  The Fund’s net currency positions may expose it to risks independent of its securities positions.

o  
Foreign Taxes.  The interest and dividends payable to the Fund on certain of the Fund’s foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes or withholding, thus reducing the net amount of income available for distribution to Fund shareholders.  The Fund may not be eligible to pass through to its shareholders any tax credits or deductions with respect to such foreign taxes or withholding.

o  
Geographic Risk: If the Fund concentrates its investments in issuers located or doing business in any country or region, factors adversely affecting that country or region will affect the Fund’s net asset value more than would be the case if the Fund had made more geographically diverse investments.  The economies and financial markets of certain regions, such as Latin America or Asia, can be highly interdependent and decline all at the same time.
 
 

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

o  
Political/Economic Risk: Changes in economic and tax policies, government instability, war or other political or economic actions or factors may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s foreign investments, potentially including expropriation and nationalization, confiscatory taxation, and the potential difficulty of repatriating funds to the United States.

o  
Regulatory Risk: Issuers of foreign instruments and foreign instruments markets are generally not subject to the same degree of regulation as are U.S. issuers and U.S. securities markets.  The reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries may differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards.

o  
Transaction Costs Risk: The costs of buying and selling foreign instruments, including tax, brokerage and custody costs, generally are higher than those involving domestic transactions.
 
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The investment techniques and strategies utilized by the Fund, including investments made on a shorter-term basis or in derivative instruments or instruments with a maturity of one year or less at the time of acquisition, will result in frequent portfolio trading and high portfolio turnover.  High portfolio turnover rates will cause the Fund to incur higher levels of brokerage fees and commissions, which may reduce performance, and may cause higher levels of current tax liability to shareholders in the Fund.

MLP Risk: MLPs are subject to many risks, including those that differ from the risks involved in an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control and voting rights on matters affecting the partnership and are exposed to a remote possibility of liability for all of the obligations of that MLP. Holders of MLP units are also exposed to the risk that they will be required to repay amounts to the MLP that are wrongfully distributed to them. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investment in an MLP will depend largely on the MLP’s treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  Furthermore, MLP interests may not be as liquid as other more commonly traded equity securities.

New Fund Risk.  The Fund is newly-formed.  Accordingly, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, and may not employ a successful investment strategy, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders.  Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders.

RIC Qualification Risk: The BP Energy Fund intends to qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, which means that the Fund must meet certain income source, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements.  The Fund’s MLP investments may make it more difficult for the Fund to meet these requirements.  The asset diversification requirements include a requirement that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of our total assets is invested in the securities (including debt securities) of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.  The Fund anticipates that the MLPs in which it invests will be qualified publicly traded partnerships, which include MLPs.  If the Fund’s MLP investments exceed this 25% limitation, which could occur if the Fund’s investment in an MLP affiliate were re-characterized as an investment in an MLP, then the Fund would not satisfy the diversification requirements and could fail to qualify as a RIC.  If, in any year, the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any reason, the Fund would be taxed as an ordinary corporation and would become (or remain) subject to corporate income tax.  The resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Fund’s net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.  Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on the Fund and its shareholders.  In such case, distributions to shareholders generally would be eligible (i) for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual shareholders, and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders, provided certain holding period requirements are satisfied. In such circumstances, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a RIC that is accorded special treatment.
 
 

 
Sector Focus Risk:   To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies in the same sector of the market, the Fund is more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory and other occurrences influencing those sectors.

Short Selling Risk: The Fund enters into a short sale by selling a security it has borrowed (typically from a broker or other institution). If the market price of a security increases after the Fund borrows the security, the Fund will suffer a (potentially unlimited) loss when it replaces the borrowed security at the higher price. In certain cases, purchasing a security to cover a short position can itself cause the price of the security to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. In addition, the Fund may not always be able to borrow the security at a particular time or at an acceptable price. The Fund may also take a short position in a derivative instrument, such as a future, forward or swap. A short position in a derivative instrument involves the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the value of the underlying instrument. Short sales also involve transaction and other costs that will reduce potential gains and increase potential losses.

U.S. Tax Code Risk:  The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Tax Code convey certain tax attributes to MLPs. A change in the U.S. Tax Code which limits long standing tax-advantaged status of MLPs may adversely affect an MLP’s ability to maintain its dividend policy and thus affect its valuation.

 

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

 

Investment Adviser
The Fund’s investment adviser, Longbow Capital Partners, L.P., is located at 598 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. The Adviser is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm formed in 2003.  The Adviser provides investment management services to institutions, individuals, high net worth individuals and other pooled investment vehicles.
 
 


The Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.  The Adviser also furnishes the Fund with office space and certain administrative services and provides most of the personnel needed to fulfill its obligations under its advisory agreement.  For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly management fee that is calculated at the annual rate of 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
 
A discussion regarding the basis of the Board’s approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement will be available in the Fund’s [annual/semi-annual] report to shareholders for the fiscal period ending [  ].

The Fund, as a series of the Trust, does not hold itself out as related to any other series of the Trust for purposes of investment and investor services, nor does it share the same investment adviser/or with any other series.

Portfolio Managers
Thomas M. Fitzgerald, III
Prior to founding Longbow in October 2003, Mr. Fitzgerald worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. from 1999 through July 2003, where he was most recently a Partner Managing Director in the Equity Capital Markets Group, with management responsibilities for the firm’s energy, power and industrial practices. He also served as co-head of Goldman Sachs’ global convertible and equity derivatives activities within the Equity Capital Markets Group. Mr. Fitzgerald spent sixteen years at Salomon Brothers and its successor, Salomon Smith Barney, where he was most recently a Managing Director and co-head of Global Equity Capital Markets. In this capacity, Mr. Fitzgerald built and managed one of the firm’s largest revenue centers and shared responsibility for all risk management, trading and strategy decisions affecting the Group. Mr. Fitzgerald holds a B.S. degree from Georgetown University and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Steven S. Strassberg
Mr. Strassberg has spent over 20 years focusing on the utility, power and gas pipeline sectors. Mr. Strassberg joined Longbow at its inception. For the 7 years prior, Mr. Strassberg was associated with Angelo Gordon &Co. as a Senior Vice President and the Senior Utility Analyst. Prior to joining Angelo Gordon & Co., Mr. Strassberg spent 5 years as an Equity Research Analyst focused on the Natural Gas Distribution and Gas Pipeline sectors at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Strassberg began his career as a Research Analyst in 1985 at Goldman Sachs & Co. He received a B.A.S. degree from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. degree in Economics from its Wharton School. Mr. Strassberg also earned an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990.

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

The Adviser’s Related Performance
The performance information shown below is the prior performance of a private fund that is not registered under the 1940 Act — Longbow Partners, LP (“Longbow Classic”).  The Adviser has served as the investment adviser to Longbow Classic, and in that capacity, the Adviser maintains full discretionary authority over the selection of investments for Longbow Classic.  Longbow Classic had a substantially similar investment objective, policies and strategies as the Fund.

Longbow Classic is a separate fund and the performance below is provided to illustrate the past performance of a similarly managed fund managed by the Adviser as measured against a broad based market index., It does not represent the historical performance of the Fund.  You should not consider this performance data to be an indication of the future performance of the Fund.
 
 

 
The Adviser first offered Longbow Classic May 1, 2004, and has $217 million in assets under management as of June 30, 2014.  This is not an offering or a solicitation of an offering to invest in that fund.

The performance of Longbow Classic reflects the deduction of investment advisory fees and other expenses actually charged to Longbow Classic.  Such expenses include interest, dividend, short position financing, administrative, management, performance, professional, and other fees.  As noted above, Longbow Classic is not a registered mutual fund and is not subject to the same types of expenses as the Fund or to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected the performance results of the account.  In addition, the operating expenses incurred by Longbow Classic were differ from the anticipated operating expenses of the Fund, and, accordingly, the performance results of Longbow Classic may vary from what the Fund’s performance would have been.


The performance data below is for Longbow Classic and is not the performance data of the Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund.

Longbow Classic
Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2013

Period
Longbow Classic
Average Annual Total Returns
(Net of all actual fees and expenses)
S&P 500 Utilities Index
(Long-Only)(1)
HFRX: Equity
Hedged Funds (All)(2)
HFRX: Equity
Market Neutral Hedge Funds(3)
1 Year
6.46%
8.75%
11.14%
1.72%
3 Year
15.78%
21.26%
(5.74)%
(5.85)%
5 Year
31.13%
30.61%
16.16%
(8.74)%
Since Inception (5/1/2004)
72.55%
85.25%
1.70%
0.97%

(1)
The S&P 500 Utilities Index (Long-Only) comprises those companies included in the S&P 500 that are classified as members of the GICS® (“Global Industry Classification Standard”) utilities sector. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
(2)
The HFRX: Equity Hedged Funds (All) Index maintain positions both long and short in primarily equity and equity derivative securities.  You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
(3)
The HFRX: Market Neutral Equity Hedge Funds Index strategies employ sophisticated quantitative techniques of analyzing price data to ascertain information about future price movement and relationships between securities, select securities for purchase and sale.  You cannot invest directly in an index.
 

As of June 30, 2014, the return for Longbow Classic was 6.95%, for the S&P 500 Utilities Index (Long-Only), 16.42%, for the HFRX: Equity Hedged Funds (All), 1.27% and for the HFRX: Equity Market Neutral Hedge Funds, 1.19%.
 
 

 
 

Pricing of Fund Shares
Shares of the Fund are sold at NAV per share, which is calculated as of the close of regular trading (generally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for unrestricted business.  However, the Fund’s NAV may be calculated earlier if trading on the NYSE is restricted or as permitted by the SEC.  The NYSE is closed on weekends and most national holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  The NAV will not be calculated on days when the NYSE is closed for trading.
 
Purchase and redemption requests are priced based on the next NAV per share calculated after receipt of such requests and any applicable sales charge.  The NAV is the value of the Fund’s securities, cash and other assets, minus all expenses and liabilities (assets – liabilities = NAV).  NAV per share is determined by dividing NAV by the number of shares outstanding (NAV/ # of shares = NAV per share).  The NAV takes into account the expenses and fees of the Fund, including management and administration fees, which are accrued daily.

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

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

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

 
How to Buy Shares
The minimum initial investment amount for the Investor Class shares is $2,500 and the minimum subsequent investment amount is $250.  The minimum initial investment amount for the Institutional Class shares is $100,000 and the minimum subsequent investment amount is $10,000.

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

You may purchase shares of the Fund by check, by wire transfer, via electronic funds transfer through the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) network or through a bank or through one or more brokers authorized by the Fund to receive purchase orders.  Please use the appropriate account application when purchasing by mail or wire. If you have any questions or need further information about how to purchase shares of the Fund, you may call a customer service representative of the Fund toll-free at [             ].  The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order.  For example, a purchase order may be refused if, in the Adviser’s opinion, it is so large that it would disrupt the management of the Fund.  Orders may also be rejected from persons believed by the Fund to be “market timers.”

All checks must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a domestic U.S. bank.  The Fund will not accept payment in cash or money orders.  The Fund also does not accept cashier’s checks in amounts of less than $10,000.  Also, to prevent check fraud, the Fund will not accept third party checks, U.S. Treasury checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks or starter checks for the purchase of shares.  The Fund is unable to accept post-dated checks, post-dated on-line bill pay checks, or any conditional order or payment.

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

All purchase requests must be received in “good order”.  “Good order” generally means that your purchase request includes the name of the Fund; the dollar amount of shares to be purchased; your account application or investment stub; and a check payable to the name of the Fund.

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

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

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

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

Purchasing Shares by Mail
Please complete the account application and mail it with your check, payable to Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund to the Transfer Agent at the following address:

Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
 
You may not send an account application via overnight delivery to a United States Postal Service post office box. If you wish to use an overnight delivery service, send your account application and check to the Transfer Agent at the following address:

Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
 
 
Note:
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agent.  Therefore, a deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC’s post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Transfer Agent.

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

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

U.S. Bank National Association
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
ABA No. 075000022
Credit: U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Account No. 112-952-137
Further Credit: Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund
Shareholder Registration
Shareholder Account Number

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

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

Retirement Accounts
The Fund offers prototype documents for a variety of retirement accounts for individuals and small businesses.  Please call [             ] for information on:

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

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

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

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

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

Regular Mail
Overnight Express Mail
Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund
Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

NOTE:
The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents.  Therefore, a deposit in the mail or with such services, or receipt at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC’s post office box, of purchase orders or redemption requests does not constitute receipt by the Transfer Agent.

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

You may request telephone redemption privileges after your account is opened by calling the Transfer Agent at [             ]  for instructions.

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

Payment of Redemption Proceeds
Payment of your redemption proceeds will be made promptly, but not later than seven days after the receipt of your written request in good order.  If you did not purchase your shares with a certified check or wire payment, the Fund may delay payment of your redemption proceeds for up to 15 calendar days from purchase or until your check has cleared, whichever occurs first.
 
 

 
Redemption “In-Kind”
The Fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds to you in whole or in part by a distribution of securities from the Fund’s portfolio (a “redemption in-kind”).  It is not expected that the Fund would do so except during unusual market conditions.  If the Fund pays your redemption proceeds by a distribution of securities, you could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash and will bear any market risks associated with such securities until they are converted into cash.
 
Signature Guarantees
Signature guarantees will generally be accepted from domestic banks, brokers, dealers, credit unions, national securities exchanges, registered securities associations, clearing agencies and savings associations, as well as from participants in the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.  A notary public is not an acceptable signature guarantor.

A signature guarantee from either a Medallion program member or a non-Medallion program member is required to redeem shares in the following situations:

·  
If ownership is changed on your account;
·  
When redemption proceeds are payable or sent to any person, address or bank account not on record;
·  
If a change of address was received by the Transfer Agent within the last 15 calendar days; and
·  
For all redemptions in excess of $50,000 from any shareholder account.

In addition to the situations described above, the Fund and/or the Transfer Agent may require a signature guarantee or signature validation program stamp in other instances based on the facts and circumstances.

Other Information about Redemptions
The Fund may redeem the shares in your account if the value of your account is less than $500 as a result of redemptions you have made.  This does not apply to retirement plan or Uniform Gifts or Transfers to Minors Act accounts.  You will be notified that the value of your account is less than $500 before the Fund makes an involuntary redemption.  You will then have 30 days in which to make an additional investment to bring the value of your account to at least $500 before the Fund takes any action.

 
 

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

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

If you elect to receive distributions in cash and the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the check, or if a check remains outstanding for six months, the Fund reserves the right to reinvest the distribution check in your account, at the Fund’s current NAV per share, and to reinvest all subsequent distributions.  If you wish to change your distribution option, notify the Transfer Agent in writing or by telephone at least 5 days prior in to the payment date for the distribution.
 
 

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

 

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

Redemption Fees. The Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on the redemption of Fund shares held for 30 days or less.  This fee (which is paid into the Fund) is imposed in order to help offset the transaction costs and administrative expenses associated with the activities of short-term “market timers” that engage in the frequent purchase and sale of Fund shares.  The “first in, first out” (“FIFO”) method is used to determine the holding period; this means that if you bought shares on different days, the shares purchased first will be redeemed first for the purpose of determining whether the redemption fee applies.  The redemption fee is deducted from your proceeds and is retained by the Fund for the benefit of its long-term shareholders.  Redemption fees will not apply to shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends.  Although the Fund has the goal of applying the redemption fee to most redemptions, the redemption fee may not be assessed in certain circumstances where it is not currently practicable for the Fund to impose the fee, such as redemptions of shares held in certain omnibus accounts or retirement plans.

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

In compliance with Rule 22c-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Fund’s Distributor, on behalf of the Fund, has entered into written agreements with each of the Fund’s financial intermediaries, under which the intermediary must, upon request, provide the Fund with certain shareholder and identity trading information so that the Fund can enforce its market timing policies.
 
 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 
The Fund anticipates investing no more than 25% of its total assets in MLPs and other entities treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships.  Unlike direct investments in MLPs, income and losses from the Fund’s investments in MLPs will not directly flow through to the personal tax returns of shareholders.  The Fund will report distributions from its investments, including MLPs, made to shareholders annually on Form 1099.  Shareholders will not, solely by virtue of their status as Fund shareholders, be treated as engaged in the business conducted by underlying MLPs for federal or state income tax purposes or for purposes of the tax on unrelated business income of tax-exempt organizations.

By law, the Fund must withhold as backup withholding a percentage of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds if you do not provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or if the Internal Revenue Service instructs the Fund to do so.

If you sell your Fund shares, it is considered a taxable event for you.  Depending on the purchase price and the sale price of the shares you sell, you may have a gain or a loss on the transaction.  You are responsible for any tax liabilities generated by your transaction.  The Code limits the deductibility of capital losses in certain circumstances.

Additional information concerning taxation of the Fund and its shareholders is contained in the SAI.  Tax consequences are not the primary consideration of the Fund in making its investment decisions.  You should consult your own tax adviser concerning federal, state and local taxation of distributions from the Fund.

 

Description of Classes
The Trust has adopted a multiple class plan that allows the Fund to offer one or more classes of shares of the Fund.  The Fund offers two classes of shares – Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.  The different classes of shares represent investments in the same portfolio of securities, but the classes are subject to different expenses as discussed below.

Investor Class shares
Investor Class shares of the Fund are subject to Rule 12b-1 fees (or distribution and service fees) described earlier of 0.25% of average daily net assets, which are assessed against the shares of the Fund.

Institutional Class shares
Institutional Class shares of the Fund are not subject to Rule 12b-1 fees.

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

 
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Trust has also adopted a Shareholder Service Plan under which the Fund may pay a fee of up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class shares and Institutional Class Shares for shareholder services provided to the Fund by financial institutions.

Because the Fund pays shareholder service fees on an ongoing basis, your investment cost over time may be higher than paying other types of sales charges.

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

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

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

 

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

Fund Mailings
Statements and reports that the Fund sends to you include the following:
·  
Confirmation statements (after every transaction that affects your account balance or your accountregistration);
·  
Annual and semi-annual shareholder reports (every six months); and
·  
Quarterly account statements.

Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund intends to reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other similar documents you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shared by two or more accounts and to shareholders the Transfer Agent reasonably believes are from the same family or household.  Once implemented, if you would like to discontinue householding for your accounts, please call toll-free at [             ]  to request individual copies of these documents.  Once the Fund receives notice to stop householding, the Transfer Agent will begin sending individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.  This policy does not apply to account statements.
 
 
 
General Policies
Some of the following policies are mentioned above.  In general, the Fund reserves the right to:
·  
Refuse, change, discontinue, or temporarily suspend account services, including purchase, or telephone redemption privileges, for any reason;
·  
Reject any purchase request for any reason.  Generally, the Fund will do this if the purchase is disruptive to the efficient management of the Fund (due to the timing of the investment or an investor’s history of excessive trading);
·  
Redeem all shares in your account if your balance falls below the minimum investment amount due to redemption activity.  If, within 30 days of the Fund’s written request, you have not increased your account balance, you may be required to redeem your shares.  The Fund will not require you to redeem shares if the value of your account drops below the investment minimum due to fluctuations of NAV;
·  
Delay paying redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days after receiving a request, if an earlier payment could adversely affect the Fund; and
·  
Reject any purchase or redemption request that does not contain all required documentation.

If you elect telephone privileges on the account application or in a letter to the Fund, you may be responsible for any fraudulent telephone orders as long as the Fund has taken reasonable precautions to verify your identity.  Before executing an instruction received by telephone, the Transfer Agent will use reasonable procedures to confirm that the telephone instructions are genuine.  The telephone call may be recorded and the caller may be asked to verify certain personal identification information.  If the Fund or its agents follow these procedures, they cannot be held liable for any loss, expense or cost arising out of any telephone redemption request that is reasonably believed to be genuine.  This includes fraudulent or unauthorized requests.  If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, the Fund will accept telephone instructions from any one owner or authorized person.  In addition, once you place a telephone transaction request, it cannot be canceled or modified.

 

Financial highlights are not available at this time because the Fund had not commenced operations prior to the date of this Prospectus.
 
 
 

 
Investment Adviser
Longbow Capital Partners, L.P.
598 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10022


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


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


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


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[___________________________]
[___________________________]
[___________________________]


Legal Counsel
Bingham McCutchen LLP
2020 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006-1806
 
 

 
 

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

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

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

In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, including, but limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared with unaffiliated third parties.






FOR MORE INFORMATION

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

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

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

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

Longbow Capital Partners, L.P
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
www.longbowcap.com

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

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

 

(The Trust’s SEC Investment Company Act file number is 811-21422.)
 
 
 
 
                      Subject to Completion—Dated July 23, 2014
 
The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Longbow logo
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[ date ]


Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund

Investor Class
[ticker]
Institutional Class
[ticker]


A Series of Trust for Advised Portfolios

c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-0701
[Fund telephone number]




This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus and it should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated [    ], as may be revised, for the Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund (the “Fund”), a series of Trust for Advised Portfolios (the “Trust”).  Longbow Capital Partners, L.P. (the “Adviser”) is the Fund’s investment adviser.  A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number above or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.longbowcap.com.



 
 

 

 

The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 28, 2003, and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an open-end management investment company.  Between March 5, 2013 and January 1, 2014, the Trust was named “Ziegler Capital Management Investment Trust”.  Between August 1, 2011 and March 4, 2013, the Trust was named “Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management Investment Trust”.  Prior to August 1, 2011, the Trust was named “Lotsoff Capital Management Investment Trust”.

The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) permits the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, which may be issued in any number of series.  The Trust consists of various series that represent separate investment portfolios.  The Board may from time to time issue other series, the assets and liabilities of which will be separate and distinct from any other series.  This SAI relates only to the Longbow Long/Short Energy Infrastructure Fund.

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

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

 

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

Diversification
The Fund is diversified under applicable federal securities laws.  This means that as to 75% of its total assets (1) no more than 5% may be invested in the securities of a single issuer, and (2) it may not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of a single issuer.  However, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time the fund purchases a security and if the Fund purchases a security and holds it for a period of time, the security may become a larger percentage of the Fund’s total assets due to movements in the financial markets.  If the market affects several securities held by the Fund, the Fund may have a greater percentage of its assets invested in securities of fewer issuers.  Accordingly, the Fund is subject to the risk that its performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of relatively few securities despite qualifying as a diversified fund.

Percentage Limitations
Whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition or sale of such security or other asset.  Accordingly, except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether an investment complies with the Fund’s investment policies and limitations.  In addition, if a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular investment by the Fund, the Fund may receive stock, real estate or other investments that the Fund would not, or could not buy.  If this happens the Fund would sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize the return to its shareholders.
 
 
 
Risks Associated With Recent Economic Events
The U.S. credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than five years.  Instability in the credit markets has made it more difficult for a number of issuers of debt securities to obtain financing or refinancing for their investment or lending activities or operations.  In particular, because of volatile conditions in the credit markets, issuers of debt securities may be subject to increased cost for debt, tightening underwriting standards and reduced liquidity for loans they make, securities they purchase and securities they issue.  These developments may increase the volatility of the value of securities owned by the Fund.  These developments may also make it more difficult for the Fund to accurately value its securities or to sell its securities on a timely basis.  These developments may also adversely affect the broader economy, which in turn may adversely affect the ability of issuers of securities owned by the Fund to make payments of principal and interest when due, lead to lower credit ratings of issuers and increased defaults by issuers.  Such developments could, in turn, reduce the value of securities owned by the Fund and adversely affect the net asset value (“NAV”) of its shares.
 
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) significantly revises and expands the rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement authority of federal bank, securities and commodities regulators.  It is unclear how these regulators will exercise these revised and expanded powers and whether they will undertake rulemaking, supervisory or enforcement actions that would adversely affect the Fund or investments made by the Fund.  Possible regulatory actions taken under these revised and expanded powers may include actions related to financial consumer protection, proprietary trading and derivatives.  There is a risk that new and additional government regulation authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act could result in higher Fund costs and expenses.  Legislators and regulators in the United States are currently considering a wide range of proposals in addition to the Dodd-Frank Act that, if enacted, could result in major changes to the way banking operations are regulated.  In addition, the recent European debt crisis and related financial restructuring efforts have contributed to the instability in global credit markets.  The strength and duration of any economic recovery will be impacted by the European debt crisis and the reaction to any efforts to address the crisis.

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

The regulators that have been charged with the responsibility for implementing the Dodd-Frank Act (i.e., the SEC and the CFTC) have been active in proposing and adopting regulations and guidance on the use of derivatives by Investment Company Act funds. The CFTC recently adopted a revision to one of its rules that will either restrict the use of derivatives by an Investment Company Act fund or require the fund’s adviser to register as a commodity pool operator (see the discussion of “Financial Instruments”). The SEC is reviewing its current guidance on the use of derivatives by Investment Company Act funds and may issue new guidance. It is not clear whether or when such new guidance will be published or what the content of such guidance may be.
 
 
 
Convertible Securities: The market value of a convertible security performs like that of a regular debt security; that is, if market interest rates rise, the value of a convertible security usually falls. In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not be able to pay interest or dividends when due, and their market value may change based on changes in the issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security is also subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock as discussed below.

Credit: Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of a security or the issuer of the reference asset of a derivative instrument will not be able to make principal and interest payments when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. Securities rated in the four highest categories by the rating agencies are considered investment grade but they may also have some speculative characteristics. Investment grade ratings do not guarantee that bonds will not lose value.

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

Depository Receipts
American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) are negotiable receipts issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust company’s office or agent in a foreign country.  European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”) are negotiable certificates held in the bank of one country representing a specific number of shares of a stock traded on an exchange of another country.  Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”) are negotiable certificates held in the bank of one country representing a specific number of shares of a stock traded on an exchange of another country.  Canadian Depository Receipts (“CDRs”) are negotiable receipts issued by a Canadian bank or trust company that evidence ownership of securities in a foreign company which have been deposited with such bank or trust company’s office or agent in a foreign country.

Investing in ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs presents risks that may not be equal to the risk inherent in holding the equivalent shares of the same companies that are traded in the local markets even though a Fund will purchase, sell and be paid dividends on ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs in U.S. Dollars.  These risks include fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which are affected by international balances of payments and other economic and financial conditions; government intervention; speculation; and other factors.  With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political and social upheaval, and economic instability.  A Fund may be required to pay foreign withholding or other taxes on certain ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, or CDRs that it owns, but investors may or may not be able to deduct their pro-rata share of such taxes in computing their taxable income, or take such shares as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax.  See “Federal Income Tax Matters.”  ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs may be sponsored by the foreign issuer or may be unsponsored.  Unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs are organized independently and without the cooperation of the foreign issuer of the underlying securities.  Unsponsored GDRs, CDRs, EDRs and ADRs are offered by companies which are not prepared to meet either the reporting or accounting standards of the United States.  While readily exchangeable with stock in local markets, unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs may be less liquid than sponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs.  Additionally, there generally is less publicly available information with respect to unsponsored ADRs, EDRs, GDRs, and CDRs.
 
 
 
Investment Company Securities

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies (each, an “Underlying Fund”), including open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts (“UITs”) and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) (discussed above), to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain restrictions set forth in this SAI.

Generally, under the 1940 Act and SEC rules adopted pursuant to the 1940 Act, the Fund’s acquisition of the securities of affiliated and unaffiliated funds is subject to the following guidelines and restrictions:

The Fund may own an unlimited amount of the securities of any registered open-end fund or registered unit investment trust that is affiliated with the Fund, so long as any such Underlying Fund has a policy that prohibits it from acquiring any securities of registered open-end funds or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on certain sections of the 1940 Act.

The Fund and its “affiliated persons” may own up to 3% of the outstanding stock of any fund, subject to the following restrictions:
 
 
 
i.
the Fund and the Underlying Fund, in the aggregate, may not charge a sales load greater than the limits set forth in Rule 2830(d)(3) of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) applicable to funds of funds;

 
ii.
the Underlying Fund is not obligated to redeem more than 1% of its total outstanding securities during any period less than 30 days; and

 
iii.
the purchase or acquisition of the Underlying Fund is made pursuant to an arrangement with the Underlying Fund or its principal underwriter whereby a Fund is obligated either to (i) seek instructions from its shareholders with regard to the voting of all proxies with respect to the Underlying Fund and to vote in accordance with such instructions, or (ii) to vote the shares of the Underlying Fund held by the Fund in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of the Underlying Fund.

Acquired funds typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund.  The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses as Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses.  In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to certain leverage risks.  The net asset value and market value of leveraged securities will be more volatile and the yield to shareholders will tend to fluctuate more than the yield generated by unleveraged securities. Investment companies may have investment policies that differ from those of the Fund.

Under certain circumstances an open-end investment company in which the Fund invests may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or in part by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, instead of in cash.  As a result, the Fund may hold such securities until the Advisor determines it is appropriate to dispose of them.  Such disposition will impose additional costs on the Fund.

Investment decisions by the investment advisors to the registered investment companies in which a Fund invests are made independently of the Fund.  At any particular time, one Underlying Fund may be purchasing shares of an issuer whose shares are being sold by another Underlying Fund.  As a result, under these circumstances the Fund indirectly would incur certain transactional costs without accomplishing any investment purpose.
 
 

 
Debt Securities
Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. Generally, issuers pay investors periodic interest and repay the amount borrowed either periodically during the life of the security and/or at maturity.  Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest, but are purchased at a discount from their face values and accrue interest at the applicable coupon rate over a specified time period. The market prices of debt securities fluctuate depending on such factors as interest rates, credit quality and maturity. In general, market prices of debt securities decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.

Lower rated debt securities, those rated Ba or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s) and/or BB or below by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) or unrated but determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality, are described by the rating agencies as speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes than higher rated debt securities due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness or the fact that the issuer may already be in default. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than higher quality securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.  It may be more difficult to sell or to determine the value of lower rated debt securities.  Please refer to Appendix A for more information about credit ratings.

Private Investments
Private Placement and Restricted Securities.  The Fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements and, accordingly, are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such investments, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when the Adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. At times, it may also be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value.

While such private placements may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market, the securities so purchased are often restricted securities, i.e., securities which cannot be sold to the public without registration under the Securities Act or the availability of an exemption from registration (such as Rules 144 or 144A), or which are not readily marketable because they are subject to other legal or contractual delays in or restrictions on resale.

The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. The Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering such securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting such registration. In addition, market quotations are less readily available. The judgment of the Adviser may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of publicly traded securities.

Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, or in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration, or in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act. The Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act when selling restricted securities to the public, and in such event the Fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the Prospectuses forming a part of it, is materially inaccurate or misleading.
 
 

 
Redeemable Securities.  Certain securities held by the Fund may permit the issuer at its option to call or redeem its securities. If an issuer were to redeem securities held by the Fund during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities providing the same investment return as the securities redeemed.

Management: If the Fund’s portfolio managers make poor investment decisions, it will negatively affect the Fund’s investment performance.

Short-Term, Temporary, and Cash Investments:  The Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sovereign Debt: These investments are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its sovereign debt, due, for example, to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the relative size of the governmental entity’s debt position in relation to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that a government does not pay nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected.

U.S. and Foreign Government Obligations: The Fund may invest in U.S. Government obligations including Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds, and issues of such entities as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Export-Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and the Student Loan Marketing Association (“SLMA”).

Some of these obligations, such as those of the GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of United States, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others, such as those of the SLMA, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.  No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to U.S. Government-sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law.

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

 
Risks Associated with Investing in U.S. Government Securities. The U.S. government is considered to be the best credit-rated issuer in the debt markets. Since Treasury securities are direct obligations of the U.S. government, there is minimal credit risk. While most other government-sponsored securities are not direct obligations of the U.S. government (although some are guaranteed by the U.S. government), they also offer little credit risk.

However, another type of risk that may affect the Fund is market and/or interest rate risk. For example, debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower yields. The market value of U.S. government securities generally varies inversely with changes in market interest rates. An increase in interest rates, therefore, would generally reduce the market value of any U.S. government security held by the Fund, while a decline in interest rates would generally increase the market value of such investment.

Borrowing
Though the Fund does not currently intend to borrow money, the Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes or for clearance of transactions, and not for the purpose of leveraging its investments, in amounts not to exceed at any time 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowings, as allowed under the 1940 Act.  The use of borrowing by the Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies.  Since substantially all of the Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of the Fund’s agreement with its lender, the NAV per share of the Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when its portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if a Fund did not borrow.  In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds.  Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.
 
The Fund may establish lines of credit with certain banks by which it may borrow funds for temporary or emergency purposes. The Fund may use lines of credit to meet large or unexpected redemptions that would otherwise force the Fund to liquidate securities under circumstances which are unfavorable to the Fund’s remaining shareholders.  The Fund may be required to pay fees to the banks to maintain the lines of credit; which would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
 
Securities Lending
The Fund reserves the right, pending receipt of Board approval, to lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions (but not individuals) in order to increase the return on its portfolio.  The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever the Fund’s portfolio securities are loaned:  (1) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral from the borrower; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the Fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees approved by the Board in connection with the loan; (6) while voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the Board must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, and (7) the Fund may not loan its portfolio securities so that the value of the loaned securities is more than one-third of its total asset value, including collateral received from such loans.  These conditions may be subject to future modification.  Such loans will be terminable at any time upon specified notice.  The Fund might experience the risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.  In addition, the Fund will not enter into any portfolio security lending arrangement having a duration of longer than one year.  The principal risk of portfolio lending is potential default or insolvency of the borrower.  In either of these cases, the Fund could experience delays in recovering securities or collateral or could lose all or part of the value of the loaned securities.  As part of participating in a lending program, the Fund may be required to invest in collateralized debt or other securities that bear the risk of loss of principal.  In addition, all investments made with the collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments.  If such investments lose value, the Fund will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.
 
 

 
Any loans of portfolio securities are fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.  Any securities that the Fund may receive as collateral will not become part of the Fund’s investment portfolio at the time of the loan and, in the event of a default by the borrower, the Fund will, if permitted by law, dispose of such collateral except for such part thereof that is a security in which the Fund is permitted to invest.  During the time securities are on loan, the borrower will pay the Fund any accrued income on those securities, and the Fund may invest the cash collateral and earn income or receive an agreed-upon fee from a borrower that has delivered cash-equivalent collateral.

Temporary Defensive Investments: The Fund may, from time to time, take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions.  For example, during such periods, 100% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in short-term, high-quality fixed income securities, cash or cash equivalents.  In addition, during such periods, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in certain other derivatives, including forward contracts, interest rate swaps, total return swaps, and credit default swaps, measured at notional value.  Temporary defensive positions may be initiated by the Adviser.  When the Fund takes temporary defensive positions, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

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

The Fund may not:

1.  
With respect to 75% of its total assets, invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of a single issuer or hold more than 10% of the voting securities of such issuer.  (Does not apply to investments in the securities of other investment companies or securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.)
 
 

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

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

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

5.  
Purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate and/or mortgages or investments secured by real estate, or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities.

6.  
Make loans to others, except as permitted under the 1940 Act.

7.  
Except for the energy-related group of industries (such as energy infrastructure, utility and power industry) or as permitted by exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority of competent jurisdiction, the Fund may not make any investment if, as a result, the Fund’s investments will be concentrated in any one industry or group of industries.

The Fund observes the following policies, which are not deemed fundamental and which may be changed without shareholder vote.  The Fund may not:

1.  
Invest in any issuer for purposes of exercising control or management.

2.  
Hold, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

3.  
Change its policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in the energy infrastructure, utilities and power sectors without providing at least 60 days written notice to shareholders.

 

Portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Adviser, investment considerations warrant such action.  Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year.  A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in the Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year.  A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and generally reflects a greater number of taxable transactions.  High portfolio turnover may result in larger amounts of short-term capital gains which, when distributed to shareholders, are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates.
 
 
 

The Adviser and the Fund maintain portfolio holdings disclosure policies that govern the timing and circumstances of disclosure to shareholders and third parties of information regarding the portfolio investments held by the Fund.  These portfolio holdings disclosure policies have been approved by the Board.  Disclosure of the Fund’s complete holdings is required to be made quarterly within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter in the annual report and semi-annual report to Fund shareholders and in the quarterly holdings report on Form N-Q.  These reports are available, free of charge, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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

§  
The disclosure is required pursuant to a regulatory request, court order or is legally required in the context of other legal proceedings;
 
§  
The disclosure is made to a mutual fund rating and/or ranking organization, or person performing similar functions, who is subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on any non-public information;
 
§  
The disclosure is made to internal parties involved in the investment process, administration, operation or custody of the Fund, including, but not limited to the Fund’s administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS”) and the Trust’s Board of Trustees, attorneys, auditors or accountants;
 
§  
The disclosure is made: (a) in connection with a quarterly, semi-annual or annual report that is available to the public; or (b) relates to information that is otherwise available to the public; or
 
§  
The disclosure is made with the prior written approval of either the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee.

Certain of the persons listed above receive information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings on an ongoing basis.  The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information and operate in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders. These persons include:

§  
A mutual fund rating and/or ranking organization, or person performing similar functions, who is subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on any non-public information;
 
§  
Rating and/or ranking organizations, specifically: Lipper; Morningstar; Standard & Poor’s; Bloomberg; Vickers-Stock Research Corporation; Thomson Financial; and Capital-Bridge, all of which currently receive such information between the fifth and tenth business day of the month following the end of a calendar quarter; or
 
§  
Internal parties involved in the investment process, administration, operation or custody of the Fund, specifically: USBFS; the Trust’s Board of Trustees; and the Trust’s attorneys and accountants (currently, Bingham McCutchen LLP and [    ], respectively), all of which typically receive such information after it is generated.

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

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

 

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

Name, Address and Age
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office(1)
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships Held
During Past 5 Years
by Trustee(2)
Independent Trustees (3)
John Chrystal
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  56
 
Trustee
Since 2011
Founder and Managing Partner of Bent Gate Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advice and assistance to financial institutions.  Previously a Partner at DiMaio Ahmad Capital, an investment management firm.
1
Director, Javelin Mortgage Investments, Inc.; Director, The Bancorp, Inc.; Trustee, Trust for Advised Portfolios (for 3 series not affiliated with the Fund).
 
 
 
Name, Address and Age
Position(s) Held
with Trust
Term of Office(1)
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen
by Trustee
Other Directorships Held
During Past 5 Years
by Trustee(2)
Albert J. DiUlio, S.J.
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  71
 
Trustee
Since 2011
Treasurer, Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus.  President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, September 2011 through August 2014. Sabbatical, September 2010 through August 2011. Secretary for Finance and Higher Education USA Jesuit Conference, January 2005 through August 2010.
1
Trustee, Trust for Advised Portfolios (for 3 series not affiliated with the Fund).
David S. Krause
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  60
 
Trustee
Since 2011
Director of the Applied Investment Management program and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Finance at Marquette University.
1
Trustee, Trust for Advised Portfolios (for 3 series not affiliated with the Fund).
Harry E. Resis
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  68
 
Trustee
Since 2012
Private investor.  Previously served as Director of US Fixed Income for Henderson Global Investors.
1
Trustee, Trust for Advised Portfolios (for 3 series not affiliated with the Fund).
Interested Trustee
Ian Martin(4)
615 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  45
Trustee
 
Since 2013
Executive Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
1
Trustee, Trust for Advised Portfolios (for 3 series not affiliated with the Fund).
 
 

 

Name, Address and Age
Position(s) Held with Trust
Term of Office
and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Officers
     
Christopher E. Kashmerick
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  39
 
President and Principal Executive Officer
Since 2014
Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC,
(2011 to present);
Vice President, Huntington Asset Services (2008 to 2011).
Steven J. Jensen
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age: 56
 
Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer and AML Officer
Since 2014
Vice President,
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, (2011 to present); Field Finance Manager, Johnson Controls, Inc. (2008-2011).
 
Russell B. Simon
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  33
 
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Since 2014
Vice President,
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, (2011 to present): Senior Fund Administrator, Huntington Asset Services (2002 to 2011).
Wendy M. Barron
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  36
 
Assistant Treasurer
Since 2014
Mutual Fund Administrator,
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, (2008 to present).
Jeanine M. Bajczyk, Esq.
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Age:  49
Secretary
Since 2014
Senior Vice President and Counsel, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (May 2006 to present).
 
(1)  
Each Trustee serves an indefinite term until the election of a successor.  Each officer serves an indefinite term until the election of a successor.
(2)  
“Other Directorships Held” includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
(3)  
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
(4)  
Mr. Martin is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined by the 1940 Act.  Mr. Martin is an interested Trustee of the Trust by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Trust’s distributor.
 
 

 
Additional Information Concerning Our Board of Trustees

Board Leadership Structure
The Board has general oversight responsibility with respect to the operation of the Trust and the Fund. The Board has engaged the Adviser to manage the Fund and is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers to the Trust and the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and other applicable laws. The Board has established an Audit Committee to assist the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities.

Given the fact there is only a small number of funds in the Trust, the Trust does not have a Chairman of the Board, nor does the Trust have a lead disinterested trustee. The President of the Trust is the presiding officer at all meetings of the Board and sets the agenda for the Board meetings, with input from the trustees and other officers of the Trust. The Trust has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of, among other factors, the asset size and nature of the Trust, the arrangements for the conduct of the Trust’s operations, the number of Trustees, and the responsibilities of the Board.

Board Oversight of Risk
Through its direct oversight role, and indirectly through the Audit Committee, and officers of the Fund and service providers, the Board performs a risk oversight function for the Fund. To effectively perform its risk oversight function, the Board, among other things, performs the following activities: receives and reviews reports related to the performance and operations of the Fund; reviews and approves, as applicable, the compliance policies and procedures of the Fund; approves the Fund’s principal investment policies; adopts policies and procedures designed to deter market timing; meets with representatives of various service providers, including the Adviser, to review and discuss the activities of the Fund and to provide direction with respect thereto; and appoints a chief compliance officer of the Fund who oversees the implementation and testing of the Fund’s compliance program and reports to the Board regarding compliance matters for the Fund and its service providers.

The Trust has an Audit Committee, which plays a significant role in the risk oversight of the Fund as it meets annually with the auditors of the Fund. The Board also meets quarterly with the Fund’s chief compliance officer.

Not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the, the Adviser or other service providers. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Fund’s ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations.

Trust Committees
The Trust has three standing committees: the Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee, which also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”), and the Valuation Committee.

The Audit Committee also serves as the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”). The members consist of Messrs. Chrystal, DiUlio, Krause and Resis each of whom is an Independent Trustee. The primary functions of the audit committee are to select the independent registered public accounting firm to be retained to perform the annual audit of the Fund, to review the results of the audit, to review the Fund’s internal controls, to approve in advance all permissible non-audit services performed by the independent auditors and to review certain other matters relating to the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and financial records. The function of the QLCC is to receive reports from an attorney retained by the Trust of evidence of a material violation by the Trust or by any officer, director, employee or agent of the Trust.
 
 

 
The Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Nominating Committee”), comprised entirely of the Independent Trustees, is responsible for seeking and reviewing candidates for consideration as nominees for Trustees and meets only as necessary.  The Nominating Committee will consider nominees nominated by shareholders.  Recommendations by shareholders for consideration by the Nominating Committee should be sent to the President of the Trust in writing together with the appropriate biographical information concerning each such proposed Nominee, and such recommendation must comply with the notice provisions set forth in the Trust By-Laws.  In general, to comply with such procedures, such nominations, together with all required biographical information, must be delivered to and received by the President of the Trust at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than 120 days and no more than 150 days prior to the shareholder meeting at which any such nominee would be voted on.

The Board has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee that is comprised of the Trust’s President, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and is overseen by the Trustees.  The function of the Valuation Committee is to review and oversee each Adviser’s valuation of securities held by any series of the Trust for which current and reliable market quotations are not readily available.  Such securities are valued at their respective fair values as determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee, and the actions of the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.  The Valuation Committee meets as needed.

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

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

Qualification of Trustees
John Chrystal’s experience as a partner of an investment management firm, and his experience as a partner of a consulting firm advising financial institutions, has provided him with an extensive knowledge of the highly regulated financial services industry, which knowledge he brings to the Board in a relatable, effective way.
 
 

 
Albert J. DiUlio, S.J.’s financing background, combined with his work experience, have provided him with a strong understanding of financial statements and experience addressing the complex issues that confront entities.  As a trustee, Mr. DiUlio uses his financial background and experiences to enhance Board discussions with useful information and insights.

David S. Krause’s experience co-founding small businesses and as a professor in a graduate management program has honed his understanding of financial statements and the complex issues that confront businesses, making him a valuable resource to the Board.

Harry Resis’ background in fixed income securities analysis, with an emphasis on high yield securities, provides him with a practical knowledge of the underlying markets and strategies used by Funds in the Trust that will be useful to the Board in their analysis and oversight of the Funds.

Ian Martin has substantial mutual fund operations and shareholder servicing experience through his position as Executive Vice President and Director of Transfer Agent Operations of U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, a full service provider to mutual funds, which makes him a valuable resource to the Board as they contemplate shareholder servicing needs.

Each of Messrs. Chrystal, DiUlio, Krause, Resis and Martin takes a conservative and thoughtful approach to addressing issues facing the Fund.  The combination of skills and attributes discussed above led to the conclusion that each of Messrs. Chrystal, DiUlio, Krause, Resis and Martin should serve as a trustee.

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests
No Trustee owned shares of the Fund as of the calendar year ended December 31, 2013, which is prior to the inception date of the Fund.

As of December 31, 2013, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Adviser, the Distributor, as defined below, or an affiliate of the Adviser or Distributor.  Accordingly, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates.  In addition, during the  two most recently completed calendar years, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate families have conducted any transactions (or series of transactions) in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and to which the Adviser, the Distributor or any affiliate thereof was a party.

Compensation
Set forth below is the anticipated compensation to be received by the Independent Trustees from the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.  The Independent Trustees receive an annual retainer of $8,000 per year and a fee of $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of Trustees attended, including special meetings allocated among each of the various portfolios comprising the Trust.  The Trustees also receive reimbursement from the Trust for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings.  The Trust has no pension or retirement plan.  No other entity affiliated with the Trust pays any compensation to the Trustees.
 
 

 
 
Estimated Aggregate Compensation from
the Fund(1)
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses
Estimated Annual Benefits
Upon Retirement
Estimated Total Compensation from
Fund Complex Paid to Trustees(2)
Name of Independent Trustee
       
John Chrystal
$1,000
None
None
$1,000
Albert J. DiUlio, S.J.
$1,000
None
None
$1,000
David S. Krause
$1,000
None
None
$1,000
Harry Resis
$1,000
None
None
$1,000
Name of Interested Trustee
       
Ian Martin
$0
None
None
$0
 
(1)  
For the Fund’s fiscal year ending [       ].
(2)  
There are currently three portfolios comprising the Trust.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Fund.  For the fiscal year ending [        ], Trustees’ fees are estimated in the amount of $48,000.

 

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

 

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

A copy of the Adviser’s policies and procedures used to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities can be found in [Appendix B].

The Trust is required to file a Form N-PX, with the Fund’s complete proxy voting record for the 12 months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year.  The Fund’s proxy voting record will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll-free [           ] and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.


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

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


Longbow Capital Partners, L.P., 598 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022 acts as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Trust.  Thomas M. Fitzgerald, III owns 100% of the Adviser and is therefore a control person of the Adviser.

In consideration of the services to be provided by the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund an investment advisory fee computed daily and payable monthly, based on a rate equal to 1.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

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

In addition to the management fees payable to the Adviser, the Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses, including: fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance, registration and transfer of its shares; brokerage and commission expenses; all expenses of transfer, receipt, safekeeping, servicing and accounting for the cash, securities and other property of the Trust for the benefit of the Fund including all fees and expenses of its custodian and accounting services agent; interest charges on any borrowings; costs and expenses of pricing and calculating its daily NAV per share and of maintaining its books of account required under the 1940 Act; taxes, if any; a pro rata portion of expenditures in connection with meetings of the Fund’s shareholders and the Trust’s Board that are properly payable by the Fund; salaries and expenses of officers and fees and expenses of members of the Board or members of any advisory board or committee who are not members of, affiliated with or interested persons of the Adviser or Administrator; insurance premiums on property or personnel of the Fund which inure to their benefit, including liability and fidelity bond insurance; the cost of preparing and printing reports, proxy statements, prospectuses and the statement of additional information of the Fund or other communications for distribution to existing shareholders; legal counsel, auditing and accounting fees; trade association membership dues (including membership dues in the Investment Company Institute allocable to the Fund); fees and expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining registration of its shares for sale under federal and applicable state and foreign securities laws; all expenses of maintaining shareholder accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping, dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of the Fund, if any; and all other charges and costs of its operation plus any extraordinary and non-recurring expenses, except as otherwise prescribed in the Advisory Agreement.

Though the Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses, the Adviser has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of the management fees payable to it by the Fund and/or to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) to the limits set forth in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table of the Prospectus.  Any such waivers made by the Adviser in its management fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to recoupment by the Adviser from the Fund, if so requested by the Adviser, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the recoupment) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses.  The Adviser is permitted to recoup only for management fee waivers and expense payments made in the previous three fiscal years.  Any such recoupment is also contingent upon the Board’s subsequent review and ratification of the recouped amounts.  Such recoupment may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses.
 
 

 

Thomas M. Fitzgerald, III (“Terry”) and Steven S. Strassberg are the portfolio managers principally responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio.  The following table shows the number of other accounts managed by each portfolio manager and the total assets in the accounts managed within various categories as of June 30, 2014.

Thomas M. Fitzgerald, III (“Terry”)
 
Type of Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Number of Accounts with Advisory Fee
based on Performance
Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
0
0
0
0
Other Pooled Investments
3
$217 million
3
$217 million
Other Accounts
0
0
0
0

Steven S. Strassberg
 
Type of Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Number of Accounts with Advisory Fee
based on Performance
Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies
0
0
0
0
Other Pooled Investments
1
$15 million
1
$15 million
Other Accounts
0
0
0
0


Material Conflicts of Interest.
The Adviser does not anticipate any material conflicts of interest.

Compensation.
The portfolio managers are paid a base salary and share in the incentive fees earned based on the performance of the portfolios they manage.

Securities Owned in the Fund by the Portfolio Managers.
As of the date of this SAI, no portfolio manager of the Fund beneficially owned any shares of the Fund as it had not commenced operations.
 
 

 
 

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

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, as compensation for its fund administration, portfolio compliance and fund accounting services, USBFS receives from the Fund, a fee based on the Fund’s current average daily net assets of: 0.08% on the first $250 million, 0.06% on the next $250 million and 0.05% on the remaining assets, with a minimum initial annual fee of $78,000.  USBFS also is entitled to certain out-of-pocket expenses.  USBFS also acts as fund accountant, transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) and dividend disbursing agent under separate agreements.  Additionally, the Administrator provides Chief Compliance Officer services to the Trust under a separate agreement.  The cost of the Chief Compliance Officer’s services is charged to the Fund and approved by the Board annually.

Custodian
Pursuant to a Custody Agreement between the Trust and U.S. Bank National Association, located at 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212 (the “Custodian”), the Custodian serves as the custodian of the Fund’s assets, holds the Fund’s portfolio securities in safekeeping, and keeps all necessary records and documents relating to its duties.  The Custodian is compensated with an asset-based fee plus transaction fees and is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.

The Custodian and Administrator do not participate in decisions relating to the purchase and sale of securities by the Fund.  The Administrator, Transfer Agent, Custodian and the Fund’s Distributor (as defined below) are affiliated entities under the common control of U.S. Bancorp.   The Custodian and its affiliates may participate in revenue sharing arrangements with the service providers of mutual funds in which the Fund may invest.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
[                                       ]

Legal Counsel
Bingham McCutchen LLP, 2020 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006-1806, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.  Bingham McCutchen also serves as independent legal counsel to the Board of Trustees.
 
 

 

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

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

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

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


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

 
With respect to the Fund, the Trust may offer more than one class of shares.  The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional series or classes.  Each share of a series or class represents an equal proportionate interest in that series or class with each other share of that series or class.  Currently, the Fund offers two share classes-Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders but will hold special meetings of shareholders of a series or class when, in the judgment of the Trustees, it is necessary or desirable to submit matters for a shareholder vote.  Shareholders have, under certain circumstances, the right to communicate with other shareholders in connection with requesting a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing one or more Trustees.  Shareholders also have, in certain circumstances, the right to remove one or more Trustees without a meeting.  No material amendment may be made to the Declaration of Trust without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each portfolio affected by the amendment.  The Declaration of Trust provides that, at any meeting of shareholders of the Trust or of any series or class, a Shareholder Servicing Agent may vote any shares as to which such Shareholder Servicing Agent is the agent of record and which are not represented in person or by proxy at the meeting, proportionately in accordance with the votes cast by holders of all shares of that portfolio otherwise represented at the meeting in person or by proxy as to which such Shareholder Servicing Agent is the agent of record. Any shares so voted by a Shareholder Servicing Agent will be deemed represented at the meeting for purposes of quorum requirements.  Any series or class may be terminated (i) upon the merger or consolidation with, or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity, if approved by the vote of the holders of two thirds of its outstanding shares, except that if the Board recommends such merger, consolidation or sale or disposition of assets, the approval by vote of the holders of a majority of the series’ or class’ outstanding shares will be sufficient, or (ii) by the vote of the holders of a majority of its outstanding shares, or (iii) by the Board by written notice to the series’ or class’ shareholders.  Unless each series and class is so terminated, the Trust will continue indefinitely.

The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust shall maintain appropriate insurance (for example, fidelity bonding and errors and omissions insurance) for the protection of the Trust, its shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents covering possible tort and other liabilities. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which both inadequate insurance existed and the Trust itself was unable to meet its obligations.

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

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

 

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

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

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

The Trust reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the continued offering of the Fund’s shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders in whole or in part when in the judgment of the Adviser or the Distributor such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in sales of the Fund’s shares.

In addition to cash purchases, Fund shares may be purchased by tendering payment in-kind in the form of shares of stock, bonds or other securities.  Any securities used to buy Fund shares must be readily marketable, their acquisition consistent with the Fund’s objective and otherwise acceptable to the Adviser and the Board.

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Redemptions In-Kind
The Trust has filed an election under SEC Rule 18f-1 committing to pay in cash all redemptions by a shareholder of record up to amounts specified by the rule (in excess of the lesser of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 1% of the Fund’s assets).  The Fund has reserved the right to pay the redemption price of its shares in excess of the amounts specified by the rule, either totally or partially, by a distribution in-kind of portfolio securities (instead of cash).  The securities so distributed would be valued at the same amount as that assigned to them in calculating the NAV per share for the shares being sold.  If a shareholder receives a distribution in-kind, the shareholder could incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

The Fund does not intend to hold any significant percentage of its portfolio in illiquid securities, although the Fund, like virtually all mutual funds, may from time to time hold a small percentage of securities that are illiquid.  In the unlikely event the Fund were to elect to make an in-kind redemption, the Fund expects that it would follow the normal protocol of making such distribution by way of a pro rata distribution based on its entire portfolio. If the Fund held illiquid securities, such distribution may contain a pro rata portion of such illiquid securities or the Fund may determine, based on a materiality assessment, not to include illiquid securities in the in-kind redemption. The Fund does not anticipate that it would ever selectively distribute a greater than pro rata portion of any illiquid securities to satisfy a redemption request. If such securities are included in the distribution, shareholders may not be able to liquidate such securities and may be required to hold such securities indefinitely. Shareholders’ ability to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind may be restricted by resale limitations or substantial restrictions on transfer imposed by the issuers of the securities or by law. Shareholders may only be able to liquidate such securities distributed in-kind at a substantial discount from their value, and there may be higher brokerage costs associated with any subsequent disposition of these securities by the recipient.
 
 

 
 

Distributions
Dividends from net investment income and distributions from net profits from the sale of securities are generally made annually.  Also, the Fund typically distributes any undistributed net investment income on or about December 31 of each year.  Any net capital gains realized through the period ended October 31 of each year will also be distributed by December 31 of each year.

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

Tax Information
Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes.  The Fund has elected, and intends to qualify each year, to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  To qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, and net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income); and (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, in the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more “qualified publicly traded partnerships.”

As a regulated investment company, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its taxable investment income and capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders, provided that it satisfies a minimum distribution requirement.  To satisfy the minimum distribution requirement, the Fund must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (i.e., generally, its taxable income other than its net capital gain, plus or minus certain other adjustments), and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year.  The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporate tax rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.  The Fund’s policy is to distribute to its shareholders all of its investment company taxable income and any net realized long term capital gains for each fiscal year in a manner that complies with the distribution requirements of the Code, so that the Fund will not be subject to any federal income or excise taxes.  However, the Fund can give no assurances that distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

If, for any taxable year, the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code or were to fail to meet the distribution requirement, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income.  In addition, in the event of a failure to qualify, the Fund’s distributions, to the extent derived from the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions of net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary dividend income for federal income tax purposes.  However, such dividends would be eligible, subject to any generally applicable limitations, (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders.  Moreover, if the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company in any year, it would be required to pay out its earnings and profits accumulated in that year in order to qualify again as a regulated investment company.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund may cure a failure to qualify as a regulated investment company, but in order to do so the Fund may incur significant Fund-level taxes and may be forced to dispose of certain assets.  If the Fund failed to qualify as a regulated investment company for a period greater than two taxable years, the Fund would generally be required to recognize any net built-in gains with respect to certain of its assets upon a disposition of such assets within ten years of qualifying as a regulated investment company in a subsequent year.
 
 

 
To avoid a non-deductible excise tax, the Fund must also distribute (or be deemed to have distributed) by December 31 of each calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for such year, (ii) 98.2% of the excess of its realized capital gains over its realized capital losses for the 12 month period ending on October 31 during such year, and (iii) any amounts from the prior calendar year that were not distributed and on which no federal income tax was paid by the Fund or shareholders.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, unused capital loss carryforwards that arose in tax years that began on or before December 22, 2010 (“Pre-2011 Losses”) are available to be applied against future capital gains, if any, realized by the Fund prior to the expiration of the carryforwards.  If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (a “Post-2010 Loss”), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year.  Post-2010 Losses can be carried forward indefinitely to offset capital gains, if any, in years following the year of the loss, and such carryforwards must be utilized before the Fund can utilize any carryforwards of Pre-2011 Losses.  Under certain circumstances, the Fund may elect to treat certain losses as though they were incurred on the first day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which they were actually incurred.

The Fund’s net investment income generally consists of interest and dividend income, less expenses.  Net realized capital gains for a fiscal period are computed by taking into account any capital loss carryforward of the Fund.  Taxable dividends and distributions are subject to tax whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares.

Distributions of net investment income and net short term capital gains are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income or, for noncorporate shareholders, as qualified dividend income.  Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain (i.e., the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains regardless of the length of time shares have been held.  In general, to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income, the Fund may report a portion of the dividends it pays as qualified dividend income, which for noncorporate shareholders is subject to tax at reduced tax rates. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (i.e., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, and foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividend was paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States).  A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend (or the Fund fails to satisfy this holding period requirement with respect to the underlying dividend-paying stock), (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Distributions received by the Fund from another regulated investment company will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such other regulated investment company.  If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.
 
 

 
Dividends paid by the Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders of the Fund.

There is no requirement that the Fund take into consideration any tax implications when implementing its investment strategy.  If the Fund’s distributions exceed its earnings and profits, all or a portion of the distributions may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis, resulting in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the shares on which the distribution was received are sold. After a shareholder’s basis in the shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares.

Shareholders who choose to receive taxable distributions in the form of additional shares will have a cost basis for federal income tax purposes in each share so received equal to the NAV of a share on the reinvestment date.

A dividend or other distribution by the Fund is generally treated under the Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made.  However, distributions declared in October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in such a month and paid the following January are taxable as if received on December 31.  Distributions are includable in alternative minimum taxable income in computing a shareholder’s liability for the alternative minimum tax.  Shareholders should note that the Fund may make taxable distributions of income and capital gains even when share values have declined.

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends and interest earned with respect to securities of foreign corporations.  Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases.  The Fund does not expect to be eligible to elect to pass through foreign taxes to its shareholders, who therefore will not be entitled to credits or deductions on their own tax returns for foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Foreign taxes paid by the Fund may reduce the return from the Fund’s investments.

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

 
Dividends and distributions from the Fund will generally be taken into account in determining a shareholder’s “net investment income” for purposes of the Medicare contribution tax applicable to certain individuals, estates and trusts.

Under the Code, the Fund will be required to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) all distributions of taxable income and capital gains as well as gross proceeds from the redemption of Fund shares, except in the case of exempt shareholders, which includes most corporations.  For redemptions of Fund shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012, the Fund will also be required to report cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period.  If a shareholder has a different basis for different shares of the Fund, acquired on or after January 1, 2012, in the same account (e.g., if a shareholder purchased shares in the same account at different times for different prices), the Fund will calculate the basis of the shares sold using its default method unless the shareholder has properly elected to use a different method.  The Fund’s default method for calculating basis will be the average basis method, under which the basis per share is reported as the average of the bases of all of the shareholder’s Fund shares in the account.  A shareholder may elect, on an account-by-account basis, to use a method other than average basis by following procedures established by the Fund or its administrative agent.  If such an election is made on or prior to the date of the first exchange or redemption of shares in the account and on or prior to the date that is one year after the shareholder receives notice of the Fund’s default method, the new election will generally apply as if the average basis method had never been in effect for such account. If such an election is not made on or prior to such dates, the shares in the account at the time of the election will retain their averaged bases.  Shareholders should consult their tax advisers concerning the tax consequences of applying the average basis method or electing another method of basis calculation.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

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

The foregoing discussion of U.S. federal income tax law relates solely to the application of that law to U.S. citizens or residents and U.S. domestic corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates.  Each shareholder who is not a U.S. person should consider the U.S. and foreign tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the possibility that such a shareholder may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty).
 
 

 
This discussion and the related discussion in the Prospectus have been prepared by Fund management.  The information above is only a summary of some of the tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders.  No attempt has been made to discuss individual tax consequences and this discussion should not be construed as applicable to all shareholders’ tax situations.  Investors should consult their own tax advisors to determine the suitability of the Fund and the applicability of any state, local or foreign taxation.

 

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

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

Distribution Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act under which the Fund’s Investor Class shares pay the Distributor an amount which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class.  Amounts paid under the Plan, by the Fund, are paid to the Distributor to reimburse it for costs of the services it provides and the expenses it bears in the distribution of the Fund’s shares, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund’s shares to prospective investors; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials.  Such fee is paid to the Distributor each year only to the extent of such costs and expenses of the Distributor under the Plan actually incurred in that year.  In addition, payments to the Distributor under the Plan reimburse the Distributor for payments it makes to selected dealers and administrators which have entered into Service Agreements with the Distributor of periodic fees for services provided to shareholders of the Fund.  The services provided by selected dealers pursuant to the Plan are primarily designed to promote the sale of shares of the Fund and include the furnishing of office space and equipment, telephone facilities, personnel and assistance to the Fund in servicing such shareholders.  The services provided by the administrators pursuant to the Plan are designed to provide support services to the Fund and include establishing and maintaining shareholders’ accounts and records, processing purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine client inquiries regarding the Fund and providing other services to the Fund as may be required.

Under the Plan, the Trustees will be furnished quarterly with information detailing the amount of expenses paid under the Plan and the purposes for which payments were made.  The Plan may be terminated at any time by vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons.  Continuation of the Plan is considered by such Trustees no less frequently than annually.  With the exception of the Distributor and the Adviser, in their capacities as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distribution coordinator, respectively, no interested person has or had a direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or any related agreement.
 
 

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

Any material amendment to the Plan must be approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by a vote of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable class or classes.  The Plan may be terminated, with respect to a class or classes of the Fund, without penalty at any time: (1) by vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees; or (2) by a vote of a “majority” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable class or classes.

Shareholding Servicing Plan
Pursuant to a Shareholder Service Plan (the “Plan”) adopted by the Trust established by the Fund with respect to the Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares of the Fund, the Adviser is authorized to provide, or arrange for others to provide personal shareholder services relating to the servicing and maintenance of shareholder accounts not otherwise provided to the Fund (“Shareholder Servicing Activities”).  Under the Plan, the Adviser may enter into shareholder service agreements with securities broker-dealers and other securities professionals (“Service Organizations”) who provide Shareholder Servicing Activities for their clients invested in the Fund.  Shareholder Servicing Fees are accrued daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate of up to up to 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares.

Shareholder Servicing Activities shall include one or more of the following:  (1) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating for shareholders of the Fund; (2) aggregating and processing orders involving the shares of the Fund; (3) processing dividend and other distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; (4) providing information to shareholders as to their ownership of Fund shares or about other aspects of the operations of the Fund; (5) preparing tax reports or forms on behalf of shareholders; (6) forwarding communications from the Fund to shareholders; (7) assisting shareholders in changing the Fund’s records as to their addresses, dividend options, account registrations or other data; (8) providing sub-accounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to the Fund necessary for sub-accounting; (9) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed; (10) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (11) providing such other similar services as the Adviser may reasonably request to the extent the Service Organization is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules or regulations.

 

The Adviser, out of its own resources and without additional cost to the Fund or its shareholders, may provide additional cash payments or other compensation to certain financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Such payments may be divided into categories as follows:
 
 

 
Support Payments.  Payments may be made by the Adviser to certain financial intermediaries in connection with the eligibility of the Fund to be offered in certain programs and/or in connection with meetings between the Fund’s representatives and financial intermediaries and its sales representatives. Such meetings may be held for various purposes, including providing education and training about the Fund and other general financial topics to assist financial intermediaries’ sales representatives in making informed recommendations to, and decisions on behalf of, their clients.

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 
 
 

Description of Ratings

 
SHORT-TERM RATINGS
 
Standard & Poor’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A Standard & Poor’s issue credit rating is a current opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated.  The opinion evaluates the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.  The issue credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell, or hold a financial obligation, inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability for a particular investor.

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

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

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

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

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

A-3
A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
 
 
 
B
A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Short-Term Ratings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.: Corporate Bond Ratings

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

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

Moody’s applies numerical modifiers “1,” “2” and “3” to both the Aaa and Aa rating classifications.  The modifier “1” indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier “2” indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier “3” indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

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

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

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group: Corporate Bond Ratings

AAA--This is the highest rating assigned by S&P to a debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.

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

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

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

Commercial Paper Ratings

Moody’s commercial paper ratings are assessments of the issuer’s ability to repay punctually promissory obligations. Moody’s employs the following three designations, all judged to be investment grade, to indicate the relative repayment capacity of rated issuers: Prime 1--highest quality; Prime 2--higher quality; Prime 3--high quality.

An S&P commercial paper rating is a current assessment of the likelihood of timely payment. Ratings are graded into four categories, ranging from “A” for the highest quality obligations to “D” for the lowest.

Issues assigned the highest rating, A, are regarded as having the greatest capacity for timely payment.  Issues in this category are delineated with the numbers “1”, “2” and “3” to indicate the relative degree of safety.  The designation A-1 indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is either overwhelming or very strong.  A “+” designation is applied to those issues rated “A-1” which possess extremely strong safety characteristics.  Capacity for timely payment on issues with the designation “A-2” is strong.  However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated A-1. Issues carrying the designation “A-3” have a satisfactory capacity for timely payment.  They are, however, somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effect of changes in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher designations.
 
 
 
 
PART C
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 28.
Exhibits
 
(a)
(1)
Certificate of Trust dated August 26, 2003, was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on August 29, 2003 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(2)
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust dated June 1, 2005 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 24, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(3)
Second Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust dated December 1, 2011 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 30, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(4)
Third Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(5)
Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 1, 2005 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on June 24, 2005 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(b)
Amended and Restated Bylaws dated November 21, 2013 were previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and are incorporated herein by reference.
 
(c)
Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders are incorporated by reference into the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Amended and Restated Bylaws.
 
(d)
Investment Advisory Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
(e)
Distribution Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
(f)
Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – not applicable.
 
(g)
Custody Agreement dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(1)
Amendment to Custody Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
(h)
Other Material Contracts
 
 
(1)
Fund Administration Servicing Agreement dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(i)
Amendment to Fund Administration Servicing Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
 
 
 
C-1

 
 
 
(2)
Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(i)
Amendment to Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
 
(3)
Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(i)
Amendment to Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement– to be filed by amendment.
 
 
(4)
Operating Expenses Limitation Agreement – to be filed by amendment.
 
 
(5)
(i)
Power of Attorney for Ian Martin dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(ii)
Power of Attorney for John Chrystal dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(iii)
Power of Attorney for Albert J. DiUlio, S.J. dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(iv)
Power of Attorney for David S. Krause dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
   
(v)
Power of Attorney for Harry E. Resis dated January 1, 2014 was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on January 14, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(i)
Legal Opinion – to be filed by amendment.
 
(j)
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm- to be filed by amendment.
 
(k)
Omitted Financial Statements – not applicable.
 
(l)
Form of Subscription Agreement was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on August 29, 2003 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
(m)
Rule 12b-1 Plan – to be filed by amendment.  
 
(n)
Rule 18f-3 Plan – to be filed by amendment.
 
(o)
Reserved.
 
 (p)
(1)
Code of Ethics for the Registrant – was previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on March 31, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 
(2)
Code of Ethics for the Adviser – to be filed by amendment.
 
 
 
 
C-2

 
 
 
(3)
Code of Ethics for Access Persons of Quasar Distributors, LLCwas previously filed with the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A on March 28, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.
 

Item 29.
Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant
 
No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.  
 
Item 30.
Indemnification
 
Reference is made to Article VI in the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is incorporated by reference herein.

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

 
Item 31.
Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser
 
With respect to the Adviser, the response to this Item is incorporated by reference to the Adviser’s Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (Form ADV) on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (File No. 801-65503), dated January 31, 2014.  The Adviser’s Form ADV may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
 
Item 32.
Principal Underwriters
 
(a)      Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Registrant’s principal underwriter, acts as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

Academy Funds Trust
Jensen Portfolio, Inc.
Advisors Series Trust
Kirr Marbach Partners Funds, Inc.
Aegis Funds
KKR Alternative Corporate Opportunities Fund P
Aegis Value Fund, Inc.
KKR Series Trust
Allied Asset Advisors Funds
Litman Gregory Funds Trust
Alpine Equity Trust
LKCM Funds
Alpine Income Trust
LoCorr Investment Trust
 
 
 
C-3

 
 
Alpine Series Trust
Loeb King Trust
Barrett Opportunity Fund, Inc.
Lord Asset Management Trust
Brandes Investment Trust
MainGate Trust
Bridge Builder Trust
Managed Portfolio Series
Bridges Investment Fund, Inc.
Matrix Advisors Value Fund, Inc.
Brookfield Investment Funds
Merger Fund
Brown Advisory Funds
Monetta Trust
Buffalo Funds
Nicholas Family of Funds, Inc.
Country Mutual Funds Trust
Permanent Portfolio Family of Funds, Inc.
Cushing Funds Trust
Perritt Funds, Inc.
DoubleLine Funds Trust
PRIMECAP Odyssey Funds
ETF Series Solutions
Professionally Managed Portfolios
Evermore Funds Trust
Prospector Funds, Inc.
FactorShares Trust
Provident Mutual Funds, Inc.
First American Funds, Inc.
Purisima Funds
First American Investment Funds, Inc.
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
First American Strategy Funds, Inc.
RBC Funds Trust
Glenmede Fund, Inc.
SCS Financial Funds
Glenmede Portfolios
Stone Ridge Trust
Greenspring Fund, Inc.
Thompson IM Funds, Inc.
Guinness Atkinson Funds
TIFF Investment Program, Inc.
Harding Loevner Funds, Inc.
Trust for Professional Managers
Hennessy Funds Trust
USA Mutuals
Hennessy Funds, Inc.
USFS Funds Trust
Hennessy Mutual Funds, Inc.
Wall Street Fund, Inc.
Hennessy SPARX Funds Trust
Westchester Capital Funds
Hotchkis & Wiley Funds
Wexford Trust/PA
Intrepid Capital Management Funds Trust
Wisconsin Capital Funds, Inc.
IronBridge Funds, Inc.
WY Funds
Jacob Funds, Inc.
YCG Funds
 
 
 
C-4

 

 
(b)    To the best of Registrant’s knowledge, the directors and executive officers of Quasar Distributors, LLC are as follows:

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

(c)      Not applicable.
  
Item 33.
Location of Accounts and Records
 

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

Records Relating to:
Are located at:
Registrant’s Fund Administrator, Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 3rd Floor
Milwaukee, WI  53202
 
Registrant’s Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
Custody Operations
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212
 
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
Longbow Capital Partners, L.P.
598 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
 
Registrant’s Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street, 4th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
 
 
 
C-5

 

 
 
Item 34.
Management Services
 
Not applicable. 

Item 35.
Undertakings
 
Not applicable.
 
 
 
 
C-6

 
 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, on the 23rd day of July, 2014.

Trust for Advised Portfolios

By: /s/ Christopher E. Kashmerick
Christopher E. Kashmerick
President and Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
Title
Date
     
/s/ John Chrystal*
Trustee
July 23, 2014
John Chrystal
   
     
/s/ Albert J. DiUlio, S.J.*
Trustee
July 23, 2014
Albert J. DiUlio, S.J.
   
     
/s/ David S. Krause*
Trustee
July 23, 2014
David S. Krause
   
     
/s/ Harry E. Resis*
Trustee
July 23, 2014
Harry E. Resis
   
     
/s/ Ian Martin*
Trustee
July 23, 2014
Ian A. Martin
   
     
/s/ Christopher E. Kashmerick
President and Principal Executive Officer
July 23, 2014
Christopher E. Kashmerick
   
     
/s/ Russell B. Simon
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
July 23, 2014
Russell B. Simon
   
     
*By: /s/ Christopher E. Kashmerick
 
July 23, 2014
Christopher E. Kashmerick Attorney-In Fact pursuant to
Power of Attorney
   
 
 
 
C-7