485BPOS 1 d485bpos.htm CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST CRM Mutual Fund Trust

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2008

File Nos. 333-123998

811-21749

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No. 11

AND

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Amendment No. 13

 

 

CRM Mutual Fund Trust*

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

c/o PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

103 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: 212-326-5334

Corporation Service Company

2711 Centerville Road Suite 400

Wilmington, DE 19808

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copy to:

Lea Anne Copenhefer

Bingham McCutchen LLP

One Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

  x Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

  ¨ On pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

  ¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph a(1)

 

  ¨ On [date] pursuant to paragraph a(1)

 

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

 

  ¨ On [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

 

* This filing relates only to CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, new series of the Registrant.

 

 

 


LOGO

The investment objective of each Fund is long-term capital appreciation

 

Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

 

DECEMBER 22, 2008

 

CRM GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

Investor Shares

 

 

PROSPECTUS


CONTENTS

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNDS

  2

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

  2

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS OF THE FUNDS

  4

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, FEE TABLES AND EXAMPLES

 

CRM Global Opportunity Fund

  7

CRM International Opportunity Fund

  10

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Additional Information on Investment Strategies

  13

Additional Information on Investment Risks

  14

Portfolio Holdings

  15

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

Adviser

  16

Portfolio Managers

  17

Service Providers

  18

PRICING OF SHARES

  19

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Purchases of Shares from the Funds

  20

Additional Information Regarding Purchases

  21

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption of Shares

  22

Redemption Fee

  22

Redemption of Shares from the Funds

  23

Additional Information Regarding Redemptions

  24

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

  24

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

  25

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

  26

TAXES

 

Federal Income Taxes

  27

State and Local Income Taxes

  28

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Shareholder Service Fees

  29

Additional Payments

  29

SHARE CLASSES

  30

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  31

APPENDIX A—PRIVACY POLICY

 


INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

OF THE FUNDS

 

The CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund (the “Funds”) each seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. Each Fund may change its objective without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Funds will provide written notice at least 60 days prior to implementing any change in a Fund’s investment objective.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

 

The Global Opportunity Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity related securities of U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund normally invests in the securities of companies that are tied economically to at least 10 countries, including the U.S. The Fund may invest in companies located in developed and emerging markets. Emerging markets include countries that have an emerging stock market as defined by Standard & Poor’s, Inc. (“S&P”), countries or markets with low- to middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank, and other countries or markets with similar emerging characteristics. The Fund may invest in companies of any size.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce risk by diversifying among many industries. Although it has the flexibility to invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or region, it generally intends to remain well-diversified across countries and geographical regions. There is no limit on the Fund’s investment in companies located in emerging markets countries.

 

The percentage of Fund assets invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time. The Fund may at any one time invest all or substantially all of its assets in foreign companies and at another time invest substantially in U.S. companies, although, under normal circumstances, it is expected that a majority of the Fund’s assets will be invested in foreign companies.

 

The International Opportunity Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity related securities of foreign companies. The Fund normally invests in the securities of companies that are tied economically to at least 10 countries, other than the U.S. The Fund may invest in companies located in developed and emerging markets. Emerging markets include countries that have an emerging stock market as defined by S&P, countries or markets with low- to middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank, and other countries or markets with similar emerging characteristics. The Fund may invest in companies of any size.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce risk by diversifying among many industries. Although it has the flexibility to invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or region, it generally intends to remain well-diversified across countries and geographical regions. The percentage of Fund assets invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time. There is no limit on the Fund’s investment in companies located in emerging markets countries.

 

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For purposes of the 80% investment policy for each Fund, equity and equity related securities include:

 

   

common and preferred stocks;

 

   

securities convertible into common stock (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds) that are rated, at the time of initial purchase, in the three highest rating categories by rating organizations such as Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or S&P or if unrated, are determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality; and

 

   

warrants on common stock.

 

Value Investing. Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM” or the “Adviser”), the Funds’ investment adviser, seeks to identify well-managed companies which it believes are advantageously positioned to deliver shareholder value. Additionally, CRM seeks to identify changes that are material to a company’s operations, outlook and prospects. CRM is attracted to companies that it believes will look different tomorrow—operationally, financially, managerially—when compared to today. Change often creates confusion and misunderstanding and it is this confusion and oversight of solid fundamentals that can result in the securities of a company being “neglected by investors” and undervalued relative to its future prospects and peer companies. CRM believes that, over time, the marketplace will recognize the impact of these changes. Examples of change for which CRM looks include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, change of management, new market/product/means of production/distribution and regulatory change.

 

The Adviser’s Process. CRM analyzes potential investments using a variety of both qualitative and quantitative sources. These sources include the extensive use of CRM’s proprietary database of analysis and information, as well as news services and event driven information, and a screening process which uses various criteria, including neglect (where CRM seeks to identify companies whose future earnings or cash flow will surpass more modest market expectations) and valuation relationships (where CRM seeks to identify companies that are under-earning their potential with margins that are below their previous highs or those of peer companies). “Connecting the Dots” research involves companies within the same and different industries that might be affected by similar positive changes or developments. For example, when CRM identifies a business trend that affects one company, it may seek to identify other companies affected by the same trend. CRM’s ideas are generated internally with significant interaction among the members of CRM’s portfolio management teams. Members of CRM’s portfolio management teams regularly meet with representatives for companies both around the country and globally, and in a typical year they annually attend more than 500 company/management meetings.

 

CRM evaluates a company on several levels by analyzing:

 

   

financial models based principally upon projected cash flows;

 

   

the price of a company’s stock in the context of what the market is willing to pay for stock of comparable companies and what a strategic buyer would pay for the whole company;

 

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the extent of management’s ownership interest in a company;

 

   

a company’s market position by corroborating CRM’s observations and assumptions through meetings with the company’s management, customers and suppliers; and

 

   

with respect to CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, country risk and currency risk.

 

CRM also evaluates the degree of recognition of a company by the financial industry by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow a company and the nature of its shareholder base. CRM’s portfolio management teams also monitor and evaluate country and currency risk when considering to purchase or sell foreign securities.

 

An important function of CRM’s investment process is to set a price target at which the stock will be sold, provided that there has been no fundamental change in the investment case. CRM constantly monitors the portfolio companies held by the Funds to determine if the stocks continue to act in accordance with CRM’s initial assessment. A stock may be sold when its fundamentals deteriorate or when the identified change is not having the expected impact on earnings and cash flow.

 

Each Fund also may use other strategies and engage in other investment practices described below and in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Please also see the Funds’ website, www.crmfunds.com, for more information about the Funds.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS OF THE FUNDS

 

It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund. There is no guarantee that the stock market or the stocks that a Fund buys will increase in value. The Funds are subject to the following principal investment risks:

 

Risks of Foreign Investments and Emerging Markets. Each Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging markets. Investing in foreign securities involves special risks that can increase the potential for losses. These risks may include expropriation of assets, illiquid foreign securities markets, confiscatory taxation, foreign withholding taxes, currency exchange controls, the risk that a counterparty may not complete a currency or securities transaction, and political, economic or social instability. The economies of foreign countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession. Because many foreign markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile, a Fund may not be able to sell portfolio securities at times, in amounts and at prices it considers reasonable. In some foreign countries, less information is available about issuers and markets because of less rigorous accounting and regulatory standards than in the U.S. Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors. Enforcing legal rights in some foreign countries may be difficult, costly and slow. As a result, foreign stocks can fluctuate more widely in price than comparable U.S. stocks, and they may also be less liquid.

 

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Because the Funds generally invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Funds are subject to currency risk, meaning that the Funds could experience gains or losses solely on changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.

 

These risks are generally greater in emerging markets, or to the extent that a Fund invests significantly in one region or country. The extent of economic development; political stability; market depth, infrastructure, and capitalization; and regulatory oversight can be less than in more developed markets. Emerging market countries may experience rising interest rates, or, more significantly, rapid inflation or hyperinflation. All of these factors can make emerging market securities more volatile and potentially less liquid than securities issued in more developed markets.

 

In addition, investing in foreign stocks may also involve a greater risk for excessive trading due to “time-zone arbitrage”. If an event occurring after the close of a foreign market, but before the time a Fund computes its current net asset value, causes a change in the price of the foreign stock and such price is not reflected in a Fund’s current net asset value, investors may attempt to take advantage of anticipated price movements in securities held by a Fund based on such pricing discrepancies.

 

Market Risk. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, market or economic developments. Different parts of the U.S. market and different markets around the world can react differently to these developments. The ongoing global financial crisis has caused a significant decline in the value of many securities, and the continuation or further deterioration of market conditions could lead to additional losses of value. Foreign securities held by the Funds may be traded on days and at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed and the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Funds is therefore not calculated. Accordingly, the NAV of the Funds may be significantly affected on days when shareholders are not able to buy and, sell shares of the Funds. For additional information on the calculation of the Funds’ NAV, see page 19.

 

Company Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. This may result from a wide variety of factors that affect particular companies or industries, including changes in market demand for particular goods and services, increases in costs of supply, changes in management, increased competition, and changes in regulatory environment.

 

Value Investing Risk. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. CRM may be incorrect when it decides that some stocks are undervalued by the market.

 

Risks of Small and Mid Cap Companies. Compared to mutual funds that focus exclusively on large capitalization companies, shares of the Funds may be more volatile because they invest in small and/or mid capitalization companies. Small and mid capitalization companies are more likely to have more limited product lines, fewer capital resources and less depth of management than larger companies.

 

5


 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Each Fund may actively trade portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. Consequently, a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may exceed 100% per year. To the extent that a Fund’s strategies lead it to buy and sell securities more actively than other mutual funds, the Fund could have higher expenses, including increased brokerage commission costs, which reduce shareholder returns. A high portfolio turnover rate also may expose shareholders to higher taxable distributions.

 

Additional Risks. The Funds are also subject to other risks, some of which are described below under “Additional Information on Investment Risks.”

 

6


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, FEE TABLES AND EXAMPLES

 

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Global Opportunity Fund will compare its performance to the MSCI World Index.

 

Because the Global Opportunity Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, information on the Fund’s performance is not included in this section.

 

7


 

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

FEE TABLE

 

This table sets forth the fees and expenses you will pay if you invest in Investor Shares of the Global Opportunity Fund.

 

INVESTOR SHARES

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Redemption Fee on Shares Held Less than 30 Days (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

   1.50 %

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

  

Management Fees(1)

   0.90 %

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   None  

Other Expenses(2)

  

Shareholder Servicing Fee

   0.25 %

Other Miscellaneous Expenses(2)

   0.59 %
      

Total Other Expenses(2)

   0.84 %
      

Total Annual Operating Expenses(3)

   1.74 %

Fee Waiver(3)

   (0.24) %
      

Net Expenses(3)

   1.50 %
      

 

(1) The Fund has a management fee payable in accordance with the following fee schedule: 0.90% on net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% on net assets over $2 billion.
(2) Other expenses include costs of administration, custody and accounting services, line of credit commitment fees and similar expenses and are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(3) CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fees through November 1, 2010 and to assume certain expenses of the Investor Shares of the Fund to the extent that the total annual operating expenses, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, exceed 1.50% of average net assets.

 

8


 

EXAMPLE

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Investor Shares of the Global Opportunity Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example below shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time periods indicated. The Example assumes that:

 

   

you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;

 

   

the average annual return was 5%;

 

   

the Fund’s total operating expenses (reflecting applicable contractual fee waivers and expense reimbursement arrangements) are charged and remain the same over the time periods; and

 

   

you redeemed all of your investment at the end of each time period.

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Global Opportunity Fund      1 Year      3 Years

Investor Shares

     $ 153      $ 500

 

9


 

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The International Opportunity Fund will compare its performance to the MSCI EAFE Index.

 

Because the International Opportunity Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, information on the Fund’s performance is not included in this section.

 

10


 

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

FEE TABLE

 

This table sets forth the fees and expenses you will pay if you invest in Investor Shares of the International Opportunity Fund.

 

INVESTOR SHARES

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Redemption Fee on shares held less than 30 days (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

   1.50 %

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

  

Management Fees(1)

   0.90 %

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   None  

Other expenses(2)

  

Shareholder Servicing Fee

   0.25 %

Other Miscellaneous Expenses(2)

   0.60 %
      

Total Other Expenses(2)

   0.85 %
      

Total Annual Operating Expenses(3)

   1.75 %

Fee Waivers(3)

   (0.25) %
      

Net Expenses(3)

   1.50 %
      

 

(1) The Fund has a management fee payable in accordance with the following fee schedule: 0.90% on net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% on net assets over $2 billion.
(2) Other expenses include costs of administration, custody and accounting services, line of credit commitment fees and similar expenses and are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(3) CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fees through November 1, 2010 and to assume certain expenses of the Investor Shares of the Fund to the extent that the total annual operating expenses, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, exceed 1.50% of average net assets.

 

11


 

EXAMPLE

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Investor Shares of the International Opportunity Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example below shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time periods indicated. The Example assumes that:

 

   

you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;

 

   

the average annual return was 5%;

 

   

the Fund’s total operating expenses (reflecting applicable contractual fee waivers and expense reimbursement arrangements) are charged and remain the same over the time periods; and

 

   

you redeemed all of your investment at the end of each time period.

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

International Opportunity Fund      1 Year      3 Years

Investor Shares

     $ 153      $ 501

 

12


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Funds’ investment objectives and their principal investment strategies and risks are summarized at the beginning of this prospectus. These are the strategies that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are most likely to be important in trying to achieve the Funds’ investment objectives. More information on investment strategies and risks appears in this section. A Fund may also use strategies and invest in securities that are not described below but which are described in the Funds’ SAI. The Adviser may decide, as a matter of investment strategy, not to use the investment and investment techniques described below and in the SAI at any particular time. Also note that there are many other factors that could adversely affect your investment and that could prevent the Funds from achieving their goals, which are not described here.

 

Convertible Securities. Under normal circumstances, the Global Opportunity Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities of U.S. and foreign companies, and the International Opportunity Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities of foreign companies. Equity and equity related securities include convertible securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in one of the three highest rating categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, or, if unrated, are determined by CRM to be of comparable quality.

 

Debt Securities. Under normal circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities that are rated in one of the three highest categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, or, if unrated, are determined by CRM to be of comparable quality. Each Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity.

 

Derivatives. Each Fund may also invest in derivative contracts, such as options on securities, securities indices and swaps for hedging purposes and to gain stock market exposure for excess cash holdings. However, as a fundamental policy each Fund may not commit nor expose more than 15% of its total assets to derivative strategies.

 

Restricted Securities. Although each Fund usually invests in securities listed on securities exchanges, it may also purchase securities that are not listed on a securities exchange, or to a limited extent, securities that are not readily marketable. Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

Exchange Traded Funds. Subject to applicable statutory and regulatory limits, each Fund may invest in securities of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) which are registered investment companies that are listed on securities exchanges. These limitations currently provide, in part, that each Fund may not purchase shares of an ETF if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the ETF, (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the ETF or (c) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in ETFs and other investment companies.

 

Defensive Investing. Each Fund may, without limit, invest in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated in one of the three highest rating categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, in response to adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of this action may be that the Funds will be unable to achieve their investment objectives.

 

13


 

Securities Lending. Each Fund may lend securities in its portfolio to certain broker-dealers or other institutional investors under agreements which require that the loans be secured continuously by collateral, typically consisting of money market mutual funds and other money market instruments, which the Fund will invest during the term of the loan. The Fund will continue to have market risk and other risks associated with owning the securities on loan, as well as the risks associated with the investment of the cash collateral received in connection with the loan. Securities lending is subject to additional risks, including the risk that the borrower fails to return a loaned security, and/or there is a shortfall on the collateral posted by the borrower, and the risk that the Fund is unable to recall a security in time to exercise valuable rights or sell the security.

 

Money Market Investments. To meet redemptions and when waiting to invest cash receipts, the Funds may invest in short-term investment grade bonds, money market mutual funds and other money market instruments. Each Fund may also hold collateral with the loan of portfolio securities consisting of money market mutual funds and other money market instruments.

 

Portfolio Turnover. Each Fund’s investment objective is to seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation and the Funds do not purchase securities with the intention of engaging in short-term trading. A Fund will, however, sell any particular security and reinvest proceeds when it is deemed prudent by the Adviser, regardless of the length of the holding period. Frequent trading involves higher securities transaction costs, which may adversely affect a Fund’s performance. To the extent that this policy results in the realization of gains on investments, a Fund will make distributions to its shareholders. These distributions will generally be subject to taxes.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Risks of Debt Securities. Debt securities are subject to credit risk (the risk that the obligor will default in the payment of principal and/or interest, otherwise default or have its credit rating downgraded or be perceived to be less creditworthy, or if the credit quality or value of any underlying assets declines) and to interest rate risk (the risk that the market value of the securities will decline as a result of changes in market rates of interest). Interest rate risk will generally affect the price of a debt security more if the security has a longer maturity. These securities are also subject to the risk that interest rate changes may affect prepayment rates and their effective maturity.

 

Risks of Convertible Securities. Convertible securities, such as convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds, are subject to the market risks of stocks as well as the risks of credit and interest rate risk of debt securities.

 

Liquidity Risk. Restricted securities and thinly traded securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that a Fund would like.

 

Risks of Derivatives. A Fund’s use of derivative contracts, such as options on securities, securities indices and swaps, may be risky. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle a Fund to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities or indices. Even a small investment in derivatives can have a big

 

14


 

impact on a Fund’s stock and index exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when market prices, interest rates or currencies, or the derivative instruments themselves, behave in a way not anticipated by the Funds. Derivatives can also make a Fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets, and derivative counterparties may fail to honor contract terms. Derivatives may not be available on terms that make economic sense (for example, they may be too costly).

 

Risk of ETFs. The return on investments in ETFs will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory, of the ETFs, and will be further reduced by the expenses of a Fund, including advisory fees payable by the Fund. As such, there is a layering of fees and expenses.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities is contained in the SAI.

 

15


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

The Board of Trustees of the CRM Mutual Fund Trust has oversight responsibility of the management, activities and affairs of the Funds and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management required by each Fund and its shareholders.

 

ADVISER

 

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, serves as the investment adviser to each Fund. As a Funds’ investment adviser, CRM has the overall responsibility for directing the Funds’ investments. CRM and its predecessors have managed equity investments for mutual funds, corporate pension plans, educational, community, religious and private endowments and foundations as well as for individuals, in a value oriented style across a broad range of market capitalizations, and have been in business for more than thirty years. CRM has advised the CRM Funds and their predecessors since each Fund’s inception. As of September 30, 2008, CRM had over $11 billion of assets under management.

 

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund each pay a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion.

 

CRM may make payments to dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers out of its own resources, including revenue from the advisory fees received from the Funds. These payments may be made to compensate the recipient for marketing support services and/or shareholder service activities.

 

A discussion regarding the basis of the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds’ management agreement will be available in the Funds’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

 

16


 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Ronald McGlynn, Chairman & CEO and Jay Abramson, President & CIO are responsible for the overall management of the CRM Funds. The investment research team for all of the CRM Funds consists of eighteen individuals, with an average of fourteen years investment experience.

 

Milu E. Komer—Portfolio Manager, CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund

 

Milu is the leader of the team that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund. Milu, with fourteen years of financial and investment-related experience, is responsible for portfolio management and research in CRM’s investment group. Prior to joining the firm in 2008, Milu was Senior Vice President at Neuberger Berman Management Inc. and Neuberger Berman, LLC where she served as an analyst, associate portfolio manager and co-portfolio manager since 2001. In addition, Milu served as an associate in the J.P. Morgan Securities Debt Capital Markets Group and as a Foreign Exchange Trader in the Emerging Markets Group at Citibank. She began her career as a Financial Analyst in the International Equity Research and Asset Management Divisions of Goldman Sachs’ London office. She received a BA from Wellesley College and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Ronald H. McGlynn—Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CRM

 

Ron is a co-founder, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CRM with over thirty-seven years of investment experience. Prior to founding CRM, he was a portfolio manager and an investment research analyst for Standard & Poor’s Inter-Capital, Chase Manhattan Bank and Oppenheimer & Company. He earned a B.A. from Williams College and an MBA from Columbia University Business School.

 

Jay B. Abramson—President, Chief Investment Officer, CRM

 

Jay has been with the firm for more than twenty-four years and has the overall responsibility for CRM’s investment team. Prior to joining the firm, Jay earned his CPA. He received a BSE from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

 

The SAI provides additional information about compensation of the portfolio manager listed above, the other funds, pooled investment vehicles and accounts they manage, and their ownership of securities of the Funds.

 

17


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

The chart below provides information on the Funds’ primary service providers.

 

LOGO

 

18


SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

 

PRICING OF SHARES

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of each class of each Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each business day (i.e., a day that the Exchange and the Funds’ transfer agent are open for business) (a “Business Day”). The price at which a purchase, redemption or exchange request is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the request is received in good order by an authorized broker or financial institution or the Funds’ transfer agent. The NAV for each class of a Fund is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund attributable to the class, deducting the liabilities attributable to the class and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding class shares in that Fund. NAV will not be determined on days that are not Business Days.

 

The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. The Funds’ currency valuations, if any, are also done at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service. Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.

 

The Funds may use fair value pricing for, among other things, the following investments: (i) a security whose trading has been suspended or which has been delisted from its primary trading exchange; (ii) a security that is thinly traded; (iii) a security whose issuer is in default or bankruptcy proceedings; (iv) a security affected by extreme market conditions; (v) a security affected by currency controls or restrictions; (vi) trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; (vii) a foreign security has reached a pre-determined range of trading set by a foreign exchange (“limit up” or “limit down” price), and no trading has taken place at the limit up price or limit down price; and (viii) a security whose issuer is affected by a significant event that occurs after the close of the markets on which the security is traded but before the time as of which the Funds’ net asset value is computed and that may materially affect the value of the security. Examples of events that may be “significant events” are government actions, natural disasters, armed conflict, acts of terrorism, and significant market fluctuations. In particular, the value of foreign securities may be materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which they are valued, but before the fund prices its shares. In addition, arbitrage opportunities may exist when trading in a portfolio security or securities is halted and does not resume before a Fund calculates its NAV. These arbitrage opportunities may enable short-term traders to dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Securities trading in overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market but prior to the close of the U.S. market. The fund uses a fair value model developed by an independent third party pricing service to price foreign equity securities on days when there is a certain percentage change in the value of a domestic equity security index, as such percentage may be determined by the Board of Trustees from time to time. Valuing a Fund’s investments using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those investments that may differ from current market prices.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuation of securities based on readily available market quotations. A Fund, when using fair value methods to price securities, may value those securities higher or lower than another fund using market quotations or fair value to price the same securities. The Board of Trustees has delegated

 

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to the Adviser the authority to approve certain fair value determinations that would impact a Fund’s NAV by less than a penny per share. If the proposed valuation would impact a Fund’s NAV by more than a penny per share and in certain circumstances involving the use of the third party fair value model, then the Board is responsible for determining an appropriate price. In using fair value pricing, a Fund attempts to establish the price that it might reasonably have expected to receive upon a sale of the security at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. There can be no assurance that a Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV.

 

Because some foreign markets are open on days when the Funds do not price their shares, the value of a Fund’s holdings could change at a time when you are not able to buy or sell Fund shares. In addition, trading in some of the foreign securities held by a Fund may not occur on days when the Funds are open for business.

 

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and when purchased directly from the Funds are sold without any sales charges. The minimum initial investment in a Fund’s Investor Shares is $2,500 ($2,000 for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”), or automatic investment plans). The Funds, in their sole discretion, may waive the minimum initial investment to establish certain Investor Share accounts. The minimum additional investment for direct investors in each Fund is $100. You may purchase shares from the Funds as specified below.

 

You may also purchase shares if you are a client of a broker or other financial institution that has made contractual arrangements to offer the Fund (an “Intermediary”). The policies and fees charged by an Intermediary may be different than those charged by a Fund. Banks, brokers, retirement plans and financial advisers may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Consult a representative of your financial institution or retirement plan for further information.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE FUNDS

 

By Mail. You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable to the CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed application (provided with this prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected. If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check and application to:

 

Regular Mail:

  

Overnight Mail:

CRM Funds

   CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

  

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

P.O. Box 9812

   101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940

   Pawtucket, RI 02860

 

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By Wire. You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds immediately available. Please call PFPC Trust Company at (800) CRM-2883 before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial purchase, to also obtain an account number. Once you have an account number, you should instruct your bank to wire funds to:

 

PFPC Trust Company

c/o PNC Bank

Philadelphia, PA

ABA #031-0000-53

DDA #86-1282-2896

Attention: CRM Funds

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER]

 

If you make an initial purchase by wire, you must promptly forward a completed application to the transfer agent at the address above.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES

 

You must submit your purchase order by the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day to purchase shares at that day’s NAV. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day.

 

The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase order at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice. The Funds will not accept third party checks.

 

Federal Law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number, or other identifying information, for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Funds. Applications without the required information may be rejected or placed on hold until the Fund verifies the account holder’s identity.

 

If you place an order to an Intermediary, it is the responsibility of the Intermediary, rather than the Fund, to transmit your order for the purchase of shares to the Fund’s transfer agent. The Intermediary may impose an earlier deadline for submitting your purchase order. Please consult your Intermediary for additional information.

 

For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an IRA, or an automatic investment plan, please refer to the SAI.

 

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REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

You may sell your shares on any Business Day. Redemption requests received by an Intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent in good order before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of trading on that day. Redemption requests received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day. The Funds may impose a fee when Fund shares are redeemed, as described below under “Redemption Fee”. In addition, an Intermediary may impose a fee upon redemptions of Fund shares. Please consult your Intermediary. It is the responsibility of each Intermediary to transmit redemption orders and credit their customers’ accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis.

 

To be in “good order” a redemption request must include:

 

   

Your account number;

 

   

The amount of the transaction (in dollars or shares);

 

   

Signatures of all owners exactly as registered on the account (for requests by mail);

 

   

Signature guarantees, for mail requests only; and

 

   

Any supporting legal documentation that may be required.

 

Redemption checks are normally mailed on the next Business Day following receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent of redemption instructions in good order, but never later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the next Business Day following receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent of redemption instructions in good order, but never later than 7 days following such receipt.

 

If you purchased your shares through an account with an Intermediary, you should contact the Intermediary for information relating to redemptions.

 

REDEMPTION FEE

 

Generally, if you sell or exchange your shares of the Funds within 30 days or less after the purchase date, you will be charged a redemption fee of 1.50% of the total redemption amount which is payable to the Fund.

 

If you acquired shares on different days, the “first in, first out” (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period. This means that the shares you hold the longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies. The fees are designed to help offset the brokerage commissions, market impact, and other costs associated with short-term shareholder trading.

 

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The redemption fee is not imposed on the following:

 

   

Shares acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends or distributions

 

   

Shares redeemed or exchanged by omnibus accounts maintained by intermediaries that are unable or unwilling to process the redemption fee

 

   

Shares redeemed or exchanged through certain qualified retirement plans that are unable or unwilling to process the redemption fee

 

   

Shares redeemed following the death of a shareholder

 

   

Shares redeemed on the initiation of a Fund (e.g., for failure to meet account minimums)

 

   

Shares transferred from one class to another class of the same Fund

 

   

Shares redeemed as a result of any changes in account registration

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES FROM THE FUNDS

 

By Mail. If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written instructions with a “signature guarantee.” A signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. Your written instructions must include the Fund name, your Fund account number, your printed name and your signature and should be mailed with your signature guarantee to:

 

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Mail:

CRM Funds

  CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

 

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

P.O. Box 9812

  101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940

  Pawtucket, RI 02860

 

By Telephone. In order to be eligible to redeem shares by telephone, you must check the appropriate box on the Funds’ application form. To redeem shares by telephone, please call PNC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions. A telephone request to sell shares must be received prior to the close of the Exchange. If you telephone your request to the Funds’ transfer agent after the Exchange closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, the Fund cannot accept your request and a new one will be necessary. The Funds will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions received by telephone are genuine, such as requesting personal identification information that appears on your account application and recording the telephone conversation. Neither the Funds nor their transfer agent will be responsible if they act on telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine.

 

23


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS

 

Redemption proceeds may be wired to your pre-designated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Redemption proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the transfer agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may change the bank account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the bank account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a signature guarantee. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the bank account is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated bank account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor holds a Fund’s shares.

 

If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund reserves the right to withhold the redemption proceeds until it has reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected.

 

Small Accounts. If the value of your investment in a Fund falls below $2,500 for Investor Share accounts ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans), a Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below $2,500 ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans) after 60 days, a Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. A Fund will not close your account if it falls below $2,500 solely as a result of a reduction in your account’s market value.

 

Redemptions in Kind. The Funds reserve the right to make redemptions “in kind”—payments of redemption proceeds in portfolio securities rather than cash—if the amount redeemed is large enough to affect a Fund’s operations (for example, if it represents more than 1% of a Fund’s assets).

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

You may exchange all or a portion of your Investor Shares in a CRM Fund for Investor Shares of another CRM Fund. You may also exchange all or a portion of your Investor Shares of a CRM Fund for Institutional Shares in the same CRM Fund, subject to meeting the minimum investment requirements for Institutional Shares. Please see “Share Classes” for more information regarding Institutional Shares. The Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange request at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice.

 

Exchange requests received by an Intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent in good order before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of trading on

 

24


 

that day. Exchange requests received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day.

 

Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder’s account of less than $2,500 for Investor Share accounts ($2,000 for IRAs or automatic investment plans). See “Taxes” for a discussion of the tax effect on an exchange of shares.

 

To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact the transfer agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with an Intermediary, contact the Intermediary. Generally, all written requests must be signed by all owners and must include any required signature. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will give you 60 days’ notice of such termination or modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of Investor Shares to be acquired through an exchange may be legally made.

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Funds are intended to be long-term investment vehicles and are not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market movements (market timing). Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares can disrupt the management of the Fund, negatively affect the Fund’s performance, and increase expenses for all Fund shareholders. In particular, frequent trading can (i) force a Fund’s portfolio managers to hold larger cash positions than desired instead of fully investing the Fund, which can result in lost investment opportunities; (ii) cause unplanned and inopportune portfolio turnover in order to meet redemption requests; (iii) increase broker-dealer commissions and other transaction costs as well as administrative costs for the Fund; and (iv) trigger taxable gains for other shareholders. Also, some frequent traders engage in arbitrage strategies, by which these traders seek to exploit pricing anomalies that can occur when a Fund invests in securities that are thinly traded (for example some small capitalization stocks) or are traded primarily in markets outside of the United States. The Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund may be more susceptible to market timing by investors seeking to take advantage of time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting the value of the Fund’s portfolio occur after the close of the overseas markets but prior to the close of the U.S. market and the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. Frequent traders using arbitrage strategies can dilute a Fund’s NAV for long-term shareholders.

 

If you intend to trade frequently or use market timing investment strategies, you should not purchase shares of the Funds.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Funds has approved a redemption fee with respect to the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund to discourage these Funds from being used as vehicles for frequent short-term shareholder trading. Each Fund will deduct a redemption fee of 1.50% from any redemption or exchange proceeds if

 

25


 

you sell or exchange shares after holding them less than 30 days. Please see “Redemption Fee” on page 22 for more information. The Board of Trustees of the Funds has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares. The Funds’ policy is intended to discourage excessive trading in a Fund’s shares that may harm long-term investors and to make reasonable efforts to detect and deter excessive trading. The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase order or exchange request at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice. The Funds also reserve the right to revoke the exchange privileges of any person at any time and for any reason. In making determinations concerning the revocation of exchange privileges, the Funds may consider an investor’s trading history in any of the Funds, including the person’s trading history in any accounts under a person’s common ownership or control.

 

The Funds will generally monitor trading activity within a 90-day period. The Funds may consider trading activity over a longer period than 90 days and may take into account market conditions, the number of trades and the amount of the trades in making such determinations. In applying these policies, the Funds consider the information available to them at the time and may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control or influence.

 

When excessive or short-term trading is detected, the party involved may be banned from future trading in the Funds. Judgments related to the rejection of purchase and the banning of future trades are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Adviser will seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Funds’ shareholders.

 

The Funds’ policies for deterring excessive trading in Fund shares are intended to be applied uniformly to all Fund shareholders, whether an individual account or omnibus accounts maintained by Intermediaries, in which they aggregate orders of multiple investors and forward the aggregated orders to the Funds. The Funds or the Distributor, in accordance with applicable law, enter into agreements with Intermediaries requiring the Intermediaries to provide certain information to help identify excessive trading activity and to prohibit further purchases or exchanges by a shareholder identified as having engaged in excessive trading. Nonetheless, the Funds’ ability to identify and deter frequent purchases and redemptions of a Fund’s shares through omnibus accounts is limited, and the Funds’ success in accomplishing the objectives of the policies concerning excessive trading in Fund shares in this context depends significantly upon the cooperation of the Intermediaries, which may have adopted their own policies regarding excessive trading which are different than those of the Funds.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to dividends and other distributions arising from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, earned on the investments held by the Fund. Dividends and distributions, if any, are declared and paid to you annually.

 

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Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions in cash.

 

TAXES

 

Federal Income Taxes. As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a “regulated investment company,” it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes to shareholders. Each Fund will notify you following the end of the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that year.

 

You will normally have to pay Federal income taxes, and any state or local taxes, on the distributions you receive from a Fund, whether you take the distributions in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. Distributions of a Fund’s net capital gain are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, when designated by the Fund as capital gains dividends, regardless of the length of time you have held your shares. Long-term capital gains rates applicable to most individuals are 15% (with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets) for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010, certain distributions of ordinary dividends to a non-corporate shareholder of a Fund may qualify as “qualified dividend income,” provided that they are so designated by that Fund and that the recipient shareholder satisfies certain holding period requirements and refrains from making certain elections. Those distributions will be taxed at long-term capital gain rates to the extent derived from “qualified dividend income” of the Fund. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends from U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that a Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations will be “qualified dividend income” if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. Other distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income. Some dividends paid in January may be taxable as if they had been paid the previous December. A portion of dividends received from a Fund (but none of the Fund’s capital gain distributions) may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

You should be aware that if you purchase Fund shares shortly before the record date for any dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.

 

It is a taxable event for you if you redeem, sell or exchange shares of a Fund. Depending on the initial purchase price of the shares being redeemed, sold or exchanged and the sale price of the shares you redeem, or sell, or the value of shares you receive in an exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated by your transactions.

 

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If you are neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States, a Fund will withhold U.S. Federal income tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on taxable dividends and certain other payments (but not including distributions of net capital gains). For Fund taxable years beginning before 2010, the 30% withholding tax will not apply to dividends that a Fund designates as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified short-term gain.” “Qualified net interest income” is a Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and from original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of a Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any.

 

Each Fund is also required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding at a current rate of 28% on taxable dividends, including capital gain dividends, redemption proceeds, and certain other payments that are paid to any non-corporate shareholder (including a shareholder who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States) who does not furnish to the Fund certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding will not, however, be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States.

 

State and Local Income Taxes. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the state and local tax consequences of an investment in a Fund, which may be different from those under Federal income tax law.

 

This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those considerations appears in the SAI.

 

You should consult your own independent tax advisor and seek advice based on your particular circumstances as to the specific consequences under Federal tax law, and under other tax laws, such as foreign, state or local tax laws, of an investment in a Fund, which are not addressed here.

 

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DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) manages the Funds’ distribution efforts and provides assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer agreements with Intermediaries to sell shares and provides shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of shares.

 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICE FEES

 

The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing each Fund to pay shareholder service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets of its Investor Shares, to compensate shareholder service providers who maintain a service relationship with shareholders of the Fund’s Investor Shares. Service activities provided by service providers under this plan include (a) answering shareholder inquiries, (b) assisting in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, (c) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records, (d) assisting in processing Fund share purchase, exchange and redemption transactions, (e) arranging for the wiring of funds relating to transactions in Fund shares; (f) transmitting and receiving funds in connection with shareholder orders to purchase, exchange or redeem shares; (g) verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders, transfers among and changes in shareholder-designated accounts; (h) providing periodic statements showing a shareholder’s account balances, (i) furnishing on behalf of the Funds’ distributor periodic statements and confirmations of all purchases, exchanges, and redemptions of Fund shares, (j) transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Funds to shareholders, (k) receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Funds proxies executed by shareholders, (l) providing reports containing state-by-state listings of the principal residences of the beneficial owners of Fund shares, (m) completing all customer identification procedures in relation to the shareholders under the Funds’ anti-money laundering program, (n) providing to shareholders all privacy notices, and (o) providing other services requested by shareholders of Investor Shares. The Adviser may provide services to some holders of Investor Shares and receive the applicable shareholder service fee or may remit all or a portion of shareholder service fees to an Intermediary.

 

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

 

The Adviser may pay, out of its own assets, compensation to Intermediaries in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Funds and/or shareholder service. These payments (“Additional Payments”) would be in addition to the payments by the Funds described in this Prospectus for shareholder servicing. These Additional Payments may take the form of “due diligence” payments for an Intermediary’s examination of the Funds and payments for providing extra employee training and information relating to the Funds; “listing” fees for the placement of the Funds on an Intermediary’s list of mutual funds available for purchase by its customers; “finders” or “referral” fees for directing investors to

 

29


 

the Funds; “marketing support” fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of the Funds’ shares; and payments for the sale of shares and/or the maintenance of share balances. In addition, the Adviser may make Additional Payments for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the shareholder administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds. The Additional Payments made by the Adviser may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based on the number of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary; may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be calculated on another basis. The Additional Payments may be different for different Intermediaries. Please contact your Intermediary for information regarding any additional payments they may receive.

 

SHARE CLASSES

 

Each Fund offers Investor and Institutional Shares. Each class has different minimum investment requirements, fees and expenses. Investors investing $2,500 ($2,000 for IRAs and automatic investment plans) or more may purchase Investor

Shares. Institutional Shares are offered only to those investors who invest in a Fund through an Intermediary (i.e. broker) or through a consultant and who invest $1,000,000 or more, or where related accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Unlike the Investor Shares, the Institutional Shares are not subject to a shareholder service fee. The Investor Shares and the Institutional Shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investor Shares of the CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations, and therefore do not yet have financial highlights to include in this Prospectus.

 

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THIS PRIVACY POLICY IS BEING DELIVERED WITH THE FUNDS’ PROSPECTUS BUT IS NOT DEEMED TO BE A PART OF THE FUNDS’ PROSPECTUS

 

APPENDIX A

 

PRIVACY POLICY

 

Set forth below is the policy of CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the “Trust”) concerning the collection and disclosure of non-public personal information regarding investors and prospective investors in CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, (the “Funds”) who are individuals investing for personal, family, or household purposes. The words “we” and “us” refer to the Trust and the Funds. The words “you” and “your” refer to investors and prospective investors in the Funds who are covered by this policy.

 

We use administrators, investment managers, custodians, transfer agents, securities brokers, and other third party businesses to conduct many aspects of our business, including processing initial investments, additional investments, redemptions, share transfers, and other transactions that you request. We refer to these third parties below as our “Service Agents.”

 

As we work together to achieve your investment goals, you will often share with our Service Agents personal and financial information, including, for example, your name, address and telephone number, your e-mail address, your purchases and redemptions of shares of the Funds, your banking arrangements, information on your family members, and your social security number. Our Service Agents may also receive these types of information from other firms that assist us in conducting our business. This information is collected in order to properly handle your account.

 

To protect the security of your personal and financial information, our Service Agents maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that meet the standards of applicable laws and regulations.

 

We may, and we may authorize our Service Agents to, use your personal and financial information and share it with us, other Service Agents, and affiliates of Service Agents in order to provide you with investment services, improve our services, make our procedures more efficient, implement security measures, and fight fraud.

 

We will not sell your personal and financial information to any outside party. We obtain from our Service Agents confidentiality agreements that prohibit them from selling or improperly using your personal or financial information.

 

On occasion, we and our Service Agents may be required to provide information about you and your transactions to governmental agencies, self-regulatory organizations, industry associations and similar bodies in order to fulfill legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, federal, state, and foreign laws give people involved in lawsuits and other legal proceedings the right under certain circumstances to obtain information from us and our Service Agents, including your personal and financial information. We and our Service Agents will comply with these laws to the extent we are required to do so. In addition, we and our Service Agents may make other disclosures to non-affiliated third parties as permitted by law.


 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:

 

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports:

These reports contain performance data and information on the Funds’ holdings and operating results for the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year or half-year. The annual report also includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”):

The SAI provides additional technical and legal descriptions of the Funds’ policies, investment restrictions, risks, and business structure. The information in the SAI is incorporated into this prospectus by this reference.

 

Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be obtained, free of charge, by (i) visiting the Funds’ website at www.crmfunds.com, (ii) calling the Funds at 800-CRM-2883; and (iii) writing to the CRM Funds, c/o PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406.

 

Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090. Reports and other information about the Funds may be viewed or downloaded from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-800-CRM-2883.

 

The investment company registration number is 811-21749.

LOGO

 

CRM GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

PO Box 9812

Providence, RI 02940

800-CRM-2883

 

www.crmfunds.com


LOGO

The investment objective of each Fund is long-term capital appreciation

 

Like all mutual fund shares, these securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission determined whether this prospectus is accurate or complete. Anyone who tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

 

DECEMBER 22, 2008

 

CRM GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

Institutional Shares

 

 

PROSPECTUS


CONTENTS

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNDS

  2

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

  2

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS OF THE FUNDS

  4

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, FEE TABLES AND EXAMPLES

 

CRM Global Opportunity Fund

  7

CRM International Opportunity Fund

  10

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

Additional Information on Investment Strategies

  13

Additional Information on Investment Risks

  14

Portfolio Holdings

  15

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

Adviser

  16

Portfolio Managers

  17

Service Providers

  18

PRICING OF SHARES

  19

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Purchases of Shares from the Funds

  20

Additional Information Regarding Purchases

  21

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption of Shares

  22

Redemption Fee

  22

Redemption of Shares from the Funds

  23

Additional Information Regarding Redemptions

  24

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

  24

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

  25

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

  26

TAXES

 

Federal Income Taxes

  27

State and Local Income Taxes

  28

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Sub-Transfer Agent Fees

  29

Additional Payments

  29

SHARE CLASSES

  30

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  31

APPENDIX A—PRIVACY POLICY

 


INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

OF THE FUNDS

 

The CRM Global Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund (the “Funds”) each seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation. Each Fund may change its objective without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Funds will provide written notice at least 60 days prior to implementing any change in a Fund’s investment objective.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

 

The Global Opportunity Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity related securities of U.S. and foreign companies. The Fund normally invests in the securities of companies that are tied economically to at least 10 countries, including the U.S. The Fund may invest in companies located in developed and emerging markets. Emerging markets include countries that have an emerging stock market as defined by Standard & Poor’s, Inc. (“S&P”), countries or markets with low- to middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank, and other countries or markets with similar emerging characteristics. The Fund may invest in companies of any size.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce risk by diversifying among many industries. Although it has the flexibility to invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or region, it generally intends to remain well-diversified across countries and geographical regions. There is no limit on the Fund’s investment in companies located in emerging markets countries.

 

The percentage of Fund assets invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time. The Fund may at any one time invest all or substantially all of its assets in foreign companies and at another time invest substantially in U.S. companies, although, under normal circumstances, it is expected that a majority of the Fund’s assets will be invested in foreign companies.

 

The International Opportunity Fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its assets in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity related securities of foreign companies. The Fund normally invests in the securities of companies that are tied economically to at least 10 countries, other than the U.S. The Fund may invest in companies located in developed and emerging markets. Emerging markets include countries that have an emerging stock market as defined by S&P, countries or markets with low- to middle-income economies as classified by the World Bank, and other countries or markets with similar emerging characteristics. The Fund may invest in issuers of any size.

 

The Fund seeks to reduce risk by diversifying among many industries. Although it has the flexibility to invest a significant portion of its assets in one country or region, it generally intends to remain well-diversified across countries and geographical regions. The percentage of Fund assets invested in particular countries or regions will change from time to time. There is no limit on the Fund’s investment in companies located in emerging markets countries.

 

2


 

For purposes of the 80% investment policy for each Fund, equity and equity related securities include:

 

   

common and preferred stocks;

 

   

securities convertible into common stock (such as convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds) that are rated, at the time of initial purchase, in the three highest rating categories by rating organizations such as Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or S&P or if unrated, are determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality; and

 

   

warrants on common stock.

 

Value Investing. Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM” or the “Adviser”), the Funds’ investment adviser, seeks to identify well-managed companies which it believes are advantageously positioned to deliver shareholder value. Additionally, CRM seeks to identify changes that are material to a company’s operations, outlook and prospects. CRM is attracted to companies that it believes will look different tomorrow—operationally, financially, managerially—when compared to today. Change often creates confusion and misunderstanding and it is this confusion and oversight of solid fundamentals that can result in the securities of a company being “neglected by investors” and undervalued relative to its future prospects and peer companies. CRM believes that, over time, the marketplace will recognize the impact of these changes. Examples of change for which CRM looks include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, change of management, new market/product/means of production/distribution and regulatory change.

 

The Adviser’s Process. CRM analyzes potential investments using a variety of both qualitative and quantitative sources. These sources include the extensive use of CRM’s proprietary database of analysis and information, as well as news services and event driven information, and a screening process which uses various criteria, including neglect (where CRM seeks to identify companies whose future earnings or cash flow will surpass more modest market expectations) and valuation relationships (where CRM seeks to identify companies that are under-earning their potential with margins that are below their previous highs or those of peer companies). “Connecting the Dots” research involves companies within the same and different industries that might be affected by similar positive changes or developments. For example, when CRM identifies a business trend that affects one company, it may seek to identify other companies affected by the same trend. CRM’s ideas are generated internally with significant interaction among the members of CRM’s portfolio management teams. Members of CRM’s portfolio management teams regularly meet with representatives for companies both around the country and globally, and in a typical year they annually attend more than 500 company/management meetings.

 

CRM evaluates a company on several levels by analyzing:

 

   

financial models based principally upon projected cash flows;

 

   

the price of a company’s stock in the context of what the market is willing to pay for stock of comparable companies and what a strategic buyer would pay for the whole company;

 

3


 

   

the extent of management’s ownership interest in a company;

 

   

a company’s market position by corroborating CRM’s observations and assumptions through meetings with the company’s management, customers and suppliers; and

 

   

with respect to CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, country risk and currency risk.

 

CRM also evaluates the degree of recognition of a company by the financial industry by monitoring the number of sell side analysts who closely follow a company and the nature of its shareholder base. CRM’s portfolio management teams also monitor and evaluate country and currency risk when considering to purchase or sell foreign securities.

 

An important function of CRM’s investment process is to set a price target at which the stock will be sold, provided that there has been no fundamental change in the investment case. CRM constantly monitors the portfolio companies held by the Funds to determine if the stocks continue to act in accordance with CRM’s initial assessment. A stock may be sold when its fundamentals deteriorate or when the identified change is not having the expected impact on earnings and cash flow.

 

Each Fund also may use other strategies and engage in other investment practices described below and in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). Please also see the Funds’ website, www.crmfunds.com, for more information about the Funds.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT RISKS OF THE FUNDS

 

It is possible to lose money by investing in a Fund. There is no guarantee that the stock market or that the stocks that a Fund buys will increase in value. The Funds are subject to the following principal investment risks:

 

Risks of Foreign Investments and Emerging Markets. Each Fund may invest in foreign securities, including emerging markets. Investing in foreign securities involves special risks that can increase the potential for losses. These risks may include expropriation of assets, illiquid foreign securities markets, confiscatory taxation, foreign withholding taxes, currency exchange controls, the risk that a counterparty may not complete a currency or securities transaction, and political, economic or social instability. The economies of foreign countries may grow at slower rates than expected or may experience a downturn or recession. Because many foreign markets are smaller, less liquid and more volatile, a Fund may not be able to sell portfolio securities at times, in amounts and at prices it considers reasonable. In some foreign countries, less information is available about issuers and markets because of less rigorous accounting and regulatory standards than in the U.S. Foreign markets may offer less protection to investors. Enforcing legal rights in some foreign countries may be difficult, costly and slow. As a result, foreign stocks can fluctuate more widely in price than comparable U.S. stocks, and they may also be less liquid.

 

4


 

Because the Funds generally invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Funds are subject to currency risk, meaning that the Funds could experience gains or losses solely on changes in the exchange rate between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.

 

These risks are generally greater in emerging markets, or to the extent that a Fund invests significantly in one region or country. The extent of economic development; political stability; market depth, infrastructure, and capitalization; and regulatory oversight can be less than in more developed markets. Emerging market countries may experience rising interest rates, or, more significantly, rapid inflation or hyperinflation. All of these factors can make emerging market securities more volatile and potentially less liquid than securities issued in more developed markets.

 

In addition, investing in foreign stocks may also involve a greater risk for excessive trading due to “time-zone arbitrage”. If an event occurring after the close of a foreign market, but before the time a Fund computes its current net asset value, causes a change in the price of the foreign stock and such price is not reflected in a Fund’s current net asset value, investors may attempt to take advantage of anticipated price movements in securities held by a Fund based on such pricing discrepancies.

 

 

Market Risk. Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, regulatory, market or economic developments. Different parts of the U.S. market and different markets around the world can react differently to these developments. The ongoing global financial crisis has caused a significant decline in the value of many securities, and the continuation or further deterioration of market conditions could lead to additional losses of value. Foreign securities held by the Funds may be traded on days and at times when the New York Stock Exchange is closed and the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Funds is therefore not calculated. Accordingly, the NAV of the Funds may be significantly affected on days when shareholders are not able to buy or sell shares of the Funds. For additional information on the calculation of the Funds’ NAV, see page 19.

 

Company Risk. The value of an individual security or particular type of security can be more volatile than the market as a whole and can perform differently from the value of the market as a whole. This may result from a wide variety of factors that affect particular companies or industries, including changes in market demand for particular goods and services, increases in costs of supply, changes in management, increased competition, and changes in regulatory environment.

 

Value Investing Risk. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time. CRM may be incorrect when it decides that some stocks are undervalued by the market.

 

Risks of Small and Mid Cap Companies. Compared to mutual funds that focus exclusively on large capitalization companies, shares of the Funds may be more volatile because they invest in small and/or mid capitalization companies. Small and mid capitalization companies are more likely to have more limited product lines, fewer capital resources and less depth of management than larger companies.

 

 

5


 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. Each Fund may actively trade portfolio securities to achieve its principal investment strategies. Consequently, a Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may exceed 100% per year. To the extent that a Fund’s strategies lead it to buy and sell securities more actively than other mutual funds, the Fund could have higher expenses, including increased brokerage commission costs, which reduce shareholder returns. A high portfolio turnover rate also may expose shareholders to higher taxable distributions.

 

Additional Risks. The Funds are also subject to other risks, some of which are described below under “Additional Information on Investment Risks.”

 

6


PERFORMANCE INFORMATION, FEE TABLES AND EXAMPLES

 

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Global Opportunity Fund will compare its performance to the MSCI World Index.

 

Because the Global Opportunity Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, information on the Fund’s performance is not included in this section.

 

7


 

 

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

FEE TABLE

 

This table sets forth the fees and expenses you will pay if you invest in Institutional Shares of the Global Opportunity Fund.

 

INSTITUTIONAL SHARES

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Redemption Fee on Shares Held less than 30 Days (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

   1.50 %

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

  

Management Fees(1)

   0.90 %

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

   None  

Other Expenses(2)

   0.59 %
      

Total Annual Operating Expenses(3)

   1.49 %

Fee Waiver(3)

   (0.24) %
      

Net Expenses(3)

   1.25 %
      

 

(1) The Fund has a management fee payable in accordance with the following fee schedule: 0.90% on net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% on net assets over $2 billion.
(2) Other expenses include costs of administration, custody, accounting, sub-transfer agent and recordingkeeping services, line of credit commitment fees and similar expenses and are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(3) CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fees through November 1, 2010 and to assume certain expenses of the Institutional Shares of the Fund to the extent that the total annual operating expenses, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, exceed 1.25% of average net assets.

 

8


 

EXAMPLE

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Institutional Shares of the Global Opportunity Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example below shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time periods indicated. The Example assumes that:

 

   

you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;

 

   

the average annual return was 5%;

 

   

the Fund’s total operating expenses (reflecting applicable contractual fee waivers and expense reimbursement arrangements) are charged and remain the same over the time periods; and

 

   

you redeemed all of your investment at the end of each time period.

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

Global Opportunity Fund      1 Year      3 Years

Institutional Shares

     $ 127      $ 423

 

9


 

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The International Opportunity Fund will compare its performance to the MSCI EAFE Index.

 

Because the International Opportunity Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, information on the Fund’s performance is not included in this section.

 

10


 

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

FEE TABLE

 

This table sets forth the fees and expenses you will pay if you invest in Institutional Shares of the International Opportunity Fund.

 

INSTITUTIONAL SHARES

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES
(fees paid directly from your investment)

  

Redemption Fee on shares held less than 30 days (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if applicable)

   1.50 %

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)

  

Management Fees(1)

   0.90 %

Distribution (12b-1) fees

   None  

Other expenses(2)

   0.60 %
      

Total Annual Operating Expenses(3)(4)

   1.50 %

Fee Waivers(3)

   (0.25) %
      

Net Expenses(3)

   1.25 %
      

 

(1) The Fund has a management fee payable in accordance with the following fee schedule: 0.90% on net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% on net assets over $2 billion.
(2) Other expenses include costs of administration, custody, accounting, sub-transfer agent and recordkeeping services, line of credit commitment fees and similar expenses and are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
(3) CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fees through November 1, 2010 and to assume certain expenses of the Institutional Shares of the Fund to the extent that the total annual operating expenses, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, exceed 1.25% of average net assets.

 

11


 

EXAMPLE

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Institutional Shares of the International Opportunity Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example below shows what you would pay if you invested $10,000 over the various time periods indicated. The Example assumes that:

 

   

you reinvested all dividends and other distributions;

 

   

the average annual return was 5%;

 

   

the Fund’s total operating expenses (reflecting applicable contractual fee waivers and expense reimbursement arrangements) are charged and remain the same over the time periods; and

 

   

you redeemed all of your investment at the end of each time period.

 

Although your actual costs may be higher or lower based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

International Opportunity Fund      1 Year      3 Years

Institutional Shares

     $ 127      $ 424

 

12


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Funds’ investment objectives and their principal investment strategies and risks are summarized at the beginning of this prospectus. These are the strategies that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are most likely to be important in trying to achieve the Funds’ investment objectives. More information on investment strategies and risks appears in this section. A Fund may also use strategies and invest in securities that are not described below but which are described in the Funds’ SAI. The Adviser may decide, as a matter of investment strategy, not to use the investment and investment techniques described below and in the SAI at any particular time. Also note that there are many other factors that could adversely affect your investment and that could prevent the Funds from achieving their goals, which are not described here.

 

Convertible Securities. Under normal circumstances, the Global Opportunity Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities of U.S. and foreign companies, and the International Opportunity Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity-related securities of foreign companies. Equity and equity related securities include convertible securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in the three highest rating categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, or if unrated, are determined by CRM to be of comparable quality.

 

Debt Securities. Under normal circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities that are rated in the three highest categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, or if unrated, are determined by CRM to be of comparable quality. Each Fund may invest in debt securities of any maturity.

 

Derivatives. Each Fund may also invest in derivative contracts, such as options on securities, securities indices and swaps for hedging purposes and to gain stock market exposure for excess cash holdings. However, as a fundamental policy each Fund may not commit nor expose more than 15% of its total assets to derivative strategies.

 

Restricted Securities. Although each Fund usually invests in securities listed on securities exchanges, it may also purchase securities that are not listed on a securities exchange, or to a limited extent, securities that are not readily marketable. Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

Exchange Traded Funds. Subject to applicable statutory and regulatory limits, each Fund may invest in securities of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) which are registered investment companies that are listed on securities exchanges. These limitations currently provide, in part, that each Fund may not purchase shares of an ETF if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the ETF, (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the ETF or (c) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in ETFs and other investment companies.

 

Defensive Investing. Each Fund may, without limit, invest in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated in one of the three highest rating categories by a rating organization such as Moody’s or S&P, in response to adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of this action may be that the Funds will be unable to achieve their investment objectives.

 

13


 

Securities Lending. Each Fund may lend securities in its portfolio to certain broker-dealers or other institutional investors under agreements which require that the loans be secured continuously by collateral, typically consisting of money market mutual funds and other money market instruments, which the Fund will invest during the term of the loan. The Fund will continue to have market risk and other risks associated with owning the securities on loan, as well as the risks associated with the investment of the cash collateral received in connection with the loan. Securities lending is subject to additional risks, including the risk that the borrower fails to return a loaned security, and/or there is a shortfall on the collateral posted by the borrower, and the risk that the Fund is unable to recall a security in time to exercise valuable rights or sell the security.

 

Money Market Investments. To meet redemptions and when waiting to invest cash receipts, the Funds may invest in short-term investment grade bonds, money market mutual funds and other money market instruments. Each Fund may also hold collateral with the loan of portfolio securities consisting of money market mutual funds and other money market instruments.

 

Portfolio Turnover. Each Fund’s investment objective is to seek to achieve long-term capital appreciation and the Funds do not purchase securities with the intention of engaging in short-term trading. A Fund will, however, sell any particular security and reinvest proceeds when it is deemed prudent by the Adviser, regardless of the length of the holding period. Frequent trading involves higher securities transaction costs, which may adversely affect a Fund’s performance. To the extent that this policy results in the realization of gains on investments, a Fund will make distributions to its shareholders. These distributions will generally be subject to taxes.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT RISKS

 

Risks of Debt Securities. Debt securities are subject to credit risk (the risk that the obligor will default in the payment of principal and/or interest, otherwise default or have its credit rating downgraded or be perceived to be less creditworthy, or if the credit quality or value of any underlying assets declines) and to interest rate risk (the risk that the market value of the securities will decline as a result of changes in market rates of interest). Interest rate risk will generally affect the price of a debt security more if the security has a longer maturity. These securities are also subject to the risk that interest rate changes may affect prepayment rates and their effective maturity.

 

Risks of Convertible Securities. Convertible securities, such as convertible preferred stock and convertible bonds, are subject to the market risks of stocks as well as the risks of credit and interest rate risk of debt securities.

 

Liquidity Risk. Restricted securities and thinly traded securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that a Fund would like.

 

Risks of Derivatives. A Fund’s use of derivative contracts, such as options on securities, securities indices and swaps, may be risky. A derivative contract will obligate or entitle a Fund to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment that is based on the change in value of one or more securities or indices. Even a small investment in derivatives can have a big

 

14


 

impact on a Fund’s stock and index exposure. Therefore, using derivatives can disproportionately increase losses and reduce opportunities for gains when market prices, interest rates or currencies, or the derivative investments themselves, behave in a way not anticipated by the Funds. Derivatives can also make a Fund less liquid and harder to value, especially in declining markets, and derivative counterparties may fail to honor contract terms. Derivatives may not be available on terms that make economic sense (for example, they may be too costly).

 

Risk of ETFs. The return on investments in ETFs will be reduced by the operating expenses, including investment advisory, of the ETFs, and will be further reduced by the expenses of a Fund, including advisory fees payable by the Fund. As such, there is a layering of fees and expenses.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities is contained in the SAI.

 

15


MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

The Board of Trustees of the CRM Mutual Fund Trust has oversight responsibility of the management, activities and affairs of the Funds and has approved contracts with various financial organizations to provide, among other services, the day-to-day management required by each Fund and its shareholders.

 

ADVISER

 

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, serves as the investment adviser to each Fund. As a Fund’s investment adviser, CRM has the overall responsibility for directing the Fund’s investments. CRM and its predecessors have managed equity investments for mutual funds, corporate pension plans, educational, community, religious and private endowments and foundations as well as for individuals, in a value oriented style across a broad range of market capitalizations, and have been in business for more than thirty years. CRM has advised the CRM Funds and their predecessors since each Fund’s inception. As of September 30, 2008, CRM had over $11 billion of assets under management.

 

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund each pay a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to and including $2 billion; and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion.

 

CRM may make payments to dealers, financial intermediaries or service providers out of its own resources, including revenue from the advisory fees received from the Funds. These payments may be made to compensate the recipient for marketing support services and/or shareholder service activities.

 

A discussion regarding the basis of the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Funds’ management agreement will be available in the Funds’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

 

16


 

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

Ronald McGlynn, Chairman & CEO and Jay Abramson, President & CIO, are responsible for the overall management of the CRM Funds. The investment research team for all of the CRM Funds consists of eighteen individuals, with an average of fourteen years investment experience.

 

Milu E. Komer—Portfolio Manager, CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund

 

Milu is the leader of the team that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund. Milu, with fourteen years of financial and investment-related experience, is responsible for portfolio management and research in CRM’s investment group. Prior to joining the firm in 2008, Milu was Senior Vice President at Neuberger Berman Management Inc. and Neuberger Berman, LLC where she served as an analyst, associate portfolio manager and co-portfolio manager since 2001. In addition, Milu served as an associate in the J.P. Morgan Securities Debt Capital Markets Group and as a Foreign Exchange Trader in the Emerging Markets Group at Citibank. She began her career as a Financial Analyst in the International Equity Research and Asset Management Divisions of Goldman Sachs’ London office. She received a BA from Wellesley College and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Ronald H. McGlynn—Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CRM

 

Ron is a co-founder, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CRM with over thirty-seven years of investment experience. Prior to founding CRM, he was a portfolio manager and an investment research analyst for Standard & Poor’s Inter-Capital, Chase Manhattan Bank and Oppenheimer & Company. He earned a B.A. from Williams College and an MBA from Columbia University Business School.

 

Jay B. Abramson—President, Chief Investment Officer, CRM

 

Jay has been with the firm for more than twenty-four years and has the overall responsibility for CRM’s investment team. Prior to joining the firm, Jay earned his CPA. He received a BSE from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

 

The SAI provides additional information about compensation of the portfolio manager listed above, the other funds, pooled investment vehicles and accounts they manage, and their ownership of securities of the Funds.

 

17


 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

The chart below provides information on the Funds’ primary service providers.

 

LOGO

 

18


SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

 

PRICING OF SHARES

 

The net asset value (“NAV”) of each class of each Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each business day (i.e., a day that the Exchange and the Funds’ transfer agent are open for business) (a “Business Day”). The price at which a purchase, redemption or exchange request is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the request is received in good order by an authorized broker or financial institution or the Funds’ transfer agent. The NAV for each class of a Fund is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund attributable to the class, deducting the liabilities attributable to the class and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding class shares in that Fund. NAV will not be determined on days that are not Business Days.

 

The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. The Funds’ currency valuations, if any, are also done at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. These prices normally are supplied by a pricing service. Securities that do not have a readily available current market value are valued in good faith by, or under the direction of, the Board of Trustees.

 

The Funds may use fair value pricing for, among other things, the following investments: (i) a security whose trading has been suspended or which has been delisted from its primary trading exchange; (ii) a security that is thinly traded; (iii) a security whose issuer is in default or bankruptcy proceedings; (iv) a security affected by extreme market conditions; (v) a security affected by currency controls or restrictions; (vi) trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; (vii) a foreign security has reached a pre-determined range of trading set by a foreign exchange (“limit up” or “limit down” price), and no trading has taken place at the limit up price or limit down price; and (viii) a security whose issuer is affected by a significant event that occurs after the close of the markets on which the security is traded but before the time as of which the Funds’ net asset value is computed and that may materially affect the value of the security. Examples of events that may be “significant events” are government actions, natural disasters, armed conflict, acts of terrorism, and significant market fluctuations. In particular, the value of foreign securities may be materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which they are valued, but before the fund prices its shares. In addition, arbitrage opportunities may exist when trading in a portfolio security or securities is halted and does not resume before a Fund calculates its NAV. These arbitrage opportunities may enable short-term traders to dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Securities trading in overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market but prior to the close of the U.S. market. The fund uses a fair value model developed by an independent third party pricing service to price foreign equity securities on days when there is a certain percentage change in the value of a domestic equity security index, as such percentage may be determined by the Board of Trustees from time to time. Valuing a Fund’s investments using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those investments that may differ from current market prices.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuation of securities based on readily available market quotations. A Fund, when using fair value methods to price securities, may value those securities higher or lower

 

19


 

than another fund using market quotations or fair value to price the same securities. The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Adviser the authority to approve certain fair value determinations that would impact a Fund’s NAV by less than a penny per share. If the proposed valuation would impact a Fund’s NAV by more than a penny per share and in certain circumstances involving the use of the third party fair value model, then the Board is responsible for determining an appropriate price. In using fair value pricing, a Fund attempts to establish the price that it might reasonably have expected to receive upon a sale of the security at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. There can be no assurance that a Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines its NAV.

 

Because some foreign markets are open on days when the Funds do not price their shares, the value of a Fund’s holdings could change at a time when you are not able to buy or sell Fund shares. In addition, trading in some of the foreign securities held by a Fund may not occur on days when the Funds are open for business.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Fund shares are offered on a continuous basis and when purchased directly from the Funds are sold without any sales charges. The minimum initial investment in a Fund’s Institutional Shares is $1,000,000. The Funds, in their sole discretion, may waive the minimum initial investment to establish certain Institutional Share accounts. You may purchase shares from the Funds as specified below.

 

You may also purchase shares if you are a client of a broker or other financial institution that has made contractual arrangements to offer the Fund (an “Intermediary”). The policies and fees charged by an Intermediary may be different than those charged by a Fund. Banks, brokers, retirement plans and financial advisers may charge transaction fees and may set different minimum investments or limitations on buying or selling shares. Consult a representative of your financial institution or retirement plan for further information.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES FROM THE FUNDS

 

By Mail. You may purchase shares by sending a check drawn on a U.S. bank payable to the CRM Funds, indicating the name of the Fund, along with a completed application (provided with this prospectus). If a subsequent investment is being made, the check should also indicate your Fund account number. When you make purchases by check, each Fund may withhold payment on redemptions until it is reasonably satisfied that the funds are collected. If you purchase shares with a check that does not clear, your purchase will be canceled and you will be responsible for any losses or fees incurred in that transaction. Send the check and application to:

 

Regular Mail:

  

Overnight Mail:

CRM Funds

   CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

  

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

P.O. Box 9812

   101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940

   Pawtucket, RI 02860

 

20


 

By Wire. You may purchase shares by wiring federal funds immediately available. Please call PFPC Trust Company at (800) CRM-2883 before making a purchase by wire, and if making an initial purchase, to also obtain an account number. Once you have an account number, you should instruct your bank to wire funds to:

 

PFPC Trust Company

c/o PNC Bank

Philadelphia, PA

ABA #031-0000-53

DDA #86-1282-2896

Attention: CRM Funds

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER]

 

If you make an initial purchase by wire, you must promptly forward a completed application to the transfer agent at the address above.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PURCHASES

 

You must submit your purchase order by the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day to purchase shares at that day’s NAV. Purchase orders received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day.

 

The Funds reserve the right to reject any purchase order at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice. The Funds will not accept third party checks.

 

Federal Law requires the Fund to obtain, verify and record identifying information, which may include the name, residential or business street address, date of birth (for an individual), social security or taxpayer identification number, or other identifying information, for each investor who opens or reopens an account with the Funds. Applications without the required information may be rejected or placed on hold until the Fund verifies the account holder’s identity.

 

If you place an order to an Intermediary, it is the responsibility of the Intermediary, rather than the Fund, to transmit your order for the purchase of shares to the Fund’s transfer agent. The Intermediary may impose an earlier deadline for submitting your purchase order. Please consult your Intermediary for additional information.

 

For information on other ways to purchase shares, including through an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), or an automatic investment plan, please refer to the SAI.

 

21


 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

You may sell your shares on any Business Day. Redemption requests received by an Intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent in good order before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of trading on that day. Redemption requests received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day. The Funds may impose a fee when Fund shares are redeemed, as described below under “Redemption Fee”. In addition, an Intermediary may impose a fee upon redemptions of Fund shares. Please consult your Intermediary. It is the responsibility of each Intermediary to transmit redemption orders and credit their customers’ accounts with redemption proceeds on a timely basis.

 

To be in “good order” a redemption request must include:

 

   

Your account number;

 

   

The amount of the transaction (in dollars or shares);

 

   

Signatures of all owners exactly as registered on the account (for requests by mail);

 

   

Signature guarantees, for mail requests only; and

 

   

Any supporting legal documentation that may be required.

 

Redemption checks are normally mailed on the next Business Day following receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent of redemption instructions in good order, but never later than 7 days following such receipt. Amounts redeemed by wire are normally wired on the next Business Day following receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent of redemption instructions in good order, but never later than 7 days following such receipt.

 

If you purchased your shares through an account with an Intermediary, you should contact the Intermediary for information relating to redemptions.

 

REDEMPTION FEE

 

Generally, if you sell or exchange your shares of the Funds within 30 days or less after the purchase date, you will be charged a redemption fee of 1.50% of the total redemption amount which is payable to the Fund.

 

If you acquired shares on different days, the “first in, first out” (FIFO) method is used to determine the holding period. This means that the shares you hold the longest will be redeemed first for purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies. The fees are designed to help offset the brokerage commissions, market impact, and other costs associated with short-term shareholder trading.

 

22


 

The redemption fee is not imposed on the following:

 

   

Shares acquired as a result of reinvestment of dividends or distributions

 

   

Shares redeemed or exchanged by omnibus accounts maintained by intermediaries that are unable or unwilling to process the redemption fee

 

   

Shares redeemed or exchanged through certain qualified retirement plans that are unable or unwilling to process the redemption fee

 

   

Shares redeemed following the death of a shareholder

 

   

Shares redeemed on the initiation of a Fund (e.g., for failure to meet account minimums)

 

   

Shares transferred from one class to another class of the same Fund

 

   

Shares redeemed as a result of any changes in account registration

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES FROM THE FUNDS

 

By Mail. If you redeem your shares by mail, you should submit written instructions with a “signature guarantee.” A signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your signature. You can obtain one from most banking institutions or securities brokers, but not from a notary public. Your written instructions must include the Fund name, your Fund account number, your printed name and your signature and should be mailed with your signature guarantee to:

 

Regular Mail:

 

Overnight Mail:

CRM Funds

  CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing
(U.S.) Inc.

 

c/o PNC Global

Investment Servicing
(U.S.) Inc.

P.O. Box 9812

  101 Sabin Street

Providence, RI 02940

  Pawtucket, RI 02860

 

By Telephone. In order to be eligible to redeem shares by telephone, you must check the appropriate box on the Funds’ application form. To redeem shares by telephone, please call PNC at (800) CRM-2883 for instructions. A telephone request to sell shares must be received prior to the close of the Exchange. If you telephone your request to the Funds’ transfer agent after the Exchange closes or on a day when the Exchange is not open for business, the Fund cannot accept your request and a new one will be necessary. The Funds will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions received by telephone are genuine, such as requesting personal identification information that appears on your account application and recording the telephone conversation. Neither the Funds nor their transfer agent will be responsible if they act on telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine.

 

23


 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REDEMPTIONS

 

Redemption proceeds may be wired to your pre-designated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Redemption proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the transfer agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may change the bank account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the bank account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a signature guarantee. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the bank account is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated bank account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor holds a Fund’s shares.

 

If shares to be redeemed represent a recent investment made by check, each Fund reserves the right to withhold the redemption proceeds until it has reasonable grounds to believe that the check has been collected.

 

Small Accounts. If the value of your investment in a Fund falls below $1,000,000 for Institutional Share accounts, a Fund may ask you to increase your balance. If the account value is still below $1,000,000 after 60 days, a Fund may close your account and send you the proceeds. A Fund will not close your account if it falls below $1,000,000 solely as a result of a reduction in your account’s market value.

 

Redemptions in Kind. The Funds reserve the right to make redemptions “in kind”—payments of redemption proceeds in portfolio securities rather than cash—if the amount redeemed is large enough to affect a Fund’s operations (for example, if it represents more than 1% of a Fund’s assets).

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

You may exchange all or a portion of your Institutional Shares in a CRM Fund for Institutional Shares of another CRM Fund. The Funds reserve the right to reject any exchange request at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice.

 

Exchange requests received by an Intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent in good order before the close of regular trading on the Exchange on any Business Day will be priced at the NAV that is determined as of the close of trading on that day. Exchange requests received after the close of regular trading on the Exchange will be priced as of the close of regular trading on the following Business Day.

 

24


 

Exchange transactions will be subject to the minimum initial investment and other requirements of the Fund into which the exchange is made. An exchange may not be made if the exchange would leave a balance in a shareholder’s account of less than $1,000,000 for Institutional Share accounts. See “Taxes” for a discussion of the tax effect on an exchange of shares.

 

To obtain more information about exchanges, or to place exchange orders, contact the transfer agent, or, if your shares are held in an account with an Intermediary, contact the Intermediary. Generally, all written requests must be signed by all owners and must include any required signature. The Funds may terminate or modify the exchange offer described here and will give you 60 days’ notice of such termination or modification. This exchange offer is valid only in those jurisdictions where the sale of Institutional Shares to be acquired through an exchange may be legally made.

 

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES

 

The Funds are intended to be long-term investment vehicles and are not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market movements (market timing). Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares can disrupt the management of the Fund, negatively affect the Fund’s performance, and increase expenses for all Fund shareholders. In particular, frequent trading can (i) force a Fund’s portfolio managers to hold larger cash positions than desired instead of fully investing the Fund, which can result in lost investment opportunities; (ii) cause unplanned and inopportune portfolio turnover in order to meet redemption requests; (iii) increase broker-dealer commissions and other transaction costs as well as administrative costs for the Fund; and (iv) trigger taxable gains for other shareholders. Also, some frequent traders engage in arbitrage strategies, by which these traders seek to exploit pricing anomalies that can occur when a Fund invests in securities that are thinly traded (for example some small capitalization stocks) or are traded primarily in markets outside of the United States. The Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund may be more susceptible to market timing by investors seeking to take advantage of time zone arbitrage opportunities when events affecting the value of the Fund’s portfolio occur after the close of the overseas markets but prior to the close of the U.S. market and the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. Frequent traders using arbitrage strategies can dilute a Fund’s NAV for long-term shareholders.

 

If you intend to trade frequently or use market timing investment strategies, you should not purchase shares of the Funds.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Funds has approved a redemption fee with respect to the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund to discourage these Funds from being used as vehicles for frequent short-term shareholder trading. Each Fund will deduct a redemption fee of 1.50% from any redemption or exchange proceeds if you sell or exchange shares after holding them less than 30 days. Please see “Redemption Fee” on page 22 for more information. The Board of Trustees of the Funds has adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares. The Funds’ policy is intended to discourage excessive trading in a Fund’s shares that may harm long-term investors and to make reasonable efforts to detect and deter excessive trading. The Funds reserve

 

25


 

the right to reject any purchase order or exchange request at any time and for any reason, without prior written notice. The Funds also reserve the right to revoke the exchange privileges of any person at any time and for any reason. In making determinations concerning the revocation of exchange privileges, the Funds may consider an investor’s trading history in any of the Funds, including the person’s trading history in any accounts under a person’s common ownership or control.

 

The Funds will generally monitor trading activity within a 90-day period. The Funds may consider trading activity over a longer period than 90 days and may take into account market conditions, the number of trades and the amount of the trades in making such determinations. In applying these policies, the Funds consider the information available to them at the time and may consider trading activity in multiple accounts under common ownership, control or influence.

 

When excessive or short-term trading is detected, the party involved may be banned from future trading in the Funds. Judgments related to the rejection of purchase and the banning of future trades are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application. The Adviser will seek to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Funds’ shareholders.

 

The Funds’ policies for deterring excessive trading in Fund shares are intended to be applied uniformly to all Fund shareholders, whether an individual account or omnibus accounts maintained by Intermediaries, in which they aggregate orders of multiple investors and forward the aggregated orders to the Funds. The Funds or the Distributor, in accordance with applicable law, enter into agreements with Intermediaries requiring the Intermediaries to provide certain information to help identify excessive trading activity and to prohibit further purchases or exchanges by a shareholder identified as having engaged in excessive trading. Nonetheless, the Funds’ ability to identify and deter frequent purchases and redemptions of a Fund’s shares through omnibus accounts is limited, and the Funds’ success in accomplishing the objectives of the policies concerning excessive trading in Fund shares in this context depends significantly upon the cooperation of the Intermediaries, which may have adopted their own policies regarding excessive trading which are different than those of the Funds.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

As a shareholder of a Fund, you are entitled to dividends and other distributions arising from net investment income and net realized gains, if any, earned on the investments held by the Fund. Dividends and distributions, if any, are declared and paid to you annually.

 

Distributions are payable to the shareholders of record at the time the distributions are declared (including holders of shares being redeemed, but excluding holders of shares being purchased). All distributions are reinvested in additional Fund shares unless you have elected to receive the distributions in cash.

 

26


 

TAXES

 

Federal Income Taxes. As long as a Fund meets the requirements for being a “regulated investment company,” it pays no Federal income tax on the earnings and gains it distributes to shareholders. Each Fund will notify you following the end of the calendar year of the amount of dividends and other distributions paid that year.

 

You will normally have to pay Federal income taxes, and any state or local taxes, on the distributions you receive from a Fund, whether you take the distributions in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. Distributions of a Fund’s net capital gain are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, when designated by the Fund as capital gains dividends, regardless of the length of time you have held your shares. Long-term capital gains rates applicable to most individuals are 15% (with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets) for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010, certain distributions of ordinary dividends to a non-corporate shareholder of a Fund may qualify as “qualified dividend income,” provided that they are so designated by that Fund and that the recipient shareholder satisfies certain holding period requirements and refrains from making certain elections. Those distributions will be taxed at long-term capital gain rates to the extent derived from “qualified dividend income” of the Fund. “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends from U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that a Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations will be “qualified dividend income” if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. Other distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income. Some dividends paid in January may be taxable as if they had been paid the previous December. A portion of dividends received from a Fund (but none of the Fund’s capital gain distributions) may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

You should be aware that if you purchase Fund shares shortly before the record date for any dividend or capital gain distribution, you will pay the full price for the shares and will receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.

 

It is a taxable event for you if you redeem, sell or exchange shares of a Fund. Depending on the initial purchase price of the shares being redeemed, sold or exchanged and the sale price of the shares you redeem, or sell, or the value of shares you receive in an exchange, you may have a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. You are responsible for any tax liability generated by your transactions.

 

A portion of dividends received from a Fund (but none of the Fund’s capital gain distributions) may qualify for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If you are neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States, a Fund will withhold U.S. Federal income tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on taxable dividends and certain other payments (but not including distributions of net capital gains). For Fund taxable years beginning before 2010, the 30% withholding tax will not apply to dividends that a Fund designates as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified net

 

27


 

interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified short-term gain.” “Qualified net interest income” is a Fund’s net income derived from U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of a Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any.

 

Each Fund is also required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding at a current rate of 28% on taxable dividends, including capital gain dividends, redemption proceeds, and certain other payments that are paid to any non-corporate shareholder (including a shareholder who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States) who does not furnish to the Fund certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding will not, however, be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States.

 

State and Local Income Taxes. You should consult your tax advisor concerning the state and local tax consequences of an investment in a Fund, which may be different from those under Federal income tax law.

 

This section is only a summary of some important income tax considerations that may affect your investment in a Fund. More information regarding those considerations appears in the SAI.

 

You should consult your own independent tax advisor and seek advice based on your particular circumstances as to the specific consequences under Federal tax law, and under other tax laws, such as foreign, state or local tax laws, of an investment in a Fund, which are not addressed here.

 

28


DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) manages the Funds’ distribution efforts and provides assistance and expertise in developing marketing plans and materials, enters into dealer agreements with Intermediaries to sell shares and provides shareholder support services, directly or through affiliates. The Funds do not charge any sales loads, deferred sales loads or other fees in connection with the purchase of shares.

 

SUB-TRANSFER AGENT FEES

 

Institutional Shares of each Fund are sold through certain Intermediaries that provide accounting, recordkeeping and/or other services to shareholders. The Board of Trustees has approved payment of the fees charged by these Intermediaries for providing these sub-transfer agency services from the assets of the Institutional Shares of each Fund provided these fees do not exceed the charges the Fund would bear for these services of they were provided directly by the Funds’ transfer agent. CRM, as the Funds’ agent, remits these payments to the Intermediaries. In some cases, where the sub-transfer agency fees of an Intermediary are greater than the amounts paid to CRM by the Funds for that Intermediary, CRM may pay the balance of those fees itself.

 

ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS

 

The Adviser may pay, out of its own assets, compensation to Intermediaries in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Funds and/or shareholder service. These payments (“Additional Payments”) would be in addition to the payments by the Funds described in this Prospectus for sub-transfer agent or recordkeeping services. These Additional Payments may take the form of “due diligence” payments for an Intermediary’s examination of the Funds and payments for providing extra employee training and information relating to the Funds; “listing” fees for the placement of the Funds on an Intermediary’s list of mutual funds available for purchase by its customers; “finders” or “referral” fees for directing investors to the Funds; “marketing support” fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of the Funds’ shares; and payments for the sale of shares and/or the maintenance of share balances. In addition, the Adviser may make Additional Payments for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the shareholder administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds. The Additional Payments made by the Adviser may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based on the number of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary; may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be calculated on another basis. The Additional Payments may be different for different Intermediaries. Please contact your Intermediary for information regarding any additional payments they may receive.

 

29


 

SHARE CLASSES

 

Each Fund offers Investor and Institutional Shares. Each class has different minimum investment requirements, fees and expenses. Investors investing $2,500 ($2,000 for IRAs and automatic investment plans) or more may purchase Investor Shares. Institutional Shares are offered only to those investors who invest in a Fund through an Intermediary (i.e. broker) or through a consultant and who invest $1,000,000 or more, or where related accounts total $1,000,000 or more when combined. Unlike the Investor Shares, the Institutional Shares are not subject to a shareholder service fee. The Investor Shares and the Institutional Shares are not subject to a Rule 12b-1 distribution fee.

 

30


 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Institutional Shares of the CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations, and therefore do not yet have financial highlights to include in this Prospectus.

 

31


 

THIS PRIVACY POLICY IS BEING DELIVERED WITH THE FUNDS’ PROSPECTUS BUT IS NOT DEEMED TO BE A PART OF THE FUNDS’ PROSPECTUS

 

APPENDIX A

 

PRIVACY POLICY

 

Set forth below is the policy of CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the “Trust”) concerning the collection and disclosure of non-public personal information regarding investors and prospective investors in CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, (the “Funds”) who are individuals investing for personal, family, or household purposes. The words “we” and “us” refer to the Trust and the Funds. The words “you” and “your” refer to investors and prospective investors in the Funds who are covered by this policy.

 

We use administrators, investment managers, custodians, transfer agents, securities brokers, and other third party businesses to conduct many aspects of our business, including processing initial investments, additional investments, redemptions, share transfers, and other transactions that you request. We refer to these third parties below as our “Service Agents.”

 

As we work together to achieve your investment goals, you will often share with our Service Agents personal and financial information, including, for example, your name, address and telephone number, your e-mail address, your purchases and redemptions of shares of the Funds, your banking arrangements, information on your family members, and your social security number. Our Service Agents may also receive these types of information from other firms that assist us in conducting our business. This information is collected in order to properly handle your account.

 

To protect the security of your personal and financial information, our Service Agents maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that meet the standards of applicable laws and regulations.

 

We may, and we may authorize our Service Agents to, use your personal and financial information and share it with us, other Service Agents, and affiliates of Service Agents in order to provide you with investment services, improve our services, make our procedures more efficient, implement security measures, and fight fraud.

 

We will not sell your personal and financial information to any outside party. We obtain from our Service Agents confidentiality agreements that prohibit them from selling or improperly using your personal or financial information.

 

On occasion, we and our Service Agents may be required to provide information about you and your transactions to governmental agencies, self-regulatory organizations, industry associations and similar bodies in order to fulfill legal and regulatory requirements. In addition, federal, state, and foreign laws give people involved in lawsuits and other legal proceedings the right under certain circumstances to obtain information from us and our Service Agents, including your personal and financial information. We and our Service Agents will comply with these laws to the extent we are required to do so. In addition, we and our Service Agents may make other disclosures to non-affiliated third parties as permitted by law.


 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

FOR INVESTORS WHO WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE FUNDS, THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FREE UPON REQUEST:

 

Annual/Semi-Annual Reports:

These reports contain performance data and information on the Funds’ holdings and operating results for the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year or half-year. The annual report also includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”):

The SAI provides additional technical and legal descriptions of the Funds’ policies, investment restrictions, risks, and business structure. The information in the SAI is incorporated into this prospectus by this reference.

 

Copies of these documents and answers to questions about the Funds may be obtained, free of charge, by (i) visiting the Funds’ website at www.crmfunds.com, (ii) calling the Funds at 800-CRM-2883; and (iii) writing to the CRM Funds, c/o PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406.

 

Information about the Funds (including the SAI) can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Copies of this information may be obtained, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Room of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090. Reports and other information about the Funds may be viewed or downloaded from the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT, MAKING CHANGES TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS, PURCHASING, EXCHANGING OR REDEEMING SHARES, OR OTHER INVESTOR SERVICES, PLEASE CALL 1-800-CRM-2883.

 

The investment company registration number is 811-21749.

LOGO

 

CRM GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

 

CRM Funds

c/o PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.

PO Box 9812

Providence, RI 02940

800-CRM-2883

 

www.crmfunds.com


Statement of Additional Information

December 22, 2008

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund

CRM All Cap Value Fund

CRM 130/30 Value Fund

CRM Global Opportunity Fund

CRM International Opportunity Fund

(Series of CRM Mutual Fund Trust, each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”)

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI sets forth information which may be of interest to investors but which is not necessarily included in the Funds’ Prospectuses dated October 28, 2008 and the CRM Global Opportunity Fund’s and CRM International Opportunity Fund’s Prospectuses each dated December 22, 2008, as supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”). This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. An investor may obtain copies of the Funds’ Prospectus and this SAI, without charge by (i) visiting the Funds’ website at www.crmfunds.com or (ii) calling 1-800-CRM-2883.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

GENERAL INFORMATION

   3

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

   4

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

   4

Equity and Equity Related Securities

   4

Derivatives

   6

Debt Securities

   11

Foreign Securities

   12

Foreign Currency Transactions

   14

Illiquid Securities

   15

Restricted Securities

   16

Securities Lending

   16

Repurchase Agreements

   16

Short Sales

   17

Forward Commitments and When-Issued Securities

   18

Investment Company Securities And Exchange Traded Funds

   19

Cash Management

   19

Borrowing

   20

Line of Credit

   21

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

   21

Temporary Defensive Positions

   23

Portfolio Turnover

   23

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

   23

MANAGEMENT

   25

CODE OF ETHICS

   31

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

   32

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   32

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

   39

Adviser

   39

Portfolio Managers

   42

SERVICE PROVIDERS

   47

Administrator and Accounting Agent

   47

Custodian

   49

Distribution Plan for Advisor Shares

   49

Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Shares

   51

Sub-Transfer Agency Fees Paid by Institutional Shares

   52

Additional Service Providers

   53

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

   53

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

   54

Brokerage Transactions

   54

Brokerage Selection

   55

Allocation of Portfolio Transactions

   57

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES, VOTING RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES

   58

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

   60

Purchase of Shares

   60

Redemption of Shares

   61

Pricing of Shares

   62

DIVIDENDS

   63

TAXATION OF THE FUND

   63

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page

General

   63

Foreign Securities

   67

Derivatives

   68

Short Sales

   68

Straddles

   68

Constructive Sale

   69

U.S. Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

   69

Backup Withholding

   69

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   70

APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

   A-1

APPENDIX B: CRM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROXY VOTING

   B-1

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The CRM Global Opportunity Fund (the “Global Opportunity Fund”), the CRM International Opportunity Fund (the “International Opportunity Fund”), the CRM Small Cap Value Fund (“Small Cap Value Fund”), CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund (“Small/Mid Cap Value Fund”), CRM Mid Cap Value Fund (“Mid Cap Value Fund”), CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund (“Large Cap Opportunity Fund”), CRM All Cap Value Fund (“All Cap Value Fund”) and CRM 130/30 Value Fund (“130/30 Value Fund”) (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are each a diversified open-end management investment company. Each Fund is a series of shares of beneficial interest of CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the “Trust”), which was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on March 30, 2005.

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM” or the “Adviser”) is the investment adviser to each Fund. The Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) provides broad supervision over the affairs of each Fund. Shares of the Funds are continuously sold by PFPC Distributors, Inc., the Funds’ distributor (the “Distributor”). Shares may be purchased from the Distributor, or from a broker or other financial institution that has made contractual arrangements to offer the Fund (an “Intermediary”).

PRIOR HISTORY

CRM Small Cap Value Fund and CRM Mid Cap Value Fund were initially organized as series of “The CRM Funds,” a separate Delaware statutory trust, and named “Small Cap Value Fund” and “Mid Cap Value Fund,” respectively. Investor Shares of Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 1, 1995. Institutional Shares of Small Cap Value Fund commenced operations on January 27, 1998. Institutional Shares of Mid Cap Value Fund commenced operations on January 6, 1998.

As of November 1, 1999, the Small Cap Value Fund and Mid Cap Value Fund were reorganized as series of “WT Mutual Fund,” a separate Delaware statutory trust, and re-named “CRM Small Cap Value Fund” and “CRM Mid Cap Value Fund.”

Investor shares of “CRM Mid Cap Value Fund” commenced operations on September 20, 2000. Institutional and Investor Shares of a series of WT Mutual Fund named “CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund” commenced operations on September 1, 2004.

In connection with a reorganization that occurred on September 30, 2005, each of the Small Cap Value Fund, Small/Mid Cap Value Fund and Mid Cap Value Fund received all of the assets of the identically named corresponding series of WT Mutual Fund.

Institutional and Investor Shares of the Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005. Prior to October 26, 2007, Large Cap Opportunity Fund was known as Mid/Large Cap Value Fund.

Advisor Shares of the Large Cap Opportunity Fund and Institutional, Investor, and Advisor Shares of the All Cap Value Fund, commenced operations on October 24, 2006.

Institutional and Investor Shares of the 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

 

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As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

As its investment objective, each Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of each Fund may be changed without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders, but not without written notice thereof to shareholders sixty days prior to implementing the change. If there is a change in a Fund’s investment objective, shareholders of the Fund should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their financial positions and needs. There can, of course, be no assurance that the investment objective of a Fund will be achieved.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Descriptions in the Prospectus and in this SAI of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage or a financial instrument which a Fund may purchase are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that CRM, in its discretion, might, but is not required to, use in managing a Fund’s portfolio assets. CRM may, in its discretion, at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not necessarily for all Funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques, or instruments may not be principal activities of a Fund but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on the Fund’s performance.

Restrictions or policies stated as a maximum percentage of a fund’s assets are applied immediately after a portfolio investment to which the policy or restriction is applicable (other than the limitations on borrowing and illiquid securities). Accordingly, any later increase or decrease in a percentage resulting from a change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether the investment complies with a fund’s restrictions and policies.

The following supplements the information concerning the Funds’ investment strategies and risks contained in the Prospectus and should only be read in conjunction therewith.

Equity and Equity Related Securities

The equity and equity-related securities in which the Funds may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, and warrants.

Common Stock. The Funds invest primarily in common stocks. Common stocks are shares of a corporation or other entity that entitle the holder to a pro rata share of the profits of the corporation, if any, without preference over any other shareholder or class of shareholders, including holders of the entity’s preferred stock and other senior equity. Common stock usually carries with it the right to vote and frequently an exclusive right to do so. Common stocks do not represent an obligation of the issuer, and do not offer the degree of protection of debt securities. The issuance of debt securities or preferred stock by an issuer will create prior claims which could adversely affect the rights of holders of common stock with respect to the assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy.

 

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Preferred Stock. Preferred stock offers a stated dividend rate payable from a corporation’s earnings. These preferred stock dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative, participating, or auction rate. If interest rates rise, the fixed dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of preferred stocks to decline. Preferred stocks may have mandatory sinking fund provisions, as well as call/redemption provisions prior to maturity, a negative feature when interest rates decline. The rights of preferred stocks are generally subordinate to rights associated with a corporation’s debt securities. Dividends on some preferred stock may be “cumulative” if stated dividends from prior periods have not been paid. Preferred stock also generally has a preference over common stock on the distribution of a corporation’s assets in the event of liquidation of the corporation, and may be “participating,” which means that it may be entitled to a dividend exceeding the stated dividend in certain cases. The rights of preferred stocks are generally subordinate to rights associated with a corporation’s debt securities.

Convertible Securities. The Funds may invest in convertible securities that are rated, at the time of purchase, in one of the three highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”), or with respect to the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund, rating organizations, such as Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), or if unrated, are determined by the adviser to be of comparable quality. See Appendix A, “Description of Ratings.” Ratings represent the rating agency’s opinion regarding the quality of the security and are not a guarantee of quality. Should the rating of a security be downgraded subsequent to a Fund’s purchase of the security, CRM will determine whether it is in the best interest of a Fund to retain the security.

A convertible security is a fixed-income security (a bond or preferred stock) which may be converted at a stated price within a specified period of time into a certain quantity of common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock.

In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed-income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying stock). As a fixed-income security, a convertible security tends to increase in market value when interest rates decline and tends to decrease in value when interest rates rise. However, the price of a convertible security is also influenced by the market value of the security’s underlying common stock. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying stock declines. While no securities investment is without some risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in the common stock of the same issuer.

Warrants. Warrants are securities which permit, but do not obligate, their holder to subscribe for other securities. Warrants are subject to the same market risks as the underlying securities into which they may be converted, but may be more volatile in price. Warrants do not carry the right to dividends or voting rights with respect to their underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in assets of the issuer. Because investing in warrants can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security, warrants involve

 

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leverage and are considered speculative investments. At the time of issuance of a warrant, the cost is generally substantially less than the cost of the underlying security itself, and therefore, the investor is able to gain exposure to the underlying security with a relatively low capital investment. Price movements in the underlying security are generally magnified in the price movements of the warrant, although changes in the market value of the warrant may not necessarily correlate to the prices of the underlying security. In addition, a warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date.

Derivatives

Each Fund, except the 130/30 Value Fund, has adopted a fundamental policy, under which no more than 15% of a Fund’s total assets may be committed or exposed to derivative strategies. For purposes of this 15% investment limitation, derivative strategies include investments in options on securities and securities indices. The 130/30 Value Fund may invest in derivative contracts without limitation.

Swap Agreements. The Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund may enter into swap agreements to manage or gain exposure to particular types of investments (including equity securities or indices of equity securities in which the Fund otherwise could not invest efficiently). In a swap agreement, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating rate on a specified amount in exchange for payments equal to a fixed rate, or a different floating rate, on the same amount for a specified period.

Swap agreements may involve leverage and may be highly volatile; depending on how they are used, they may have a considerable impact on the Fund’s performance. The risks of swap agreements depend upon the other party’s creditworthiness and ability to perform, as well as the Fund’s ability to terminate its swap agreements or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions. Swap agreements may be illiquid. The swap market is relatively new and is largely unregulated.

In accordance with SEC staff requirements, each Fund will segregate cash or appropriate liquid securities in an amount equal to its obligations under swap agreements; when an agreement provides for netting of the payments by the two parties, the Fund will segregate only the amount of its net obligation, if any.

Options. Each Fund may purchase and write (sell) options on securities and securities indicies. Except for the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund, a Fund may purchase and write only those options on securities and securities indices that are traded on U.S. exchanges. Exchange-traded options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange, on which the option is listed, which, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.

An option is a legal contract that gives the holder the right to buy or sell a specified amount of the underlying instrument at a fixed or determinable price upon the exercise of the option. A call option conveys the right to buy, in return for a premium paid, and a put option conveys the right, in return for a premium, to sell a specified quantity of the underlying instrument. Options on indices are settled in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movement in individual securities.

There are certain risks associated with transactions in options on securities and on indices. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could

 

6


result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. 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.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when a Fund seeks to close out an option position. If a Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. If a Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise. As the writer of a covered call option, a Fund foregoes, during the life of the option, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the exercise price of the call.

If trading were suspended in an option purchased by a Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, a Fund might be unable to exercise an option it had purchased. Except to the extent that a call option on an index written by a Fund is covered by an option on the same index purchased by the Fund, movements in the index may result in a loss to the Fund; however, such losses may be mitigated by changes in the value of the Fund’s securities during the period the option was outstanding.

Put Options on Securities. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may write and purchase put options on securities. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund will receive a premium for writing a put option, which obligates the Fund to acquire a security at a certain price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may be obligated to purchase the underlying security at more than its current value.

When either Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund purchases a put option, it pays a premium to the writer for the right to sell a security to the writer for a specified amount at any time until a certain date. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund would purchase a put option in order to protect itself against a decline in the market value of a security it owns.

Securities on which the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may write and purchase put options are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. When writing a put option, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund, in return for the premium, takes the risk that the respective Fund must purchase the underlying security at a price that may be higher than the current market price of the security. If a put option that the Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund generally write and purchase put options on securities for hedging purposes (i.e., to reduce, at least in part, the effect of price fluctuations of securities held by the Fund on its net asset value (“NAV”) but may also use put options for non-hedging purposes.

Call Options on Securities. The Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund may write covered call options and may purchase call options on securities. The purpose of writing call options is to hedge (i.e., to reduce, at least in part, the effect of price fluctuations of

 

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securities held by the Fund on its NAV) or to earn premium income. Portfolio securities on which call options may be written and purchased by a Fund are purchased solely on the basis of investment considerations consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

When a Fund writes a call option, it is obligated to sell a security to a purchaser at a specified price at any time until a certain date if the purchaser decides to exercise the option. The Fund receives a premium for writing the call option. So long as the obligation of the call option continues, the Fund may be assigned an exercise notice, requiring it to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price. The Fund may be obligated to deliver securities underlying an option at less than the market price.

The writing of covered call options is a conservative investment technique that is believed to involve relatively little risk but is capable of enhancing the Funds’ total return. When writing a covered call option, a Fund, in return for the premium, gives up the opportunity for profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price, but conversely retains the risk of loss should the price of the security decline.

If a call option that a Fund has written expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a gain in the amount of the premium; however, that gain may be offset by a decline in the market value of the underlying security during the option period. If the call option is exercised, the Fund will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security.

When a Fund purchases a call option, it pays a premium for the right to purchase a security from the writer at a specified price until a specified date.

Each Fund writes only “covered” call options on securities it owns (in contrast to the writing of “naked” or uncovered call options, which the Funds will not do). A Fund would purchase a call option to offset a previously written call option. Each Fund may purchase call options for hedging or non-hedging purposes.

General Information About Securities Options. The exercise price of an option may be below, equal to, or above the market value of the underlying security at the time the option is written. Options normally have expiration dates between three and nine months from the date written. American-style options are exercisable at any time prior to their expiration date. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund also may purchase and sell European-style options, which are exercisable only immediately prior to their expiration date. The obligation under any option written by a Fund terminates upon expiration of the option or, at an earlier time, when the writer offsets the option by entering into a “closing purchase transaction” to purchase an option of the same series. If an option is purchased by the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund and is never exercised or closed out, that Fund will lose the entire amount of the premium paid.

Options are traded both on U.S. national securities exchanges and in the OTC market. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund also may purchase and sell options that are traded on foreign exchanges. Exchange-traded options are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed; the clearing organization in effect guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option. In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund and a counterparty, with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund sells (or purchases) an OTC option, it generally will be able to “close out” the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing transaction with the

 

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dealer to whom (or from whom) the Fund originally sold (or purchased) the option. There can be no assurance that the Fund would be able to liquidate an OTC option at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund is able to effect a closing purchase transaction in a covered OTC call option it has written, it will not be able to liquidate securities used as cover until the option expires or is exercised or until different cover is substituted. In the event of the counterparty’s insolvency, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may be unable to liquidate their respective options position and the associated cover. The Adviser monitors the creditworthiness of dealers with which the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may engage in OTC options transactions.

The premium each of the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund receives or pays when it writes (or purchases) an option is the amount at which the option is currently traded on the applicable market. The premium may reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying security, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price, the historical price volatility of the underlying security, the length of the option period, the general supply of and demand for credit, and the interest rate environment. The premium received by the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund for writing an option is recorded as a liability on the respective Fund’s statement of assets and liabilities. This liability is adjusted daily to the option’s current market value.

Closing transactions are effected in order to realize a profit (or minimize a loss) on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, or to permit the sale or the put of the underlying security. Furthermore, effecting a closing transaction permits the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund to write another call option on the underlying security with a different exercise price or expiration date or both. There is, of course, no assurance that the Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund will be able to effect closing transactions at favorable prices. If the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund cannot enter into such a transaction, they may be required to hold a security that it might otherwise have sold (or purchase a security that it would not have otherwise bought), in which case it would continue to be at market risk on the security.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund will realize a profit or loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the transaction is less or more than the premium received from writing the call or put option. Because increases in the market price of a call option generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any loss 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 Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund; however, the respective Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if it had not written the call option. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund pays brokerage commissions or spreads in connection with purchasing or writing options, including those used to close out existing positions. From time to time, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may purchase an underlying security for delivery in accordance with an exercise notice of a call option assigned to it, rather than delivering the security from its inventory. In those cases, additional brokerage commissions are incurred.

The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets.

 

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The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may use American-style options and may also purchase and sell European-style options and may purchase and sell options that are traded on foreign exchanges. The assets used as cover (or segregated) for OTC options written by either the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund will be considered illiquid and thus subject to each Fund’s 15% limitation on illiquid securities, unless the OTC options are sold to qualified dealers who agree that the Fund may repurchase any OTC option it writes at a maximum price to be calculated by a formula set forth in the option agreement. The cover for an OTC call option written subject to this procedure will be considered illiquid only to the extent that the maximum repurchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option.

Options on Foreign Currencies. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may write and purchase covered call and put options on foreign currencies and may write (sell) put and covered call options on any currency in order to realize greater income than would be realized on portfolio securities alone. Currency options have characteristics and risks similar to those of securities options, as discussed herein. Certain options on foreign currencies are traded on the OTC market and involve liquidity and credit risks that may not be present in the case of exchange-traded currency options.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund would use options on foreign currencies to protect against declines in the U.S. dollar value of portfolio securities or increases in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired or to protect the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those securities. In addition, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may each purchase put and call options on foreign currencies for non-hedging purposes when the Adviser anticipates that a currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities denominated in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not included in the respective Fund.

Regulatory Limitations on Certain Futures and Options. If the Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund sells or purchases futures contracts or writes options thereon or options on foreign currencies that are traded on an exchange regulated by the CFTC other than for bona fide hedging purposes (as defined by the CFTC), the aggregate initial margin and premiums required to establish those positions (excluding the amount by which options are “in-the-money”) may not exceed 5% of the respective Fund’s net assets.

General Risks of Options, Forward Contracts and Futures. The primary risks in using options, forward contracts and futures are (1) imperfect correlation or no correlation between changes in market value of the securities or currencies held or to be acquired by the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund and the prices of the options, forward contracts or futures; (2) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for the options, forward contracts or futures and the resulting inability to close out options, forward contracts or futures when desired; (3) the fact that the skills needed to use options, forward contracts or futures are different from those needed to select the Global Opportunity Fund’s or International Opportunity Fund’s securities; (4) the fact that, although use of options, forward contracts or futures for hedging purposes can reduce the risk of loss, they also can reduce the opportunity for gain, or even result in losses, by offsetting favorable price movements in hedged investments; and (5) the possible inability of the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that would otherwise be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for a Fund to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time, due to its need to maintain cover or to segregate securities in connection with its use of options, forward contacts or futures. There can be no assurance that the Global Opportunity Fund’s or International

 

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Opportunity Fund’s use of options, forward contacts or futures will be successful. Additionally, options, forward contracts and futures may not be available with respect to some foreign currencies, especially those of so certain emerging market countries.

Each of Global Opportunity Fund’s and International Opportunity Fund’s use of options, forward contacts or futures may be limited by the provisions of the IRS Code with which it must comply to qualify or continue to qualify as a registered investment company. See “Taxation of the Fund” in this SAI.

When hedging, the Adviser intends to reduce the risk of imperfect correlation by investing only in options, forward contracts and futures whose behavior is expected to resemble or offset that of the Global Opportunity Fund’s and International Opportunity Fund’s underlying securities or currency. The Adviser intends to reduce the risk that the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund will be unable to close out options, forward contacts and futures by entering into such transactions only if the Adviser believes there will be an active and liquid secondary market.

Asset Coverage For Derivative Strategies. Each Fund will comply with guidelines established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with respect to coverage of derivative strategies by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require will set aside appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account in the amount prescribed. Securities held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the derivative contract strategy is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. Consequently, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of a Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Debt Securities

Under normal circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in debt securities that are rated in one of the three highest categories by a NRSRO such as Moody’s or S&P, or if unrated, are determined by CRM to be of comparable quality. Debt securities are subject to credit risk (the risk that the obligor will default in the payment of principal and/or interest) and to interest rate risk (the risk that the market value of the securities will decline as a result of changes in market rates of interest). Interest rate risk will generally affect the price of a debt security more if the security has a longer maturity. These securities are also subject to the risk that interest rate changes may affect prepayment rates and their effective maturity.

Debt securities are subject to the risk of an issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (“credit risk”) and are subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer, and market liquidity (“market risk”). The value of the debt securities in which the Funds may invest is likely to decline in times of rising market interest rates. Conversely, when rates fall, the value of the Funds’ debt investments is likely to rise. Typically, the longer the time to maturity of a given security, the greater is the change in its value in response to a change in interest rates. Foreign debt securities are subject to risks similar to those of other foreign securities.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund each may invest in domestic and foreign debt securities of any rating, including those rated below investment grade and Comparable Unrated Securities.

 

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Lower-rated securities are more likely to react to developments affecting market and credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to movements in the general level of interest rates. Debt securities in the lowest rating categories may involve a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Changes in economic conditions or developments regarding the individual issuer are more likely to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuer of such securities to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher-grade debt securities. An economic downturn affecting the issuer may result in an increased incidence of default. The market for lower-rated securities may be thinner and less active than for higher-rated securities. Pricing of thinly traded securities requires greater judgment than pricing of securities for which market transactions are regularly reported. The Adviser will invest in lower-rated securities only when it concludes that the anticipated return on such an investment to the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund warrants exposure to the additional level of risk.

Foreign Securities

Each Fund may invest in foreign securities either directly by purchasing foreign securities or indirectly by purchasing depositary receipts or depositary shares of foreign securities. Under normal circumstances, the International Opportunity Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity and equity related securities of foreign companies. The Global Opportunity Fund may at any one time invest all or substantially all of its assets in foreign companies. Foreign issuers are issuers organized and doing business principally outside the United States and include banks, non-U.S. governments, and quasi-government organizations. Foreign securities include equity or debt securities issued by issuers outside the United States, and include securities in the form of negotiable certificates of deposit (“CDs”), banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). Direct investments in foreign securities may be made either on foreign securities exchanges or in the over-the counter markets.

Investors should recognize that investing in foreign securities involves special considerations which are not typically associated with investing in the securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in foreign securities may involve risks arising from (i) differences between U.S. and foreign securities markets, including less volume, much greater price volatility in and illiquidity of certain foreign securities markets, different trading and settlement practices and less governmental supervision and regulation, (ii) changes in currency exchange rates, (iii) high and volatile rates of inflation, (iv) economic, social and political conditions such as wars, terrorism, civil unrest and uprisings, and (v) as with domestic multinational corporations, from fluctuating interest rates.

There may be less publicly-available information about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to the same accounting, auditing and financial record-keeping standards and requirements as U.S. issuers. Finally, in the event of a default in any obligations of foreign issuers, it may be more difficult for a Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment against those issuers.

Other investment risks associated with foreign securities include the possible imposition of foreign withholding taxes on certain amounts of a Fund’s income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign assets and the possible establishment of exchange controls, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, other foreign governmental laws or restrictions which might affect adversely payments due on securities held by a Fund, the lack of extensive operating experience of eligible foreign subcustodians and legal limitations on the ability of the Fund to recover assets held in custody by a foreign subcustodian in the event of the subcustodian’s bankruptcy.

 

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There generally is less governmental supervision and regulation of exchanges, brokers and issuers in foreign countries than there is in the United States. For example, there may be no comparable provisions under certain foreign laws to insider trading and similar investor protection securities laws that apply with respect to securities transactions consummated in the United States. Further, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on foreign securities exchanges generally are higher than in the United States.

In some countries, banks or other financial institutions may constitute a substantial number of the leading companies or companies with the most actively traded securities. The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), limits each Fund’s ability to invest in any equity security of an issuer which, in its most recent fiscal year, derived more than 15% of its revenues from ‘securities related activities,’ as defined by the rules thereunder. These provisions may also restrict each Fund’s investments in certain foreign banks and other financial institutions.

Foreign markets have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have failed to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement or other problems could result in periods when assets of a Fund are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems or the risk of intermediary counterparty failures could cause a Fund to forego attractive investment opportunities. The inability to dispose of a portfolio security due to settlement problems could result either in losses to a Fund due to subsequent declines in the value of such portfolio security or, if the Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.

Rules adopted under the 1940 Act permit the Funds to maintain their foreign securities and cash in the custody of certain eligible non-U.S. banks and securities depositories. Certain banks in foreign countries may not be ‘eligible sub-custodians,’ as defined in the 1940 Act, for the Funds, in which event the Funds may be precluded from purchasing securities in certain foreign countries in which they otherwise would invest or which may result in the Funds’ incurring additional costs and delays in providing transportation and custody services for such securities outside of such countries. The Funds may encounter difficulties in effecting on a timely basis portfolio transactions with respect to any securities of issuers held outside their countries. Other banks that are eligible foreign sub-custodians may be recently organized or otherwise lack extensive operating experience. In addition, in certain countries there may be legal restrictions or limitations on the ability of the Funds to recover assets held in custody by foreign sub-custodians in the event of the bankruptcy of the sub-custodian. Additional costs associated with an investment in foreign securities may include higher custodial fees than apply to domestic custody arrangements and transaction costs of foreign currency conversions.

Interest rates prevailing in other countries may affect the prices of foreign securities and exchange rates for foreign currencies. Local factors, including the strength of the local economy, the demand for borrowing, the government’s fiscal and monetary policies, and the international balance of payments, often affect interest rates in other countries. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments position.

 

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Depositary Receipts. ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including EDRs and GDRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs may be available through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the security underlying the receipt and a depositary. An unsponsored facility may be established by a depositary without participation by the issuer of the underlying security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the unsponsored facility. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

Foreign Currency Transactions.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may enter into contracts for the purchase or sale of a specific currency at a future date (usually less than one year from the date of the contract) at a fixed price (“forward contracts”). The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund also may engage in foreign currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market.

Forward contract transactions include forward sales or purchases of foreign currencies for the purpose of protecting the U.S. dollar value of securities held or to be acquired by the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund or protecting the U.S. dollar equivalent of dividends, interest, or other payments on those securities. Forward contracts are traded in the interbank market directly between dealers (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades; foreign exchange dealers realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

At the consummation of a forward contract to sell currency, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation to deliver by purchasing an offsetting contract. If either the Global Opportunity Fund or the International Opportunity Fund choose to make delivery of the foreign currency, they may be required to obtain such currency through the sale of portfolio securities denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency. If the Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund engages in an offsetting transaction, the respective Fund will incur a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually made with the currency dealer who is a party to the original forward contract.

The Adviser believes that the use of foreign currency hedging techniques, including “proxy-hedges,” can provide significant protection of NAV in the event of a general rise or decrease in

 

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the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. For example, the return available from securities denominated in a particular foreign currency would diminish if the value of the U.S. dollar increased against that currency. Such a decline could be partially or completely offset by an increase in value of a hedge involving a forward contract to sell that foreign currency or a proxy-hedge involving a forward contract to sell a different foreign currency whose behavior is expected to resemble the currency in which the securities being hedged are denominated but which is available on more advantageous terms.

However, a hedge or proxy-hedge cannot protect against exchange rate risks perfectly, and, if the Adviser is incorrect in its judgment of future exchange rate relationships, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. If the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund use proxy-hedging, they may experience losses on both the currency in which they have invested and the currency used for hedging if the two currencies do not vary with the expected degree of correlation.

Using forward contracts to protect the value of the Global Opportunity Fund’s and International Opportunity Fund’s securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the prices of the underlying securities. Because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange, the assets used to cover such contracts may be illiquid. Each of the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may experience delays in the settlement of its foreign currency transactions and each may purchase securities of an issuer domiciled in a country other than the country in whose currency the instrument is denominated. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may also invest in securities denominated in currency baskets which consist of a selected group of currencies.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund each may enter into forward contracts for hedging or non-hedging purposes. When either the Global Opportunity Fund or International Opportunity Fund engages in foreign currency transactions for hedging purposes, it will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if their consummation would obligate the Fund to deliver an amount of foreign currency materially in excess of the value of its portfolio securities or other assets denominated in that currency. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund each may also purchase and sell forward contracts for non-hedging purposes when the Adviser anticipates that a foreign currency will appreciate or depreciate in value, but securities in that currency do not present attractive investment opportunities and are not held in a Fund’s investment portfolio.

Illiquid Securities

Each Fund may invest no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days at approximately the value at which they are being carried on the Fund’s books. The Board has the ultimate responsibility for determining whether specific securities are liquid or illiquid. The Board has delegated the function of making day to day determinations of liquidity to CRM, pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board. CRM will monitor the liquidity of securities held by a Fund and report periodically on such decisions to the Board. If the limitation on illiquid securities is exceeded, other than by a change in market values, the condition will be reported by CRM to the Board.

 

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Restricted Securities

Each Fund is permitted to invest in restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold to the public without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration or, with respect to the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund, securities that are subject to legal restrictions on their sale. Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Restricted securities are generally considered to be illiquid securities, provided that restricted securities, including securities eligible for re-sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, that are determined, pursuant to the guidelines established by the Board, by CRM to be liquid are not subject to this limitation. In accordance with the guidelines, CRM will consider the frequency of trades and quotes for the security, the number of dealers in, and potential purchasers for, the securities, dealer undertakings to make a market in the security, and the nature of the security and of the marketplace trades.

Securities Lending

Each Fund, except the 130/30 Value Fund, may from time to time lend its portfolio securities to certain broker-dealers or other institutional investors pursuant to agreements that require that the loans be continuously secured by collateral equal to 102% (105% in the case of foreign securities) of the market value of the loaned securities. Such collateral consists of cash, securities of the U.S. Government or its agencies, or any combination of cash and such securities. Such loans will not be made if, as a result, the aggregate amount of all outstanding securities loans for a Fund exceeds one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets taken at fair market value. A Fund will earn interest on the investment of the cash collateral. However, a Fund will normally pay lending fees to such broker-dealers and related expenses from the interest earned on invested collateral. If the income earned on the investment of the cash collateral is insufficient to pay these amounts, the Fund may take a loss on the loan. Where the Fund receives securities as collateral, the Fund will earn no income on the collateral, but will earn a fee from the borrower. The Fund may not exercise voting rights on loaned securities, but reserves the right to recall loaned securities so that they may be voted according to the fund’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures. Lending portfolio securities entails the possible risk of loss to a fund due to the inability of the borrowers to return the securities. There also may be risks of delay in receiving additional collateral or risks of delay in recovery of the securities and even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. Where the collateral delivered by the borrower is cash, the fund will also have the risk of loss of principal in connection with its investment of collateral. Either party upon reasonable notice to the other party may terminate any loan.

Repurchase Agreements

Each Fund may invest in repurchase agreements. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Fund purchases a security from a bank or recognized securities dealer and simultaneously commits to resell that security to a bank or dealer at an agreed upon date and price reflecting a market rate of interest, unrelated to the coupon rate or the maturity of the purchased security. While it is not possible to eliminate all risks from these transactions (particularly the possibility of a decline in the market value of the underlying securities, as well as delays and costs to the Fund if the other party to the repurchase agreement defaults), it is the policy of each Fund to limit repurchase transactions to primary dealers and banks whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by CRM. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid for purposes of a Fund’s investment limitations.

 

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Short Sales

Each Fund may establish short positions in specific securities or securities indices through short sales or in investments in a variety of derivative instruments. This is a principal investment strategy of the 130/30 Value Fund. A Fund’s use of short sales involves additional investment risks and transaction costs. Short selling is a technique that may be considered speculative and involves risk beyond the amount invested.

A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own typically in anticipation of a decline in the market price of that security. To effect a short sale, the Fund arranges through a broker to borrow the security it does not own to be delivered to a buyer of such security. In borrowing the security to be delivered to the buyer, the Fund will become obligated to replace the security borrowed at its market price at the time of replacement, whatever that price may be. A short sale results in a gain when the price of the securities sold short declines between the date of the short sale and the date on which a security is purchased to replace the borrowed security. Conversely, a short sale will result in a loss if the price of the security sold short increases. The amount of any gain will be decreased and the amount of any loss increased by any premium or interest that the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

When a Fund makes a short sale, the broker effecting the short sale typically holds the proceeds as part of the collateral securing the Fund’s obligation to cover the short position. However, the Fund is expected to use the cash proceeds of short sales to purchase additional securities or for any other Fund purpose. When a Fund does this, it is required to pledge replacement securities as collateral for the broker. The Fund may use securities it owns to meet any such collateral obligations.

Generally, a Fund may not keep, and must return to the lender, any dividends or interest that accrues on the borrowed security during the period of the loan. Depending on the arrangements with a broker or a custodian, the Fund may or may not receive any payments (including interest) on collateral it designates as security for the broker.

In addition, until a Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund, pursuant to the 1940 Act, will designate liquid assets it owns (other than short sale proceeds) as segregated assets in an amount at least equal to its obligation to purchase the securities sold short. The amount segregated in this manner will be increased or decreased each business day (called marked-to-the-market) in an amount equal to the changes in the market value of the Fund’s obligation to purchase the security sold short. This may limit the Fund’s investment flexibility as well as its ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

While short sales can be used to further a Fund’s investment objective, under certain market conditions, they can increase the volatility of the Fund and decrease the liquidity of the Fund. If a Fund uses short sales at inappropriate times or judges market conditions incorrectly, such investments may lower the Fund’s return or result in a loss. A Fund’s potential loss from an uncovered short position in an equity security or security index resulting from a short sale is unlimited. A Fund also could experience losses if these investment techniques were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if the Fund was unable to liquidate its position because of an illiquid secondary market.

 

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Forward Commitments and When-Issued Securities

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may each purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment or when issued basis. These transactions involve a commitment by a Fund to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily within two months, although a Fund may agree to a longer settlement period). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.

When-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions enable the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund to “lock in” what the Adviser believes to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund might sell securities they own on a forward commitment basis to limit their respective exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund might purchase a security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and sell a similar security to settle such purchase, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. If the other party fails to complete the trade, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may lose the opportunity to obtain a favorable price. The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of the Global Opportunity Fund’s and International Opportunity Fund’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities. Because the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund has not yet paid for the securities, this produces an effect similar to leverage. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund does not earn interest on securities it has committed to purchase until the securities are paid for and delivered on the settlement date.

When the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund make a forward commitment to sell securities they own, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in that Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the Global Opportunity Fund’s and International Opportunity Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued basis or purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Funds may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it has been entered into. The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund also may sell securities they have committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the respective Fund on the settlement date.

The Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund may realize capital gains or losses in connection with these transactions. When the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, that respective Fund will deposit in a segregated account with its custodian, or designate on its records as segregated, until payment is made, appropriate liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of that Fund’s purchase commitments. In the

 

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case of a forward commitment to sell portfolio securities, the portfolio securities will be held in a segregated account, or the portfolio securities will be designated on the Fund’s records as segregated, while the commitment is outstanding. These procedures are designed to ensure that the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover their respective obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions.

Investment Company Securities and Exchange Traded Funds

Each Fund may invest in investment company securities, including exchange traded funds (“ETFs”). Such investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act and related Rules promulgated under the 1940 Act unless an SEC exemption is applicable. These limitations currently provide, in part, that a Fund may not purchase shares of an investment company if (a) such a purchase would cause the Fund to own in the aggregate more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the investment company, (b) such a purchase would cause the Fund to have more than 5% of its total assets invested in the investment company or (c) more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in investment companies. However, Rule 12d1-1, under the 1940 Act permits a Fund to invest an unlimited amount of its uninvested cash in a money market fund so long as said investment is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As a shareholder in an investment company, a Fund would bear its pro-rata portion of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to its own expenses.

Cash Management

Each Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents, including high quality money market instruments and money market funds in order to manage cash flow. Certain of these instruments are described below.

Money Market Funds. Each Fund may invest in the securities of money market mutual funds within the limits prescribed by the 1940 Act. See also “Investment Company Securities and Exchange Traded Funds” above.

U.S. Government Obligations. Each Fund may invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. Although all obligations of agencies and instrumentalities are not direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Government may provide support for payment of the interest and principal on these obligations directly or indirectly. This support can range from securities supported by the full faith and credit of the United States (for example, Ginnie Mae securities), to securities that are supported solely or primarily by the creditworthiness of the issuer, such as securities of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Farm Credit Banks and the Federal Home Loan Banks. In the case of obligations not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, a Fund must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the obligation for ultimate repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitments. Although the U.S. government has recently provided financial support to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, there can be no assurance that it will support these government-sponsored enterprises in the future.

Commercial Paper. Each Fund may invest in commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (up to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. The Funds may invest only in commercial paper rated A-1 or higher by S&P or Moody’s or if not rated, determined by CRM to be of comparable quality.

 

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Bank Obligations. Each Fund may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of major banks, including certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances of major U.S. and foreign banks and their branches located outside of the United States, of U.S. branches of foreign banks, of foreign branches of foreign banks, of U.S. agencies of foreign banks and of wholly owned banking subsidiaries of such foreign banks located in the United States. Obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign banks may be general obligations of the parent bank, of the issuing branch or subsidiary, or both, or may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation or by government regulation. Because such obligations are issued by foreign entities, they are subject to the risks of foreign investing. A brief description of some typical types of bank obligations follows:

Bankers’ acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft that has been drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation of both the bank and the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.

Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of Deposit are certificates evidencing the indebtedness of a commercial bank to repay funds deposited with it for a definite period of time (usually from 14 days to one year) at a stated or variable interest rate. Variable rate certificates of deposit provide that the interest rate will fluctuate on designated dates based on changes in a designated base rate (such as the composite rate for certificates of deposit established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York).

Time Deposits. Time deposits are bank deposits for fixed periods of time.

Borrowing or Leverage

As discussed above, each Fund may establish short positions in specific securities or securities indices through short sales or in investments in a variety of derivative instruments. This is a principal investment strategy of the 130/30 Value Fund. Because short sales involve borrowing securities and then selling them, short sales will effectively leverage a Fund’s assets. Borrowing and other transactions used for leverage may cause the value of a Fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the Fund did not borrow or engage in such transactions. This is because leverage tends to magnify the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of a Fund’s portfolio holdings. Leverage thus creates the potential for greater gains, but also greater losses. To repay such obligations, a Fund may have to sell securities at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the Fund. There are also costs associated with engaging in leverage, and these costs would offset and could eliminate a Fund’s net investment income in any given period. The Funds cannot guarantee that a leveraging strategy will be successful. Short selling also involves credit exposure to brokers that execute the short sale.

In addition, each Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including to meet redemption requests. The Funds will not borrow for speculative purposes; provided, however, that the 130/30 Value Fund may borrow to the extent set forth under “Fundamental Investment Restrictions” herein. See “Fundamental Investment Restrictions.” Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value of a Fund’s shares and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio. A Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to any borrowing, which could affect the strategy of the Adviser. Interest on any borrowings will be a Fund expense and will reduce the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

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Line of Credit

The Funds have obtained a line of credit from PNC Bank, N.A. to be used for temporary or emergency purposes, including, without limitation, funding shareholder redemptions that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. An annual commitment fee for the line of credit is borne by the Funds. Interest associated with any borrowing under the facility will be charged to the borrowing Fund at rates that are based on the Federal Funds Rate in effect during the time of the borrowing.

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

Except as otherwise provided, each of the Funds has adopted the investment limitations set forth below. Limitations which are designated as fundamental policies may not be changed without the affirmative vote of the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares of a Fund present at a shareholders meeting if holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund. If any percentage restriction on investment or utilization of assets is adhered to at the time an investment is made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the market values of a Fund’s assets or redemptions of shares will not be considered a violation of the limitation. None of the Funds have been granted exemptive orders from the SEC under the 1940 Act.

Each of Global Opportunity Fund, International Opportunity Fund, Small Cap Value Fund, Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund, Large Cap Opportunity Fund and All Cap Value Fund will not, as a matter of fundamental policy:

1. commit nor expose more than 15% of its total assets to derivative strategies;

2. purchase the securities of any one issuer, if as a result, more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or a Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer, provided that (1) a Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets without regard to these limitations and (2) these limitations do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;

3. purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of a Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, however this limitation does not apply to investments in short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

4. borrow money, however a Fund may borrow money for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests, in amounts up to 33 1/3% of a Fund’s assets;

5. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions;

 

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6. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that a Fund may be considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition of any portfolio security;

7. purchase or sell real estate. A Fund may not invest in any interest in real estate except securities issued or guaranteed by corporate or governmental entities secured by real estate or interests therein, such as mortgage pass-throughs and collateralized mortgage obligations, or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;

8. purchase or sell physical commodities. A Fund is restricted from purchasing or selling contracts, options or options on contracts to purchase or sell physical commodities; and

9. issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, however, each Fund may borrow money subject to its investment limitation on borrowing.

The 130/30 Value Fund will not, as a matter of fundamental policy:

1. purchase the securities of any one issuer, if as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or the Fund would own or hold 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer, provided that (1) the Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets without regard to these limitations and (2) these limitations do not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities;

2. purchase securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of one or more issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry, however this limitation does not apply to investments in short-term obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.

3. borrow money except as permitted by (i) the 1940 Act, or interpretations or modifications by the SEC, SEC staff or other authority with appropriate jurisdiction, or (ii) exemptive or other relief or permission from the SEC, SEC staff or other authority.

4. make loans to other persons, except by (1) purchasing debt securities in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations; (2) entering into repurchase agreements; or (3) engaging in securities loan transactions;

5. underwrite any issue of securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be considered to be acting as underwriter in connection with the disposition of any portfolio security;

6. purchase or sell real estate. The Fund may not invest in any interest in real estate except securities issued or guaranteed by corporate or governmental entities secured by real estate or interests therein, such as mortgage pass-throughs and collateralized mortgage obligations, or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein;

7. purchase or sell physical commodities. The Fund is restricted from purchasing or selling contracts, options or options on contracts to purchase or sell physical commodities; and

8. issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, however, the Fund may borrow money subject to its investment limitation on borrowing.

With respect to the fundamental policy relating to borrowing money set forth in (3) above, the 1940 Act permits a fund to borrow money in amounts of up to one-third of the fund’s total assets from banks for any purpose, and to borrow up to 5% of the fund’s total assets from banks or other lenders for temporary purposes. To limit the risks attendant to borrowing, the 1940 Act

 

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requires the fund to maintain at all times an “asset coverage” of at least 300% of the amount of its borrowings. Asset coverage means the ratio that the value of the fund’s total assets, minus liabilities other than borrowings, bears to the aggregate amount of all borrowings. Certain trading practices and investments, such as shorts and reverse repurchase agreements, may be considered to be borrowings and thus subject to the 1940 Act restrictions. Borrowing money to increase portfolio holdings is known as “leveraging.” Borrowing, especially when used for leverage, may cause the value of the fund’s shares to be more volatile than if the fund did not borrow. This is because borrowing tends to magnify the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the fund’s portfolio holdings. Borrowed money thus creates an opportunity for greater gains, but also greater losses. To repay borrowings, the fund may have to sell securities at a time and at a price that is unfavorable to the fund. There also are costs associated with borrowing money, and these costs would offset and could eliminate the fund’s net investment income in any given period.

The policy in (3) above will be interpreted to permit the 130/30 Value Fund to engage in trading practices and investments that may be considered to be borrowing to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Short-term credits necessary for the settlement of securities transactions and arrangements with respect to securities lending will not be considered to be borrowings under the policy. Practices and investments that may involve leverage but are not considered to be borrowings are not subject to the policy.

Temporary Defensive Positions

Each Fund may, without limit, invest in commercial paper and other money market instruments rated in one of the three highest rating categories by an NRSRO, in response to adverse market conditions, as a temporary defensive position. The result of this action may be that a Fund will be unable to achieve its investment objective.

Portfolio Turnover

The portfolio turnover rate for the Funds is set forth in the Prospectus under the tables entitled “Financial Highlights.” The portfolio turnover rate for the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund decreased from 94% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 to 78% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 due to, among other things, decrease in portfolio re-balancing. The portfolio turnover rate for the Mid Cap Value Fund decreased from 92% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 to 73% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 due to, among other things, decrease in portfolio re-balancing. The portfolio turnover rate for the All Cap Value Fund increased from 54% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 to 90% for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 due to, among other things, increase of activity from growth of capital flows.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Board has adopted a policy governing disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings (the “Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy” or the “Policy”). Non-public information about the portfolio holdings of the Funds cannot be shared with financial consultants, investors and potential investors (whether individual or institutional), or other third parties except in accordance with the Policy. The Policy allows the Funds to disclose to third parties non-public information on their securities positions only as follows:

1. The Funds may release non-public portfolio holdings information in the following circumstances:

 

  (a) The top ten securities of a Fund, current as of quarter-end, and the individual size of each such security position may be released at any time following quarter end with simultaneous public disclosure of this information via the Funds’ website at least one day prior to the release.

 

23


  (b) A Fund’s (i) top ten securities positions (including the aggregate but not individual size of such positions), (ii) sector weightings, and (iii) performance attribution may be released at any time with public disclosure of this information via the Funds’ website at least one day prior to the release.

 

  (c) A list of securities (that may include Fund holdings together with other securities) being researched or owned by the Funds’ Adviser (without position sizes or identification of particular funds) may be disclosed to sell-side brokers at any time for the purpose of obtaining research and/or market information from such brokers.

 

  (d) A trade in process may be discussed only with counterparties, potential counterparties and others involved in the transaction (i.e., brokers and custodians).

2. The Funds may release non-public portfolio holdings information to their custodian, administrator, transfer agent, distributor, sub-custodian, auditors, or legal counsel or to a proxy voting provider, rating agency, or other vendor or service provider as may be necessary or appropriate for these parties to provide services to the Funds, subject to contractual, legal or other confidentiality restrictions prohibiting the recipient from sharing such non-public information with an unauthorized source or trading (including such recipient’s employees) upon the information so provided.

3. The Funds may release non-public information on their securities holdings to any party to the extent required by laws, regulations, exchange rules, self-regulatory organization rules, or court or governmental orders that apply to the Funds or their respective service providers. Prompt notice of any such release shall be provided to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer.

4. The Funds may release non-public information on their securities holdings to such other parties and on such other bases as may be approved by both the President and the Chief Compliance Officer of the Funds, provided (a) the President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund determine that such disclosures are in the best interest of the Fund’s shareholders, (b) the Board is notified of the disclosure at their next regularly scheduled meeting; (c) the Funds or their service providers have legitimate business purposes for these disclosures; (d) the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade, relating to the non-public information released; and (e) no payment is made to any service provider of the Funds in consideration of the release.

The Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy is binding upon the officers of the Funds and each of the Funds’ third party service providers, including the Adviser, the Distributor, the custodian, the transfer agent, and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Policy does not require disclosure of information on portfolio holdings and does not limit any disclosures of information on portfolio holdings that has been or is concurrently being disclosed in a publicly available filing with the SEC. The Policy does not restrict the disclosure of portfolio holdings of separate accounts or investment funds (other than the Funds) managed by CRM. The Chief

 

24


Compliance Officer shall be responsible for resolving any conflicts of interest between the Fund’s shareholders on one hand, and the Fund’s vendors or service providers on the other, provided that the Chief Compliance Officer shall submit any conflict between the Adviser and the Fund’s shareholders to the Board of Trustees for resolution. The Board of Trustees of the Fund shall review the Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policy on a periodic basis, and receives reports from the Chief Compliance Officer of any material violations of the Policy on a quarterly basis.

The chart below identifies each party that in the normal course of business receives from the Trust non-public portfolio holdings information of the Funds, the frequency at which that information is received, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to such party.

 

Recipient of Portfolio Information

 

Frequency of Portfolio

Information Received

 

Time Lag between Date of

Information and Disclosure

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (Adviser)   Continuously provided on a daily basis   None
Ernst & Young LLP (Independent registered public accounting firm)   During the annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and tax reviews   Typically 10 days, but in certain circumstances there could be no time lag
PFPC Trust Company (Custodian)   Daily access to portfolio holdings   None
PNC Global Investment Servicing Inc. (Administrator and Accounting Agent)   Daily access to portfolio holdings   None
RR Donnelley (Printer)   Quarterly   Typically 10 business days
Bingham McCutchen LLP (Counsel)   Quarterly   Typically 30 business days
Independent Trustees   Quarterly   Typically 30 business days
Institutional Shareholder Services (Proxy Voting Provider)   Daily access to portfolio holdings   None
Morningstar (Ratings Agency)   Quarterly   Typically 60 business days

MANAGEMENT

The Funds are supervised by the Board. The Board is responsible for the general oversight of the Funds, including general supervision and review of the Funds’ investment activities. The Board, in turn, elects the officers who are responsible for administering the Funds’ day-to-day operations.

The trustees including the trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), and officers of the Funds, their ages, their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of CRM Funds they oversee, and other directorships they hold are set forth below. Unless otherwise noted below, the address of each interested trustee and officer is c/o Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Carlos Leal.

An asterisk in the table below identifies those trustees and officers who are “interested persons” of the Funds as defined in the 1940 Act. Each trustee and officer of the Funds noted as an interested person is interested by virtue of that individual’s position with CRM, as described in the table below. Each trustee serves during the continued lifetime of the Funds or until he

 

25


earlier dies, resigns or is removed, or if sooner, until the election and qualification of his successor. Each officer serves until his or her successor is elected or qualified, or until the officer sooner dies, resigns, or is removed or becomes disqualified.

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

  

Length

of Time

Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in

Fund
Complex

Overseen
by

Trustee
  

Other Board
Memberships Held
by Trustee During

Past Five Years

Interested Trustee:               

Carlos Leal,*

CPA,

42

   Trustee, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    Since June 2005    Executive Vice President (since 2007), Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, CRM (since 1999); Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, CRM Alternatives, Inc. (investment management) (since 2001); Director and President, CRM U.S. Value Fund, Ltd. and CRM Windridge Fund, Ltd. (investment funds).    8    None
Independent Trustees:               

Louis Ferrante,

CFA, CPA,

49

   Trustee    Since June 2005    Chief Operating Officer of Columbus Nova & Affiliates (private investment firm)(May 2006- December 2007); Private Investor (from January 2005 to April 2006 and August 2007 - present); Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Citigroup Pension Fund (financial services)(from 1998-2004).    8    None

 

26


Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

  

Length

of Time

Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in

Fund
Complex

Overseen
by

Trustee
  

Other Board
Memberships Held
by Trustee During

Past Five Years

Louis Klein,

Jr., Esq.,

73

   Trustee    Since June 2005    Self-employed financial consultant since 1991.    8    Trustee, Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust (since 1991); Trustee, WT Mutual Fund (since June 1999); Trustee WT Investment Trust I (since 2000); WHX Corporation (industrial manufacturer).

 

27


Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Fund

  

Length

of Time

Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

   Number of
Portfolios
in

Fund
Complex

Overseen
by

Trustee
  

Other Board
Memberships Held
by Trustee During

Past Five Years

Clement C.

Moore, II,

64

   Trustee    Since June 2005    Managing Partner, Mariemont Holdings (real estate)(since 1980); President, Kenwood Galleria (since 1980).    8    Trustee, WT Mutual Fund (1999-2006); Trustee, WT Investment Trust I (2000-2006).
Officers               

Ronald H.

McGlynn*, 65

   President and Chief Executive Officer    Since June 2005    Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CRM (Chairman since 2005, CEO since 1998); President and Chief Executive Officer, Cramer, Rosenthal, McGlynn, Inc. (investment management) (since 1996), CRM Investors, Inc. (investment management)(since 1990), and CRM Alternatives, Inc. (investment management)(since 2001); former President, CRM (from 1998-2005).    N/A    N/A

Steven A. Yadegari*,

Esq.,

35

   Secretary, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer    Since August 2005    Senior Vice President (since 2008); Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, CRM (since August 2005); Senior Associate, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham, LLP (law firm) (from January 2004 - July 2005); Associate, Proskauer Rose, LLP (law firm) (from September 2002 - January 2004); Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (from February 2000 - September 2002).    N/A    N/A

 

28


The Trust has a standing Trustees Committee. The members of the Trustees Committee are each Independent Trustees. The responsibilities of the Trustee Committee are to:

 

  (1) perform the specific tasks assigned to Independent Trustees pursuant to the 1940 Act, including annual consideration of the investment management contracts and service plans with respect to the Funds;

 

  (2) nominate Independent Trustees of the Trust;

 

  (3) oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Funds and their internal controls over financial reporting, and as the Trustees Committee deems appropriate, inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of the service providers to the Funds;

 

  (4) oversee the quality and integrity of financial statements of the Funds and the independent audit thereof;

 

  (5) pre-approve the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the independent registered public accounting firm and approve audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds and certain other affiliated parties;

 

  (6) act as a liaison between the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust and the Board;

 

  (7) review on a periodic basis the governance structures and procedures of the Funds;

 

  (8) review proposed resolutions of conflicts of interest that may arise in the business of the Funds, and may have an impact on the investors in the Funds;

 

  (9) review and consider matters that are reported to the Trustees Committee under the Sarbanes Oxley Code of Ethics of the Trust;

 

  (10) review matters that are referred to the Trustees Committee by the Chief Legal Officer or other counsel to the Trust pursuant to the SEC Standards of Professional Conduct for Attorneys;

 

  (11) meet no less frequently than annually with the Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust pursuant to Rule 38a-1 of the 1940 Act and consider any compliance matters referred to the Trustees Committee by the Chief Compliance Officer;

 

  (12) review and consider the appointment and compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer and any proposal to remove the Chief Compliance Officer; and

 

  (13) provide general oversight of the Funds on behalf of the Funds’ shareholders.

The Trustees Committee of the Trust met four times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. The Trustees Committee does not have a formal policy for considering nominees for the

 

29


position of Trustee recommended by the Funds’ shareholders. Nonetheless, the Trustees Committee may on an informal basis consider any investor recommendations of possible Trustees that are received.

The Trust has a standing Valuation Committee. The members of the Valuation Committee are the Treasurer and the Independent Trustees of the Trust. The Committee is responsible for performing the functions assigned to the Committee in the Pricing and Fair Valuation Procedures of the Trust. In addition, the Valuation Committee has the authority to take any other action that the Committee determines to be necessary or convenient in connection with properly determining the value of the assets of the Trust. The Valuation Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.

The following table shows the Trustees’ aggregate ownership of all of the CRM Funds as of December 31, 2007. As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

 

     Dollar Range of Securities Held in the:    Aggregate
Dollar Range
of Equity
Securities in

all of the
Funds

Name of Trustee

   Small Cap
Value
Fund
   Small/Mid
Cap Value
Fund
   Mid Cap
Value
Fund
   Large Cap
Opportunity

Fund
   All Cap
Value
Fund
   130/30
Value
Fund
  

Interested Trustee:

                 

Carlos A. Leal

   $10,001-

$50,000

   $50,001-
$100,000
   $50,001-
$100,000
   Over
$100,000
   Over
$100,000
   $10,001-$50,000    Over
$100,000

Independent Trustees:

                 

Louis Ferrante

   None    None    Over

$100,000

   $0-$10,000    None    None    Over

$100,000

Louis Klein, Jr.

   None    $50,001-
$100,000
   None    $50,001-
$100,000
   $50,001-
$100,000
   None    Over

$100,000

Clement C. Moore, II

   Over

$100,000

   None    Over

$100,000

   None    Over
$100,000
   None    Over

$100,000

As of December 31, 2007, none of the Independent Trustees (or their immediate family members) held an ownership interest in CRM or PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”) or in any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such entities.

 

30


The compensation paid to each Trustee by each Fund and the aggregate compensation paid to each Trustee by all of the CRM Funds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008 was:

 

     Aggregate Compensation from the    Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of the
Fund
Expenses
   Estimated
Annual
Benefits
Upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from the
Funds and the
Fund
Complex(4)
     Small
Cap
Value
Fund(1)
   Small/Mid
Cap
Value
Fund(1)
   Mid Cap
Value
Fund(1)
   Large Cap
Opportunity
Fund(1)
   All Cap Value
Fund(1)
   130/30
Value
Fund(1)(2)
        

Interested Trustee:

                          

Carlos Leal

     None      None      None      None      None      None    None    None      None

Independent Trustees:

                          

Louis Ferrante

   $ 5,692    $ 1,128    $ 35,173    $ 416    $ 62    $ 29    None    None    $ 42,500

Louis Klein, Jr.

   $ 5,692    $ 1,128    $ 35,173    $ 416    $ 62    $ 29    None    None    $ 42,500

Clement C. Moore, II

   $ 5,692    $ 1,128    $ 35,173    $ 416    $ 62    $ 29    None    None    $ 42,500

Chief Compliance Officer:

                          

Steven A. Yadegari(3)

   $ 9,609    $ 2,328    $ 62,163    $ 721    $ 114    $ 65    None    None    $ 75,000

 

(1)

Under a Deferred Compensation Plan adopted August 12, 2005, an Independent Trustee may elect to defer receipt of all, or a portion, of his annual compensation. Deferred amounts credited to an Independent Trustee’s deferral account are treated as though such amounts have been invested and reinvested in Institutional Shares of one or more of the Funds until such amounts are distributed in accordance with the Plan. As of June 30, 2008, the total amounts in the Independent Trustees’ deferral accounts were: Mr. Klein: $43,340.92.

(2)

The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.

(3)

Mr. Yadegari, the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, is an employee of CRM. The Funds reimburse CRM for the portion of his salary allocated to his duties as the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer at the annual rate of $75,000.

(4)

Each Independent Trustee receives aggregate annual compensation in the amount of $50,000 from the Trust, Prior to April  1, 2008, each Independent Trustee received aggregate annual compensation in the amount of $40,000.

CODE OF ETHICS

In accordance with Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, the Trust and CRM have adopted Codes of Ethics (the “Code”). The Codes are intended to prohibit or restrict transactions that may be deemed to create a conflict of interest among CRM and the Trust. Each Code identifies the specific employees, officers or other persons who are subject thereto and all are required to abide by the provisions thereunder. Persons covered under the Codes may engage in personal trading for their own accounts, including securities that may also be purchased or held or traded by the Fund under certain circumstances.

 

31


Under the Code of Ethics adopted by the Trust, personal trading is subject to specific restrictions, limitations, guidelines and other conditions. Under the individual Code of Ethics adopted by CRM, personal trading is subject to pre-clearance and other conditions set forth in its Code.

On an annual basis or whenever deemed necessary, the Board reviews reports regarding the Codes of Ethics relative to the Trust, including information about any material violations of the Codes. The Codes are publicly available as exhibits to the Trust’s registration statement filed with the SEC.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board has adopted proxy voting procedures, and thereunder delegated the responsibility for exercising the voting rights associated with the securities purchased and/or held by the Funds to CRM, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight. In exercising its voting obligations, CRM is guided by general fiduciary principles. It must act prudently, solely in the interest of the Funds, and for the purpose of providing benefits to the Funds. CRM will consider the factors that could affect the value of a Fund’s investment in its determination on a vote.

CRM has identified certain significant contributors to shareholder value with respect to a number of common or routine matters that are often the subject of proxy solicitations for shareholder meetings. CRM’s proxy voting procedures address these considerations and establish a framework for its consideration of a vote that would be appropriate for each Fund. In particular, the proxy voting procedures outline principles and factors to be considered in the exercise of voting authority for proposals addressing many common or routine matters.

Finally, CRM’s proxy voting procedures establish a protocol for voting of proxies in cases in which it may have a potential conflict of interest arising from, among other things, instances where in a company soliciting proxies is also an advisory client. In such instances, CRM will submit a separate report to the Board indicating the nature of the potential conflict of interest and how the determination of such vote was achieved. CRM’s proxy voting policies and procedures are attached herewith as Appendix B.

Each Fund’s proxy voting record as of June 30, 2008 is available: (i) without charge, upon request by calling 1-800-CRM-2883; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of December 1, 2008, all Trustees and officers as a group owned 9.14% of Investor Shares of CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund, 2.27% of Investor Shares of Small Cap Value Fund, and 20.56% of the Investor Shares of the CRM All Cap Value Fund.

As of December 1, 2008, all Trustees and officers of the Fund owned, individually and as a group, less than 1% of each class of shares of CRM Mid Cap Value Fund, Institutional Shares of CRM Small Cap Value Fund and CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund, and Advisor Shares of CRM All Cap Value Fund.

As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

 

32


Persons or organizations that own beneficially 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) a Fund. As a result, these persons or organizations could have the ability to approve or reject those matters submitted to the shareholders of such Fund for their approval. As noted below, as of December 1, 2008, CRM, the Funds’ investment adviser, owned or controlled 100% of Advisor shares of CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund, 25.97%, 17.77% and, 100%, respectively, of Investor Shares, Institutional Shares and Advisor Shares of CRM All Cap Value Fund. and 23.11% and 6.52%, respectively, of Investor Shares and Institutional Shares of CRM 130/30 Value Fund.

As of December 1, 2008, the name, address and percentage ownership of each shareholder that owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of a Fund were as follows:

 

NAME AND ADDRESS

   % OF SHARES
OWNED
    NATURE OF
OWNERSHIP

CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

- INVESTOR CLASS

    

Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   11.69 %   Record

National Financial Services Corp

Attn: Mutual Funds 5th Floor

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281-1003

   16.08 %   Record

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company

Attn: Outside Funds K14

PO BOX 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

   18.13 %   Record

CRM SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

- INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

State Street Bank & Trust

105 Rosemont Rd.

Westwood, MA 02090-2318

   6.53 %   Record

 

33


Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   13.38 %   Record

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   13.50 %   Record

The Northern Trust Co

801 South Canal Street

Chicago, IL 60607

   17.69 %   Record

CRM SMALL/MID CAP VALUE FUND

- INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

GPC Securities Inc.

P.O. Box 105117

Atlanta, GA 30348

   15.51 %   Record

The Crane Fund

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

   10.36 %   Record

Dingle & Co

P.O. Box 75000

Detroit, MIC 48201

   7.66 %   Record

The Northern Trust Co

801 South Canal Street

Chicago, IL 60607

   7.91 %   Record

Wendel & Co.

C/O The Bank of New York

Mutual Funds Reorg. Department

New York, NY 10268

   5.67 %   Record

Acument Global Technologies Inc.

840 W. Long Lake Road, Suite 450

Troy, MI 48098

   5.67 %   Record

Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   5.62 %   Record

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company

Attn: Outside Funds K14

PO BOX 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

   5.01 %   Record

 

34


CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND

- INVESTOR CLASS

    

ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company

151 Farmington Ave

Hartford, CT 06156-1506

   5.58 %   Record

Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery St

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   5.73 %   Record

LPL Financial

Attention: Mutual Fund Operations

P.O. Box 509046

San Diego, CA 92150

   6.13 %   Record

National Financial Services Corp

Attn: Mutual Funds 5th Fl

200 Liberty St

New York, NY 10281-1003

   60.85 %   Record

CRM MID CAP VALUE FUND

- INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

First Union National Bank

1525 West WT Harris Blvd

Charlotte, NC 28288-1151

   8.29 %   Record

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   9.03 %   Record

Bank One Trust

PO Box 182029

Columbus, OH 43218-2029

   9.55 %   Record

Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery St

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   15.21 %   Record

Prudential Investment Mgmt Serv.

100 Mulberry Street

3 Gateway Center 11th Fl.

Newark, NJ 07102

   14.04 %   Record

 

35


CRM LARGE CAP OPPORTUNITY FUND

- INVESTOR CLASS

    

National Financial Services Corp

Attn: Mutual Funds 5th Fl

200 Liberty St

New York, NY 10281-1003

   13.80 %   Record

Ronald H McGlynn

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   7.27 %   Beneficial

CRM LARGE CAP OPPORTUNITY FUND

- INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.

4800 Deerlake Dr. East

Jacksonville, FL 32246-6486

   35.13 %   Record

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   14.74 %   Record

Charles Schwab & Co Inc

101 Montgomery St

San Francisco, CA 94104-4122

   19.67 %   Record

Union Bank TR Nominee

PO Box 85484

San Diego, CA 92186

   14.77 %   Record

CRM LARGE CAP OPPORTUNITY FUND

- ADVISOR CLASS

    

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   100.00 %   Record

CRM ALL CAP VALUE FUND

- INVESTOR CLASS

    

Lauren B. Cramer & Douglas Cramer

c/o McLaughlin & Stern LLP.

260 Madison Ave., 18th Floor

New York, NY 10016-2404

   6.78 %   Beneficial

Ronald H McGlynn

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   13.24 %   Beneficial

 

36


Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   26.63 %   Record

National Financial Services Corp.

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281-1003

   8.93 %   Record

CRM ALL CAP VALUE FUND

-INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

Syracuse University Acct 2

Treasurer’s Office

612 Skytop Road, Suite 120

Syracuse, NY 13244-5290

   7.51 %   Record

Syracuse University Acct 1

Treasurer’s Office

612 Skytop Road, Suite 120

Syracuse, NY 13244-5290

   9.84 %   Record

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.

4800 Deerlake Dr. East

Jacksonville, FL 32246-6486

   6.21 %   Record

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022-4382

   18.23 %   Record

Dingle & Co

P.O. Box 75000

Detroit, MIC 48201

   58.19 %   Record

CRM ALL CAP VALUE FUND

-ADVISOR CLASS

    

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022-4382

   99.95 %   Record

CRM 130/30 VALUE FUND

-INVESTOR CLASS

    

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   27.31    

 

37


Wilmington Trust

P.O. Box 8882

Wilmington, DE 19899

   6.03 %   Record

Michael Mattikow

Wayne, NJ 07470

   12.95 %   Beneficial

National Financial Services Corp.

200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281-1003

   14.60 %   Record

Elissa F. Cullman

New York, NY 10022

   7.14 %   Beneficial

CRM 130/30 VALUE FUND

-INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

    

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

   74.08 %   Record

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC

520 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10022-4382

   7.82 %   Record

Ronald H McGlynn

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn LLC.

520 Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10022-4382

   7.82 %   Beneficial

 

38


INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Adviser

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM” or the “Adviser”), 520 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, serves as investment adviser to the Funds. CRM and its predecessors have managed investments in small, medium and large capitalization companies for over 30 years. CRM is 17.29% owned by Cramer, Rosenthal, McGlynn, Inc. (“CRM, Inc.”), the controlling member of CRM. The principal shareholders of CRM, Inc. are senior and former officers or directors of CRM. CRM is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. WT Investments, a subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, owns 80.99% of CRM and thus has a majority interest in CRM. Options have been granted to senior officers of CRM and key CRM individuals to purchase shares of CRM. If such options were exercised, the senior officers of CRM and key CRM individuals would own 31.65% of CRM on a fully diluted basis. Several affiliates of CRM are also engaged in the investment advisory business. Wilmington Trust FSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation, is a registered investment adviser. In addition, Wilmington Brokerage Services Company and Wilmington Trust Investment Management, subsidiaries of Wilmington Trust, are registered investment advisers and broker-dealers. Roxbury Capital Management (“Roxbury”) is a registered investment adviser. Wilmington Trust Corporation has a controlling interest in Roxbury.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, and CRM, the Small Cap Value Fund, the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, the Mid Cap Value Fund, and the Large Cap Opportunity Fund each pay a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.70% of the Fund’s next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.65% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion; and the All Cap Value Fund pays a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.95% of the Fund’s first $1 billion of average daily net assets; 0.90% of the Fund’s next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion. The 130/30 Value Fund pays a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Global Opportunity Fund pays a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s first $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion. The International Opportunity Fund pays a monthly advisory fee to CRM at the annual rate of 0.90% of the Fund’s first $2 billion of average daily net assets and 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion.

 

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CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fees through November 1, 2010 for each of the Small Cap Value Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund, the Large Cap Opportunity Fund, the All Cap Value Fund, the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund and through November 1, 2009 for the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, and assume certain expenses of each Fund to the extent that total annual operating expenses exceed 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares, 1.50% of, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, the average daily net assets of the Investor Shares, and, as applicable, 1.75% of the average daily net assets of the Advisor Shares.

CRM has a contractual obligation to waive a portion of its fee through November 1, 2010 for the 130/30 Value Fund and assume certain expenses of the Fund to the extent that total annual operating expenses, excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, brokerage commissions and interest, exceed 1.75% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares and 2.00% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Shares.

Effective March 29, 2007, CRM voluntarily agreed to cap (1) the annual expense ratio of the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund not to exceed 1.10% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares and 1.35% of the Investor Shares, and (2) the annual expense ratio of the Large Cap Opportunity Fund not to exceed 1.15% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Shares, 1.40% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Shares, and 1.65% of the average daily net assets of the Advisor Shares. The voluntary caps may be increased or terminated at any time.

Advisory Services. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, CRM agrees to: (a) direct the investments of each Fund, subject to and in accordance with such Fund’s investment objective, policies and limitations set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and this SAI; (b) purchase and sell for each Fund, securities and other investments consistent with such Fund’s objectives and policies; (c) supply office facilities, equipment and personnel necessary for servicing the investments of the Funds; (d) pay the salaries of all personnel of the Funds and CRM performing services relating to research, statistical and investment activities on behalf of the Funds; (e) make available and provide such information as the Funds and/or its administrator may reasonably request for use in the preparation of its registration statement, reports and other documents required by any applicable federal, foreign or state statutes or regulations; (f) make its officers and employees available to the Trustees and officers of the Funds for consultation and discussion regarding the management of each Fund and its investment activities. Additionally, CRM agrees to create and maintain all necessary records in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the various functions performed by it and not otherwise created and maintained by another party pursuant to a contract with a Fund. The Trust and/or CRM may at any time or times, upon approval by the Board, enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements with a sub-adviser pursuant to which the adviser delegates any or all of its duties as listed.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that CRM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with the matters to which the agreement relates, except to the extent of a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its obligations and duties under the agreement. The salaries of any officers and the Interested Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated with CRM and the salaries of all personnel of CRM performing services for each Fund relating to research, statistical and investment activities are paid by CRM.

 

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Fees.

Investment Advisory Fees: For the periods listed in the table below, the Funds paid the following fees to CRM under the Investment Advisory Agreement:

 

CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/08
   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 - 6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 5,065,758    $ 6,821,535    $ 4,583,511

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,227,335    $ 524,626    $ 362,982

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 29,876,172    $ 24,343,980    $ 12,890,902

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund*

   $ 379,692    $ 281,891    $ 22,874

CRM All Cap Value Fund**

   $ 76,399    $ 39,496      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund***

   $ 56,166      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

In connection with a reorganization that occurred on September 30, 2005, each of the Small Cap Value Fund, Small/Mid Cap Value Fund and Mid Cap Value Fund received all of the assets and liabilities of identically named corresponding series of WT Mutual Fund, a separate Delaware statutory trust (the “Predecessor Funds”). Each Predecessor Fund was advised by CRM. For the period from July 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005, the Predecessor Funds paid the following fees to CRM under prior investment advisory agreements:

 

Predecessor Fund

   Fiscal Period
from
7/1/05 – 9/30/05

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,431,111

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 71,187

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 3,322,032

Expense Reimbursements: During the past three fiscal years, CRM had contractual and voluntary obligations to waive a portion of its advisory fees attributable to the Funds and the Predecessor Funds and to assume certain expenses of such Funds. In accordance with these contractual and voluntary obligations, CRM reimbursed the following fees to the Funds and their predecessors:

 

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CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/08
   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 - 6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

     N/A    $ 17,677      N/A

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund*

   $ 86,698    $ 140,505    $ 122,249

CRM All Cap Value Fund**

   $ 198,696    $ 192,441      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund***

   $ 112,991      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

 

Predecessor Fund

   Fiscal Period
from
7/1/05 - 9/30/05

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   N/A

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   N/A

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   N/A

There is no provision in the Investment Advisory Agreement or Expense Limitation Agreement whereby CRM may recapture fees previously waived or expenses reimbursed with respect to the Funds.

Portfolio Managers

Ronald McGlynn, Chairman & CEO and Jay Abramson, President & CIO are responsible for the overall management of each Fund. The investment research team for all of the Funds consists of eighteen individuals, with an average of fourteen years investment experience. The portfolio managers who have responsibility for the day-to-day management of each Fund are set forth below.

Global Opportunity Fund. Milu E. Komer is the leader of the team responsible for the day day-to-day management of the Global Opportunity Fund.

International Opportunity Fund. Milu E. Komer is the leader of the team responsible for the day day-to-day management of the International Opportunity Fund.

Small Cap Value Fund. Kevin Chin and Michael Caputo lead the team that is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Small Cap Value Fund.

Small/Mid Cap Value Fund. Jay Abramson and Robert Rewey are the leaders of the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund.

 

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Mid Cap Value Fund. Jay Abramson and Robert Rewey are the leaders of the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the Mid Cap Value Fund.

Large Cap Opportunity Fund. Jay Abramson is the leader of the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the Large Cap Opportunity Fund.

All Cap Value Fund. Kevin Chin and Ronald McGlynn are the leaders of the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the All Cap Value Fund.

130/30 Value Fund. Jay Abramson, Robert Rewey, Kevin Chin, Ronald McGlynn, and Michael Caputo are the leaders of the team responsible for the day-to-day management of the 130/30 Value Fund.

Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers. The following tables identify, for each portfolio manager listed above as of June 30, 2008, the number of accounts (excluding the Fund which he or she manages) for which he or she has day-to-day management responsibilities, and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies and other accounts. None of these accounts are assessed a performance-based advisory fee.

 

Portfolio Manager

    

Registered Investment

Companies

    

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

    

Other Accounts

Jay Abramson      2 other registered investment companies with $620,405,182 in total assets under management      3 other pooled investment vehicles with $130,989,569 in total assets under management      134 other accounts with $3,898,292,026 in total assets under management.
Robert Rewey      2 other registered investment companies with $620,405,182 in total assets under management      None      126 other accounts with $3,750,707,451 in total assets under management
Ronald McGlynn      No other registered investment companies      None      120 other accounts with $508,158,747 in total assets under management
Kevin Chin      No other registered investment companies      None      30 other accounts with $504,851,060 in total assets under management.
Michael Caputo      No other registered investment companies      None      21 other accounts with $450,072,901 in total assets under management

 

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Milu E. Komer      No other registered investment companies      None      No other accounts

The following table identifies, for each portfolio manager listed above as of June 30, 2008, the number of registered investment companies (excluding the Fund which he manages) and other accounts for which he has day-to-day management responsibilities, which are assessed performance-based advisory fees, and the total assets in such accounts.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Registered Investment

Companies

 

Other Accounts Which Are

Assessed Performance-Based

Advisory Fees

Jay Abramson   No other registered investment companies   6 other accounts with $177,817,251 in total assets under management.
Robert Rewey   No other registered investment companies   3 other accounts with $46,827,682 in total assets under management.
Ronald McGlynn   No other registered investment companies   No accounts with assessed performance-based advisory fee.
Kevin Chin   No other registered investment companies   No accounts with assessed performance-based advisory fee.
Michael Caputo   No other registered investment companies   No accounts with assessed performance-based advisory fee.
Milu E. Komer   No other registered investment companies  

No accounts with assessed performance-based advisory fee.

Compensation of CRM Portfolio Managers. CRM’s portfolio managers are generally responsible for multiple accounts with similar investment strategies. For example, the managers of CRM’s mid cap value investment strategy are responsible for investment decisions for registered investment companies and separately-managed institutional accounts that pursue a mid cap value investment strategy. Portfolio managers are compensated on portfolio management of the aggregate group of similar accounts rather than for a specific account.

The compensation package for portfolio managers consists of several components: base pay, annual incentive and long-term incentive. The base pay program provides a level of base pay that is competitive with the marketplace and reflects a portfolio manager’s contribution to CRM’s success.

The annual incentive plan provides cash bonuses dependent on portfolio performance and individual contributions. The most significant portion of the bonus is determined based on the aggregate portfolio pre-tax performance results over one, two and three year periods relative to peer groups and benchmarks, and the remaining portion is based on certain qualitative factors discussed below.

For purposes of determining a portfolio manager’s bonus, the appropriate Fund’s benchmark is used. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the Small Cap Value Fund is the Russell 2000 Value Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the Small/Mid Cap Value Fund is the Russell 2500 Value

 

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Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the Mid Cap Value Fund is the Russell Midcap Value Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonus of the portfolio managers of the Large Cap Opportunity Fund is the Russell 1000 Value Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonus of the portfolio managers of the All Cap Value Fund is the Russell 3000 Value Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the 130/30 Value Fund is the Russell 1000 Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the Global Opportunity Fund is the MSCI World Index. The benchmark used to determine the bonuses of the portfolio managers of the International Opportunity Fund is the MSCI EAFE Index.

Bonuses for portfolio managers vary depending on the scope of accountability and experience level of the individual portfolio manager. An individual’s bonus is based upon relative performance of their assigned portfolios compared to a peer group and benchmark, and is generally geared to rewarding top quartile performance on a trailing three-year basis. Qualitative factors such as leadership, teamwork and overall contribution made during the year are also considered.

The long-term incentive plan provides an opportunity for experienced portfolio managers and other key contributors to CRM to be rewarded in the future depending on the achievement of financial goals and value creation. The plan, which is comprised of a profit-sharing component and option program, was created as a means of more closely aligning the interests of CRM professionals with those of the firm. The size of actual awards varies. The profit-sharing plan is based on the income of the firm. Option awards are comprised of member options in CRM. The value of the member options is dependent upon CRM’s underlying valuation, as well as the exercise price. Options generally vest over a three-year period.

Material Conflicts of Interest. Material conflicts of interest may arise when a Fund’s portfolio manager also has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to one or more other funds or other accounts, as is the case for the portfolio managers listed in the table above. These potential conflicts include:

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

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may need to be divided among those funds or accounts, which may limit a Fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity. To deal with these situations, CRM has adopted procedures for a trade allocation procedure for allocating limited investment opportunities across multiple funds and accounts.

Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which

 

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he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts. To help avoid these types of conflicts, CRM generally appoints separate advisory personnel to make investment decisions for long products, such as the Funds, and long/short products, such as hedge funds. In addition, each portfolio manager is subject to CRM’s Conflict of Interest Policy.

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

Variation in Compensation. A conflict of interest may arise where the management fee structure differs among funds and/or accounts, such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees. In such cases, the portfolio manager might be motivated to devote more attention to, or otherwise favor, more profitable funds and/or accounts. To help address these types of conflicts, CRM has adopted a Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Proprietary Investments. CRM and/or its affiliates may have substantial personal or proprietary investments in some of the accounts managed by a portfolio manager. A portfolio manager might be motivated to favor funds and/or accounts in which he or she, or his or her colleagues, has an interest or in which CRM and/or its affiliates have interests. However, each portfolio manager is subject to CRM’s Code of Ethics policy governing personal securities transactions in which portfolio managers engage.

Other Factors. Several other factors, including the desire to maintain or increase assets under the Adviser’s management or to enhance the portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager in affording preferential treatment to some funds and/or accounts. To help address these types of conflicts, CRM has adopted a Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Policy.

As discussed above, CRM and the Funds have adopted compliance policies and procedures that are designed to address various conflicts of interest that may arise for CRM and the individuals that it employs. However, there is no guarantee that the policies and procedures adopted by CRM and the Funds will be able to detect and/or prevent every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may appear.

 

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Portfolio Manager Security Ownership. The following table shows each portfolio manager’s ownership of securities of the Fund that he manages as of June 30, 2008.

 

Name of Portfolio

Manager

  

Fund

  

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Fund

Ronald McGlynn    Small Cap Value Fund    Over $1,000,000
   Small/Mid Cap Value Fund    Over $1,000,000
   Mid Cap Value Fund    Over $1,000,000
   Large Cap Opportunity Fund    Over $1,000,000
   All Cap Value Fund    $500,001 - $1,000,000
   130/30 Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Jay Abramson    Small Cap Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   Small/Mid Cap Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   Mid Cap Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   Large Cap Opportunity Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   All Cap Value Fund    $50,001 - $100,000
   130/30 Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
Robert “Chip”    Small/Mid Cap Value Fund    $10,001 - $50,000
Rewey, CFA    Mid Cap Value Fund    $100,001 - $500,000
   All Cap Value Fund    $50,001 - $100,000
   130/30 Value Fund    $0
Michael Caputo    Small Cap Value Fund    $0
   130/30 Value Fund    $0
Milu E. Komer    Global Opportunity Fund*    N/A*
   International Opportunity Fund*    N/A*

 

* As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and the International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Administrator and Accounting Agent

PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S) Inc., 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, (“PNC”) serves as the Funds’ administrator and accounting agent. Pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement, PNC performs certain administrative and accounting services for the Funds, such as preparing shareholder reports, providing statistical and research data, assisting CRM in compliance monitoring activities, and preparing and filing federal and state tax returns on behalf of the Funds. In addition, PNC prepares and files certain reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies and prepares certain materials required by the SEC or any state securities commission having jurisdiction over the Funds. The accounting services performed by PNC include determining the net asset value per share of each Fund and maintaining records relating to the securities transactions of the Funds. For the services it provides, the Trust pays PNC an annual fee based on the aggregate average daily net assets of all the Funds as follows:

0.020% of the first $5 billion of aggregate average net assets;

 

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0.0175% of the next $2.5 billion of aggregate average net assets;

0.0150% of the next $2.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; and

0.0125% of the aggregate average net assets in excess of $10 billion.

Prior to June 1, 2008, the Trust paid PNC an annual fee based on the value of the aggregate daily net assets of the Funds as follows:

0.050% of each series’ first $500 million of aggregate average net assets;

0.030% of each series’ next $2 billion of aggregate average net assets;

0.025% of each series’ next $2.5 billion of aggregate average net assets; and

0.020% of each series’ aggregate average net assets in excess of $5 billion.

For the periods shown in the table below, the Funds paid the following fees to PNC under the Administration and Accounting Service Agreement:

 

CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/08
   Fiscal Year
Ended 6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 - 6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 302,078    $ 364,086    $ 287,329

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 102,606    $ 58,467    $ 37,870

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,293,518    $ 1,120,888    $ 659,367

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund*

   $ 91,190    $ 85,445    $ 33,391

CRM All Cap Value Fund**

   $ 69,825    $ 51,191      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund***

   $ 25,405      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

For the period from July 1, 2005 to September 30, 2005, PNC provided Administration and Accounting services to the Predecessor Funds. The Predecessor Funds, paid the following fees to PNC for the fiscal period from July 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005:

 

Predecessor Fund

   Fiscal Period
from
7/1/05 - 9/30/05

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 139,780

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 12,854

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 274,168

Pursuant to Compliance, Support and Recordkeeping Services Agreements that were in effect from July 1, 2005 to September 30, 2005, Rodney Square Management Corporation (“RSMC”), an affiliate of the Trust, performed certain non-investment related statistical and research services, execution and administrative support services, compliance monitoring and recordkeeping services, as well as certain other coordination and fund related preparatory services for the Predecessor Funds. In consideration of the provision of these services, RSMC, received an asset based fee of 0.006% of each Predecessor Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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Custodian

PFPC Trust Company, 8800 Tinicum Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19153, (the “Custodian”) serves as the Funds’ custodian. The Custodian’s services include, in addition to the custody of all cash and securities owned by the Funds, the maintenance of custody accounts in the Custodian’s trust department, the segregation of all certificated securities owned by the Funds, the appointment of authorized agents as sub-custodians, disbursement of funds from the custody accounts of the Funds, releasing and delivering securities from the custody accounts of the Funds, maintaining records with respect to such custody accounts, delivering to the Funds a daily and monthly statement with respect to such custody accounts, and causing proxies to be executed.

Distribution Plan for Advisor Shares

The Advisor Shares of the CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund have a distribution plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Distribution Plan”). Under the Distribution Plan, each of these Funds may pay monthly fees at an annual rate not to exceed 0.50% of its average daily net assets attributable to Advisor Shares. These fees may be used to make payments to the Distributor for distribution services, to certain financial institutions such as banks or broker-dealers (“Service Organizations”) who have entered into servicing agreements with the Distributor in respect of the sale of shares of one or more of these Funds, and to other financial institutions in respect of the sale of shares of one or more of these Funds, and to make payments for advertising, marketing or other promotional activity, and payments for preparation, printing, and distribution of prospectuses, statements of additional information and reports for recipients other than regulators and existing shareholders.

Advisor Shares of CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund also may make payments to the Distributor, to Service Organizations and to other financial institutions for providing shareholder service or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. Service activities provided by service providers under this plan include (a) answering shareholder inquiries, (b) assisting in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, (c) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records, (d) assisting in processing Fund share purchase, exchange and redemption transactions, (e) arranging for the wiring of funds relating to transactions in Fund shares; (f) transmitting and receiving funds in connection with shareholder orders to purchase, exchange or redeem shares; (g) verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders, transfers among and changes in shareholder-designated accounts; (h) providing periodic statements showing a shareholder’s account balances, (i) furnishing on behalf of the Funds’ distributor periodic statements and confirmations of all purchases, exchanges, and redemptions of Fund shares, (j) transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Funds to shareholders, (k) receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Funds proxies executed by shareholders, (l) providing reports containing state-by-state listings of the principal residences of the beneficial owners of Fund shares, (m) completing all customer identification procedures in relation to the shareholders under the Funds’ anti-money laundering program, (n) providing to shareholders all privacy notices, and (o) providing other services requested by shareholders of Advisor Shares.

 

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The amounts paid to each recipient may vary based upon certain factors, including, among other things, the levels of sales of Fund shares and/or shareholder services provided, provided however, that the fees paid to a recipient with respect to Advisor Shares that may be used to cover expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of Advisor Shares, or that may be used to cover expenses primarily intended for personal service and/or maintenance of shareholder accounts, may not exceed the maximum amounts, if any, as may from time to time be permitted for such services under FINRA Conduct Rule 2830 or any successor rule, in each case as amended or interpreted by the FINRA.

The Distribution Plan permits Advisor Shares of the CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund to pay fees to the Distributor, third party providers and others as compensation for their services, not as reimbursement for specific expenses incurred. Thus, even if the expenses of the Distributor, third party providers and others exceed the fees provided for by the Distribution Plan or Distribution Agreement, the Funds will not be obligated to pay more than those fees and, if the expenses of the Distributor, third party providers and others are less than the fees paid to them, they will realize a profit. Advisor Shares of the CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund may pay the fees to the Distributor and others until the Distribution Plan or Distribution Agreement is terminated or not renewed. In that event, the Distributor’s or other recipient’s expenses in excess of fees received or accrued through the termination date will be the Distributor’s or other recipient’s sole responsibility and not obligations of the Funds.

The Distribution Plan also recognizes that various service providers to the Funds, such as the Adviser, may make payments for distribution related expenses out of their own resources, including past profits, or payments received from the Funds for other purposes, such as management fees, and that the Funds’ Distributor or third party providers may from time to time use their own resources for distribution related services, in addition to the fees paid under the Distribution Plan. Any such payments by such service providers are not deemed to be expenditures under the Distribution Plan and, accordingly, are not subject to the fee limitations set forth in the Distribution Plan. In addition, the Distribution Plan specifically provides that, to the extent that any payments made by the Funds to the Adviser or any of its affiliates might be deemed to be indirect financing of any activity primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Funds within the context of Rule 12b-1, then such payments are deemed to be authorized by the Distribution Plan but are not subject to the fee limitations set forth in such Distribution Plan.

The Distribution Plan will continue in effect if such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of both a majority of the Trustees of the Trust and a majority of the Independent Trustees and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Plan or in any agreement related to the Distribution Plan (for purposes of this paragraph “qualified Trustees”). In their annual consideration of the continuation of the Distribution Plan for the Funds, the Trustees will review the Distribution Plan and the expenses for the Advisor Shares of each Fund separately.

The Distribution Plan requires that the Funds and the Distributor provide to the Trustees, and the Trustees review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts expended (and the purposes therefor) under the Distribution Plan. The Distribution Plan further provides that the selection and nomination of the qualified Trustees is committed to the discretion of such qualified Trustees then in office. The Distribution Plan may be terminated with respect to the Advisor Shares of a Fund at any time by a vote of a majority of the qualified Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Class of the Fund. The Distribution

 

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Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the permitted expenses of the Advisor Shares thereunder without the approval of a majority of the outstanding securities of the Advisor Shares and may not be materially amended in any case without a vote of a majority of both the Trustees and qualified Trustees. The Distributor will preserve copies of any plan, agreement or report made pursuant to the Distribution Plan for a period of not less than six years, and for the first two years the Distributor will preserve such copies in an easily accessible place.

As of October 26, 2008 only CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and the CRM All Cap Value Fund offer Advisor Shares. For the period from October 24, 2006 through June 30, 2007, each of the CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund, and CRM All Cap Value Fund offered Advisor Shares. For the period from October 24, 2006 through June 30, 2007 and for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, (i) no Fund paid fees under the Distribution Plan for the Advisor Shares, and (ii) the Distributor did not incur distribution expenses under the Distribution Plan for the Advisor Shares.

Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Shares

The Board of Trustees has adopted a shareholder service plan authorizing each Fund to pay shareholder service providers an annual fee not exceeding 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets of its Investor Shares, to compensate shareholder service providers who maintain a service relationship with shareholders of the Fund’s Investor Shares. Service activities provided by service providers under this plan include (a) answering shareholder inquiries, (b) assisting in designating and changing dividend options, account designations and addresses, (c) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records, (d) assisting in processing Fund share purchase, exchange and redemption transactions, (e) arranging for the wiring of funds relating to transactions in Fund shares; (f) transmitting and receiving funds in connection with shareholder orders to purchase, exchange or redeem shares; (g) verifying and guaranteeing shareholder signatures in connection with redemption orders, transfers among and changes in shareholder-designated accounts; (h) providing periodic statements showing a shareholder’s account balances, (i) furnishing on behalf of the Funds’ distributor periodic statements and confirmations of all purchases, exchanges, and redemptions of Fund shares, (j) transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Funds to shareholders, (k) receiving, tabulating and transmitting to the Funds proxies executed by shareholders, (l) providing reports containing state-by-state listings of the principal residences of the beneficial owners of Fund shares, (m) completing all customer identification procedures in relation to the shareholders under the Funds’ anti-money laundering program, (n) providing to shareholders all privacy notices, and (o) providing other services requested by shareholders of Investor Shares. The Adviser may provide services to some holders of Investor Shares and receive the applicable shareholder service fee or may remit all or a portion of shareholder service fees to an Intermediary.

During the past three fiscal years, the Investor Shares of the CRM Small Cap Value Fund, Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, CRM Mid Cap Value Fund, CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund, CRM All Cap Value Fund, and CRM 130/30 Value Fund and the Investor Shares of the Predecessor Funds, paid the following shareholder servicing fees:

 

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CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year Ended
6/30/08
   Fiscal Year Ended
6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 -6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 495,339    $ 680,050    $ 556,819

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 174,651    $ 76,357    $ 50,434

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 4,153,726    $ 3,502,869    $ 1,659,497

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund - Investor Shares*

   $ 60,047    $ 50,909    $ 2,540

CRM All Cap Value Fund- Investor Shares**

   $ 13,006    $ 6,420      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund – Investor Shares***

   $ 3,932      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

 

Predecessor Fund

   Fiscal Period
from
7/1/05 -9/30/05

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 177,845

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 16,346

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund - Investor Shares

   $ 418,925

Sub-Transfer Agency Expenses Paid by Institutional Shares

Institutional Shares of each Fund are sold through certain Intermediaries that provide accounting, recordkeeping, and/or other services to shareholders. Such sub-transfer agency services provided by Intermediaries to shareholders of Institutional Shares of the Funds include: (a) answering shareholder inquiries, (b) establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts and records, (c) providing periodic statements showing a shareholder’s account balances, (d) furnishing on behalf of the Funds’ distributor periodic statements and confirmations of all purchases, exchanges, and redemptions of Fund shares, and (e) transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, updating prospectuses and other communications from the Funds to shareholders. The Board of Trustees has approved payment of the fees charged by these Intermediaries for providing sub-transfer agency services from the assets of the Institutional Shares of each Fund based on charges for similar services if such services were provided directly by the Funds’ transfer agent.

 

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Additional Service Providers

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) serves as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds providing services which include (1) auditing the annual financial statements for the Funds, (2) assistance and consultation in connection with SEC filings and (3) review of the annual federal income tax returns filed on behalf of the Fund. E&Y is located at Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Legal Counsel. Bingham McCutchen LLP, One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as counsel to the Funds.

Transfer Agent. PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, serves as the Transfer Agent and Dividend Paying Agent.

DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES

The Distributor is located at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. The Distributor serves as the principal underwriter of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Trust. Pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is granted the right to sell the shares of the Funds as agent for the Trust. Shares of the Funds are offered continuously.

Under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor agrees to use efforts deemed appropriate by the Distributor to solicit orders for the sale of shares of the Funds and will undertake such advertising and promotions as it believes reasonable in connection with such solicitation.

To the extent that the Distributor receives fees under the Funds’ 12b-1 Plan, the Distributor will furnish or enter into arrangements with others for the furnishing of marketing or sales services as may be required pursuant to such plan. Moreover, to the extent that the Distributor receives shareholders service fees under any shareholder services plan adopted by the Funds, the Distributor will furnish or enter into arrangements with others for the furnishing of personal or account maintenance services with respect to the relevant shareholders of a Fund as may be required pursuant to such plan.

The Distribution Agreement became effective as of June 15, 2005. The agreement may continue in effect for successive annual periods provided such continuance is approved at least annually by a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Distribution Agreement provides that the Distributor, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the agreements, will not be liable to the Funds or their shareholders for losses arising in connection with the sale of the Funds’ shares.

The Distribution Agreement terminates automatically in the event of an assignment. The agreement is also terminable without payment of any penalty with respect to the Funds (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of a 12b-1 Plan of a Fund or in such Agreement, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds) on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Distributor; or (ii) by the Distributor on sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Trust.

 

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Additional Payments

The Adviser may pay, out of its own assets, compensation to Intermediaries in connection with the sale and distribution of shares of the Funds and/or shareholder service. These payments (“Additional Payments”) would be in addition to the payments by the Funds described in this SAI for distribution, shareholder servicing, sub-transfer agent and record keeping services. These Additional Payments may take the form of “due diligence” payments for an Intermediary’s examination of the Funds and payments for providing extra employee training and information relating to the Funds; “listing” fees for the placement of the Funds on an Intermediary’s list of mutual funds available for purchase by its customers; “finders” or “referral” fees for directing investors to the Funds; “marketing support” fees for providing assistance in promoting the sale of the Funds’ shares; and payments for the sale of shares and/or the maintenance of share balances. In addition, the Adviser may make Additional Payments for subaccounting, administrative and/or shareholder processing services that are in addition to the shareholder administration, servicing and processing fees paid by the Funds. The Additional Payments made by the Adviser may be a fixed dollar amount; may be based on the number of customer accounts maintained by an Intermediary; may be based on a percentage of the value of shares sold to, or held by, customers of the Intermediary involved; or may be calculated on another basis. The Additional Payments may be different for different Intermediaries.

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

Brokerage Transactions

CRM places all portfolio transactions on behalf of each Fund, selects broker-dealers for such transactions, allocates brokerage fees in such transactions and, where applicable, negotiates commissions and spreads on transactions. Debt securities purchased and sold by the Funds are generally traded on the dealer market on a net basis (i.e., without commission) through dealers acting for their own account and not as brokers, or otherwise involve transactions directly with the issuer of the instrument. This means that a dealer (the securities firm or bank dealing with a Fund) makes a market for securities by offering to buy at one price and sell at a slightly higher price. The difference between the prices is known as a spread. When securities are purchased in underwritten offerings, they include a fixed amount of compensation to the underwriter.

 

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For the periods shown in the table below, the Funds paid the following brokerage commissions:

 

CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year Ended
6/30/08
   Fiscal Year Ended
6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 - 6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,892,616    $ 2,849,476    $ 1,663,290

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 391,544    $ 170,177    $ 147,214

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 5,468,866    $ 7,000,463    $ 5,399,809

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund*

   $ 117,473    $ 115,192    $ 22,978

CRM All Cap Value Fund**

   $ 17,881    $ 11,398      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund***

   $ 41,058      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

For the fiscal period from July 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005, the Predecessor Funds, paid the following brokerage commissions:

 

Predecessor Fund

   Fiscal Period
from
7/1/05 - 9/30/05

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 546,092

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 41,647

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,504,835

Significant changes in brokerage commissions paid by a Fund from year to year have been due to changing asset levels and/or portfolio turnover.

To the extent that a Fund effects brokerage transactions with a broker/dealer affiliated directly or indirectly with the Trust, the Adviser or the Distributor, such transactions will be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.

During each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008, June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006, the Funds and, the Predecessor Funds did not effect brokerage transactions with an affiliated person.

Brokerage Selection

The primary objective of CRM in placing orders on behalf of the Funds for the purchase and sale of securities is to obtain best execution at the most favorable prices through responsible brokers or dealers and, where the spread or commission rates are negotiable, at competitive rates. In selecting and monitoring a broker or dealer, CRM considers, among other things: (i) the price of the securities to be purchased or sold; (ii) the rate of the spread or commission;

 

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(iii) the size and difficulty of the order; (iv) the nature and character of the spread or commission for the securities to be purchased or sold; (v) the reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and operational capability of the broker or dealer; and (vi) the quality of any research or statistical services provided by the broker or dealer to the Funds or to CRM.

Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provides that an investment adviser, under certain circumstances, lawfully may cause an account to pay a higher commission than the lowest available. Under Section 28(e), an investment adviser is required to make a good faith determination that the commissions paid are “reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or the investment adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to accounts as to which it exercises investment discretion.” The services provided by the broker also must lawfully or appropriately assist the investment adviser in the performance of its investment decision-making responsibilities. Accordingly, in recognition of research services provided to it, a Fund may pay a higher broker commission than those available from another broker. Research services received from broker-dealers supplement an adviser’s own research (and the research of its affiliates), and may include the following types of information: statistical and background information on the U.S. and foreign economies, industry groups and individual companies; forecasts and interpretations with respect to the U.S. and foreign economies, securities, markets, specific industry groups and individual companies; information on federal, state, local and foreign political developments; portfolio management strategies; performance information on securities, indexes and investment accounts; and information concerning prices of securities.

Broker-dealers may communicate such information electronically, orally, in written form or on computer software. Research or brokerage services may also include the providing of electronic communications of trade information, the providing of custody services, as well as the providing of equipment used to communicate research information and the providing of specialized consultations with an investment adviser’s personnel with respect to computerized systems and data furnished to the investment adviser as a component of other research services, the arranging of meetings with management of companies, and the providing of access to consultants who supply research information. The outside research assistance is useful to an adviser since the broker-dealers used by the advisers tend to follow a broad universe of securities and the research provided by such broker-dealers may provide an adviser with a diverse perspective on financial markets. Research services provided to an adviser by broker-dealers are available for the benefit of all accounts managed or advised by such investment adviser or by its affiliates. An investment adviser cannot readily determine the extent to which spreads or commission rates or net prices charged by brokers or dealers reflect the value of their research, analysis, advice and similar services.

 

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For the periods shown in the table below, the Funds paid brokerage commissions because of research services provided in the following amounts:

 

CRM Fund

   Fiscal Year End
6/30/08
   Fiscal Year End
6/30/07
   Fiscal Period from
10/1/05 - 6/30/06

CRM Global Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM International Opportunity Fund****

     N/A      N/A      N/A

CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 266,370.00    $ 229,218.00    $ 150,758.20

CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 69,444.00    $ 23,152.00    $ 14,804.00

CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 1,159,810.00    $ 1,036,489.00    $ 568,170.20

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund*

   $ 20,243.00    $ 17,309.00    $ 2,028.00

CRM All Cap Value Fund**

   $ 2,873.00    $ 1,981.00      N/A

CRM 130/30 Value Fund***

   $ 2,824.00      N/A      N/A

 

* The Large Cap Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 1, 2005.
** The All Cap Value Fund commenced operations on October 24, 2006.
*** The 130/30 Value Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2007.
**** As of the date of this SAI, the Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund have not commenced operations.

During the fiscal period from July 1, 2005 through September 30, 2005, the Predecessor Funds paid brokerage commissions because of research services provided in the following amounts:

 

     Fiscal Period
from

7/1/05 - 9/30/05

Predecessor Fund

   Commissions Paid

Predecessor CRM Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 13,292.16

Predecessor CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 6,039.40

Predecessor CRM Mid Cap Value Fund

   $ 157,209.06

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, the Funds purchased securities issued by the following regular broker-dealers of the Funds, which had the following values as of June 30, 2008:

 

CRM Fund

  

Shares

   Market Value

CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund

   24,900 of JP Morgan Chase    $ 854,319

CRM 130/30 Value Fund

   5,650 of JP Morgan Chase    $ 193,852

Allocation of Portfolio Transactions

CRM’s other clients generally have investment objectives and programs similar to that of the Funds. CRM expects to make purchases or sales of securities on behalf of such clients that are substantially similar to those made by CRM on behalf of the Funds. Consequently, the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold may increase, and this could have an adverse effect on the price of those securities. It is the policy of CRM not to favor one client over another in making recommendations or in placing orders. In the event of a

 

57


simultaneous transaction, purchases or sales are averaged as to price, transaction costs are allocated between a Fund and other clients participating in the transaction on a pro-rata basis and purchases and sales are normally allocated between the Funds and the other clients as to amount according to a formula determined prior to the execution of such transactions.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES, VOTING RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES

The Trust issues two separate classes of shares, Institutional Shares and Investor Shares, for the CRM Global Opportunity Fund, CRM International Opportunity Fund, CRM Small Cap Value Fund, CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, CRM Mid Cap Value Fund and CRM 130/30 Value Fund. The Trust issues three separate classes of shares, Institutional Shares, Investor Shares and Advisor Shares, for the CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund. The shares of each Fund, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares, with equal voting rights and no preferences as to conversion, exchange, dividends, redemption or any other feature.

The separate classes of shares each represent interests in the same portfolio of investments, have the same rights and are identical in all respects, except that (a) the Investor Shares pay shareholder service fees not to exceed 0.25% of the average net assets of the Investor Shares of each Fund and (b) the Advisor Shares pay 12b-1 distribution fees not to exceed 0.50% of the average net assets of the Advisor Shares of the CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund (and have exclusive voting rights with respect to the Rule 12b-1 Plan pursuant to which the distribution fees may be paid). The net income attributable to Investor or Advisor Shares and the dividends payable on such shares will be reduced by the amount of any shareholder service or Rule 12b-1 distribution fees, respectively. Accordingly, the net asset value of the Investor Shares and Advisor Shares will be reduced by such amount to the extent a Fund has undistributed net income.

Shares of a Fund entitle holders to one vote per share and fractional votes for fractional shares held. Shares have non-cumulative voting rights, do not have preemptive or subscription rights and are transferable. Each Fund and class take separate votes on matters affecting only that Fund or class. For example, a change in the fundamental investment policies for a Fund would be voted upon only by shareholders of that Fund and not by shareholders of other Funds. The Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders. The Trustees are required to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any Trustee when requested in writing to do so by the shareholders of record owning not less than 10% of a Fund’s outstanding shares. Except when a larger quorum is required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, forty percent (40%) of the Shares entitled to vote on a matter shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Shareholders. Generally, subject to the 1940 Act and the specific provisions of the Declaration of Trust, when a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of the shares voted shall decide any questions, except only a plurality vote shall be necessary to elect Trustees.

The Funds may involuntarily redeem a shareholder’s shares: (a) if at such time such shareholder owns shares of any Fund having an aggregate net asset value of less than a minimum value determined from time to time by the Trustees; (b) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares of a Fund equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage of the outstanding shares of such Fund determined from time to time by the Trustees; or (c) to the extent that such shareholder owns shares equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage, determined from time to time by the Trustees, of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Trustees have no current intention to involuntarily redeem a shareholder’s shares merely for

 

58


exceeding a maximum percentage of the outstanding shares of a Fund or of the Trust. In addition, the Trust may call for the redemption of shares of any shareholder or may refuse to transfer or issue shares to any person to the extent that the same is necessary to comply with applicable law or advisable to further the purpose for which the Trust was established, including circumstances involving frequent or excessive trading in shares of a Fund or potential money laundering, ERISA issues, or transactions that could jeopardize the tax status of a Fund or of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust also provides that if an officer or agent of the Trust has determined that a shareholder has engaged in frequent and excessive trading in shares of a Fund, the Trust may require such shareholder to redeem their shares.

The Trust may cause, to the extent consistent with applicable law, (a) the Trust or one or more of its Funds to the extent consistent with applicable law to be merged into or consolidated with another trust, series of another trust or other person, (b) the shares of the Trust or any Fund to be converted into beneficial interests in another trust or series thereof, (c) the shares to be exchanged for assets or property under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law or (d) a sale of assets of the Trust or one or more of its Funds. Such merger or consolidation, share conversion, share exchange or sale of assets must be authorized by a majority of the shares voted when a quorum is present (i.e., the presence of forty percent (40%) of the Shares entitled to vote on a matter), provided that in all respects not governed by statute or applicable law, the Trustees have power to prescribe the procedure necessary or appropriate to accomplish a merger or consolidation, share conversion, share exchange, or sale of assets, including the power to create one or more separate trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the conversion of shares of the Trust or any Fund into beneficial interests in such separate business trust or trusts or series thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may, without the vote or consent of shareholders, cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction, or any other trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or other organization, or any series or class of any thereof, to acquire all or a portion of the Trust property (or all or a portion of the Trust property held with respect to a particular Fund or allocable to a particular class) or to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have any interest (any of the foregoing, a “Successor Entity”), and to sell, convey and transfer such Trust property to any such Successor Entity in exchange for the shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such Successor Entity in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. The Trustees may also, without the vote or consent of Shareholders, cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust and any Successor Entity if and to the extent permitted by law. However, the Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees shall provide written notice to affected shareholders of each such transaction. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sales of assets, in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that no shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim in the right of the Trust or any Fund or class thereof to recover a judgment in its favor unless (a) Shareholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, Fund or Class, as applicable, join in the bringing of such court action, proceeding or claim, and (b) the bringing or maintenance of such court action, proceeding or claim is otherwise in accordance with Section 3816 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq., as amended.

 

59


The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that by virtue of becoming a shareholder of the Fund, each shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust, the By-Laws of the Trust and the resolutions of the Board of Trustees.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that the Trust will indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust and each former Trustee and officer of the Trust (each hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Person’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise relating to any act, omission, or obligation of the Trust, unless, as to liability to the Trust or its investors, it is finally adjudicated that they engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in their offices, or unless with respect to any other matter it is finally adjudicated that they did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. In the case of settlement, such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been determined by a court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition, or by a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial type inquiry), by vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees of the Trust, or in a written opinion of independent counsel, that such officers or Trustees have not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties. Rights to indemnification or insurance cannot be limited retroactively.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust further provides that (i) the appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as chairperson of the Board of Trustees or a member or chairperson of a committee of the Trustees, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead Independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that individual any duty, obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification (except with respect to duties expressly imposed pursuant to the by-laws of the Trust, a committee charter or a Trust policy statement), (ii) no Trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof and (iii) no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee shall effect in any way that Trustee’s rights to indemnification.

PURCHASE, REDEMPTION AND PRICING OF SHARES

Purchase of Shares

Information regarding the purchase of shares is discussed in the “Purchase of Shares” section of each Fund’s Prospectus. Additional methods to purchase shares are as follows:

Individual Retirement Accounts. You may purchase shares of the Funds for a tax-deferred retirement plan such as an individual retirement account (“IRA”). To order an application for an IRA and a brochure describing a Fund IRA, call the transfer agent at

1-800-CRM-2883. PFPC Trust Company, as custodian for each IRA account, receives an annual fee of $10 per account, paid directly to PFPC Trust Company by the IRA shareholder. If the fee is not paid by the due date, the appropriate number of Fund shares owned by the IRA will be redeemed automatically as payment.

 

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Automatic Investment Plan. You may purchase Fund shares through an Automatic Investment Plan (“AIP”). Under the AIP, the transfer agent, at regular intervals, will automatically debit your bank checking account in an amount of $50 or more (after the $1,000 minimum initial investment). You may elect to invest the specified amount monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. The purchase of Fund shares will be effected at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on or about the 20th day of the month. For an application for the Automatic Investment Plan, check the appropriate box of the application or call the transfer agent at 1-800-CRM-2883. (Available only to Investor Shares of the Funds).

Payroll Investment Plan. The Payroll Investment Plan (“PIP”) permits you to make regularly scheduled purchases of Fund shares through payroll deductions. To open a PIP account, you must submit a completed account application, payroll deduction form and the minimum initial deposit to your employer’s payroll department. Then, a portion of your paychecks will be automatically transferred to your PIP account for as long as you wish to participate in the plan. It is the sole responsibility of your employer, not the Fund, the Distributor, CRM or the transfer agent, to arrange for transactions under the PIP. A Fund reserves the right to vary its minimum purchase requirements for employees participating in a PIP. (Available only to Investor Shares of the Funds).

Redemption of Shares

Information regarding the redemption of shares is discussed in the “Redemption of Shares” section of the Prospectus. Additional methods to redeem shares are as follows:

By Wire. Redemption proceeds may be wired to your pre-designated bank account in any commercial bank in the United States if the amount is $1,000 or more. The receiving bank may charge a fee for this service. Proceeds may also be mailed to your bank or, for amounts of $10,000 or less, mailed to your Fund account address of record if the address has been established for at least 60 days. In order to authorize the transfer agent to mail redemption proceeds to your Fund account address of record, complete the appropriate section of the Application for Telephone Redemptions or include your Fund account address of record when you submit written instructions. You may change the bank account that you have designated to receive amounts redeemed at any time. Any request to change the bank account designated to receive redemption proceeds should be accompanied by a guarantee of the shareholder’s signature by an eligible institution. A signature and a signature guarantee are required for each person in whose name the bank account is registered. Further documentation will be required to change the designated bank account when a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor holds a Fund’s shares.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan. If you own shares of a Fund with a value of $10,000 or more you may participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”). Under the SWP, you may automatically redeem a portion of your account monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. The minimum withdrawal available is $100. The redemption of Fund shares will be effected at the NAV determined on or about the 25th day of the month. (Available only to Investor Shares of the Funds.)

Additional Information Regarding Redemptions. To ensure proper authorization before redeeming shares of the Funds, the transfer agent may require additional documents such as, but not restricted to, stock powers, trust instruments, death certificates, appointments as fiduciary, certificates of corporate authority and waivers of tax required in some states when settling estates.

 

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Clients of Service Organizations who have purchased shares through their accounts with those Service Organizations should contact the Service Organization prior to submitting a redemption request to ensure that all necessary documents accompany the request. When shares are held in the name of a corporation, other organization, trust, fiduciary or other institutional investor, the transfer agent requires, in addition to the stock power, certified evidence of authority to sign the necessary instruments of transfer. These procedures are for the protection of shareholders and should be followed to ensure prompt payment. Redemption requests must not be conditional as to date or price of the redemption. Proceeds of a redemption will be sent within 7 days of acceptance of shares tendered for redemption. Delay may result if the purchase check has not yet cleared, but the delay will be no longer than required to verify that the purchase check has cleared, and the Funds will act as quickly as possible to minimize delay.

The value of shares redeemed may be more or less than the shareholder’s cost, depending on the net asset value at the time of redemption. Redemption of shares may result in tax consequences (gain or loss) to the shareholder, and the proceeds of a redemption may be subject to backup withholding.

A shareholder’s right to redeem shares and to receive payment therefore may be suspended when (a) the Exchange is closed, other than for customary weekend and holiday closings, (b) trading on the Exchange is restricted, (c) an emergency exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable to dispose of a Fund’s securities or to determine the value of a Fund’s net assets, or (d) ordered by a governmental body having jurisdiction over a Fund for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders, provided that applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (or any succeeding governmental authority) shall govern as to whether a condition described in (b), (c) or (d) exists. In case of such suspension, shareholders of the affected Fund may withdraw their requests for redemption or may receive payment based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after the suspension is lifted.

Each Fund reserves the right, if conditions exist which make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption by making payment in whole or in part with readily marketable securities (redemption “in-kind”) chosen by the Fund and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing the net asset value of the applicable Fund. If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities into cash. Each Fund has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, as a result of which a Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of the applicable Fund during any 90-day period for any one shareholder. This election is irrevocable unless the SEC permits its withdrawal.

Pricing of Shares

The NAV of each class of each Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), on each business day (i.e., a day that the Exchange and the Funds’ transfer agent are open for business) (a “Business Day”). The price at which a purchase, redemption or exchange request is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the request is received in good order by an authorized broker or financial institution or the Funds’ transfer agent. The NAV for each class of a Fund is calculated by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund attributable to the class, deducting the liabilities attributable to the class and dividing the balance by the number of outstanding class shares in that Fund. NAV will not be determined on days that are not Business Days.

 

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In valuing a Fund’s assets, a security listed on the Exchange (and not subject to restrictions against sale by the Fund on the Exchange) will be valued at its last sale price on the Exchange on the day the security is valued. Lacking any sales on such day, the security will be valued at the mean between the closing asked price and the closing bid price. Securities listed on other exchanges (and not subject to restriction against sale by the Fund on such exchanges) will be similarly valued, using quotations on the exchange on which the security is traded most extensively. Independent brokers or quotation services provide prices or foreign securities in their local currency. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the bid prices of such currencies against U.S. dollars last quoted by a major bank. Unlisted securities that are quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market, for which there have been sales of such securities on such day, shall be valued at the last sale price reported on such system on the day the security is valued. If there are no such sales on such day, the value shall be the mean between the closing asked price and the closing bid price. The value of such securities quoted on the Stock Market System, but not listed on the National Market System, shall be valued at the mean between the closing asked price and the closing bid price. Unlisted securities that are not quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market and for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available will be valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices for such security in the over-the-counter market. Futures contracts and options are valued on the basis of market quotations, if available. If applicable, any changes in the value of forward contracts due to exchange rate fluctuations and days to maturity are included in the calculation of the NAV. Other unlisted securities (and listed securities subject to restriction on sale) will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith under the direction of the Board of Trustees although the actual calculation may be done by others. Short-term investments with remaining maturities of less than 61 days are valued at amortized cost. Please see the Funds’ prospectuses for additional information regarding the procedure used by the Funds’ in valuing their assets.

DIVIDENDS

Dividends, if any, from the Funds’ net investment income and distributions of net short-term capital gain and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over the short-term capital loss), realized by each Fund, after deducting any available capital loss carryovers are declared and paid to its shareholders annually.

TAXATION OF THE FUNDS

General

Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. Each Fund has elected (or will elect for its first taxable year) and intends to qualify each year to be classified under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), as a “regulated investment company” (“RIC”). To qualify for treatment as a RIC under the Code, a Fund must distribute to its shareholders for each taxable year at least the sum of (i) 90% of its investment company taxable income computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction (consisting generally of dividends interest, the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses and net gains from certain foreign currency transactions) and (ii) 90% of its net income from tax-exempt obligations (the “Distribution Requirement”) as well as meet several additional requirements. These requirements include, among others, the following: (1) each Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to,

 

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gains from options) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from any interest in certain qualified publicly traded partnerships; (2) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with these other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of each Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of such issuer’s outstanding voting securities; and (3) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its total assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S. Government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer, in securities (other than securities of the RICs) of any two or more issuers that a Fund controls and which are determined to be in the same trade or business or similar or related trades or businesses, or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

To the extent a Fund qualifies for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on ordinary income and net capital gains paid to shareholders in the form of dividends or capital gain distributions. However, each Fund generally will be subject to federal corporate income tax (currently at a maximum rate of 35%) on any undistributed income, including “undistributed net capital gain” (i.e., the amount of its net capital gain over the amount of capital gain dividends), and to alternative minimum tax (currently at a maximum rate of 20% for corporations such as the Funds) on alternative minimum taxable income.

If a Fund failed to qualify for treatment as a RIC in any taxable year, it would be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at corporate income tax rates without reduction for distributions paid to shareholders, and all distributions from its current or accumulated earnings and profits, including any distributions from net capital gain, would be taxable to its shareholders as dividend income.

Each Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year at least the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for that year and (ii) its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that year, subject to an increase for a shortfall in the prior year’s distribution.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss for any year to offset its capital gains, if any, for up to eight years following the year of the loss. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they would not result in the U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as such to shareholders. The Funds may not carry forward any losses other than capital losses.

Except as discussed below, distributions from a Fund (whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund) will generally be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent derived from the Fund’s investment income and net short-term capital gains. The character of distributions of capital gains is determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced – in general, to 15%, with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets – for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011. Other distributions are generally taxable as ordinary income, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional funds.

 

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Each Fund may designate amounts retained as undistributed net capital gain in a notice to its shareholders. If a Fund makes such a designation, the Fund’s shareholders (1) will be required to include in income for United States federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their proportionate shares of the undistributed amount so designated, (2) will be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the income tax paid by the Fund on that undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities and to claim refunds to the extent such credits exceed their liabilities and (3) will be entitled to increase their tax basis, for federal income tax purposes, in their shares by an amount equal to the excess of the amount of undistributed net capital gain included in the shareholder’s income over the income tax credit.

For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011, “qualified dividend income” received by a shareholder taxed as an individual will be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. Qualified dividend income generally means dividend income received (1) from a domestic corporation or (2) from a “qualified foreign corporation”. A “qualified foreign corporation is a corporation that is either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for benefits under certain U.S. tax treaties and that meets certain additional requirements. Certain dividends received from foreign corporations not otherwise treated as qualified foreign corporations will be treated as received from a qualified foreign corporation if they are paid on stock of certain foreign corporations that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. If 95% or more of a Fund’s gross income, calculated without taking into account net capital gains, consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may designate all distributions of income (other than those designated as capital gain dividends) as qualified dividend income.

Shareholders receiving a distribution in the form of additional shares will be treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of cash that would have been received had they elected to receive cash and will have a tax basis in each share received equal to such amount divided by the number of shares received.

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

Dividends and other distributions declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a date in one of those months will be deemed to have been paid by the Fund and received by the shareholders on December 31 of that year if they are paid by the Fund during the following January. In addition, certain other distributions made after the close of a taxable year of a Fund may be “spilled back” and treated for certain purposes as paid by the Fund during such taxable year. In such case, shareholders generally will be treated as having received such dividends in the taxable year in which the distributions were actually made. For purposes of calculating the amount of a RIC’s undistributed income and gain subject to the Excise Tax described above, such “spilled back” dividends are treated as paid by the regulated investment company when they are actually paid.

If an investor purchases Fund shares shortly before the record date for any dividend or capital gain distribution, the investor will pay full price for the shares and will effectively receive some portion of the price back as a taxable distribution.

Upon a sale, exchange (whether or not for shares of another Fund) or redemption of a shareholder’s shares, the shareholder will realize taxable gain or loss depending upon such shareholder’s basis in the

 

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shares. The gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss if held for one year or less. Any loss realized on a sale or redemption of shares will be disallowed as a loss from a “wash sale” to the extent shares of the Fund are purchased within a period of 61 days, beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are sold or redeemed. Any loss realized by a shareholder on the redemption or sale of shares held by the shareholder for six months or less will be treated as a long-term, instead of a short-term, capital loss to the extent of any amounts traded as distributions of long-term capital gain to that shareholder with respect to those shares (including any amounts credited to the shareholder as undistributed capital gain). Capital losses are deductible only against capital gains except in the case of individual shareholders, who may generally deduct up to $3,000 per year of capital losses against any income.

It is anticipated that all or a portion of the dividends from the net investment income of each Fund will qualify for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations. Corporate shareholders of a Fund are generally entitled to take the dividends-received deduction with respect to all or a portion of the ordinary income dividends paid, to the extent of a Fund’s qualifying dividend income. The qualifying portion may not exceed the aggregate dividends received by a Fund from taxable U.S. corporations. However, dividends received by a corporate shareholder and deducted by it pursuant to the dividends-received deduction are subject indirectly to the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). Moreover, the dividends-received deduction will be reduced to the extent the shares with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed and will be eliminated if certain holding period requirements with respect to those shares are not met. Distributions of net short-term capital gain and net capital gain are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

Not later than 60 days after the close of its taxable year, each Fund will provide its shareholders with a written notice setting forth the federal tax status of Fund distributions made during that taxable year, including, without limitation, the portions of Fund distributions that are treated as ordinary dividends, qualified dividend income, capital gain dividends, and returns of capital, and the amount of dividends qualifying for the dividends-received deduction.

Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder, or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, in any single taxable year (or of certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Shareholders who own portfolio securities directly are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement but, under current guidance, shareholders of regulated investment companies are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether or not the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Shareholders that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, such as retirement plans that are qualified under Section 401 of the Code, generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on fund dividends or distributions, or on sales or exchanges of fund shares unless the fund shares are “debt-financed property” within the meaning of the Code. However, in the case of fund shares held through a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, fund dividends and distributions received by the plan and sales and exchanges of fund shares by the plan generally are taxable to the employer sponsoring such plan in accordance with the U.S. federal income tax laws that are generally applicable to shareholders receiving such dividends or distributions from regulated investment companies such as the fund.

A plan participant whose retirement plan invests in the fund, whether such plan is qualified or not, generally is not taxed on fund dividends or distributions received by the plan or on sales or exchanges of

 

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fund shares by the plan for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, distributions to plan participants from a retirement plan account generally are taxable as ordinary income, and different tax treatment, including penalties on certain excess contributions and deferrals, certain pre-retirement and post-retirement distributions and certain prohibited transactions, is accorded to accounts maintained as qualified retirement plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers for more information.

Foreign Securities

Dividends and interest received, and gains realized, by a Fund with respect to investments in foreign securities may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries or U.S. possessions (collectively, “foreign taxes”) that would reduce the Fund’s effective return from those securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate foreign taxes, however, and many foreign countries do not impose taxes on capital gains in respect of investments by foreign investors. It is impossible to determine a Fund’s rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Fund’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known.

If a Fund holds more than 50% of its assets in foreign stock and securities at the close of its taxable year, it may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders foreign income taxes paid by it. If the Fund so elects, shareholders will be required to include their pro rata portions of the foreign income taxes paid by the Fund in their gross incomes for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders who itemize deductions would then be allowed to claim a deduction or credit (but not both) on their federal income tax returns for such amounts, subject to certain limitations. Shareholders who do not itemize deductions would (subject to such limitations) be able to claim a credit but not a deduction. No deduction will be permitted to individuals in computing their alternative minimum tax liability. If the Fund is not eligible, or does not elect, to “pass through” to its shareholders foreign income taxes it has paid, shareholders will not be able to claim any deduction or credit for any part of the foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

Each Fund may invest in the stock of passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). A PFIC is a foreign corporation — other than a “controlled foreign corporation” (i.e., a foreign corporation in which, on any day during its taxable year, more than 50% of the total voting power of all voting stock therein or the total value of all stock therein is owned, directly, indirectly, or constructively, by “U.S. shareholders,” defined as U.S. persons that individually own, directly, indirectly, or constructively, at least 10% of that voting power) as to which a Fund is a U.S. shareholder — that, in general, meets either of the following tests: (a) at least 75% of its gross income is passive or (b) an average of at least 50% of its assets produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. If a Fund acquires stock in a PFIC and holds the stock beyond the end of the year of acquisition, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax on a portion of any “excess distribution” received on the stock or of any gain from disposition of the stock (collectively, “PFIC income”), plus interest thereon, even if the Fund distributes the PFIC income as a taxable dividend to its shareholders. A Fund would not be able to pass through to its shareholders a credit or deduction for such tax. In general, an excess distribution is the excess (if any) of (i) the amount of distributions received by a PFIC stockholder during the taxable year over (ii) 125% of the average amount received during the preceding three years (or, if shorter, the holding period). The balance of the PFIC income will be included in the Fund’s investment company taxable income and, accordingly, will not be taxable to it to the extent that income is timely distributed to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on a Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.

If a Fund invests in a PFIC and elects to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), then in lieu of the foregoing tax and interest obligation, the Fund will be required to include in income each year its pro rata share of the QEF’s annual ordinary earnings and net capital gain, even if they are not distributed to the Fund by the QEF. In order to distribute this income and avoid a tax on the Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate investments that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in

 

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additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. In order for a Fund to make a QEF election with respect to a PFIC, the PFIC would have to agree to provide certain tax information to the Fund on an annual basis. Since a PFIC in which a Fund invests might not provide such tax information, a Fund may not be able to elect to treat that PFIC as a QEF.

Each Fund may elect to “mark-to-market” its stock in any PFIC. “Marking to market,” in this context, means including in ordinary income each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the stock over a Fund’s adjusted basis therein as of the end of each year. Pursuant to the election, a Fund also will be allowed to deduct (as an ordinary, not capital, loss) the excess, if any, of its adjusted basis in PFIC stock over the fair market value thereof as of the taxable year-end, but only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains with respect to that stock included in income by the Fund for prior taxable years. A Fund’s adjusted basis in each PFIC’s stock subject to the election will be adjusted to reflect the amounts of income included and deductions taken thereunder. Under the PFIC rules, mark-to-market gains are treated as dividend income in the hands of a Fund. In order to distribute this income and avoid a tax on a Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate investments that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund. If the Fund makes a “mark to market” election with respect to its stock in a PFIC, any gain recognized upon a taxable disposition of a share of such PFIC will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on such a taxable disposition will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the “mark to market” election.

Derivatives

The use of hedging strategies, such as writing (selling) and purchasing options, involves complex rules that will determine for federal income tax purposes the amount, character and timing of recognition of the gains and losses a Fund realizes in connection therewith. Gains from options derived by a Fund with respect to its business of investing in securities qualify as permissible income under the source of income requirement. The complex tax rules affecting hedging strategies may affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. In order to distribute the income from such transactions and avoid a tax on a Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate investments that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund.

Short Sales

Gain or loss from a short sale of property is generally considered as capital gain or loss to the extent the property used to close the short sale constitutes a capital asset in a Fund’s hands. Except in certain situations, special rules would generally treat the gains on short sales as short-term capital gains and would terminate the running of the holding period of “substantially identical property” held by a Fund. Moreover, a loss on a short sale will be treated as a long-term loss if, on the date of the short sale, “substantially identical property” held by a Fund has a long-term holding period. In general, a Fund will not be permitted to deduct payments made to reimburse the lender of securities for dividends paid on borrowed stock if a short sale is closed on or before the 45th day after the date on which the Fund entered into the short sale (subject to extensions in certain circumstances).

Straddles

Code Section 1092 (dealing with straddles) also may affect the taxation of options in which a Fund may invest. Section 1092 defines a “straddle” as offsetting positions with respect to personal property; for these purposes, options are personal property. Under Section 1092, any loss from the disposition of a position in a straddle generally may be deducted only to the extent the loss exceeds the unrealized gain on the offsetting position(s) of the straddle. Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 1092 also

 

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provide certain “wash sale” rules (described above), which apply to transactions where a position is sold at a loss and a new offsetting position is acquired within a prescribed period, and “short sale” rules applicable to straddles, which would defer the loss. If a Fund makes certain elections, the amount, character and timing of the recognition of gains and losses from the affected straddle positions would be determined under rules that vary according to the elections made. In order to distribute the income from such transactions and avoid a tax on a Fund, the Fund may be required to liquidate investments that it might otherwise have continued to hold, potentially resulting in additional taxable gain or loss to the Fund.

Constructive Sale

If a Fund has an “appreciated financial position” — generally, an interest (including an interest through an option) with respect to any stock, debt instrument (other than “straight debt”) or partnership interest the fair market value of which exceeds its adjusted basis — and enters into a “constructive sale” of the same or substantially similar property, a Fund will be treated as having made an actual sale thereof, with the result that gain will be recognized at that time. A constructive sale generally consists of a short sale of, an offsetting notional principal contract entered into by a Fund or a related person with respect to, or a futures or forward contract (as defined in the Code) to deliver, the same or substantially similar property. In addition, if the appreciated financial position is itself a short sale or such a contract, acquisition of the underlying property or substantially similar property will be deemed a constructive sale.

U.S. Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders

Dividends and certain other payments (but not including distributions of net capital gains) to persons who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States or U.S. entities (“Non-U.S. Persons”) are generally subject to U.S. tax withholding at the rate of 30%. Each Fund intends to withhold at that rate on taxable dividends and other payments to Non-U.S. Persons that are subject to such withholding. A Fund may withhold at a lower rate permitted by an applicable treaty if the shareholder provides the documentation required by the Fund. For Fund taxable years beginning before 2010, the 30% withholding tax will not apply to dividends that a Fund designates as (a) interest-related dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified net interest income,” or (b) short-term capital gain dividends, to the extent such dividends are derived from a Fund’s “qualified short-term gain.” “Qualified net interest income” is a Fund’s net income derived U.S.-source interest and original issue discount, subject to certain exceptions and limitations. “Qualified short-term gain” generally means the excess of the net short-term capital gain of a Fund for the taxable year over its net long-term capital loss, if any.

Backup Withholding

Each Fund is also required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding at a current rate of 28% on taxable dividends, including capital gain dividends, redemption proceeds, and certain other payments that are paid to any non-corporate shareholder who does not furnish to the Fund certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rate will increase to 31% for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. Backup withholding will not, however, be applied to payments that have been subject to the 30% withholding tax on shareholders who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States.

The foregoing discussion is a general summary of some of the important U.S. federal income tax consequences affecting each Fund and its shareholders. The discussion is included for general informational purposes only.

 

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You should consult your own independent tax advisor and seek advice based on your particular circumstances as to the specific consequences under federal tax law, and under other tax laws, such as foreign, state or local tax laws, of an investment in a Fund, which are not addressed here.

This summary does not address any potential foreign, state, local or non-income tax consequences of an investment in a Fund. Shareholders may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Fund in addition to federal income tax.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited financial statements of the Small Cap Value Fund, Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, Mid Cap Value Fund, Large Cap Opportunity Fund, All Cap Value Fund and 130/30 Value Fund (Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2008, Statement of Operations for the year ended June 30, 2008, Statement of Changes in Net Assets for each of the years in the two year period ended June 30, 2008, Financial Highlights for each of the years in the five year period ended June 30, 2008 during which a fund was operational, and Notes to Financial Statements, along with the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm) which are included in the Funds’ Annual Report to shareholders, are incorporated by reference into this Statement of Additional Information (filed on September 5, 2008, Accession Number 0001193125-08-191202). As of the date of this SAI, Global Opportunity Fund and International Opportunity Fund are newly-offered, and therefore have not yet issued financial statements.

 

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Appendix A

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) and Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. A description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch to the securities in which the Funds may invest is discussed below. These ratings represent the opinions of these rating services as to the quality of the securities that they undertake to rate. It should be emphasized, however, that ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality. CRM attempts to discern variations in credit rankings of the rating services and to anticipate changes in credit ranking. However, subsequent to purchase by the Funds, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum rating required for purchase by the Funds. In that event, CRM will consider whether it is in the best interest of the Funds to continue to hold the securities.

Moody’s Ratings

Corporate and Municipal Bonds.

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

A: Bonds that 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 some time in the future.

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

Corporate and Municipal Commercial Paper. The highest rating for corporate and municipal commercial paper is “P-1” (Prime-1). Issuers rated P-1 (or supporting institutions) have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. P-1 repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics:

 

   

Leading market positions in well-established industries.

 

   

High rates of return on funds employed.

 

A-1


   

Conservative capitalization structure with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection.

 

   

Broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation.

 

   

Well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Municipal Notes. The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “MIG 1,” “MIG 2” and “MIG 3” (or “VMIG 1,” “VMIG 2” and “VMIG 3” in the case of an issue having a variable-rate demand feature). Notes rated “MIG 1” or “VMIG 1” are judged to be of the best quality. There is present strong protection by established cash flows, superior liquidity support or demonstrated broadbased access to the market for refinancing. Notes rated “MIG 2” or “VMIG 2” are of high quality, with margins of protection that are ample although not so large as in the preceding group. Notes rated “MIG 3” or “VMIG 3” are of favorable quality, with all security elements accounted for but lacking the undeniable strength of the preceding grades. Liquidity and cash flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well established.

S&P Ratings

Corporate and Municipal Bonds.

AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations. This rating indicates an extremely strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

AA: Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

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

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

Corporate and Municipal Commercial Paper. The “A-1” rating for corporate and municipal commercial paper indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics will be rated “A-1+.”

Municipal Notes. The “SP-1” rating reflects a very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest. Those issues determined to possess overwhelming safety characteristics will be rated “SP-1+.” The “SP-2” rating reflects a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

A-2


Fitch Ratings

Description of Fitch’s highest state and municipal notes rating.

AAA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of the highest credit quality. The obligor has an exceptionally strong ability to pay interest and repay principal, which is unlikely to be affected by reasonably foreseeable events.

AA - Bonds considered to be investment grade and of very high credit quality. The obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal is very strong, although not quite as strong as bonds rated AAA.

F-1+ - Issues assigned this rating are regarded as having the strongest degree of assurance for timely payment.

F-1 - Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of timely payment only slightly less in degree than issues rated F-1+.

 

A-3


Appendix B

CRAMER ROSENTHAL MCGLYNN, LLC

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROXY VOTING

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM” or the “Firm”) is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). CRM serves as the investment adviser or sub-adviser of various (i) investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), (ii) private investment funds exempt from registration under the 1940 Act, and (iii) outside private accounts over which the Firm has discretionary investment authority.

1. Purpose and Proxy Voting Process

CRM’s policy seeks to monitor corporate actions, analyze proxy solicitation materials, and vote client proxies for stocks which are held in client accounts in a timely and appropriate manner. CRM shall conduct such activities and vote client proxies in accordance with these Policies.

Monitoring of Corporate Actions

CRM monitors corporate actions electronically through a third-party proxy service. Through the service, CRM receives electronic notice of upcoming proxy votes, meeting and record dates and other information on upcoming corporate actions by companies in which CRM clients are shareholders. CRM generally utilizes the service to electronically vote such proxies.

The Voting Process

Review of Proxy Solicitation Materials/Independent Recommendations

CRM has hired an independent third party, Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) to provide analyses and voting recommendations based on empirical research measuring the impact of proxy issues on shareholder value.

CRM will consider ISS analysis and recommendations, as well as the portfolio manager’s own knowledge of the company (including its management, operations, industry and the particular proxy issue) in proxy decisions, with the exception of separately-managed Taft-Hartley or accounts where the client specifically directs CRM to vote 1 in a “socially responsible” manner; in these cases CRM would generally follow the particular ISS recommendations for that category.

 

 

1

ISS provides voting recommendations for “Taft-Hartley” accounts that are in the best long-term economic interest of plan participants and beneficiaries conforming to AFL-CIO voting guidelines.

 

B-1


Corporate Governances Matters

The following is a summary of the ISS voting recommendations. 2

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be made on a case-by-case basis. Certain actions by directors should result in votes being withheld, including directors who:

 

   

Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid excuse.

 

   

Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders and sit on the audit, compensation, or nominating committees.

 

   

Are inside directors or affiliated outsiders and the full board serves as the audit, compensation, or nominating committee or the company does not have one of these committees.

Classification/Declassification of the Board

 

   

Vote against proposals to classify the board. Vote for proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection

 

   

Proposals on director and officer indemnification and liability protection should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, using Delaware law as the standard. Vote against indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just legal expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of fiduciary obligation than mere carelessness.

Capital Structure

Common Stock Authorization

Votes on proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance are determined on a case-by-case basis using a model developed by ISS. Vote against proposals at companies with dual-class capital structures to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting rights. Vote FOR proposals to approve increases beyond the allowable increase when a company’s shares are in danger of being delisted or if a company’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.

Preferred Stock

Vote against proposals authorizing the creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution and other rights (“blank check” preferred stock). Vote for proposals to create “declawed” blank check preferred stock (stock that cannot be used as a takeover defense).

 

 

2

The full ISS recommendations are outlined in the ISS Proxy Guidelines, which are available to CRM clients upon request.

 

B-2


Management Compensation

Director Compensation

Votes on compensation plans for directors are determined on a case-by-case basis, using a proprietary, quantitative model developed by ISS.

Employee, Stock Purchase Plans

Votes on employee stock purchase plans should be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Shareholder Proposals regarding Executive and Director Pay

Generally, vote for shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosure of executive and director pay information, provided the information requested is relevant to shareholders’ needs, and would not put the company at a competitive disadvantage relative to its industry, and is not unduly burdensome to the company. Vote on a case-by-case basis for all other shareholder proposals regarding executive and director pay, taking into account company performance, pay level versus peers, pay level versus industry, and long term corporate outlook.

Social Issues

Animal Rights

Vote case-by-case on proposals to phase out the use of animals in product testing.

Tobacco

Most tobacco-related proposals should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Instances Where CRM Does Not Follow ISS Recommendation

As stated above, there may be instances where the Firm determines that it is not in the best interest of clients to follow ISS recommendations with respect to certain proxy vote(s). These instances may involve non-routine and/or controversial issues, such as the re-pricing of options, adoption or substantial changes to a shareholder rights plan (or poison pill) or proxy contests, involving, for instance, a hostile takeover attempt but may also include more routine issues, such as the election of directors or auditor appointments. When CRM decides not to vote proxies in the manner recommended by ISS, CRM shall document the reasons for such decision.

Securities on Loan

Securities over which CRM has voting authority in certain accounts are subject to being lent to other parties, including securities in private investment partnerships, registered mutual funds and certain other accounts. CRM has no role in the lending process;

 

B-3


securities lending decisions are made by the custodian with the consent of and on behalf of the client. As a general matter, when a security is on “loan” as of the record date, CRM has no authority to vote, and shall not vote, a proxy for the security.

Clients Who Vote Their Own Proxies

CRM clients may retain the authority to vote their own proxies in their discretion.

2. Conflicts and Potential Conflicts of Interest

CRM recognizes that there may be a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest between itself and its clients with respect to the voting of proxies of certain companies and has developed a mechanism for identifying and addressing such conflicts. Examples of such conflicts include, but are not limited to, where a company soliciting proxies is an advisory client of CRM or where CRM has a financial interest in a company soliciting proxies. When a conflict or potential conflict has been identified, CRM will generally vote the proxy as recommended by ISS, subject to a review by the Compliance Committee to confirm that voting is in the best interest of clients.

3. Disclosure and Oversight

CRM, in its written brochure required under Rule 204-3 (the “Form ADV”) shall describe: (i) these Policies; (ii) how a client can obtain information from CRM on how it voted the client’s proxies; and (iii) how a client can obtain a copy of these Policies and/or the ISS Proxy Voting Guidelines.

The Compliance Committee shall have oversight responsibility for these Policies. In particular, the Compliance Committee shall have responsibility for monitoring the actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise in relation to voting proxies for client securities.

4. Recordkeeping

CRM shall retain the following books and records in, as appropriate, electronic or hard copy form:

 

  (a) These Policies as they may be amended from time to time.

 

  (b) A copy of each proxy statement received regarding client securities (which may be kept by relying on obtaining copies through the EDGAR system maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission).

 

  (c) A record of each vote cast on behalf of clients.

 

  (d) Internal documents created that were material to the decision on how to vote any proxies or that memorialize the basis for such a decision, including any documentation relating to decisions to vote proxies other than in accordance with ISS recommendations.

 

  (e) Copies of written client requests for proxy voting records and of the Firm’s written responses to either a written or oral request for information on how the Firm voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

 

B-4


The above records shall be retained in an easily accessible place for a period of at least five (5) years from the end for the fiscal year during which the last entry was made on such record, the first two years in an appropriate office of CRM.

Records for CRM Mutual Fund Trust shall be maintained by CRM Mutual Fund Trust.

 

B-5


ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.

 

a(1)

   Certificate of Trust of CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the “Trust”) is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on April 11, 2005 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (“Registration Statement”).

a(2)

   Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement.

a(3)

   Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust to establish and designate CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund as a series of the Trust is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on October 11, 2005 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (“Post Effective Amendment No. 1”).

a(4)

   Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust to establish and designate CRM All Cap Value Fund as a series of the Trust and Advisor Shares as a class of shares of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on August 10, 2006 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (“Post-Effective Amendment No.4”).

a(5)

   Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust to establish and designate CRM 130/30 Value Fund as a series of the Trust is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on December 21, 2007 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (“Post-Effective Amendment No.8”).

a(6)

   Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust to rename CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund as CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

a(7)

   Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Trust to establish and designate CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund as series of the Trust, filed herewith.

b(1)

   By-Laws of the Trust is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement.

d(1)

   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Small Cap Value Fund, CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund and CRM Mid Cap Value Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, as investment adviser is incorporated


   herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on October 28, 2005 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 2”).

d(2)

   Amended and Restated Schedule A and Schedule B to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, as investment adviser are incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on October 24, 2006 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (Post-Effective Amendment No. 5”).

d(3)

   Amended and Restated Schedule A and Schedule B to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM All Cap Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, as investment adviser are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

d(4)

   Amended and Restated Schedule A and Schedule B to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM 130/30 Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, as investment adviser are incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

d(5)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

d(6)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM All Cap Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

d(7)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on October 7, 2008 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749) (Post-Effective Amendment No. 9”).

d(8)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM 130/30 Value Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

d(9)

   Amended and Restated Schedule A and Schedule B to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund, CRM International Opportunity Fund, and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, as investment adviser filed herewith.


d(10)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund, CRM International Opportunity Fund and Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC, filed herewith.

e(1)

   Underwriting Agreement between the Trust and PFPC Distributors, Inc., as distributor is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

e(2)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund, and PFPC Distributors, Inc., as distributor is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2.

e(3)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM All Cap Value Fund, and PFPC Distributors, Inc., as distributor is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

e(4)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM 130/30 Value Fund, and PFPC Distributors, Inc., as distributor, is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

e(5)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Underwriting Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund, CRM International Opportunity Fund, and PFPC Distributors, Inc., as distributor, to be filed by Amendment.

g(1)

   Custodian Services Agreement between the Trust and PFPC Trust Company, as custodian is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2.

g(2)

   Delegation Agreement on Amendment to Custody Agreement (with respect to appointment of PNC as Foreign Custody Manager), to be filed by Amendment.

h(1)

   Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and PFPC Inc., as transfer agent is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2.

h(2)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund, and PFPC Inc., as transfer agent is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

h(3)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM All Cap Value Fund and CRM 130/30 Value Fund, and PFPC Inc., as transfer agent is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.


h(4)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, and PNC Global Investment Servicing, Inc. (U.S.) (formerly PFPC Inc.), as transfer agent, to be filed by Amendment.

h(5)

   Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust and PFPC Inc., as administrator is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2.

h(6)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund and PFPC Inc., as administrator is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

h(7)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM All Cap Value Fund, and PFPC Inc., as administrator is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

h(8)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM 130/30 Value Fund, and PFPC Inc., as administrator, is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

h(9)

   Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund, and PNC Global Investment Servicing, Inc. (U.S.) (formerly PFPC Inc.), as administrator, to be filed by Amendment.

h(10)

   Amended and Restated Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Shares of the Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

h(11)

   Amended and Restated Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Shares of the CRM Global Opportunity Fund and the CRM International Opportunity Fund is filed herewith.

h(12)

   Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Agreement for Investor Shares of the Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

h(13)

   Shareholder Servicing Agreement for Advisor Shares of the CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund, the CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund and the CRM All Cap Value Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.


h(14)

  

Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Agreement for Investor Shares of the CRM Global Opportunity Fund and the CRM International Opportunity Fund is filed herewith.

h(15)

  

Powers of Attorney is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

i(1)

  

Form of Opinion and Consent of counsel with respect to CRM Small Cap Value Fund, CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund CRM Mid Cap Value Fund and CRM Large Cap Opportunity Fund is incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement.

i(2)

  

Form of Opinion and Consent of counsel with respect to CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1.

i(3)

  

Form of Opinion and Consent of counsel with respect to CRM All Cap Value Fund and Advisor Shares as a class of shares of CRM Mid/Large Cap Value Fund and CRM All Cap Value Fund is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.4.

i(4)

  

Form of Opinion and Consent of counsel with respect to CRM 130/30 Value is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8.

i(5)

  

Opinion and Consent of counsel with respect to CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund is filed herewith.

j

  

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is filed herewith.

m

  

Distribution Plan for Advisor Shares of the Funds is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5.

n

  

Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan of the Trust is filed herewith.

p(1)

  

Code of Ethics for the Trust is Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Commission on June 29, 2005 (SEC File Nos. 333-123998 and 811-21749).

p(2)

   Code of Ethics for the Investment Adviser, as revised January 2007 is incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7


ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH TRUST.

The Adviser of the Trust is controlled by WT Investments, Inc., which owns 80.99% of the equity interest in the Adviser. WT Investments, Inc., is a subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation and an investment holding company.

Information regarding Wilmington Trust Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates follows:

Wilmington Trust Corporation

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

Holding company for Wilmington Trust Company, Wilmington Trust of Pennsylvania, Wilmington Trust FSB, WT Investments, Inc., Rodney Square Management Corporation, Balentine Holdings, Inc. and Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited

SUBSIDIARIES OF WILMINGTON TRUST CORPORATION

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

Delaware-chartered bank and trust company

Wilmington Trust FSB

One South Street, Suite 2160 Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Federal savings bank headquartered in Maryland, a registered investment adviser

Wilmington Trust of Pennsylvania

795 East Lancaster Avenue

Villanova, Pennsylvania

Commercial bank headquartered in Pennsylvania

WT Investments, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation and an investment holding company

Brandywine Insurance Agency, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company and a licensed insurance agent and broker for life, casualty and property insurance

Brandywine Finance Corporation

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company which is a finance company


Brandywine Life Insurance Company, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company and a reinsurer of credit life insurance written in connection with closed-end consumer loans Wilmington Trust makes

Wilmington Trust SP Services, Inc.

(f/k/a Delaware Corporate Management, Inc.)

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides nexus and other services for Delaware holding companies and other Delaware entities.

Wilmington Trust SP Services (Nevada), Inc.

(f/k/a Nevada Corporate Management, Inc.)

3773 Howard Hughes Parkway

Las Vegas, Nevada

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust SP Services, Inc. that provides nexus and other services for Nevada holding companies and other Nevada entities

Rodney Square Management Corporation

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation and a registered investment advisor

Wilmington Brokerage Services Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company and a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment advisor

100 West Tenth Street Corporation

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that holds title to and maintains certain real estate on behalf of Wilmington Trust Company and Compton Realty Corporation

Compton Realty Corporation

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company and a partner in Rodney Square Investors, L.P., the partnership that holds title to the Wilmington Trust Center


Rodney Square Investors, L.P.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

49% owned by Compton Realty Corporation. Partnership that holds title to the Wilmington Trust Center


Drew-VIII-Ltd.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that holds title to and manages certain troubled real estate on behalf of Wilmington Trust Company

Siobain VI, Ltd.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that holds title to and manages certain troubled real estate on behalf of Wilmington Trust Company

Wilmington Trust SP Services (New York), Inc. (f/k/a) WTC Corporate Services, Inc.)

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides nexus and other services

WT Services of Delaware, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides back-office and support services to Wilmington Trust Company and its affiliates

Wilmington Trust SP (Delaware) Services, Inc.

(f/k/a Organization Services, Inc.)

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust SP Services, Inc., that provides nexus and other services for Delaware holding companies and other Delaware entities

Special Services Delaware, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust SP Services, Inc., a special purpose entity used to facilitate corporate transactions

Wilmington Trust Global Services, Ltd.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides nexus and other services


Wilmington Trust (Cayman), Ltd.

George Town, Cayman Islands, British West Indies

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides trust services

Wilmington Trust (Channel Islands), Ltd.

St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Company that provides trust services

Wilmington Trust Investment Management, LLC

(f/ka Balentine & Company, LLC)

3455 Peachtree Road

Suite 2000

Atlanta, Georgia 30325

Owned by Balentine Delaware Holding Company, LLC. A registered broker-dealer and a registered investment adviser

Balentine Management, Inc.

1100 North Market Street

Rodney Square North

Wilmington, DE 19890

A subsidiary of Balentine Holdings, Inc.

Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited

200 Aldersgate Street

London, EC1A 4JJ

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust Corporation Holding company

SPV Management Limited

78 Cannon Street, London, EC4P 5LN

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited that provides nexus and other services

SPV Advisors Limited

78 Cannon Street, London, EC4P 5LN

A subsidiary of Wilmington Trust (UK) Limited that serves as advisor to SPV Management Limited

Lord SPV Limited

78 Cannon Street, London, EC4P 5LN

A subsidiary of SPV Management Limited

SPV Management (Dublin) Limited

78 Cannon Street, London, EC4P 5LN

A subsidiary of SPV Management Limited that provides nexus and other services

SPV Management (Italia) SRL

Studio Tributare Deiure, Via Pontaccio 10, Milan, 20120, Italy

A subsidiary of SPV Management Limited that provides nexus and other services

SPV Jersey Limited

Oak Walk, St. Peter, Jersey, JE3 7EF

A subsidiary of SPV Management Limited that provides nexus and other services


SPV Cayman Limited

Q&H Corporate Services Ltd., Third Floor, Harbour Centre,

P.O. Box 1347, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, BWIO, Cayman Islands

A subsidiary of SPV Management Limited that provides nexus and other services

Bedell SPV Management (Jersey) Limited

26 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 3RA, Channel Islands

51% owned by SPV Management Limited

Provides nexus and other services

GTBA Holdings, Inc.

Grant Tani Barash & Altman LLC

Grant Tani Barash & Altman Management, Inc.

WTC Camden, Inc.

WT Delaware Capital Corp.

Wilmington Investment Managers, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE

California Corporate Management, Inc.

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE

AFFILIATES OF WILMINGTON TRUST CORPORATION

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC

New York, New York

A registered investment adviser

(80.99% equity interest owned by WT Investments, Inc.)

Roxbury Capital Management, LLC

Santa Monica, California

A registered investment adviser

(100% preferred interests owned by WT Investments, Inc.

30% revenue interest owned by WT Investments, Inc.

41.23% equity interest owned by WT Investments, Inc.)

Clemente Capital, Inc.

152 West 57th Street

New York, New York 10017

(24.9% equity interest owned by WT Investments, Inc.)


Camden Partners Holdings, LLC

500 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

(28.125% equity interest owned by WT Investments, Inc.)

A registered investment adviser

Camden Partners Equity Advisors, LLC

500 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

(100% owned by Camden Partners Holdings, LLC)

A registered investment adviser

Camden Partners Equity Managers I, LLC

500 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

(28.125% equity interest owned by WTC Camden, Inc.)

A registered investment adviser

The Independence Group, Ltd.

ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.

Article IX of the CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the “CRM Trust” or the “Registrant”) Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Agreement”) which is incorporated by reference provides, among other things, that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any person, other than the Trust or its shareholders, in connection with trust property or the affairs of the Trust; and all persons shall look solely to the trust property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust for any action or failure to act (including without limitation the failure to compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust) except for his or her own bad faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties involved in the conduct of the individual’s office. The Agreement requires the CRM Trust to indemnify trustees and officers, as well as former trustees and officers, provided that the Agreement does not allow indemnification in the following circumstances:

 

  (i) if there has been a final adjudication by a court or other body that the person seeking indemnification engaged in bad faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of that individual’s office,

 

  (ii) if there has been a final adjudication whereby the person seeking indemnification is found to not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that that individual’s action was in the best interest of the CRM Trust; or


  (iii) in the event of a settlement resulting in a payment by a person seeking indemnification, unless there has been either a determination that such indemnified person did not engage in bad faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of that individual’s office by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts that that individual did not engage in such conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of the non-interested trustees acting on the matter; or (b) a written opinion of legal counsel chosen by a majority of the trustees and determined by them in their reasonable judgment to be independent.

The CRM Trust is party to an investment advisory agreement with Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (the “Adviser”). Paragraph 8 of the foregoing investment advisory agreement with the Trust provide that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of obligations or duties under their respective agreements, the Adviser shall not be subject to liability to the Trust or Fund, any Series of the Trust or Fund or any of its shareholders for any act or omission in the course of, or connected with, rendering services under such agreements or for any losses that may be sustained in the purchase, holding or sale of any security or the making of any investment for or on behalf of the Trust or the Fund. Any liability of an Adviser to any series of the Trust or the Fund shall not automatically impart liability on the part of such Adviser to any other series of the Trust or the Fund. No series of the Fund shall be liable for the obligations of any other series of the Fund.

Indemnification of PFPC Distributors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), the Funds’ principal underwriter, against certain losses is provided for in Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement with the Distributor incorporated by reference. In Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement, the Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages or expense, arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares, based upon the ground that the registration statement, prospectus, Shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements made not misleading. However, the Fund does not agree to indemnify the Distributor or hold it harmless to the extent that the statements or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Distributor.

ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.

Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, LLC (“CRM”)

The only employment of a substantial nature of each of CRM’s directors and officers is with CRM.


ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

 

  (a) PFPC Distributors, Inc. (“the Distributor”) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the FINRA. As of July 14, 2008, the Distributor acted as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

AFBA 5 Star Funds, Inc.

Aston Funds

Atlantic Whitehall Funds Trust

BHR Institutional Funds

CRM Mutual Fund Trust

E.I.I. Realty Securities Trust

FundVantage Trust

GuideStone Funds

Highland Floating Rate Fund

Highland Floating Rate Advantage Fund

Highland Funds I

Highmark Funds

IndexIQ Trust

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust

Matthews Asian Funds

Metropolitan West Funds

New Alternatives Fund

Old Westbury Funds

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Stratton Multi-Cap Fund

Stratton Monthly Dividend REIT Shares, Inc.

The Stratton Funds, Inc.

The Torray Fund

Van Wagoner Funds

 

  (b) The Distributor is a Massachusetts corporation located at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. The Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., a publicly traded company.

The following is a list of the directors and executive officers of the Distributor:

Board of Directors

 

Name

 

Position

    

Effective Date

Nicholas M. Marsini, Jr.   Director      April 26, 2007
Michael DeNofrio   Director      April 26, 2007
Steven Turowski   Director      August 30, 2007
T. Thomas Deck   Director      January 3, 2008
Dennis J. Westley   Director      March 4, 2008


Officers

 

Name

 

Position

    

Effective Date

T. Thomas Deck   President and Chief Executive Officer      January 3, 2008
Bruno DiStefano   Vice President      April 11, 2007
Susan K. Moscaritolo   Vice President, Secretary and Clerk     

VP - April 11, 2007

Secretary and Clerk – May 29, 2007

Charlene Wilson   Treasurer and Financial Operations Principal, Chief Financial Officer      April 11, 2007
Rita G. Adler   Chief Compliance Officer      April 11, 2007
Jodi L. Jamison   Chief Legal Officer      April 11, 2007
Maria C. Schaffer   Controller and Assistant Treasurer      April 11, 2007
John Munera   Anti-Money Laundering Officer      April 11, 2007
Ronald Berge   Assistant Vice President      April 11, 2007
Julie Bartos   Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk      April 11, 2007
Dianna A. Stone   Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk      November 27, 2007

ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.

All accounts and records are maintained by the Trust, or on its behalf by the Trust’s administrator, accounting agent, distributor and transfer agent PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc., 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809.

ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

There are no management-related service contracts not discussed in Part A or Part B.

ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.

Not applicable.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485 (b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York, on December 22, 2008.

 

CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST
By:  

/s/    Ronald H. McGlynn

  Ronald H. McGlynn
  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on December 22, 2008.

 

SIGNATURE

      

TITLE

/s/    Ronald H. McGlynn

    Chief Executive Officer
Ronald H. McGlynn    

* /s/    Louis Ferrante

    Trustee
Louis Ferrante    

* /s/    Louis Klein, Jr.

    Trustee
Louis Klein, Jr.    

/s/    Carlos A. Leal

    Chief Financial Officer and Trustee
Carlos A. Leal    

* /s/    Clement C. Moore, II

    Trustee
Clement C. Moore, II    

 

* By:  

/s/    Carlos A. Leal

  Carlos A. Leal, Attorney-in-Fact


Exhibit Index

 

a(7)    Amended Schedule A to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust
d(9)    Amended and Restated Schedule A and Schedule B to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund and CRM
d(10)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Trust, on behalf of CRM Global Opportunity Fund and CRM International Opportunity Fund and CRM
h(11)    Amended and Restated Shareholder Service Plan for Investor Shares of the Funds
h(14)    Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Agreement for Investor Shares of the CRM Global Opportunity Fund and the CRM International Opportunity Fund
(i)(5)    Opinion and Consent of counsel
(j)    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, the Trust’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
(n)    Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan of the Trust