485APOS 1 d376110d485apos.htm 485APOS 485APOS
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2012

Securities Act of 1933 Registration No. 333-132400

Investment Company Act of 1940 Registration No. 811-21866

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933    x     
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 31    x     

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940    x     
   Amendment No. 34    x     

 

 

Pyxis Funds I

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

c/o Pyxis Capital, L.P.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: 1-972-628-4100

 

 

Mr. Ethan Powell

c/o Pyxis Capital, L.P.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

With copies to:

 

Mr. Brian Mitts

c/o Pyxis Capital, L.P.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

 

Gregory D. Sheehan, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199-3600

 

 

It is proposed that this filing be effective:

  ¨ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
  ¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
  ¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
  ¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
  x 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
  ¨ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

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

This post-effective amendment relates solely to Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF (the “Fund”), a new series of Pyxis Funds I (the “Trust”). No information relating to any other series or shares of the Trust is amended or superseded hereby.

 

 

 


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

Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF

    Ticker: [LQLN] – [Nasdaq]

Investment portfolios of Pyxis Funds I managed by

Pyxis Capital, L.P. (“Pyxis” or the “Adviser”)

Prospectus

[•] [•], 2012

Although these securities have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the SEC has not approved or disapproved any shares offered in this Prospectus or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Not FDIC Insured

May Lose Value

No Bank Guarantee


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     1   

Principal Risks

     2   

Important Additional Information

     7   

Description of Principal Investments

     7   

Description of Principal Risks

     12   

Management of the Fund

     19   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     21   

How to Buy and Sell Shares

     21   

Creation and Redemption of Shares

     22   

Net Asset Value

     24   

Share Prices

     25   

Dividends and Distributions

     26   

Index Provider

     26   

Taxation [To Be Updated by Amendment]

     26   

Financial Highlights

     30   


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LIQUID LOAN ETF

 

PYXIS/iBOXX LIQUID LOAN ETF

Investment Objective

The investment objective of Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF (the “Fund”) is to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Markit iBoxx Liquid Leveraged Loan Index (the “Underlying Index”).

Fees and Expenses

The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as % of the value of your investment)   

Management Fees

     [ •]% 

Other Expenses(1)

     [ •]% 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses Before Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement

     [ •]% 

Fee Waiver/Reimbursement(2)

     [ •]% 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement

     [ •]% 

 

(1) “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year and include expenses indirectly incurred by the Fund through investments in certain pooled investment vehicles (“Acquired Funds”) of 0.01% or less of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
(2) [The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive Management Fees and to reimburse Other Expenses to the extent Total Annual Operating Expenses Before Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements, as a percentage of average daily net assets, exceed [•]% through [•]. After such date, the expense limitation may be terminated or revised. Amounts waived or reimbursed in a particular contractual period may be recouped by the Adviser within [three] years of the end of that contractual period to the extent that recoupment will not cause the Fund’s expenses to exceed any expense limitation in place at that time. A waiver or reimbursement lowers the expense ratio and increases overall returns to investors.]

Expense Example. This Example helps you compare the cost of investing in the Fund to the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell or redeem all your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses, which exclude brokerage commissions, remain the same.

 

1 Year

  

3 Years

$[•]

   $[•]

Portfolio Turnover

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

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund generally invests at least 80% of its assets in component securities of the Underlying Index (“Component Securities”). The Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which the Adviser believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, the Fund may invest in securities that are not components of the Underlying Index to reflect various corporate actions (such as mergers) and other changes in the Underlying Index (such as reconstitutions, additions and deletions). The Fund may invest in securities of any type and of companies of any market capitalization, market sector or industry. The Fund may invest in securities issued by other investment companies, including other exchange-traded funds. The Fund also may invest in derivatives to track the Underlying Index, such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options, and swaps. In addition, the Fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

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Unlike many investment companies, the Fund does not try to “beat” the index it tracks. The Fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the total return performance of the Underlying Index as a proxy for the senior secured loan universe. The Underlying Index is a subset of the Markit iBoxx USD Leveraged Loan Index. The Underlying Index is a rules-based index consisting of some of the largest, most liquid loans, as measured by the number of active market participants trading the security and the dollar face amount of outstanding senior loans issued. Currently, loans eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index are measured by the type, size, liquidity, spread, credit reading, and minimum time to maturity.

The Underlying Index is sponsored by Markit Indices Limited (the “Index Provider”), an organization that is independent of the Fund and the Adviser. The Index Provider determines the composition and relative weightings of the securities in the Underlying Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Underlying Index.

The Adviser uses a representative sampling indexing strategy to manage the Fund. “Representative sampling” is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Underlying Index. The securities selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability, duration, maturity or credit ratings and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Funds that employ a representative sampling strategy may incur tracking error risk to a greater extent than funds that seek to replicate an index.

The Component Securities primarily consist of senior loans (“Senior Loans”) to domestic or foreign corporations, partnerships and other entities that operate in a variety of industries and geographic regions (“Borrowers”). Senior Loans have a right to payment senior to most other debts of the Borrower. Senior Loans generally are arranged through private negotiations between a Borrower and several financial institutions (the “Lenders”) represented in each case by one or more such Lenders acting as agent (the “Agent”) of the several Lenders. On behalf of the Lenders, the Agent is primarily responsible for negotiating the loan agreement (“Loan Agreement”) that establishes the relative terms and conditions of the Senior Loan and rights of the Borrower and the Lenders. The Component Securities in which the Fund will invest are expected to be below investment grade securities (also known as “high yield securities” or “junk securities”). Such securities are rated below investment grade by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or are unrated but deemed by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. The Underlying Index may include, and the Fund may acquire and retain in its portfolio, below investment grade or unrated securities, including loans of Borrowers that are insolvent or in default.

The Fund may invest in participations (“Participations”) in Senior Loans, may purchase assignments (“Assignments”) of portions of Senior Loans from third parties, and may act as one of the group of Lenders originating a Senior Loan (“Primary Lender”). Senior Loans often are secured by specific assets of the Borrower, although the Fund may invest without limitation in Senior Loans that are not secured by any collateral. When the Fund acts as a Primary Lender, the Fund or the Adviser could be subject to allegations of lender liability.

The Fund is non-diversified as defined in the 1940 Act, but it intends to adhere to the diversification requirements applicable to regulated investment companies (“RICs”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program.

Principal Risks

When you sell Fund shares, they may be worth less than what you paid for them. Consequently, you can lose money by investing in the Fund. No assurance can be given that the Fund will achieve its objective, and investment results may vary substantially over time and from period to period. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all investors.

Asset Class Risk. Securities in the Underlying Index or in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to the general securities markets or other asset classes.

 

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Counterparty Risk. A counterparty (the other party to a transaction or an agreement or the party with whom the Fund executes transactions) to a transaction with the Fund may be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest or settlement payments, or otherwise honor its obligations.

Credit Risk. The issuers of certain securities might not be able to make interest and principal payments when due. Debt securities are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal. Non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the obligation experiencing non-payment and a potential decrease in the Fund’s Net Asset Value (“NAV”) and the market price of the Fund’s shares.

Debt Securities Risk. The market prices of debt securities generally fluctuate inversely with changes in interest rates so that the value of investments in such securities can be expected to decrease as interest rates rise and increase as interest rates fall. Such changes may be greater among debt securities with longer maturities. Additionally, the Fund’s ability to invest in high-yield debt securities generally subjects the Fund to greater risk than securities with higher ratings. Such securities are regarded by the rating organizations as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives, such as futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options, and swaps, are subject to the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Derivatives also expose the Fund to the credit risk of the derivative counterparty, for example, if the counterparty does not meet its obligations. Derivative contracts may expire worthless and the use of derivatives may result in losses to the Fund.

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. The price movement of an exchange-traded fund may not track the underlying index and may result in a loss. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses of the underlying investment company when the Fund invests in shares of another investment company.

Focused Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans arranged through private negotiations between a Borrower and several financial institutions may expose the Fund to risks associated with the financial services industry. The financial services industry is subject to extensive government regulation, which can limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments financial services companies can make and the interest rates and fees they can charge. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds, and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. Because financial services companies are highly dependent on short-term interest rates, they can be adversely affected by downturns in the U.S. and foreign economies or changes in banking regulations. Losses resulting from financial difficulties of Borrowers can negatively affect financial services companies.

Illiquid Securities Risk. The Adviser may not be able to sell illiquid securities at the price it would like or may have to sell them at a loss.

Industry Concentration Risk. Because the Fund may invest 25% or more of the value of its assets in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries, the Fund’s performance largely depends on the overall condition of such industry or group of industries and the Fund is susceptible to economic, political and regulatory risks or other occurrences associated with that industry or group of industries.

Intellectual Property Risk. The Adviser relies on a license, which may be terminated by the Index Provider, that permits the Fund to use the Underlying Index and associated trade names, trademarks and service marks (the “Intellectual Property”) in connection with the name and investment strategies of the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate securities already held by the Fund can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of existing fixed rate portfolio securities can be expected to decline.

Lender Liability Risk. A number of judicial decisions have upheld the right of Borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of various evolving legal theories founded upon the premise that an institutional Lender has violated a duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to the Borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the Borrower resulting in a creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the Borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of certain of the Fund’s investments, the Fund or the Adviser could be subject to such liability.

 

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Limited Information Risk. The types of Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest historically may not have been rated by a NRSRO, have not been registered with the SEC or any state securities commission, and have not been listed on any national securities exchange. Although the Fund will generally have access to financial and other information made available to the Lenders in connection with Senior Loans, the amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less extensive than that available for rated, registered or exchange-listed securities.

Liquidity Risk. At times, a major portion of any portfolio security may be held by relatively few institutional purchasers. Even if the Fund considers such securities liquid because of the availability of an institutional market, such securities may become difficult to value or sell in adverse market or economic conditions.

Management Risk. The Fund relies on Pyxis’s ability to achieve its investment objective. As the Fund does not fully replicate the Underlying Index, it is subject to the risk that Pyxis’s investment management strategy may not produce the intended results.

Market Price Variance Risk. Fund shares will be listed for trading on the [Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.] (the “Exchange”) and can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The market prices of shares will fluctuate in response to changes in the NAV and supply and demand for shares. The Adviser cannot predict whether shares will trade above, below or at their NAV. Given the fact that shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units, the Adviser believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of shares should not be sustained. The Fund’s investment results are measured based upon the daily NAV of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling shares in the secondary market may not experience investment results consistent with those experienced by those creating and redeeming directly with the Fund.

Market Risk. The Fund’s share price will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio securities. Many factors can affect this value and you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Non-Diversification Risk. As a non-diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest a larger portion of its assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a diversified fund. A non-diversified fund’s investment in fewer issuers may result in the Fund’s shares being more sensitive to the economic results of those issuers. An investment in the Fund could fluctuate in value more than an investment in a diversified fund.

Non-Payment Risk. Debt securities are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal. Non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the obligation experiencing non-payment and a potential decrease in the Fund’s NAV and the market price of the Fund’s shares.

Ongoing Monitoring Risk. On behalf of the several Lenders, the Agent generally will be required to administer and manage the Senior Loans and, with respect to collateralized Senior Loans, to service or monitor the collateral. Financial difficulties of Agents can pose a risk to the Fund. Unless, under the terms of the loan, the Fund has direct recourse against the Borrower, the Fund may have to rely on the Agent or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a Borrower.

Options Risk. Options, such as covered calls and covered puts, are subject to the risk that significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets.

Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed and Pyxis does not attempt to take defensive positions under any market conditions, including during declining markets.

Prepayment Risk. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date. Such prepayments may require the Fund to replace a debt security with a lower-yielding security, resulting in a decrease in the Fund’s income.

 

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Regulatory Risk. To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of financial institutions to make loans in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loan interests for investment by the Fund may be adversely affected.

Senior Loans Risk. The risks associated with Senior Loans are similar to the risks of below investment grade securities, although Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to many other below investment grade securities, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior Loans’ higher standing in an issuer’s capital structure has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries than other below investment grade securities in the event of a corporate reorganization or other restructuring, but there can be no assurance that this will be the case with respect to any particular Senior Loan. Senior Loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in prevailing interest rates, although, because their interest rates are adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, Senior Loans generally have less interest rate risk than other high yield investments, which typically pay fixed rates of interest. The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. The secondary market for loans is generally less liquid than the market for higher grade debt. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a loan, and could adversely affect the Fund’s income. The volume and frequency of secondary market trading in such loans varies significantly over time and among loans.

Tracking Error Risk. The performance of the Fund may diverge from that of the Underlying Index. Because the Fund employs a representative sampling strategy, the Fund may experience tracking error to a greater extent than a fund that seeks to replicate an index.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. As with any investment company, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal.

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table for the Fund

The Fund has not yet commenced operations, and therefore the Fund currently has no investment performance information to report. After the Fund has had operations for at least one full calendar year, its Prospectus will include a bar chart and a table that will provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for the most recent one year, five years and ten years (or the life of the Fund, if shorter).

 

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Portfolio Management

Pyxis Capital, L.P. serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The portfolio managers for the Fund are:

 

Portfolio Managers

  

Managed the Fund Since

  

Title with Adviser

Greg Stuecheli

   Inception    Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager

Ethan Powell

   Inception    Executive Vice President and Secretary

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). The Fund will issue and redeem shares only to authorized participants who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor (“Authorized Participants”) in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a basket of assets (securities and/or cash) in large blocks, known as Creation Units, each of which comprises [50,000] shares. Retail investors may only purchase and sell shares on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a discount).

 

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IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged arrangement.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

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

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS

The following is a description of principal investment practices in which the Fund may engage. Any references to investments made by the Fund include those that may be made both directly by the Fund and indirectly by the Fund (e.g., through its investments in derivatives or other pooled investment vehicles). Please see “Description of Principal Risks” below for the risks associated with each of the principal investment practices.

Assignments. The Fund may purchase Assignments from Lenders. The purchaser of an Assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement of the assigning Lender and becomes a Lender under the Loan Agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning Lender.

Borrower Credit Ratings. The Fund may invest all or substantially all of its assets in Senior Loans to Borrowers having outstanding debt securities rated below investment grade by a NRSRO and unrated debt securities of comparable quality. Debt securities rated below investment grade (or unrated debt securities of comparable quality) commonly are referred to as “junk” securities. The Fund seeks to invest in those Senior Loans with respect to which the Borrower, in the judgment of the Adviser, demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics: sufficient cash flow to service debt; adequate liquidity; successful operating history; strong competitive position; experienced management; and, with respect to collateralized Senior Loans, collateral coverage that equals or exceeds the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Loan. The Fund may, however, invest without limitation in loans that do not exhibit all or any of these characteristics. In addition, the Adviser will consider, and may rely in part on, the analyses performed by the Agent and other Lenders, including such persons’ determinations with respect to collateral securing a Senior Loan.

Bridge Financing. The Fund may acquire interests in Senior Loans that are designed to provide temporary or “bridge” financing to a Borrower pending the sale of identified assets or the arrangement of longer-term loans or the issuance and sale of debt obligations. A Borrower’s use of a bridge loan involves a risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the bridge loan, which may impair the Borrower’s perceived creditworthiness.

Commitments to Make Additional Payments. A Lender may have obligations pursuant to a Loan Agreement to make additional loans in certain circumstances. Such circumstances may include, without limitation, obligations under revolving credit facilities and facilities that provide for further loans to Borrowers based upon compliance with specified financial requirements. The Fund currently intends to reserve against any such contingent obligation by segregating a sufficient amount of cash and/or liquid securities (including liquid Senior Loans). The Fund will not purchase interests in Senior Loans that would require the Fund to make any such additional loans if the aggregate of such additional loan commitments would exceed 20% of the Fund’s total assets or would cause the Fund to fail to meet the diversification requirements set forth under the heading “Investment Restrictions” in the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

Debt Restructuring. The Fund may purchase and retain in its portfolio an interest in a Senior Loan to a Borrower that has filed for protection under the federal bankruptcy laws or has had an involuntary bankruptcy petition filed against it by its creditors. The Adviser’s decision to purchase or retain such an interest will depend on its assessment

 

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of the suitability of such investment for the Fund, the Borrower’s ability to meet debt service on Senior Loan interests, the likely duration, if any, of a lapse in the scheduled repayment of principal, and prevailing interest rates. At times, in connection with the restructuring of a Senior Loan either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept equity securities or junior debt securities in exchange for all or a portion of a Senior Loan interest. Depending upon, among other things, the Adviser’s evaluation of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof, the Fund may determine to hold such securities in its portfolio.

Debt Securities. The Fund may invest in debt securities, including investment grade securities, below investment grade securities and other debt obligations.

Investment Grade Securities. The Fund may invest in a wide variety of bonds that are rated or determined by the Adviser to be of investment grade quality of varying maturities issued by U.S. corporations and other business entities. Bonds are fixed or variable rate debt obligations, including bills, notes, debentures, money market instruments and similar instruments and securities. Bonds generally are used by corporations and other issuers to borrow money from investors for a variety of business purposes. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity.

Below Investment Grade Securities. The Fund may invest in below investment grade securities (also known as “high-yield securities” or “junk securities”). Such securities may be fixed or variable rate obligations and are rated below investment grade (Ba/BB or lower) by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or are unrated but deemed by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. High-yield debt securities are frequently issued by corporations in the growth stage of their development, but also may be issued by established companies. These bonds are regarded by the rating organizations, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. Such securities also are generally considered to be subject to greater risk than securities with higher ratings with regard to default rates and deterioration of general economic conditions. High-yield securities held by the Fund may include securities received as a result of a corporate reorganization or issued as part of a corporate takeover.

Derivatives. The Fund may invest in various instruments that are commonly known as derivatives. Generally, a derivative is a financial arrangement, the value of which is based on, or “derived” from, a traditional security, asset, or market index. Futures, forwards, swaps and options are commonly used for traditional hedging purposes to attempt to protect the Fund from exposure to changing interest rates or securities prices and as a low cost method of gaining exposure to a particular securities market without investing directly in those securities. The Fund may enter into credit derivatives, such as credit default swaps and credit default index investments, including loan credit default swaps and loan credit default index swaps. The Fund may use these investments (i) as alternatives to direct long or short investment in a particular security, (ii) to adjust the Fund’s asset allocation or risk exposure, or (iii) for hedging purposes. The use by the Fund of credit default swaps may have the effect of creating a short position in a security. These investments can create investment leverage, which tends to magnify the effects of an instrument’s price changes as market conditions change. Special tax considerations apply to the Fund’s use of derivatives. See the “Taxation” section below.

Exchange-Traded Funds. The Fund may invest in other ETFs. ETFs are listed on various exchanges and typically seek to provide investment results that correspond generally to the performance of specified market indices.

Fees. The Fund may be required to pay or may receive various fees and commissions in connection with purchasing, selling and holding interests in Senior Loans. The fees normally paid by Borrowers may include three types: facility fees; commitment fees; and prepayment penalties. Facility fees are paid to the Lenders upon origination of a Senior Loan. Commitment fees are paid to Lenders on an ongoing basis based upon the undrawn portion committed by the Lenders of the underlying Senior Loan. Lenders may receive prepayment penalties when a Borrower prepays all or part of a Senior Loan. The Fund will receive these fees directly from the Borrower if the Fund is a Primary Lender, or, in the case of commitment fees and prepayment penalties, if the Fund acquires an interest in a Senior Loan by way of Assignment. Whether or not the Fund receives a facility fee from the Lender in the case of an Assignment, or any fees in the case of a Participation, depends upon negotiations between the Fund and the Lender selling such interests. When the Fund is an assignee, it may be required to pay a fee to, or forgo a

 

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portion of interest and any fees payable to it from, the Lender selling the Assignment. Occasionally, the assignor will pay a fee to the Fund based on the portion of the principal amount of the Senior Loan that is being assigned. A Lender selling a Participation to the Fund may deduct a portion of the interest and any fees payable to the Fund as an administrative fee prior to payment thereof to the Fund. The Fund may be required to pay over or pass along to a purchaser of an interest in a Senior Loan from the Fund a portion of any fees that the Fund would otherwise be entitled to.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities. The Fund may invest in illiquid and restricted securities. Restricted securities generally may not be resold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. A security that may be restricted as to resale under federal securities laws or otherwise will not be subject to this percentage limitation if the Adviser determines that the security is, at the time of acquisition, readily marketable. Illiquid securities are those that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities. Illiquid and restricted securities may offer higher returns and yields than comparable publicly-traded securities. However, the Fund may not be able to sell these securities when the Adviser considers it desirable to do so or, to the extent they are sold privately, may have to sell them at less than the price of otherwise comparable securities. Restricted securities may be illiquid; however, some restricted securities such as those eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act may be treated as liquid.

Options. The Fund may utilize options on securities, indices and currencies as part of their principal investment strategies. An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a gain equal to the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, underlying security, exercise price and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund realizes an economic loss from a closing sale transaction if the premium received from the sale of the option is less than the premium it initially paid to purchase the option (plus transaction costs). The Fund realizes an economic loss from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing purchase transaction (premium plus transaction costs) is greater than the premium initially received from writing the option.

Participations. The Fund may invest without limit in Participations. The selling Lenders and other persons interpositioned between such Lenders and the Fund with respect to Participations will likely conduct their principal business activities in the financial services industry. The Fund may be more susceptible than an investment company that does not invest in Participations in Senior Loans to any single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting this industry. Persons engaged in this industry may be more susceptible than are persons engaged in some other industries to, among other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committee’s monetary policy, governmental regulations concerning such industries and concerning capital raising activities generally and fluctuations in the financial markets generally.

Participation by the Fund in a Lender’s portion of a Senior Loan typically will result in the Fund having a contractual relationship only with such Lender, not with the Borrower. As a result, the Fund may have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is entitled only from the Lender selling the Participation and only upon receipt by the Lender of payments from the Borrower. In connection with purchasing Participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the Loan Agreement, nor any rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders through set-off against the Borrower, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the Senior Loan in which it has purchased the Participation. As a result, the Fund may assume the credit risk of both the Borrower and the Lender selling the Participation. In the event of the insolvency of the Lender selling a Participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the Lender, and may not benefit from any set-off between the Lender and the Borrower. The Fund will only acquire Participations from counterparties that are judged by the Adviser to present acceptable credit risk to the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Maturity. Although the initial time to maturity for Component Securities in the Underlying Index will generally be at least one year, the Fund is not subject to any restrictions with respect to the maturity of Senior Loans held in its portfolio. Senior Loans usually will have rates of interest that are redetermined periodically. Investment in Senior Loans with longer interest rate redetermination periods may increase fluctuations in the Fund’s NAV and the market price of the Fund’s shares as a result of changes in interest rates. Because many Senior Loans in the investment portfolio will be subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment and there may be significant economic incentives for a Borrower to prepay its loans, prepayments of Senior Loans in the Fund’s investment portfolio may occur. Accordingly, the actual remaining maturity of the Fund’s investment portfolio invested in Senior Loans may vary substantially from the average stated maturity of the Senior Loans held in the Fund’s investment portfolio.

Prepayments. Pursuant to the relevant Loan Agreement, a Borrower may be required, and may have the option at any time, to prepay the principal amount of a Senior Loan, often without incurring a prepayment penalty. In the event that like-yielding loans are not available in the marketplace, the prepayment of and subsequent reinvestment by the Fund in Senior Loans could have a materially adverse affect on the yield of the Fund’s investment portfolio. Prepayments may have a beneficial impact on income due to receipt of prepayment penalties, if any, and any facility fees earned in connection with reinvestment.

Primary Lender Transactions. When the Fund is a Primary Lender, it will have a direct contractual relationship with the Borrower, may enforce compliance by the Borrower with the terms of the Loan Agreement and may under contractual arrangements among the Lenders have rights with respect to any funds acquired by other Lenders through set-off. A Lender also has full voting and consent rights under the applicable Loan Agreement. Actions subject to Lender vote or consent generally require the vote or consent of the holders of a majority or some greater specified percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Loan. Certain decisions, such as reducing the amount or increasing the time for payment of interest on or repayment of principal of a Senior Loan, or releasing collateral therefor, frequently require the unanimous vote or consent of all Lenders affected. When the Fund is a Primary Lender originating a Senior Loan, it may share in a fee paid by the Borrower to the Primary Lenders.

Senior Loans. The Fund may invest in Senior Loans. Senior Loans generally are arranged through private negotiations between a Borrower and Lenders represented in each case by one or more Agents of the several Lenders. On behalf of the several Lenders, the Agent, which is frequently a commercial bank or other entity that originates the Senior Loan and the person that invites other parties to join the lending syndicate, will be primarily responsible for negotiating the Loan Agreement that establishes the relative terms, conditions and rights of the Borrower and the several Lenders. In larger transactions it is common to have several Agents; however, generally only one such Agent has primary responsibility for documentation and administration of a Senior Loan.

In a typical Senior Loan, the Agent administers the terms of the Loan Agreement and is responsible for the collection of principal and interest and fee payments from the Borrower and the apportionment of those payments to the credit of all Lenders that are parties to the Loan Agreement. The Fund generally will rely on the Agent to collect its portion of the payments on a Senior Loan. Furthermore, the Fund will rely on the Agent to use appropriate creditor remedies against the Borrower. Typically, under a Loan Agreement, the Agent is given broad discretion in monitoring the Borrower’s performance under the Loan Agreement and is obligated to use only the same care it would use in the management of its own property. Upon an event of default, the Agent typically will act to enforce the Loan Agreement after instruction from Lenders holding a majority of the Senior Loan. The Borrower compensates the Agent for the Agent’s services. This compensation may include special fees paid on structuring and funding the Senior Loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. The practice of an Agent relying exclusively or primarily on reports from the Borrower may involve a risk of fraud by the Borrower.

Loan Agreements typically provide for the termination of the Agent’s agency status in the event that it fails to act as required under the relevant Loan Agreement, becomes insolvent, enters receivership of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), or, if not FDIC insured, enters into bankruptcy. Should an Agent, Lender or any other institution interpositioned between the Fund and the Borrower become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy, any interest in the Senior Loan of any such interpositioned institution and any loan payment held by any such interpositioned institution for the benefit of the Fund should not be included in the estate of such interpositioned institution. If, however, any such amount were included in such interpositioned institution’s estate, the Fund would incur costs and delays in realizing payment or could suffer a loss of principal or interest. In such event, the Fund could experience a decrease in NAV.

 

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It is anticipated that the proceeds of the Senior Loans in which the Fund will acquire interests primarily will be used to finance leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, and, to a lesser extent, to finance internal growth and for other corporate purposes of Borrowers. Senior Loans have the most senior position in a Borrower’s capital structure, although some Senior Loans may hold an equal ranking with other senior securities and certain other obligations of the Borrower. The capital structure of a Borrower may include Senior Loans, senior and junior subordinated debt securities (which may include “junk” securities) and preferred and common stock issued by the Borrower, typically in descending order of seniority with respect to claims on the Borrower’s assets. Senior and junior subordinated debt is collectively referred to in this Prospectus as “junior debt securities.”

Senior Loans generally are secured by specific collateral. The Fund may invest without limitation in Senior Loans that are not secured by any collateral and, to the extent that the Fund invests a portion of its assets in Senior Loans that are not secured by specific collateral, the Fund will not enjoy the benefits associated with collateralization with respect to such Senior Loans, and such Senior Loans may pose a greater risk of nonpayment of interest or loss of principal than do collateralized Senior Loans. As discussed below, the Fund may also acquire warrants, equity securities and junior debt securities issued by the Borrower or its affiliates as part of a package of investments in the Borrower or its affiliates. The Fund may acquire interests in warrants, other equity securities or junior debt securities through a negotiated restructuring of a Senior Loan or in a bankruptcy proceeding of the Borrower.

In order to borrow money pursuant to a collateralized Senior Loan, a Borrower will typically, for the term of the Senior Loan, pledge assets as collateral. In addition, in the case of some Senior Loans, there may be additional collateral pledged in the form of guarantees by and/or securities of affiliates of the Borrowers. In some instances, a collateralized Senior Loan may be secured only by stock in the Borrower or its subsidiaries. Collateral may consist of assets that are not readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy fully a Borrower’s obligations under a Senior Loan. Similarly, in the event of bankruptcy proceedings involving the Borrower, the Lenders may be delayed or prevented from liquidating collateral or may choose not to do so as part of their participation in a plan of reorganization of the Borrower.

Loan Agreements may also include various restrictive covenants designed to limit the activities of the Borrower in an effort to protect the right of the Lenders to receive timely payments of interest on and repayment of principal of the Senior Loans. Breach of such a covenant, if not waived by the Lenders, is generally an event of default under the applicable Loan Agreement and may give the Lenders the right to accelerate principal and interest payments. The Adviser will consider the terms of restrictive covenants in deciding whether to invest in Senior Loans for the Fund’s investment portfolio. When the Fund holds a Participation in a Senior Loan, it may not have the right to vote to waive enforcement of a restrictive covenant breached by a Borrower. Lenders voting in connection with a potential waiver of a restrictive covenant may have interests different from those of the Fund, and such Lenders will not consider the interests of the Fund in connection with their votes.

Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest generally pay interest at rates that are periodically redetermined by reference to a base lending rate plus a premium. These base lending rates generally are the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (“Prime Rate”) or the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial Lenders. LIBOR generally is an average of the interest rates quoted by several designated banks as the rates at which such banks would offer to pay interest to major financial institution depositors in the London interbank market on U.S. dollar denominated deposits for a specified period of time. The CD rate generally is the average rate paid on large certificates of deposit traded in the secondary market. Senior Loans traditionally have been structured so that Borrowers pay higher premiums when they elect LIBOR, in order to permit Lenders to obtain generally consistent yields on Senior Loans, regardless of whether Borrowers select the LIBOR option or the Prime Rate option.

The Fund may invest in Participations in Senior Loans, may purchase Assignments of portions of Senior Loans from third parties and may act as one of the group of Primary Lenders.

Senior Loan Ratings. The Fund may invest all or substantially all of its assets in Senior Loans that are rated below investment grade, including Senior Loans rated CCC or below by S&P or Caa or below by Moody’s, and unrated Senior Loans of comparable quality.

 

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Additional Information. The foregoing percentage limitations in the Fund’s investment strategies apply at the time of purchase of securities. The Board of Trustees may change any of the foregoing investment policies, including its investment objective, the Underlying Index and its 80% investment policy, without shareholder approval. For example, if the Fund’s Underlying Index is discontinued by its Index Provider, the license agreement for the Underlying Index is terminated by the Index Provider or the Board of Trustees determines that it would not be beneficial to shareholders for the Fund to continue operations using the Underlying Index, the Board of Trustees may change the Underlying Index as described in the “Investment Restrictions” section of the Fund’s SAI.

Notwithstanding its 80% investment policy, the Fund is subject to the SEC’s “names rule” (Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act), and therefore commits to invest at least 80% of its assets (i.e., net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes), under normal circumstances, in Component Securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, should have economic characteristics similar to Component Securities. The Fund will provide shareholders with written notice at least 60 days prior to committing less than 80% of its assets, under normal circumstances, in Component Securities and/or financial instruments that, in combination, should have economic characteristics similar to Component Securities.

If the Fund’s shares are delisted, the Board of Trustees may seek to list its shares on another exchange, merge with another ETF or traditional mutual fund or redeem its shares at NAV.

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL RISKS

Factors that may affect the Fund’s portfolio as a whole are called “principal risks” and are summarized in this section. This summary describes the nature of these principal risks and certain related risks, but is not intended to include every potential risk. Each principal risk summarized below applies to the Fund. The Fund could be subject to additional risks because the types of investments they make may change over time. The SAI includes more information about the Fund and its investments. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program.

Asset Class Risk. The securities in the Underlying Index or in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform the returns of other securities or indices that track other countries, regions, industries, groups of industries, markets, asset classes or sectors. Various types of securities or indices tend to experience cycles of outperformance and underperformance in comparison to general securities markets.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund may engage in transactions in securities and financial instruments that involve counterparties. Under certain conditions, a counterparty to a transaction could default or the market for certain securities and/or financial instruments may become illiquid. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties, the Fund’s income may decrease. The Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding and the Fund may obtain only limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

Credit Risk. The value of debt securities owned by the Fund may be affected by the ability of issuers to make principal and interest payments. If an issuer cannot meet its payment obligations or if its credit rating is lowered, the value of its debt securities may decline. This risk varies depending upon whether the issuers of the securities are corporations or domestic or foreign governments or their sub-divisions or instrumentalities and whether the particular note or other instrument held by the Fund has a priority in payment of principal and interest. U.S. government securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk depending upon whether the securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, supported only by the credit of the issuing U.S. government agency, instrumentality, or corporation, or otherwise supported by the United States. Obligations issued by U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises, such as Government National Mortgage Association, are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, while obligations issued by others, such as Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), are backed solely by the ability of the entity to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the entity’s own resources. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to U.S. government agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not obligated to do so by law.

 

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Debt Securities Risk. The market prices of debt securities generally fluctuate inversely with changes in interest rates so that the value of investments in such securities can be expected to decrease as interest rates rise and increase as interest rates fall. Such changes may be greater among debt securities with longer maturities. Securities issued to finance corporate restructurings may have special credit risks because of the highly-leveraged conditions of the issuers, and such securities usually are subordinate to securities subsequently issued by the issuer. In addition, such issuers may lose experienced management as a result of the restructurings. Finally, the market price of such securities may be more volatile and expected benefits from restructuring may not materialize.

 

   

Investment Grade Securities. Although more creditworthy and generally less risky than below investment grade securities, investment grade securities are still subject to market and credit risk. Investment grade securities are generally considered medium and high-quality securities. Some, however, may possess speculative characteristics, and may be more sensitive to economic changes and to changes in the financial condition of issuers.

 

   

Below Investment Grade Securities. Below investment grade securities (also known as “high-yield securities” or “junk bonds”) should be considered speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. Below investment grade securities have greater credit and liquidity risk than more highly rated obligations and are generally unsecured and may be subordinate to other obligations of the obligor. The lower rating of high-yield securities reflects a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer or in general economic conditions (including, for example, a substantial period of rising interest rates or declining earnings) or both may impair the ability of the issuer to make payment of principal and interest. Many issuers of high-yield securities are highly leveraged and their relatively high debt to equity ratios create increased risks that their operations might not generate sufficient cash flow to service their obligations. Overall declines in the below investment grade bond and other markets may adversely affect such issuers by inhibiting their ability to refinance their obligations at maturity. Investments in obligations of issuers that are generally trading at significantly higher yields than had been historically typical of the applicable issuer’s obligations may include debt obligations that have a heightened probability of being in covenant or payment default in the future. Such investments generally are considered speculative. The repayment of defaulted obligations is subject to significant uncertainties. Defaulted obligations might be repaid only after lengthy workout or bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments. Typically such workout or bankruptcy proceedings result in only partial recovery of cash payments or an exchange of the defaulted security for other debt or equity securities of the issuer or its affiliates, which may in turn be illiquid or speculative. High-yield securities will be subject to certain additional risks to the extent that such obligations may be unsecured and subordinated to substantial amounts of senior indebtedness, all or a significant portion of which may be secured. Moreover, such obligations may not be protected by financial covenants or limitations upon additional indebtedness and are unlikely to be secured by collateral. See “Income Tax Considerations” in the SAI for a discussion of special tax consequences associated with below investment grade securities owned by the Fund.

Derivatives Risk. There are several risks associated with derivatives transactions. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and derivatives markets that could 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 derivatives involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The use of derivative transactions may result in losses greater than if they had not been used, may require the Fund to sell or purchase portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices other than current market values, may limit the amount of appreciation the Fund can realize on an investment or may cause the Fund to hold a security that it might otherwise sell. The Fund may enter into credit derivatives, such as credit default swaps and credit default index investments, including loan credit default swaps and loan credit default index swaps. The use by the Fund of credit default swaps may have the effect of creating a short position in a security. These investments can create investment leverage and may create additional investment risks that may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in more traditional securities. Derivative contracts may expire worthless. Special tax considerations apply to the Fund’s use of derivatives. See the “Taxation” section below.

 

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Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. The value of ETFs can be expected to increase and decrease in value in proportion to increases and decreases in the indices that they are designed to track. The volatility of different index tracking stocks can be expected to vary in proportion to the volatility of the particular index they track. ETFs are traded similarly to stocks of individual companies. Although an ETF is designed to provide investment performance corresponding to its index, it may not be able to exactly replicate the performance of its index because of its operating expenses and other factors. In addition, shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses of the underlying investment company when the Fund invests in shares of another investment company.

Focused Investment Risk. The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans arranged through private negotiations between a Borrower and several financial institutions may expose the Fund to risks associated with the financial services industry. Financial services companies are subject to extensive government regulation, which can limit both the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make and the interest rates and fees they can charge. Profitability is largely dependent on the availability and cost of capital funds and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change. Because financial services companies are highly dependent on short-term interest rates, they can be adversely affected by downturns in the U.S. and foreign economies or changes in banking regulations. Credit losses resulting from financial difficulties of Borrowers can negatively affect financial services companies. Insurance companies can be subject to severe price competition. The financial services industry is currently undergoing relatively rapid change as existing distinctions between financial service segments become less clear. For instance, recent business combinations have included insurance, finance, and securities brokerage under single ownership. Some primarily retail corporations have expanded into the securities and insurance industries. Moreover, the federal laws generally separating commercial and investment banking have been repealed. These changes may make it more difficult for the Adviser to analyze loans in this industry. Additionally, the recently increased volatility in the financial markets and implementation of the recent financial reform legislation may affect the financial services industry as a whole in ways that may be difficult to predict.

Illiquid Securities Risk. Illiquid securities may offer higher returns and/or yields than comparable publicly traded securities. The Fund, however, may not be able to sell these securities when the Adviser considers it desirable to do so or, to the extent they are sold privately, may have to sell them at less than the price of otherwise comparable securities. Disposing of illiquid securities may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and selling them promptly at an acceptable price may be difficult or impossible.

Industry Concentration Risk. Because the Fund may invest 25% or more of the value of its assets in an industry or group of industries to the extent that the Underlying Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries, the Fund’s performance largely depends on the overall condition of such industry or group of industries and the Fund is susceptible to economic, political and regulatory risks or other occurrences associated with that industry or group of industries. The performance of the Fund if it invests a significant portion of its assets in a particular sector or industry may be closely tied to the performance of companies in a limited number of sectors or industries. Companies in a single sector often share common characteristics, are faced with the same obstacles, issues and regulatory burdens and their securities may react similarly to adverse market conditions. The price movements of investments in a particular sector or industry may be more volatile than the price movements of more broadly diversified investments.

Intellectual Property Risk. The Fund relies on a license that permits the Adviser to use the Intellectual Property in connection with the name and investment strategies of the Fund. Such license may be terminated by the Index Provider, and, as a result, the Fund may lose its ability to use the Intellectual Property. There is also no guarantee that the Index Provider has all rights to license the Intellectual Property. Accordingly, in the event the license is terminated or the Index Provider does not have rights to license the Intellectual Property, it may have a significant effect on the operation of the Fund.

Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate securities already held by the Fund can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of existing fixed-rate portfolio securities can be expected to decline. To the extent the Fund invests in fixed-rate debt securities with longer maturities, the Fund is subject to greater interest rate risk than funds investing solely in shorter-term fixed-rate debt securities. In addition, in a period of rising interest rates, the higher cost of any leverage employed by the Fund and/or increasing defaults by issuers of high-yield securities would likely exacerbate any decline in the Fund’s NAV and the market price of the Fund’s shares. If an issuer of a debt security containing a redemption or call provision exercises either provision in a declining interest rate market, the Fund would likely replace the security with a security having a lower interest rate, which could result in a decreased return for shareholders.

 

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To the extent that changes in market rates of interest are reflected not in a change to a base rate (such as LIBOR) but in a change in the spread over the base rate, which is payable on loans of the type and quality in which the Fund invests, the Fund’s income could be adversely affected. This is because the value of a Senior Loan is partially a function of whether the Senior Loan is paying what the market perceives to be a market rate of interest, given its individual credit and other characteristics. However, unlike changes in market rates of interest for which there is generally only a temporary lag before the portfolio reflects those changes, changes in a Senior Loan’s value based on changes in the market spread on Senior Loans in the Fund’s portfolio may be of longer duration.

Lender Liability Risk. A number of judicial decisions in the United States and elsewhere have upheld the right of Borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of various evolving legal theories (collectively termed “lender liability”). Generally, lender liability is founded upon the premise that an institutional Lender has violated a duty (whether implied or contractual) of good faith and fair dealing owed to the Borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the Borrower resulting in a creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the Borrower or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of certain of the Fund’s investments, the Fund or the Adviser could be subject to allegations of lender liability.

In addition, under common law principles that in some cases form the basis for lender liability claims, if a lending institution (i) intentionally takes an action that results in the under capitalization of a Borrower to the detriment of other creditors of such Borrower, (ii) engages in other inequitable conduct to the detriment of such other creditors, (iii) engages in fraud with respect to, or makes misrepresentations to, such other creditors or (iv) uses its influence as a stockholder to dominate or control a Borrower to the detriment of other creditors of such Borrower, a court may elect to subordinate the claim of the offending lending institution to the claims of the disadvantaged creditor or creditors, a remedy termed “equitable subordination.” As an owner of bank debt in reorganizing companies, the Fund could be subject to claims from creditors of a company that the Fund’s claim should be equitably subordinated, including as a result of actions or omissions by the Fund’s predecessors in interest.

Limited Information Risk. The types of Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest may not have been rated by a NRSRO, have not been registered with the SEC or any state securities commission, and have not been listed on any national securities exchange. Although the Fund will generally have access to financial and other information made available to the Lenders in connection with Senior Loans, the amount of public information available with respect to Senior Loans will generally be less extensive than that available for rated, registered or exchange-listed securities.

Liquidity Risk. At times, a major portion of any portfolio security may be held by relatively few institutional purchasers. Although the Fund generally considers such securities to be liquid because of the availability of an institutional market for such securities, under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund may find it more difficult to sell such securities when the Adviser believes it advisable to do so or may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if the securities were more widely held. In such circumstances, the Fund also may find it more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV. The Fund, in most instances, utilizes market transactions or an independent pricing service to determine the value of its securities. However, quotations from a pricing service (or other quotations) may not be a reliable indicator of the price the Fund could realize upon sale due to many factors, including, but not limited to, the number of active purchasers and sellers, variable economic and market conditions and changes in the financial condition (or perceived financial condition) of the issuer at the time of sale. As a result, pricing of the Fund’s securities does not rely solely on a price determined by an independent pricing service; other relevant information is also monitored and other valuation methodologies may be used as appropriate.

Management Risk. The Fund does not fully replicate the Underlying Index and may hold securities not included in the Underlying Index. As a result, the Fund is subject to the risk that Pyxis’s investment management strategy, the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results.

Market Price Variance Risk. Individual shares of the Fund will be listed for trading on the Exchange and can be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The market prices of shares will fluctuate in response to changes in NAV and supply and demand for shares. The Adviser cannot predict whether shares will trade above, below or at their NAV. Differences between secondary market prices and NAV for shares may be due largely to

 

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supply and demand forces in the secondary market, which may not be the same forces as those influencing prices for securities or instruments held by the Fund at a particular time. Given the fact that shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units, the Adviser believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of shares should not be sustained. There may, however, be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly and you may pay more than NAV when buying shares on the secondary market, and you may receive less than NAV when you sell those shares. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that shares normally will trade close to their NAV, disruptions to creations and redemptions may result in trading prices that differ significantly from the NAV. The market price of shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialist, market makers or other participants that trade the particular security. In times of severe market disruption, the bid-ask spread often increases significantly. This means that shares may trade at a discount to NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest when the price of shares is falling fastest, which may be the time that you most want to sell your shares. The Fund’s investment results are measured based upon the daily NAV of the Fund. Investors purchasing and selling shares in the secondary market may not experience investment results consistent with those experienced by those creating and redeeming directly with the Fund.

Market Risk. The performance of any investment is subject to numerous factors that are neither within the control of, nor predictable by, the Adviser. Such factors include a wide range of economic, political, competitive and other conditions that may affect investments in general or specific industries or companies. Certain events, such as terrorist attacks, wars and other geopolitical events, may have disruptive negative effects on securities markets and the Fund. Historically, the securities markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may change drastically from day to day. In recent years, the securities markets have become increasingly volatile, which may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to realize profits. As a result of the nature of the Fund’s investment activities, it is possible that the Fund’s financial performance may fluctuate substantially from period to period. Additionally, at any point in time an investment in the Fund may be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account the reinvestment of dividends and distributions.

Non-Diversification Risk. Due to the nature of the Fund’s investment strategy and its non-diversified status (for purposes of the 1940 Act), it is possible that a material amount of the Fund’s portfolio could be invested in the securities of one or a few issuers. Investing a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio in one or a few issuers may result in the Fund’s shares being more sensitive to the economic results of those few issuers.

Non-Payment Risk. Debt securities are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal. Non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the security experiencing non-payment and a potential decrease in the Fund’s NAV and the market price of the Fund’s shares. There can be no assurance that the liquidation of any collateral would satisfy the Borrower’s obligation in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal payments, or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. Moreover, as a practical matter, most Borrowers cannot satisfy their debts by selling their assets. Borrowers pay their debts from the cash flow they generate. This is particularly the case for Borrowers that are highly leveraged. Many of the debt securities purchased by the Fund will be to highly leveraged Borrowers. If the Borrower’s cash flow is insufficient to pay its debts as they come due, the Borrower is far more likely to seek to restructure its debts than it is to sell off assets to pay its Senior Loans. Borrowers may try to restructure their debts either by seeking protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or negotiating a work out. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations with respect to its ability to realize the benefits of the collateral securing a debt security. The Agent generally is responsible for determining that the Lenders have obtained a perfected security interest in the collateral securing the debt security. If a Borrower files for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Code will impose an automatic stay that prohibits the Agent from liquidating collateral. The Agent may ask the bankruptcy court to lift the stay. As a practical matter, the court is unlikely to lift the stay if it concludes that the Borrower has a chance to emerge from the reorganization proceedings and the collateral is likely to hold most of its value. If the Lenders have a perfected security interest, the debt security will be treated as a separate class in the reorganization proceedings and will retain a priority interest in the collateral. Chapter 11 reorganization plans typically are the product of negotiation among the Borrower and the various creditor classes. Successful negotiations may require the Lenders to extend the time for repayment, change the interest rate or accept some consideration in the form of junior debt or equity securities. A work out outside of bankruptcy may produce similar concessions by senior Lenders.

 

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Ongoing Monitoring Risk. On behalf of the several Lenders, the Agent generally will be required to administer and manage the Senior Loans and, with respect to collateralized Senior Loans, to service or monitor the collateral. In this connection, the valuation of assets pledged as collateral will reflect market value and the Agent may rely on independent appraisals as to the value of specific collateral. The Agent, however, may not obtain an independent appraisal as to the value of assets pledged as collateral in all cases. The Fund normally will rely primarily on the Agent (where the Fund is a Primary Lender or owns an Assignment) or the selling Lender (where the Fund owns a Participation) to collect principal of and interest on a Senior Loan. Furthermore, the Fund usually will rely on the Agent (where the Fund is a Primary Lender or owns an Assignment) or the selling Lender (where the Fund owns a Participation) to monitor compliance by the Borrower with the restrictive covenants in the Loan Agreement and notify the Fund of any adverse change in the Borrower’s financial condition or any declaration of insolvency. Collateralized Senior Loans will frequently be secured by all assets of the Borrower that qualify as collateral, which may include common stock of the Borrower or its subsidiaries. Additionally, the terms of the Loan Agreement may require the Borrower to pledge additional collateral to secure the Senior Loan, and enable the Agent, upon proper authorization of the Lenders, to take possession of and liquidate the collateral and to distribute the liquidation proceeds pro rata among the Lenders. If the terms of a Senior Loan do not require the Borrower to pledge additional collateral in the event of a decline in the value of the original collateral, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of the collateral will not at all times equal or exceed the amount of the Borrower’s obligations under the Senior Loan. Lenders that have sold Participation interests in such Senior Loan will distribute liquidation proceeds received by the Lenders pro rata among the holders of such Participations. Unless, under the terms of the loan, the Fund has direct recourse against the Borrower, the Fund may have to rely on the Agent or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a Borrower. The Adviser will also monitor these aspects of the Fund’s investments and, where the Fund is a Primary Lender or owns an Assignment, will be directly involved with the Agent and the other Lenders regarding the exercise of credit remedies.

Options Risk. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A transaction in options or securities may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

When the Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, 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 strike price of the call, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation and once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price.

When the Fund writes a covered put option, the Fund bears the risk of loss if the value of the underlying stock declines below the exercise price minus the put premium. If the option is exercised, the Fund could incur a loss if it is required to purchase the stock underlying the put option at a price greater than the market price of the stock at the time of exercise plus the put premium the Fund received when it wrote the option. While the Fund’s potential gain in writing a covered put option is limited to distributions earned on the liquid assets securing the put option plus the premium received from the purchaser of the put option, the Fund risks a loss equal to the entire exercise price of the option minus the put premium.

Passive Investment Risk. The Fund is not actively managed and may be affected by a general decline in loan market segments included in the Underlying Index. The Fund invests in securities included in, or representative of, the Underlying Index regardless of their investment merits. Pyxis does not attempt to take defensive positions under any market conditions, including during declining markets.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high rate of portfolio turnover (i.e., 100% or more) will result in increased transaction costs for the Fund in the form of increased dealer spreads and brokerage commissions. High portfolio turnover also could produce higher taxable distributions and lower the Fund’s after-tax performance.

Prepayment Risk. Borrowers may pay back principal before the scheduled due date. Such prepayments may require the Fund to replace a debt security with a lower-yielding security. This may adversely affect the NAV of the Fund’s shares.

 

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Regulatory Risk. To the extent that legislation or state or federal regulators impose additional requirements or restrictions with respect to the ability of financial institutions to make loans in connection with highly leveraged transactions, the availability of Senior Loan interests for investment by the Fund may be adversely affected. In addition, such requirements or restrictions may reduce or eliminate sources of financing for affected Borrowers. Further, to the extent that legislation or federal or state regulators require such institutions to dispose of Senior Loan interests relating to highly leveraged transactions or subject such Senior Loan interests to increased regulatory scrutiny, such financial institutions may determine to sell Senior Loan interests in a manner that results in a price that, in the opinion of the Adviser, is not indicative of fair value. Were the Fund to attempt to sell a Senior Loan interest at a time when a financial institution was engaging in such a sale with respect to the Senior Loan interest, the price at which the Fund could consummate such a sale might be adversely affected. See “Industry Concentration Risk” above.

Senior Loans Risk. The risks associated with Senior Loans are similar to the risks of below investment grade securities, although Senior Loans are typically senior and secured in contrast to other types of below investment grade securities, which are often subordinated and unsecured. Senior Loans’ higher standing in an issuer’s capital structure has historically resulted in generally higher recoveries in the event of a corporate reorganization or other restructuring. In addition, because their interest rates are adjusted for changes in short-term interest rates, Senior Loans generally have less interest rate risk than other high yield investments, which typically pay fixed rates of interest.

The Fund’s investments in Senior Loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers. Moreover, any specific collateral used to secure a loan may decline in value or lose all its value or become illiquid, which would adversely affect the loan’s value. Economic and other events, whether real or perceived, can reduce the demand for certain Senior Loans or Senior Loans generally, which may reduce market prices and cause the Fund’s NAV per share to fall. The frequency and magnitude of such changes cannot be predicted.

The secondary market in which these investments are traded is generally less liquid than the market for higher-grade debt. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield Senior Loan, and could adversely affect the market price and NAV of the Fund’s shares. At times of less liquidity, it may be more difficult to value high yield Senior Loans because this valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation since there is less reliable, objective data available. Investments in Senior Loans and other securities may result in greater NAV and market price fluctuation of the Fund’s shares than if the Fund did not make such investments. See “Taxation” below for a discussion of special tax consequences associated with any investment by the Fund in below investment grade securities.

Senior Loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in prevailing interest rates, although floating rate debt instruments are less exposed to this risk than fixed rate debt instruments. Conversely, the floating rate feature of Senior Loans means the Senior Loans will not generally experience capital appreciation in a declining interest rate environment. Declines in interest rates may also increase prepayments of debt obligations and require the Fund to invest assets at lower yields. No active trading market may exist for certain Senior Loans, which may impair the ability of the Fund to realize full value in the event of the need to liquidate such assets. Adverse market conditions may impair the liquidity of some actively traded Senior Loans.

Although Senior Loans in which the Fund will invest will often be secured by collateral, there can be no assurance that liquidation of such collateral would satisfy the Borrower’s obligation in the event of a default or that such collateral could be readily liquidated. In the event of bankruptcy of a Borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations in its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing a Senior Loan. The Fund may also invest in Senior Loans that are not secured.

Tracking Error Risk. Imperfect correlation between the Fund’s portfolio securities and those in the Underlying Index, rounding of prices, changes to the Underlying Index and regulatory requirements may cause tracking error, which is the divergence of the Fund’s performance from that of the Underlying Index. This risk may be heightened during times of increased market volatility or other unusual market conditions. Tracking error also may result because the Fund incurs fees and expenses, while the Underlying Index does not. Because the Fund employs a representative sampling strategy, the Fund may experience tracking error to a greater extent than a fund that seeks to replicate an index.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Board of Trustees and Investment Adviser

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has overall management responsibility for the Fund. See “Management” in the SAI for the names of and other information about the Trustees and officers of the Fund.

Pyxis Capital, L.P. serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The address of the Adviser is 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201. Pyxis provides the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities, which includes buying and selling securities for the Fund and conducting investment research. Additionally, Pyxis furnishes offices, necessary facilities, equipment and personnel and pays the compensation of the Trustee of the Fund who is Pyxis’s affiliate.

The Fund has entered into an investment advisory agreement with Pyxis (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which Pyxis either provides the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio of securities, which includes buying and selling securities for the Fund and conducting investment research, or hires a sub-adviser to do so, subject to Pyxis’s general oversight. Additionally, Pyxis furnishes offices, necessary facilities, equipment and personnel and paid the compensation of each Trustee of the Fund who is Pyxis’s affiliate.

In return for its advisory services, the Fund will pay the Adviser a monthly fee, computed and accrued daily, based on an annual rate of [•]% of the Fund’s “Average Daily Managed Assets.” “Average Daily Managed Assets” of the Fund shall mean the average daily value of the total assets of the Fund, less all accrued liabilities of the Fund (other than the aggregate amount of any outstanding borrowings constituting financial leverage). A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund will be included in the Trust’s semi-annual or annual report to shareholders that covers the period during which the approval occurred. The Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Fund or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, without the payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice. In addition, the Investment Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act).

Organized in February 2009, Pyxis is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. As of [•], Pyxis has approximately $[•] billion in assets under management.

Service Providers

[SEI Investments Distribution Co. (“SEI”)] serves as the administrator and fund accounting and transfer agent for the Fund.

Certain Legal Proceedings Relating to the Adviser and the Fund

Matters Relating to the Fund’s Investment in Broadstripe, LLC. Pyxis, other accounts and funds managed by Pyxis, and an unaffiliated investment manager are defendants in a lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court on November 17, 2008 by WaveDivision Holdings, LLC and an affiliate, alleging causes of action stemming from the plaintiffs’ 2006 agreements with Millennium Digital Media Systems, LLC (“Millennium”) (now known as Broadstripe, LLC), pursuant to which Millennium had agreed, subject to certain conditions, to sell certain cable television systems to the plaintiffs. During the relevant period, defendant funds and accounts managed by Pyxis held debt obligations of Millennium. As of June 30, 2010, a fund managed by Pyxis attributed total value to its investment in the Millennium revolving credit agreement and term loan, each of which is secured by a first lien, of an aggregate of approximately $44.5 million. The complaint alleged that Pyxis and an unaffiliated investment manager caused Millennium to terminate the contracts to sell the cable systems to the plaintiffs. The amended complaint sought compensatory and punitive damages in an unspecified amount to be presented at trial. On October 31, 2011, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of all defendants. Plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal on November 30, 2011. Pyxis will continue to vigorously contest Plaintiffs’ allegations at the appeal.

 

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In addition, funds managed by Pyxis that held certain debt issued by Broadstripe, LLC are defendants in a complaint (the “Committee Action”) filed on May 8, 2009 by the official committee of unsecured creditors of Broadstripe, LLC and its affiliated debtors (collectively, the “Debtors”) in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases (the “Cases”) pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges various causes of action against Pyxis and certain funds managed by Pyxis and seeks various relief, including recharacterization and equitable subordination of the debt held by funds managed by Pyxis and recovery of certain payments made by the Debtors to funds managed by Pyxis. On December 8, 2010, funds managed by Pyxis entered into a settlement agreement in connection with the Committee Action. Among other things, the settlement provides for the stay and dismissal of the Committee Action and certain other litigation or claims asserted by, against, or related to the Debtors or their Cases. The settlement also creates a $3.3 million creditors trust for the benefit of general unsecured creditors and provides for the payment of $500,000 in previously incurred fees by counsel to the unsecured creditors’ committee. The settlement also establishes certain milestones relating to the filing of a plan of reorganization or a motion to sell all or substantially all the Debtors’ assets. In the event these milestones are not achieved by certain specified dates, any party to the settlement may petition the Bankruptcy Court to terminate the settlement for cause.

Multi-Manager Structure

On October 26, 2010, the SEC issued a multi-managers’ exemptive order (the “Order”) granting exemptive relief to Pyxis Funds I (the “Trust”) and the Adviser from certain provisions of the 1940 Act, pursuant to which the Adviser will, subject to the oversight of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, be permitted to enter into and materially amend sub-advisory agreements on behalf of the Fund with sub-advisers unaffiliated with the Adviser without such agreements being approved by the shareholders of the Fund. The Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Adviser will therefore have the right to hire, terminate or replace sub-advisers without first obtaining shareholder approval, including in the event that a sub-advisory agreement has automatically terminated as a result of an assignment. The Adviser will continue to have the ultimate responsibility to oversee each sub-adviser and recommend its hiring, termination and replacement. [The Fund has obtained approval of the Fund’s reliance on the Order from the Board and from the initial shareholder of the Fund.] The Trust and the Adviser will be subject to certain conditions imposed by the Order, including the condition that within 90 days of hiring of a new non-affiliated sub-adviser, the Fund will provide shareholders with an information statement containing information about the sub-adviser. Shareholders of the Fund retain the right to terminate a sub-advisory agreement for the Fund at any time by a vote of the majority of the outstanding securities of the Fund.

Portfolio Managers

The Fund

The Fund’s portfolio is managed by Greg Stuecheli and Ethan Powell. Mr. Stuecheli and Mr. Powell have managed the portfolio since its inception.

Greg Stuecheli. Mr. Stuecheli is a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager of Retail Products at Pyxis. Previously, Mr. Stuecheli was a Portfolio Manager covering distressed and special situation credit and equity investments at Pyxis and its predecessor. In addition, Mr. Stuecheli currently serves on the board of directors of CCS Medical Holdings, Inc. and LLV Holdco, LLC (as Chairman). He is a former board member of Safety-Kleen Holdco, Inc. Prior to joining Pyxis and its predecessor, Mr. Stuecheli served as an analyst for Gryphon Management Partners, LP from 2000 to 2002. His primary responsibilities included researching long and short investment ideas. In 1999 he was a Summer Associate at Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Stuecheli worked as a chemical engineer at Jacobs Engineering Group and Cytec Industries. He received an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Ethan Powell. Mr. Powell is the Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Adviser and was previously a Senior Retail Fund Analyst at Pyxis and its predecessor since 2007. He has served as the Secretary of the funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex since November 2010 and as the Executive Vice President of the funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex since June 2012. Prior to joining Pyxis and its predecessor, Mr. Powell was the manager in the Merger and Acquisitions Division at Ernst & Young from 1999 to 2006.

 

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

Distributor of the Fund

The Fund’s shares are offered for sale through [SEI] (the “Distributor”), [One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456]. The Distributor does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Fund. The Distributor has no role in determining the policies of the Fund or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Fund.

Distribution (12b-1) Plan

Under a Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) adopted by the Board, the Fund may pay the Distributor and financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers and investment advisors, up to 0.25% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Fund as reimbursement or compensation for distribution related activities with respect to the Fund. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. As of the date of this Prospectus, no payments have been made by the Fund under the Plan.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of such Fund’s portfolio securities is available (i) in the SAI and (ii)  on the Fund’s website at http://www.pyxisais.com.

HOW TO BUY AND SELL SHARES

The Trust issues and redeems shares of the Fund only in aggregations of Creation Units. A Creation Unit is comprised of [50,000] shares. The value of such Creation Unit was $[500,000] at the Fund’s inception. See the section of this Prospectus entitled “Creation and Redemption of Shares” for more information.

Shares of the Fund are listed on the Exchange for trading on any day that the Exchange is open for business. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly-traded companies. The Trust does not impose any minimum investment for shares of the Fund purchased on an exchange. Buying or selling Fund shares on an exchange involves two types of costs that may apply to all securities transactions. When buying or selling shares of the Fund through a broker, you will likely incur a brokerage commission or other charges determined by your broker. In addition, you may incur the cost of the “spread” – that is, any difference between the bid price and the ask price. The commission is frequently a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell small amounts of shares. The spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on its trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund has a lot of trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund has little trading volume and market liquidity. The Fund’s shares trade under the trading symbol “[LQLN].”

The Board has adopted a policy of not monitoring for frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares (“frequent trading”) that appear to attempt to take advantage of a potential arbitrage opportunity presented by a lag between a change in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities after the close of the primary markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities and the reflection of that change in the Fund’s NAV (“market timing”), because the Fund’s shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange. Because secondary market trades do not involve the Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in the Fund’s trading costs and the realization of capital gains.

Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in SEC rules or in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust. In order for a registered investment company to invest in shares of the Fund pursuant to the exemptive relief obtained by the Trust from the limitations of Section 12(d)(1), the company must enter into an agreement with the Trust.

 

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Book Entry

Shares of the Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of the Fund and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes.

Investors owning shares of the Fund are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for shares of the Fund. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. Beneficial owners of shares are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have shares registered in their names, and they are not considered a registered owner of shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of shares, a beneficial owner must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other securities that a beneficial owner holds in book-entry or “street name” form.

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES [TO BE UPDATED]

The Trust issues and sells Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any day that the Exchange is open for business. Creation Units of shares may be purchased only by or through a DTC Participant that has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Investors who are not Authorized Participants must make appropriate arrangements with an Authorized Participant. Due to the nature of the Fund’s investments, Authorized Participants generally will deposit cash in exchange for a specified number of Creation Units, although the Fund may permit Authorized Participants to deposit a portfolio of securities approximating the holdings of the Fund or a combination of cash and a portfolio of securities approximating the holdings of the Fund in exchange for a specified amount of Creation Units. To the extent practicable, the composition of such portfolio generally corresponds pro rata to the holdings of the Fund.

Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not be a DTC Participant or may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement, and that therefore orders to purchase Creation Units of shares may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. As a result, purchase orders placed through an Authorized Participant may result in additional charges to such investor. The Trust does not expect to enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with more than a small number of DTC Participants.

Purchases through and outside the Clearing Process

An Authorized Participant may place an order to purchase (or redeem) Creation Units (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement clearing processes of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) as such processes have been enhanced to effect purchases (and redemptions) of Creation Units, such processes being referred to herein as the “Clearing Process,” or (ii) outside the Clearing Process. To purchase or redeem through the Clearing Process, an Authorized Participant must be a member of NSCC that is eligible to use the Continuous Net Settlement system. For purchase orders placed through the Clearing Process, the Authorized Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit through the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) to NSCC, on behalf of an Authorized Participant, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Authorized Participant’s purchase order. Pursuant to such trade instructions to NSCC, the Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the requisite deposit securities and the balancing amount to the Trust, together with the Transaction Fee and such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. A purchase order must be received by the Distributor at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by mail or by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means permitted under the Participant Agreement in order to receive that day’s Closing NAV per Share.

An Authorized Participant that wishes to place an order to purchase Creation Units outside the Clearing Process must state that it is not using the Clearing Process and that the purchase instead will be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. Purchases (and redemptions) of Creation Units settled outside the Clearing Process will be subject to a higher Transaction Fee than those settled through the Clearing Process.

 

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Purchase orders effected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the Authorized Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer.

Rejection of Purchase Orders

The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a purchase order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect to the Fund if (a) the purchaser or group of purchasers, upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (b) the deposit securities delivered are not as specified by the Adviser and the Adviser has not consented to acceptance of an in-kind deposit that varies from the designated deposit securities; (c) acceptance of the purchase transaction order would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (d) the acceptance of the purchase transaction order would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (e) the acceptance of the purchase order transaction would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; (f) the value of a cash purchase amount, or the value of the balancing amount to accompany an in-kind deposit, exceeds a purchase authorization limit extended to an Authorized Participant by the custodian and the Authorized Participant has not deposited an amount in excess of such purchase authorization with the custodian prior to the relevant cut-off time for the Fund on the Transmittal Date; or (g) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Distributor and the Adviser make it impractical to process purchase orders. The Trust shall notify a prospective purchaser of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of purchase transaction orders nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

Redemptions

Similarly, shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in good order by the Distributor on any day on that the Exchange is open for business. The Fund reserves the right to reject any redemption request that is not in good order. The specific requirements for good order depend on the type of account and the method of redemption. Contact Pyxis if you have any questions about your particular circumstances. Generally, “good order” means that the redemption request meets all applicable requirements described in this Prospectus.

The Trust will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. The portfolio of securities required for purchase of a Creation Unit may be different than the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund shares.

Beneficial owners also may sell shares in the secondary market, but must accumulate enough shares to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit of shares. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

The Fund, however, may suspend the right of redemption and postpone payment for more than seven days: (i) during periods when trading on the Exchange is closed on days other than weekdays or holidays; (ii) during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted; (iii) during any emergency which makes it impractical for the Fund to dispose of its securities or fairly determine the NAV of the Fund; and (iv) during any other period permitted by the SEC for your protection.

Because new shares may be created and issued on an ongoing basis, at any point during the life of the Fund a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may be occurring. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. Any determination of whether one is an underwriter must take into account all the relevant facts and circumstances of each particular case.

 

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Broker-dealers should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary transactions), and thus dealing with shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act. For delivery of prospectuses to exchange members, the prospectus delivery mechanism of Rule 153 under the 1933 Act is available only with respect to transactions on a national securities exchange.

Redemption Proceeds

A redemption request received by the Fund will be effected at the NAV per share next determined after the Fund receives the request in good order. While the Fund will generally pay redemptions proceeds in cash, the Fund may pay your redemption proceeds wholly or partially in portfolio securities. You will be exposed to market risk until you convert these portfolio securities into cash, and you will likely pay commissions upon any such conversion. If you receive illiquid securities, you could find it more difficult to sell such securities and may not be able to sell such securities at prices that reflect the Adviser’s or your assessment of their fair value or the amount paid for them by the Fund. Illiquidity may result from the absence of an established market for such securities as well as legal, contractual or other restrictions on their resale and other factors.

Transaction Fees

Authorized Participants are charged standard creation and redemption transaction fees (“Transaction Fees”) to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Purchasers and redeemers of Creation Units for cash are required to pay an additional variable charge (up to the maximum amount shown below) to compensate for brokerage and market impact expenses. The standard creation and redemption transaction fees are set forth below. The standard creation transaction fee is charged to each purchaser on the day such purchaser creates a Creation Unit. The standard creation transaction fee is the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by an investor on the applicable business day. Similarly, the standard redemption transaction fee is the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed on the same day. Creations and redemptions through DTC for cash (when cash creations and redemptions are available or specified) are also subject to an additional variable charge up to the maximum amounts shown in the table below. In addition, purchasers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for payment of the costs of transferring securities to the Fund and redeemers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring securities from the Fund. Investors who use the services of a broker or other financial intermediary may pay fees for such services.

The following table shows, as of [•] [•], 20[•], the approximate value of one Creation Unit, standard fees and maximum additional charges for creations and redemptions:

 

Approximate

Value of a

Creation Unit

   Creation Unit Size    

Standard

Creation/Redemption

Transaction Fee

   

Maximum

Additional Charge

for Creations*

   

Maximum

Additional Charge

for Redemptions*

 

$[500,000]

     [50,000 ] shares    $ [ •]      [ •]%      [ •]* 

 

* 

As a percentage of the net asset value per Creation Unit, inclusive, in the case of redemptions, of the standard transaction fee.

NET ASSET VALUE

The NAV per share of the Fund is calculated as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange, normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on each day that the Exchange is open for business. The NAV per share is computed by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets (i.e., the value of its securities and other assets less its liabilities, including expenses payable or accrued but excluding capital stock and surplus) attributable to the Fund by the total number of shares of the Fund outstanding at the time the determination is made.

The Fund’s portfolio securities are valued in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies approved by the Board. The value of the Fund’s investments is generally determined as follows:

 

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Portfolio securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at their current market value, except that debt securities that are not credit-impaired and have remaining maturities of 60 days or less will be valued at amortized cost, a method of fair valuation.

 

   

Foreign securities listed on foreign exchanges are valued based on quotations from the primary market in which they are traded and are translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Foreign securities may trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not calculate NAV. As a result, the market value of these investments may change on days when you cannot buy or redeem shares of the Fund.

 

   

Investments by the Fund in any mutual fund are valued at their respective NAVs as determined by those mutual funds each business day. The prospectuses for those mutual funds explain the circumstances under which those funds will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.

 

   

All other portfolio securities, including derivatives and cases where market quotations are not readily available, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures established by the Board. Pursuant to the Fund’s pricing procedures, securities for which market quotations are not readily available may include securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, securities for which no or limited trading activity has occurred for a period of time, or securities that are otherwise deemed to be illiquid (i.e., securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days at approximately the price at which the security is currently priced by the Fund which holds the security). Market quotations may also be not “readily available” if an event occurs after the close of the principal exchange on which a portfolio security trades (but before the time for calculation of the Fund’s NAV) if that event affects or is likely to affect (more than minimally) the NAV per share of the Fund. Fair value pricing involves judgments that are inherently subjective and inexact; as a result, there can be no assurance that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security will be materially different from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that asset.

Valuing the Fund’s investments using fair value pricing will result in using prices for those investments that may differ from current market valuations. Use of fair value prices and certain current market valuations could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate the Fund’s NAV and the prices used by the Underlying Index, which, in turn, could result in a difference between the Fund’s performance and the performance of the Underlying Index.

SHARE PRICES

The trading prices of the Fund’s shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Fund’s daily NAV and are affected by market forces such as supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors. Information regarding the intraday value of shares of the Fund, also known as the “indicative optimized portfolio value” (“IOPV”), is disseminated every 15 seconds throughout the trading day by the national securities exchange on which the Fund’s shares are listed or by market data vendors or other information providers. The IOPV is based on the current market value of the securities and/or cash required to be deposited in exchange for a Creation Unit. The IOPV does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities held by the Fund at a particular point in time or the best possible valuation of the current portfolio. Therefore, the IOPV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the Fund’s NAV, which is computed only once a day. The IOPV is generally determined by using both current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers that may trade in the portfolio securities held by the Fund. The quotations of certain Fund holdings may not be updated during U.S. trading hours if such holdings do not trade in the U.S. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the IOPV and makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy.

Premium/Discount Information

The Fund’s website has information about the premiums and discounts for the Fund. Premiums or discounts are the differences between the NAV and market price of the Fund on a given day, generally at the time NAV is calculated. A premium is the amount that the Fund is trading above the NAV. A discount is the amount that the Fund is trading below the NAV.

 

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DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund intends to declare and pay dividends on net investment income monthly and to pay any capital gain distributions on an annual basis. There is no fixed dividend rate, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will pay any dividends or make any capital gain distributions.

No dividend reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by beneficial owners of the Fund for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial owners should contact their broker to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Brokers may require beneficial owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of the Fund purchased in the secondary market.

INDEX PROVIDER

The Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF is based on the Markit iBoxx Liquid Leveraged Loan Index, provided by Markit, Inc., a leading provider of independent data, portfolio valuations and OTC derivatives trade processing to the financial markets. The Index Provider is not affiliated with the Trust, the Adviser, the Distributor, or any of their respective affiliates.

The Underlying Index referenced herein is the property of Markit Indices Limited and has been licensed for use in connection with the Fund. Each party acknowledges and agrees that the Fund is not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by the Index Provider. The Index Provider makes no representation whatsoever, whether express or implied, and hereby expressly disclaim all warranties (including, without limitation, those of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use), with respect to the Underlying Index or any data included therein or relating thereto, and in particular disclaim any warranty either as to the quality, accuracy and/or completeness of the Underlying Index or any data included therein, the results obtained from the use of the Underlying Index and/or the composition of the Underlying Index at any particular time on any particular date or otherwise and/or the creditworthiness of any entity, or the likelihood of the occurrence of a credit event or similar event (however defined) with respect to an obligation, in the Underlying Index at any particular time on any particular date or otherwise.

The Index Provider shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to the parties or any other person for any error in the Underlying Index, and the Index Provider is under no obligation to advise the parties or any person of any error therein. The Index Provider makes no representation whatsoever, whether express or implied, as to the advisability of purchasing or selling the Fund, the ability of the Underlying Index to track relevant markets’ performances, or otherwise relating to the Underlying Index or any transaction or product with respect thereto, or of assuming any risks in connection therewith. The Index Provider has no obligation to take the needs of any party into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Underlying Index. No party purchasing or selling the Fund, nor the Index Provider, shall have any liability to any party for any act or failure to act by the Index Provider in connection with the determination, adjustment, calculation or maintenance of the Underlying Index. The Index Provider and its affiliates may deal in any obligations that compose the Underlying Index, and may, where permitted, accept deposits from, make loans or otherwise extend credit to, and generally engage in any kind of commercial or investment banking or other business with the issuers of such obligations or their affiliates, and may act with respect to such business as if the Underlying Index did not exist, regardless of whether such action might adversely affect the Underlying Index or the Fund.

TAXATION [TO BE UPDATED BY AMENDMENT]

The following discussion is a summary of some of the important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund. Your investment may have other tax implications. The discussion reflects provisions of the Code, existing Treasury regulations, rulings published by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), and other applicable authorities, as of the date of this Prospectus. These authorities may be changed, possibly with retroactive effect, or subject to new legislative, administrative or judicial interpretations. No attempt is made to

 

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present a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax law concerns affecting the Fund and its shareholders (including shareholders owning large positions in the Fund), and the discussion set forth herein does not constitute tax advice. Please consult your tax advisor about foreign, federal, state, local or other tax laws applicable to you. For more information, please see “Income Tax Considerations” in the SAI.

The Fund [has elected or] intends to elect to be treated and intends to qualify annually as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and it will adhere to the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Fund so qualifies and satisfies certain distribution requirements, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income and gains that the Fund distributes to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends or capital gains dividends (as defined below). The Fund intends to distribute at least annually all or substantially all of its income and capital gains. The Fund will be subject to a Fund-level income tax at regular corporate income tax rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.

Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement will be subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax at the Fund level. To avoid the tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year, and (iii) any undistributed amounts described in (i) and (ii) above from the prior year on which the Fund paid no U.S. federal income tax. While the Fund intends to distribute any income and capital gain in the manner necessary to minimize imposition of the 4% U.S. federal excise tax, there can be no assurance that sufficient amounts of the Fund’s taxable income and capital gain will be distributed to avoid entirely the imposition of the tax. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

Additionally, if for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income would be subject to a Fund-level tax at regular corporate income tax rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. This treatment would reduce the Fund’s net income available for investment or distribution to its shareholders. In addition, all distributions from earnings and profits, including any net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders or to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of individual shareholders. The Fund also could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

Certain of the Fund’s investment practices, including derivative transactions, short sales and hedging activities, generally, as well as the Fund’s investments in certain types of securities, including certain preferred stock and debt obligations issued or purchased at a discount, may be subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things: (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions; (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gain or “qualified dividend income” into higher taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income; (iii) accelerate the recognition of income; (iv) convert short-term losses into long-term losses; (v) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash; (vi) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or other securities is deemed to occur; (vii) cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities; or (vii) otherwise adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions. These U.S. federal income tax provisions could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to Fund shareholders. In particular, a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments in loans and other debt obligations will be treated as having “market discount” and/or “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which, in some cases, could be significant, and could cause the Fund to recognize income in respect of these investments before, or without receiving, cash representing such income. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, may make certain tax elections, and may be required to, among other things, dispose of securities (including at a time when it is not advantageous to do so) to mitigate the effect of these provisions, prevent the Fund’s disqualification as a RIC, or avoid incurring Fund-level U.S. federal income and/or excise tax.

Investments in below investment grade loans and other debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a distressed debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or

 

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worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund as necessary, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and that it does not become subject to Fund-level U.S. federal income and/or excise taxes.

Special tax rules may change the treatment of gains and losses recognized by the Fund when the Fund invests in certain foreign debt securities or engages in certain foreign currency transactions. The application of these special rules may also affect the timing, amount and character of distributions made by the Fund. In addition, dividend, interest and other income received by the Fund from investments outside the U.S. may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries. Tax treaties between the U.S. and other countries may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Foreign taxes paid by the Fund will reduce the return from such Fund’s investments. If at the end of the taxable year more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s assets consists of securities of foreign corporations and the Fund makes a special election, you will generally be required to include in income your share of the foreign taxes paid by such Fund. You may be able either to deduct this amount from your income or claim it as a foreign tax credit. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a special election for a taxable year even if it is eligible to do so. The Fund does not expect that it will be eligible to elect to treat any foreign taxes it paid as paid by its shareholders, who therefore will not be entitled to credits or deductions for such taxes on their own returns.

Distributions paid to you by the Fund from net realized long-term capital gain (that is, the excess of any net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) that the Fund reports as capital gain dividends (“capital gain dividends”) generally are taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with a 0% rate applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013. These reduced rates will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. All other dividends paid to you by the Fund (including dividends from short-term capital gain (that is, the excess of any net short-term capital gain over any net long-term capital loss)) from its current or accumulated earnings and profits generally are taxable to you as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, distributions of investment income reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided holding periods and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level. This provision will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. The Fund generally does not expect that a significant portion of Fund distributions will qualify for favorable tax treatment as “qualified dividend income” for individual shareholders or as income eligible for the dividend-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

If, for any taxable year, the Fund’s total distributions exceed both current earnings and profits and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will generally be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of your tax basis in the shares. The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce your tax basis in the shares, thereby increasing your potential gain or reducing your potential loss on the subsequent sale of the shares. Any amounts distributed to you in excess of your tax basis in the shares will be taxable to you as capital gain (assuming the shares are held as a capital asset).

Dividends and other taxable distributions are taxable to you, whether received in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund. Dividends and other distributions paid by the Fund generally are treated as received by you at the time the dividend or distribution is made. If, however, the Fund pays you a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December and you were a shareholder of record on a specified record date in one of those months, then such dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by the Fund and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared.

The price of shares purchased at any time may reflect the amount of a forthcoming distribution. If you purchase shares just prior to a distribution (other than a distribution of net investment income that is declared daily), you will receive a distribution that will be taxable to you even though it represents in part a return of your invested capital.

The Fund will send you information after the end of each calendar year setting forth the amount and tax status of any dividends or other distributions paid to you by the Fund. Dividends and other distributions may also be subject to state, local and other taxes.

 

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If you sell or otherwise dispose of any of your shares of the Fund (including through a redemption), you will generally recognize a gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between your tax basis in such shares of the Fund and the amount you receive upon disposition of such shares. If you hold your shares as capital assets, any such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held (or are treated as having held) such shares for more than one year at the time of sale. All or a portion of any loss you realize on a taxable sale or exchange of your shares of the Fund will be disallowed if you acquire other shares of the Fund (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after your sale or exchange of the shares. In such case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. In addition, any loss realized upon a taxable sale or exchange of Fund shares held (or deemed held) by you for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (or deemed received) by you with respect to those shares. Present law taxes both long-term and short-term capital gains of corporations at the rates applicable to ordinary income.

The Fund may be required to withhold, for U.S. federal backup withholding tax purposes, a portion of the dividends, distributions and redemption proceeds payable to you if: (i) you fail to provide the Fund (or its agent) with your correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of an individual, generally, such individual’s social security number) or to make the required certification; or (ii) the Fund has been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders are exempt from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that you furnish the required information to the IRS.

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL AND ABBREVIATED SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE AND THE TREASURY REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS THEY DIRECTLY GOVERN THE TAXATION OF THE FUND AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS. THESE PROVISIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY LEGISLATIVE OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, AND ANY SUCH CHANGE MAY BE RETROACTIVE. A MORE COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF THE TAX RULES APPLICABLE TO THE FUND CAN BE FOUND IN THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WHICH IS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS REGARDING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AS TO U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN INCOME OR OTHER TAXES.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not yet available.

 

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More information about Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF, an investment portfolio of Pyxis Funds I, is available without charge upon request through the following:

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, includes more detailed information about the Fund and is available, free of charge, on the Fund’s website at http://www.pyxisais.com. The SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders, which will be available, free of charge, on the Fund’s website at http://www.pyxisais.com. In the Fund’s annual report, once available, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during the last fiscal year.

To Obtain More Information:

By Internet:

http://www.pyxisais.com

By Telephone:

[Call (877) 665-1287]

By Mail:

Pyxis Funds

[P.O. Box 9840

Providence, RI 02940]

By Overnight Mail:

Pyxis Funds

[4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581-1722]

From the SEC:

You can also obtain the SAI or the annual and semi-annual reports, as well as other information about the Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). You may review and copy documents at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. For information on the operation of the Public Reference Room, call 1-202-551-8090. You may request documents from the SEC, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to:

Securities and Exchange Commission

Public Reference Section

Washington, DC 20549-1520

The Trust’s Investment Company Act

Registration Number: 811-21866

(PYXIS FUNDS LOGO)

http://www.pyxisais.com

 

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The information in this Statement of Additional Information is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Statement of Additional Information Dated [•] [•], 2012

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS OF PYXIS FUNDS I

PYXIS/iBOXX LIQUID LOAN ETF

Ticker: [LQLN]

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus but provides additional information that should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF (the “Fund”), dated [•] [•], 2012 (the “Prospectus”), and any supplements thereto. Copies of the Fund’s Prospectus are available upon request by calling the Fund at [(877) 665-1287], visiting the Fund’s website (http://www.pyxisais.com) or writing to the Fund, [P.O. Box 9840, Providence, RI 02940]. Capitalized terms used in this SAI and not otherwise defined have the meanings given them in the Fund’s Prospectus. The principal U.S. national stock exchange on which the Fund is listed is [The NASDAQ Stock Market] (“[Nasdaq]” or the “Exchange”).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page  

THE FUND

     1   

DESCRIPTION OF NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

     1   

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR THE UNDERLYING INDEX

     13   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

     14   

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     14   

NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS

     16   

MANAGEMENT

     17   

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

     26   

INFORMATION REGARDING PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     27   

ADMINISTRATOR

     29   

ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGENT

     29   

DISTRIBUTOR

     29   

TRANSFER AGENT

     29   

CUSTODIAN

     29   

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     29   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     30   

DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND’S SHARES

     31   

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

     32   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     32   

INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS [TO BE UPDATED BY AMENDMENT]

     37   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     48   

APPENDIX A — RATINGS CATEGORIES

     A-1   

APPENDIX B — PYXIS CAPITAL, L.P. PROXY VOTING POLICY

     B-1   


Table of Contents

THE FUND

Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of Pyxis Funds I (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 28, 2006. The Fund will commence investment operations on [•] [•], 2012. This SAI relates only to the Fund.

The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and its shares are listed on the Exchange. The shares trade on the Exchange at market prices that may differ to some degree from the shares’ net asset values (“NAV”). The Fund issues and redeems shares on a continuous basis at NAV in large, specified numbers of Shares called “Creation Units.” Creation Units are issued and redeemed in-kind for securities included in the Markit iBoxx Liquid Leveraged Loan Index (the “Underlying Index”) and/or for cash at the discretion of the Fund. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund. Retail investors, therefore, generally will not be able to purchase the shares directly. Rather, most retail investors will purchase shares in the secondary market with the assistance of a broker.

Exchange Listing and Trading

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The Exchange may remove the Fund from listing under certain circumstances.

As in the case of all equities traded on the Exchange, the brokers’ commission on transactions in the Fund will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels for retail customers.

In order to provide current share pricing information, the Exchange disseminates an updated Indicative Optimized Portfolio Value (“IOPV”) for the Fund. The Trust is not involved in or responsible for any aspect of the calculation or dissemination of the IOPV and makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the IOPV. IOPV is expected to be disseminated every 15 seconds during regular trading hours of the Exchange. The Fund’s IOPV disseminated during the Exchange’s trading hours should not be viewed as a real-time update of the Fund’s NAV, which is calculated only once a day.

DESCRIPTION OF NON-PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

The following information supplements the discussion of the investment policies and strategies of the Fund described in the Prospectus. In pursuing its objective, the Fund will invest as described in the Prospectus and as described below with respect to the following non-principal investment policies and strategies.

The Underlying Index is sponsored by Markit Indices Limited (the “Index Provider”), an organization that is independent of the Fund. The Underlying Index is calculated at the end of each business day and re-balanced at the end of each month. The Index Provider annually reviews the parameters used in the selection of component securities of the Underlying Index (“Component Securities”), including the target number of loans and the eligibility criteria, to ensure that the Underlying Index continues to reflect the underlying loans market. The review consists of a qualitative and quantitative assessment of any developments in the loans market in terms of market size, depth and overall liquidity conditions of the market.

The Fund may change its benchmark or the Underlying Index at any time, including if, for example, the Underlying Index becomes unavailable; the Board of Trustees believes that the Underlying Index no longer serves the investment needs of a majority of shareholders or that another index may better serve their needs; or if the financial or economic environment makes it difficult for the Fund’s investment results to correspond sufficiently to its current benchmark or the Underlying Index. The Fund may specify a benchmark index that is “leveraged” or proprietary. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its objective.

The Fund engages in representative sampling, which is investing in a sample of securities selected by Pyxis Capital, L.P. (“Pyxis” or the “Adviser”) to have a collective investment profile similar to that of the Underlying Index. Securities selected have aggregate investment characteristics (based on market capitalization and industry

 

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weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as yield, credit rating, maturity and duration) and liquidity measures similar to those of the Underlying Index. Because the Fund uses representative sampling, it generally does not hold all of the securities that are in the Underlying Index.

The Fund generally invests at least 80% of its assets in Component Securities. The Fund may invest the remainder of its assets in securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which the Adviser believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. For example, the Fund may invest in securities that are not components of the Underlying Index to reflect various corporate actions (such as mergers) and other changes in the Underlying Index (such as reconstitutions, additions and deletions). The Fund also may invest its other assets in futures contracts, options on futures contracts, options and swaps, as well as cash and cash equivalents.

In addition, the Adviser may also invest some of the Fund’s assets in short-term U.S. government obligations, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and other money market instruments to enable the Fund to make investments quickly and to serve as collateral with respect to certain of its investments. The Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. The Fund may also invest its assets in high yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”) which are bonds typically rated below investment grade by one or more nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (“NRSROs”). NRSROs generally regard high-yield debt securities as predominately speculative with respect to ability to pay interest and repay principal and riskier than higher-rated debt securities. Appendix A contains additional information concerning the characteristics of the ratings used by certain NRSROs. From time to time, in the sole discretion of the Adviser, cash balances of the Fund may be placed in a money market fund or investments may be made in shares of other investment companies, including other ETFs, subject to the applicable limits under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

Limited Role in Affairs of Portfolio Companies. Although the Adviser does not take an active role in the affairs of the companies in which the Fund has positions other than voting proxies with respect to the Fund’s portfolio holdings, it will be the policy of the Fund to take such steps as are necessary to protect its economic interests. If the opportunity presents itself, the Adviser reserves the option for any of its partners to accept a role on the board of directors of any company, regardless of whether the Fund holds any of the company’s securities.

Financial Futures. The Fund has claimed an exclusion from the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

Fixed-Income and Other Debt Securities

Fixed-income and other debt instrument securities include all bonds, high yield or “junk” bonds, municipal bonds, debentures, U.S. Government securities, mortgage-related securities, zero coupon securities and custodial receipts. The market value of fixed-income obligations of the Fund will be affected by general changes in interest rates, which will result in increases or decreases in the value of the obligations held by the Fund. The market value of the fixed-income obligations held by the Fund can be expected to vary inversely to changes in prevailing interest rates. As a result, the market value of the fixed-income obligations held by the Fund generally will increase when prevailing interest rates are declining and generally will decrease when prevailing interest rates are rising. In addition, in periods of declining interest rates, the Fund’s yield will tend to be somewhat higher than prevailing market rates and, in periods of rising interest rates, the Fund’s yield will tend to be somewhat lower. Also, when interest rates are falling, the inflow of net new money to the Fund from the continuous sale of its shares will tend to be invested in instruments producing lower yields than the balance of its portfolio, thereby reducing the Fund’s current yield. In periods of rising interest rates, the opposite can be expected to occur. In addition, securities in which the Fund may invest may not yield as high a level of current income as might be achieved by investing in securities with less liquidity, less creditworthiness or longer maturities.

Ratings made available by NRSROs are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality. The Index Provider will assign each loan it considers for inclusion in the Underlying Index a composite index rating based on the ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. If more than one agency publishes a rating for a loan, the average of the ratings determines the composite rating. These ratings comprise part of its criteria for selection of Component Securities. The Index Provider will consider other factors as well, such as the loan’s type, size, liquidity, spread and time to maturity.

 

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Fixed-income securities may be purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. See “When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments” below.

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. A variable amount master demand note (which is a type of commercial paper) represents a direct borrowing arrangement involving periodically fluctuating rates of interest under a letter agreement between a commercial paper issuer and an institutional lender pursuant to which the lender may determine to invest varying amounts.

Medium-, Lower-Rated and Unrated Securities. Securities rated in the fourth highest category by a NRSRO, although considered investment grade, may possess speculative characteristics, and changes in economic or other conditions are more likely to impair the ability of issuers of these securities to make interest and principal payments than is the case with respect to issuers of higher grade bonds.

Generally, medium- or lower-rated securities and unrated securities of comparable quality, sometimes referred to as “junk bonds,” offer a higher current yield than is offered by higher rated securities, but also (i) will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that, in the judgment of the rating organizations, are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions and (ii) are predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. The yield of junk bonds will fluctuate over time.

The market values of certain of these securities also tend to be more sensitive to individual corporate developments and changes in economic conditions than higher quality bonds. In addition, medium- and lower-rated securities and comparable unrated securities generally present a higher degree of credit risk. The risk of loss due to default by these issuers is significantly greater because medium- and lower-rated securities, and unrated securities of comparable quality, generally are unsecured and frequently are subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness.

In addition, the market for securities in lower-rated categories is more volatile than that for higher-rated securities, and the markets in which medium- and lower-rated or unrated securities are traded are more limited than those in which higher-rated securities are traded. The existence of limited markets may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its portfolio and calculating its net asset value. Moreover, the lack of a liquid trading market may restrict the availability of securities for the Fund to purchase and may also have the effect of limiting the ability of the Fund to sell securities at their fair value either to meet redemption requests or to respond to changes in the economy or the financial markets.

Lower-rated debt obligations also present risks based on payment expectations. If an issuer calls the obligation for redemption, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, resulting in a decreased return. Also, as the principal value of bonds moves inversely with movements in interest rates, in the event of rising interest rates the value of the securities held by the Fund may decline relatively proportionately more than a portfolio consisting of higher rated securities. Investments in zero coupon bonds may be more speculative and subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates than bonds that pay interest currently.

Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. Neither event will require sale of these securities by the Fund, but the Index Provider will consider this event in its determination of whether the securities will be removed from the Underlying Index.

The market for lower-rated debt securities may be thinner and less active than that for higher rated debt securities, which can adversely affect the prices at which the former are sold. If market quotations are not available, lower-rated debt securities will be valued in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, including the use of outside pricing services. Judgment plays a greater role in valuing high yield corporate debt

 

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securities than is the case for securities for which more external sources for quotations and last sale information is available. Adverse publicity and changing investor perception may affect the ability of outside pricing services to value lower-rated debt securities and the ability to dispose of these securities.

The Fund may choose, at its expense or in conjunction with others, to pursue litigation or otherwise exercise its rights as a security holder to seek to protect the interest of security holders if it determines this to be in the best interest of the Fund.

Investments in high-yield debt obligations or other debt obligations that are at risk of, or are in, default present special tax issues for the Fund investing in or holding such securities. See “Income Tax Considerations” below.

Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate. Investments in time deposits maturing in more than seven days will be subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) restrictions that limit investments in illiquid securities to no more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets.

U.S. Government Securities. U.S. Government securities are obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. Some U.S. Government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities and times of issuance, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as securities of the Federal Home Loan Banks; (ii) the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations, such as securities of the Federal National Mortgage Association or (iii) only the credit of the issuer, such as securities of the Student Loan Marketing Association. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will provide financial support in the future to U.S. Government agencies, authorities or instrumentalities that are not supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. To the extent the Fund invests in U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, such investments may involve a greater risk of loss of principal and interest since the Fund must look principally or solely to the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality for repayment.

Securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include: (i) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S. Government or any of its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities; and (ii) participation interests in loans made to foreign governments or other entities that are so guaranteed. The secondary market for certain of these participation interests is limited and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.

[U.S. Government securities also include securities guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) under its Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. Under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, the FDIC guarantees, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the payment of principal and interest on the debt issued by private entities through the earlier of the maturity date of the debt or June 30, 2012.]

U.S. Treasury Bills. U.S. Treasury Bills are issued with maturities of up to one year. Three month bills are currently offered by the Treasury on a 13-week cycle and are auctioned each week by the Treasury. Bills are issued in bearer form only and are sold only on a discount basis, and the difference between the purchase price and the maturity value (or the resale price if they are sold before maturity) constitutes the interest income for the investor.

 

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Mortgage-Related Securities. There are several risks associated with mortgage-related securities. One is that the monthly cash inflow from the underlying loans may not be sufficient to meet the monthly payment requirements of the mortgage-related security. Prepayment of principal by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures will shorten the term of the underlying mortgage pool for a mortgage-related security. Early returns of principal will affect the average life of the mortgage-related securities remaining in the Fund. The occurrence of mortgage prepayments is affected by factors including the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the mortgage and other social and demographic conditions. In periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgage-related securities. Conversely, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of a pool. Reinvestment of prepayments may occur at higher or lower interest rates than the original investment, thus affecting the yield of the Fund. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, it is likely that the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds of prepayments at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested. If this occurs, the Fund’s yield will correspondingly decline. Thus, mortgage-related securities may have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other fixed-income securities of comparable maturity, although these securities may have a comparable risk of decline in market value in periods of rising interest rates. To the extent that the Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a premium, unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, will result in a loss equal to any unamortized premium.

Zero Coupon Securities. Zero coupon U.S. Government securities are debt obligations that are issued or purchased at a significant discount from face value. The discount approximates the total amount of interest the security will accrue and compound over the period until maturity or the particular interest payment date at a rate of interest reflecting the market rate of the security at the time of issuance. Zero coupon securities do not require the periodic payment of interest. These investments benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of cash. These investments may experience greater volatility in market value than U.S. Government securities that make regular payments of interest. The Fund accrues income on these investments for tax and accounting purposes, which is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities (including when not advantageous to do so) to satisfy the Fund’s distribution obligations (see “Tax Matters” below), in which case the Fund will forego the purchase of additional income producing assets with these funds. Zero coupon securities include Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”). STRIPS are securities underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. They also include Coupons Under Book Entry Safekeeping (“CUBES”), which are component parts of U.S. Treasury bonds and represent scheduled interest and principal payments on the bonds.

Custodial Receipts. Custodial receipts or certificates include Certificates of Accrual on Treasury Securities (“CATS”), Treasury Investment Growth Receipts (“TIGRs”) and Financial Corporation certificates (“FICO STRIPS”). CATS, TIGRs and FICO STRIPS are securities underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments or both on certain notes or bonds issued by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities. The underwriters of these certificates or receipts purchase a U.S. Government security and deposit the security in an irrevocable trust or custodial account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the U.S. Government security. Custodial receipts evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general attributes as zero coupon U.S. Government securities, described above. Although typically under the terms of a custodial receipt the Fund is authorized to assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, the Fund may be required to assert through the custodian bank such rights as may exist against the underlying issuer. Thus, if the underlying issuer fails to pay principal and/or interest when due, the Fund may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of the issuer. In addition, if the trust or custodial account in which the underlying security has been deposited were determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, instead of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying security would be reduced in respect of any taxes paid.

 

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Payment-in-Kind Securities. The value of payment-in-kind securities (“PIKs”) held by the Fund may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other securities. PIKs pay all or a portion of their interest or dividends in the form of additional securities. Federal tax law requires that the interest on PIK bonds be accrued as income to the Fund regardless of the fact that the Fund will not receive cash until such securities mature. Since the income must be distributed to shareholders, the Fund may be forced to liquidate other securities in order to make the required distribution.

Loans and Other Direct Debt Instruments. These are instruments in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental or other borrower to another party. They may represent amounts owed to lenders or lending syndicates (loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (trade claims or other receivables) or to other parties. Direct debt instruments purchased by the Fund may have a maturity of any number of days or years, may be secured or unsecured, and may be of any credit quality. Direct debt instruments involve the risk of loss in the case of default or insolvency of the borrower. Direct debt instruments may offer less legal protection to the Fund in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. In addition, loan participations involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other financial intermediary. Direct debt instruments also may include standby financing commitments that obligate the Fund to supply additional cash to the borrower on demand at a time when the Fund would not have otherwise done so, even if the borrower’s condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid.

These instruments will be considered illiquid securities and so will be limited in accordance with the Fund’s restrictions on illiquid securities.

Illiquid Securities

Historically, illiquid securities have included securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), securities that are otherwise not readily marketable and repurchase agreements having a maturity of longer than seven days. Securities that have not been registered under the 1933 Act are referred to as “private placements” or “restricted securities” and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Investment companies do not typically hold a significant amount of these restricted securities or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and an investment company might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty satisfying redemptions within seven days. An investment company might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them, which would result in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities. The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid or otherwise not readily marketable.

In recent years, however, a large institutional market has developed for certain securities that are not registered under the 1933 Act, including repurchase agreements, commercial paper, foreign securities, municipal securities and corporate bonds and notes. Institutional investors depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily resold or on an issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale of such investments to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of their liquidity.

 

   

Rule 144A Securities. The SEC has adopted Rule 144A, which allows a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restriction on their resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act on resales of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. The Index Provider will monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities in the Underlying Index and will re-balance each month as necessary based on the security’s liquidity and other eligibility criteria.

 

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The Fund may purchase securities in the United States that are not registered for sale under federal securities laws but which can be resold to institutions under SEC Rule 144A or under an exemption from such laws. Provided that a dealer or institutional trading market in such securities exists, these restricted securities or Rule 144A securities are treated as exempt from the Fund’s limit on illiquid securities. The Index Provider will determine the liquidity of restricted securities or Rule 144A securities by looking at factors such as sources quote, frequency of quotes, number of sources with size, bid-offer spreads, average quote size and movers count. If institutional trading in restricted securities or Rule 144A securities were to decline, the Fund’s illiquidity could increase and the Fund could be adversely affected.

 

   

Section 4(2) Commercial Paper. The Fund may invest in commercial paper issued in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act. Section 4(2) commercial paper is restricted as to disposition under federal securities laws and is generally sold to institutional investors who agree that they are purchasing the paper for investment purposes and not with a view to public distribution. Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. Section 4(2) commercial paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in Section 4(2) commercial paper, thus providing liquidity. The Adviser believes that Section 4(2) commercial paper and possibly certain other restricted securities that meet the criteria for liquidity established by the Board of Trustees are quite liquid. The Fund intends therefore, to treat the restricted securities which meet the criteria for liquidity established by the Board of Trustees, including Section 4(2) commercial paper, as determined by the Adviser, as liquid and not subject to the investment limitation applicable to illiquid securities. In addition, because Section 4(2) commercial paper is liquid, the Fund does not intend to subject such paper to the limitation applicable to restricted securities. The Fund will not invest more than 10% of its total assets in restricted securities (excluding Rule 144A securities).

Borrowing and Lending

Borrowing. The Fund may borrow money from banks (including its custodian bank) or from other lenders to the extent permitted under applicable law. The 1940 Act requires the Fund maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for all such borrowings, and should such asset coverage at any time fall below 300%, the Fund would be required to reduce its borrowings within three days to the extent necessary to meet the requirements of the 1940 Act. No Fund will make any borrowing that would cause its outstanding borrowings to exceed one-third of the value of its total assets. To reduce its borrowings, the Fund might be required to sell securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, because interest on money borrowed is the Fund expense that it would not otherwise incur, the Fund may have less net investment income during periods when its borrowings are substantial. The interest paid by the Fund on borrowings may be more or less than the yield on the securities purchased with borrowed funds, depending on prevailing market conditions.

Derivatives

The Fund may invest in various instruments that are commonly known as derivatives. Generally, a derivative is a financial arrangement, the value of which is based on, or “derived” from, a traditional security, asset or market index. There are, in fact, many different types of derivatives and many different ways to use them. There is a range of risks associated with those uses. Futures and options are commonly used for traditional hedging purposes to attempt to protect the Fund from exposure to changing interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates and as a low cost method of gaining exposure to a particular securities market without investing directly in those securities. However, some derivatives are used for leverage, which tends to magnify the effects of an instrument’s price changes as market conditions change. Leverage involves the use of a small amount of money to control a large amount of financial assets, and can in some circumstances lead to significant losses. Tax considerations may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in certain derivatives. See “Income Tax Considerations” below.

Options. An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price.

 

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The Fund may write (sell) covered call and put options (“covered options”) on stocks, securities, indices and foreign currencies in an attempt to track the performance of the Underlying Index. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and obligates the writer to sell, the underlying security at the price specified in the option (the “exercise price”) by exercising the option at any time during the option period. If the option expires unexercised, the Fund will realize income in an amount equal to the premium received for writing the option. If the option is exercised, a decision over which the Fund has no control, the Fund must sell the underlying security to the option holder at the exercise price. By writing a covered call option, the Fund foregoes, in exchange for the premium less the commission (“net premium”), the opportunity to profit during the option period from an increase in the market value of the underlying security above the exercise price.

When the Fund writes a covered put option, it gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying security to the Fund at the specified exercise price at any time during the option period. If the option expires unexercised, the Fund will realize income in the amount of the premium received for writing the option. If the put option is exercised, a decision over which the Fund has no control, the Fund must purchase the underlying security from the option holder at the exercise price. By writing a covered put option, the Fund, in exchange for the net premium received, accepts the risk of a decline in the market value of the underlying security below the exercise price.

The Fund may terminate its obligation as the writer of a call or put option by purchasing an option with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option previously written. This transaction is called a “closing purchase transaction.” With respect to writing covered options, the Fund will realize a profit or loss for a closing purchase transaction if the amount paid to purchase an option is less or more, as the case may be, than the amount received from the sale thereof. To close out a position as a purchaser of an option, the Fund may make a “closing sale transaction” which involves liquidating the Fund’s position by selling the option previously purchased. Where the Fund cannot effect a closing purchase transaction, it may be forced to incur brokerage commissions or dealer spreads in selling securities it receives or it may be forced to hold underlying securities until an option is exercised or expires.

When the Fund writes a call option, it will “cover” its obligation by owning and earmarking the underlying security or other assets on the books of the Fund’s custodian. When the Fund writes a put option, it will “cover” its obligation by earmarking assets at the Fund’s custodian.

The Fund may purchase call and put options on any securities in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle the Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to purchase a security at a specified price during the option period. The Fund would ordinarily have an economic gain if the value of the securities increased above the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and would have an economic loss if the value of the securities remained at or below the exercise price during the option period.

The purchase of a put option would entitle the Fund, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell a security, which may or may not be held in the Fund’s portfolio, at a specified price during the option period. Put options also may be purchased by the Fund for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which the Fund does not own. Upon exercise, the Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if the value of the securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and would realize a loss if the value of the securities remained at or above the exercise price. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options would tend to be offset by countervailing changes in the value of underlying portfolio securities.

The Fund’s activities in options may also be restricted by the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company (“RIC”).

Options on Securities Indices. The Fund may purchase and write put and call options on securities indices listed on domestic and on foreign exchanges. Such options give the holder the right to receive a cash settlement during the term of the option based upon the difference between the exercise price and the value of the index. Options on securities indices entail risks in addition to the risks of options on securities. The absence of a liquid secondary market to close out options positions on securities indices is more likely to occur. Use of options on securities indices also entails the risk that trading in such options may be interrupted if trading in certain securities included in the index is interrupted.

 

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Because options on securities indices require settlement in cash, the Adviser may be forced to liquidate portfolio securities to meet settlement obligations. When a Fund writes a put or call option on a securities index, it will cover the position by earmarking assets with the Fund’s custodian.

Futures Contracts and Related Options. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Fund may invest in futures contracts on, among other things, individual equity securities, securities indices, interest rates, currencies, and inflation indices. The sale of a futures contract creates an obligation by the Fund, as seller, to deliver the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specified future time for a specified price. At the time a futures contract is purchased or sold, the Fund must allocate cash or securities as a deposit payment (“initial margin”). It is expected that the initial margin that the Fund will pay may range from approximately 1% to approximately 5% of the value of the securities or commodities underlying the contract. In certain circumstances, however, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment. Certain futures contracts are physically settled (i.e., involve the making and taking of delivery of a specified amount of an underlying security or other asset). Some futures contracts, however, are cash settled, which means that the purchase price is subtracted from the current market value of the instrument and the net amount, if positive, is paid to the purchaser by the seller of the futures contract and, if negative, is paid by the purchaser to the seller of the futures contract.

Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).

The Fund’s ability to engage in the futures and options on futures strategies depends on the liquidity of the markets in those instruments. Trading interest in various types of futures and options on futures cannot be predicted. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the Fund will be able to utilize these instruments effectively. In addition, there can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures or option on a futures contract position, and that Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. The liquidity of a secondary market in a futures contract may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by commodity exchanges to limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures contract price during a single trading day.

The Fund that purchases or sells a futures contract is only required to deposit initial and variation margin as required by relevant regulations and the rules of the contract market. Because the purchase of a futures contract obligates the Fund to purchase the underlying security or other instrument at a set price on a future date, the Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate with the value of the security or other instrument as if it were already in the Fund’s portfolio. Futures transactions have the effect of investment leverage to the extent the Fund does not maintain liquid assets equal to the face amount of the contract. If the Fund combines short and long positions, in addition to possible declines in the values of its investment securities, the Fund will incur losses if the index underlying the long futures position underperforms the index underlying the short futures position.

Other Investment Policies

Swap Agreements. To help enhance the value of its portfolio or manage its exposure to different types of investments, the Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements, interest rate, currency and mortgage swap agreements and may purchase and sell interest rate “caps,” “floors” and “collars.”

In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) on different currencies, securities, baskets of currencies or securities, indices or other instruments, which returns are calculated with respect to a “notional value,” (i.e., the designated reference amount of exposure to the underlying instruments). The Fund intends to enter into swaps primarily on a net basis, i.e., the two payment streams are netted out, with the Fund receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. If the other

 

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party to a swap contract entered into on net basis defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss will consist of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements will be maintained in a segregated account by the Fund’s custodian. The Fund will not enter into swap agreements unless the claims-paying ability of the other party thereto is considered to be an acceptable credit risk to such Fund by the Adviser. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. Swap instruments are not exchange-listed securities and may be traded only in the over-the-counter market.

In a typical interest rate swap agreement, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate on a specified amount (the “notional principal amount”) in return for payments equal to a fixed interest rate on the same amount for a specified period. If a swap agreement provides for payment in different currencies, the parties may also agree to exchange the notional principal amount. Mortgage swap agreements are similar to interest rate swap agreements, except that notional principal amount is tied to a reference pool of mortgages. In a cap or floor, one party agrees, usually in return for a fee, to make payments under particular circumstances. For example, the purchaser of an interest rate cap has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed level; the purchaser of an interest rate floor has the right to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls below an agreed level. A collar entitles the purchaser to receive payments to the extent a specified interest rate falls outside an agreed range.

Investments in swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with another party of their respective commitments. Use of swaps subjects the Fund to risk of default by the counterparty. If there is a default by the counterparty to such a transaction, there may be contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction although contractual remedies may not be sufficient in the event the counterparty is insolvent. However, the swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments which are traded in the interbank market. Swap agreements are sophisticated financial instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. Swaps may involve leverage and can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on the Fund’s performance, as the potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not necessarily subject to any fixed limit. All swap agreements are considered as illiquid securities and, therefore, will be limited, along with all of the Fund’s other illiquid securities, to 15% of the Fund’s net assets.

The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements. The “buyer” in a credit default contract is obligated to pay the “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Fund loses its investment and recovers nothing. However, if an event of default occurs, the buyer receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, the Fund receives income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no default event.

Credit default swap agreements are subject to greater risk than direct investment in the reference obligation. Like all swap agreements, credit default swaps are subject to liquidity, credit and counterparty risks. A buyer in a credit default swap contract will lose its investment and recover nothing should no event of default occur. If an event of default were to occur, the value of the reference obligation received by the seller, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. In addition, collateral posting requirements are individually negotiated and there is no regulatory requirement that a counterparty post collateral to secure its obligations under a credit default swap. Furthermore, there is no requirement that a party be informed in advance when a credit default swap agreement is sold. Accordingly, the Fund may have difficulty identifying the party responsible for payment of its claims. The notional value of credit default swaps with respect to a particular investment is often larger than the total par value of such investment outstanding and, in event of a default, there may be difficulties in making the required deliveries of the reference investments, possibly delaying payments.

 

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The market for credit default swaps has become more volatile recently as the creditworthiness of certain counterparties has been questioned and/or downgraded. If a counterparty’s credit becomes significantly impaired, multiple requests for collateral posting in a short period of time could increase the risk that the Fund may not receive adequate collateral. The Fund generally may exit its obligations under a credit default swap only by terminating the contract and paying applicable breakage fees, or by entering into an offsetting credit default swap position, which may cause the Fund to incur more losses. If the Fund uses credit default swaps to leverage its portfolio, it will be exposed to additional risks, including the risk that the Fund’s use of leverage will magnify the effect of any losses the Fund incurs since if an event of default occurs the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation.

When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitments. The Fund may enter into forward commitments for the purchase or sale of interests in Senior Loans and other portfolio securities, including on a “when-issued” or “delayed delivery” basis in excess of customary settlement periods for the type of security involved. In some cases, a forward commitment may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a subsequent event, such as approval and consummation of a merger, corporate reorganization or debt restructuring (i.e., a when, as and if issued security). When such transactions are negotiated, the price is fixed at the time of the commitment, with payment and delivery taking place in the future, generally a month or more after the date of the commitment. While the Fund will only enter into a forward commitment with the intention of actually acquiring the security, the Fund may sell the security before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable. Securities purchased by the Fund under a forward commitment are subject to market fluctuation, and no interest (or dividends) accrues to the Fund prior to the settlement date. For forward commitments that are cash settled, the Fund will designate or segregate liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market value of such commitments.

Purchases of securities on a forward commitment basis may involve more risk than other types of purchases. Securities purchased on a forward commitment basis and the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio are subject to changes in value based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment basis can involve the risk that the yields available in the market when the delivery takes place may actually be higher or lower than those obtained in the transaction itself. On the settlement date of the forward commitment transaction, the Fund will meet its obligations from then available cash flow, sale of securities reserved for payment of the commitment, sale of other securities or, although it would not normally expect to do so, from sale of the forward commitment securities themselves (which may have a value greater or lesser than the Fund’s payment obligations). The sale of securities to meet such obligations may result in the realization of capital gains or losses. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment basis can also involve the risk of default by the other party on its obligation, delaying or preventing the Fund from recovering the collateral or completing the transaction.

Money Market Instruments. The Fund may invest in money market instruments. Money market securities are high-quality, dollar-denominated, short-term instruments. They consist of (i) bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit, notes and time deposits of highly-rated U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks; (ii) U.S. Treasury obligations and obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government; (iii) high-quality commercial paper issued by U.S. foreign corporations; and (iv) debt obligations with a maturity of one year or less issued by corporations with outstanding high-quality commercial paper ratings.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities may offer higher income than the common stocks into which they are convertible and include fixed-income or zero coupon debt securities, which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. Prior to their conversion, convertible securities may have characteristics similar to both non-convertible debt securities and equity securities. While convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar quality, their prices may reflect changes in the value of the underlying common stock. Convertible securities entail less credit risk than the issuer’s common stock.

Asset Coverage. To assure that the Fund’s use of futures and related options, as well as when issued and delayed-delivery transactions, forward currency contracts and swap transactions, are not used to achieve investment leverage, the Fund will cover such transactions, as required under applicable SEC interpretations, either by owning the underlying securities or by earmarking liquid securities with its custodian in an amount at all times equal to or exceeding the Fund’s commitment with respect to these instruments or contracts.

 

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Warrants and Rights. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price and are valid for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed by the issuer to its shareholders. The Fund may purchase warrants and rights, provided that the Fund presently does not intend to invest more than 20% of its net assets at the time of purchase in warrants and rights other than those that have been acquired in units or attached to other securities.

Equity Securities. Because it may purchase common stocks and other equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or long periods of time. In addition, common stocks represent a share of ownership in a company, and rank after bonds and preferred stock in their claim on the company’s assets in the event of bankruptcy.

Securities of Other Investment Companies. Such investments are subject to limitations prescribed by the 1940 Act unless an SEC exemption is applicable or as may be permitted by rules under the 1940 Act or SEC staff interpretations thereof. The 1940 Act limitations currently provide, in part, that the 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 the aggregate in all investment companies. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying Fund expenses.

Privately-Placed Securities. The Fund may invest in securities that are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter, including privately placed securities. Investing in such unlisted securities, including investments in new and early stage companies, may involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. As a result of the absence of a public trading market for these securities, they may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the Fund, or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that might be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being resold, the Fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration.

Operating Deficits. The expenses of operating the Fund (including the fees payable to the Adviser) may exceed its income, thereby requiring that the difference be paid out of the Fund’s capital, reducing the Fund’s investments and potential for profitability.

Accuracy of Public Information. To the extent that the Fund invests any of its assets in securities not included in the Underlying Index, the Adviser selects investments for the Fund, in part, on the basis of information and data filed by issuers with various government regulators or made directly available to the Adviser by the issuers or through sources other than the issuers. Although the Adviser evaluates all such information and data and ordinarily seeks independent corroboration when the Adviser considers it appropriate and when such corroboration is reasonably available, the Adviser is not in a position to confirm the completeness, genuineness or accuracy of such information and data.

Trading Limitations. For all securities listed on a securities exchange, including options listed on a public exchange, the exchange generally has the right to suspend or limit trading under certain circumstances. Such suspensions or limits could render certain strategies difficult to complete or continue and subject the Fund to loss. Also, such a suspension could render it impossible for the Fund to liquidate positions thereby exposing it to potential losses. Finally, to the extent that advisory personnel of the Adviser acquire material non-public information in the course of service on the board of directors or creditor’s committee of a company, the Fund may be prevented from buying or selling securities of that company.

 

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Risks of Inverse Floaters. As interest rates rise, inverse floaters produce less current income. A change in prevailing interest rates will often result in a greater change in the interest rate paid by an inverse floater. As a result, inverse floaters may have a greater degree of volatility than other types of interest-bearing securities of similar credit quality.

Tracking and Correlation. While the Fund does not expect that its daily returns will deviate significantly from its daily investment objective, several factors may affect its ability to achieve this correlation. Among these factors are: (1) the Fund’s expenses, including brokerage (which may be increased by high portfolio turnover) and the cost of the investment techniques employed by the Fund; (2) less than all of the securities in the benchmark index being held by the Fund and securities not included in the benchmark index being held by the Fund; (3) an imperfect correlation between the performance of instruments held by the Fund, such as futures contracts, and the performance of the underlying securities in the cash market; (4) bid-ask spreads (the effect of which may be increased by portfolio turnover); (5) holding instruments traded in a market that has become illiquid or disrupted; (6) the Fund’s share prices being rounded to the nearest cent; (7) changes to the benchmark index that are not disseminated in advance; (8) the need to conform the Fund’s portfolio holdings to comply with investment restrictions or policies or regulatory or tax law requirements; (9) actual purchases and sales of the shares of the Fund may differ from estimated transactions reported prior to the time share prices are calculated; (10) limit up or limit down trading halts on options or futures contracts which may prevent a Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts; and (11) early and unanticipated closings of the markets on which the holdings of the Fund trade, resulting in the inability of the Fund to execute intended portfolio transactions. While a close correlation of the Fund to its benchmark may be achieved on any single trading day for certain Fund, over time the cumulative percentage increase or decrease in the NAV of the shares of the Fund may diverge significantly from the cumulative percentage decrease or increase in the benchmark due to a compounding effect.

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS FOR THE UNDERLYING INDEX

The Markit iBoxx Liquid Leveraged Loan Index measures the performance of senior secured bank loans from the largest, most liquid issuers. The Underlying Index is a rules-based index consisting of approximately 100 liquid, U.S. dollar-denominated senior secured bank loans that seeks to maximize liquidity while maintaining representation of the broader senior secured loan market. The Underlying Index is sponsored by Markit Indices Limited (the “Index Provider”), which is independent of the Fund and the Adviser.

Index Methodology. The Underlying Index is a subset of the broader senior secured bank loan universe. Loans in the Underlying Index are selected from the universe of eligible loans using defined rules. The loans eligible for inclusion in the Underlying Index must meet set criteria related to loan type, minimum size, liquidity and depth of market, spread, credit rating and minimum time to maturity. The Index Provider will consider loans that are sub-investment grade, fully funded term loans and defaulted loans with minimum nominal facility size of $500 million, minimum liquidity/depth of two for at least 50% of trading days, minimum current spread of 125 basis points over LIBOR and minimum initial time to maturity of one year.

If the number of loans eligible for inclusion in the index exceeds the target number of loans, then the final index constituents will be determined by an additional liquidity ranking procedure that scores all loans in the MarkitWSO database daily based on metrics for sources quote, frequency of quotes, number of sources with size, bid-offer spreads, average quote size and movers count. The Index Provider will calculate the Underlying Index daily on the basis of end-of-day prices provided by Markit Loan Pricing services and will re-balance the Underlying Index monthly. Additionally, the Index Provider will conduct an annual review of the parameters used in the selection process, including the target number of loans and the eligibility criteria, with qualitative and quantitative assessment of any developments in the loans market in terms of market size, depth and overall liquidity conditions.

 

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The Index Provider will not provide any information relating to changes to the Underlying Index’s methodology for the inclusion of Component Securities, the inclusion or exclusion of specific Component Securities, or methodology for the calculation of the return of Component Securities, in advance of a public announcement of such changes by the Index Provider. In addition, the Index Provider will not provide recommendations to the Fund regarding the purchase or sale of specific securities.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The frequency and amount of portfolio purchases and sales (known as the “turnover rate”) will vary from year to year. The portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year and will not be a limiting factor when the Adviser deems portfolio changes appropriate nor will it affect when the Index Provider deems re-balancing of the Underlying Index appropriate. Although the Fund generally does not intend to trade for short-term profits, the securities held by the Fund will be sold whenever the Adviser believes it is appropriate to do so, without regard to the length of time a particular security may have been held. Higher portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater transaction costs, including any brokerage commissions that the Fund will bear directly, and can cause the Fund to recognize more short-term capital gains (which currently are taxable to shareholders at higher rates than long-term capital gains). The Fund has not yet commenced operations. Accordingly, information on the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is not available.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The investment restrictions below have been adopted by the Board of Trustees. Fundamental policies of the Fund may be changed only with the approval of a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund. A “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the shares at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares. If a percentage policy set forth in the Prospectus or one of the following percentage investment restrictions is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in a percentage will not be considered a violation of the policy or restriction unless such change is caused by action of the Fund or pertains to the Fund’s limitations on borrowing and investment in illiquid securities.

Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The following investment restrictions are fundamental policies and, as such, may not be changed without the approval of a “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” (as previously defined in “Description of Non-Principal Investments and Risk Factors”). The Fund may not:

 

  1. Purchase any security that would cause the Fund to concentrate (invest 25% or more of its total assets) in securities of issuers primarily engaged in any particular industry or group of industries (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities), except that the Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of industries. For purposes of this restriction as applied to the Fund, senior loans and loan participations will be considered investments in the industry of the underlying borrower, rather than that of any agent that administers the senior loan or the seller of the loan participation;

 

  2. Issue senior securities or borrow in excess of the amounts permitted by the 1940 Act;*

 

  3. Underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the Fund, in disposing of Fund securities, may be deemed an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act;

 

  4. Purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may (a) [invest in securities or other instruments directly or indirectly secured by real estate, (b)] invest in securities or other instruments issued by issuers that invest in real estate, and (c) hold for prompt sale, real estate or interests in real estate to which it may gain an ownership interest through the forfeiture of collateral securing loans or debt securities held by it;

 

 

* 

Under the 1940 Act, a Fund may not issue senior securities or borrow in excess of 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets (after giving effect to any such borrowing), which amount excludes borrowing for temporary purposes and in an amount not more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time borrowing is made.

 

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  5. Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling and entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), options on financial futures contracts, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts or other derivative instruments that are not related to physical commodities; and

 

  6. Lend any property or make any loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be loaned to other parties (including the value of collateral received for loans of portfolio securities), but this limitation does not apply to the purchase of debt securities and other Senior Loans in which it is authorized to invest in accordance with its investment objective and policies or to repurchase agreements.

Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental investment restrictions and policies that may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. The Fund may not:

 

  1. Acquire any illiquid securities if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the market value of the Fund’s net assets would be in investments that are illiquid;

 

  2. Acquire securities of other investment companies, except as permitted by the 1940 Act (currently under the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the aggregate in shares of other investment companies and up to 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, provided the investment does not represent more than 3% of the voting stock of the acquired investment company at the time such shares are purchased);

 

  3. Borrow on margin, notwithstanding, fundamental investment restriction number 2, unless such activity is permitted by applicable law; and

 

  4. If the Fund is invested in by another series of the Trust or by a series of Pyxis Funds II, it may not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

Other Information. The following commentary is intended to help investors better understand the meaning of the Fund’s fundamental policies by briefly describing limitations, if any, imposed by the 1940 Act. References to the 1940 Act below may encompass rules, regulations or orders issued by the SEC and, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Fund, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff. These descriptions are intended as brief summaries of such limitations as of the date of this SAI; they are not comprehensive and they are qualified in all cases by reference to the 1940 Act (including any rules, regulations or orders issued by the SEC and any relevant interpretations and guidance provided the by SEC staff). These descriptions are subject to change based on evolving guidance by the appropriate regulatory authority and are not part of the Fund’s fundamental policies.

The 1940 Act currently permits an open-end investment company to borrow money from a bank so long as immediately after any such borrowing the ratio that the value of the total assets of the investment company (including the amount of any such borrowing), less the amount of all liabilities and indebtedness (other than such borrowing) of the investment company, bears to the amount of such borrowing is at least 300%. A lender to the Fund may require that the Fund pledge its assets as collateral. If the Fund were to default on a loan secured by pledged assets, the lender would be entitled to foreclose on and dispose of the pledged assets, but the lender could retain only the amount of assets (or the disposition proceeds of such assets) necessary to pay off the defaulted loan.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not issue senior securities or borrow in excess of 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets (after giving effect to any such borrowing), which amount excludes borrowing for temporary purposes and in an amount not more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time the borrowing for temporary purposes is made.

For purposes of non-fundamental investment restriction number 1 above, the purchase of Senior Loans, corporate debt securities, and other investment assets with the proceeds of a permitted borrowing, as well as margin payments or other arrangements in connection with transactions in short sales, futures contracts, options, and other financial instruments are not considered to constitute the purchase of securities on margin.

 

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NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS

The Fund’s classification as a “non-diversified” investment company means that the proportion of the Fund’s assets that may be invested in the securities of a single issuer is not limited by the 1940 Act. The Fund, however, intends to seek to qualify as a RIC for purposes of the Code, which imposes diversification requirements on this Fund that are less restrictive than the requirements applicable to the “diversified” investment companies under the 1940 Act. As a non-diversified fund, a relatively high percentage of the Fund’s assets may be invested in the securities of a limited number of issuers, primarily within the same economic sector. The Fund’s portfolio securities, therefore, may be more susceptible to any single economic, political, or regulatory occurrence than the portfolio securities of a more diversified investment company.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) provides broad oversight of the operations and affairs of the Fund and protects the interests of shareholders. The Board has overall responsibility to manage and control the business affairs of the Fund, including the complete and exclusive authority to establish policies regarding the management, conduct and operation of the Fund’s business. The names and ages of the Trustees and officers of the Fund, the year each was first elected or appointed to office, their principal business occupations during the last five years, the number of funds overseen by each Trustee and other directorships or trusteeships they hold are shown below. The business address for each Trustee and officer of the Fund is c/o Pyxis Capital, L.P., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

Name and Age

  Position(s)
with the
Fund
  Term of
Office and
Length of

Time Served
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios in
Pyxis Fund
Complex
Overseen
by Trustee (1)
  Other
Directorships/

Trusteeships
Held
 

Experience, Qualifications, Attributes,
Skills for Board Membership

Timothy K. Hui

(6/13/1948)

  Trustee   Indefinite
Term;
Trustee
since
inception
in 2006
  Dean of Educational Resources since July 2012 and from July 2006 to January 2008, Vice President from February 2008 to June 2012, and Assistant Provost for Graduate Education from July 2004 to June 2006 at Philadelphia Biblical University.   [24]   None   Significant experience on this and/or other boards of directors/trustees; administrative and managerial experience; legal training and practice.
Scott F. Kavanaugh (1/27/1961)   Trustee and
Chairman
of the
Board
  Indefinite
Term;
Trustee
since
inception
in 2006;
Chairman
of the
Board
since
June
2012
  Vice-Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Keller Financial Group since September 2007; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at First Foundation Bank since September 2007; Vice-Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Foundation, Inc. (holding company) since September 2007; and private investor since February 2004.   [24]   None   Significant experience on this and/or other boards of directors/trustees; significant executive experience including current and past service as chairman and chief executive officer of a bank; other financial industry and banking experience.

 

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Name and Age

  Position(s)
with the
Fund
  Term of
Office and
Length of
Time Served
 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

  Number of
Portfolios  in
Pyxis Fund
Complex
Overseen

by Trustee (1)
   Other
Directorships/

Trusteeships
Held
 

Experience, Qualifications, Attributes,
Skills for Board Membership

James F. Leary

(3/9/1930)

  Trustee   Indefinite
Term;
Trustee
since
inception
in 2006
  Managing Director, Benefit Capital Southwest, Inc. (a financial consulting firm) since January 1999.   [24]    Board
Member
of
Capstone
Group of
Funds (7
portfolios)
  Significant experience on this and/or other boards of directors/trustees; significant executive experience including past service as chief financial officer of an operating company; audit committee financial expert.

Bryan A. Ward

(2/4/1955)

  Trustee   Indefinite
Term;
Trustee
since
inception
in 2006
  Senior Manager, Accenture, LLP (a consulting firm) since January 2002.   [24]    None   Significant experience on this and/or other boards of directors/trustees; significant managerial and executive experience; significant experience as a management consultant.
INTERESTED TRUSTEE

Ethan Powell2

(6/20/1975)

  Trustee   Indefinite
Term;
Trustee
and
Executive
Vice
President
since June
2012;
Secretary
since
November
2010
  Senior Retail Fund Analyst of HCM since 2007 and of Pyxis since its inception and Secretary of the funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex since November 2010; Manager in the Merger and Acquisitions Division at Ernst &Young from 1999 to [2006].   [24]    None   [Significant experience in the financial industry; significant executive experience including current and past service as an officer of funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex; significant administrative and managerial experience.]

 

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OFFICERS

Name

and Age

  

Position(s)

with the Fund

  

Term of Office and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past Five Years

Brian Mitts

(8/26/1970)

   Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer)    Indefinite Term; Treasurer since November 2010    Senior Retail Fund Analyst of Highland Capital Management, L.P. since 2007 and Pyxis since its inception; Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex since November 2010; Manager of Financial Reporting at HBK Investments (a hedge fund) from 2005 to 2007.

Ethan Powell

(6/20/1975)

   Trustee; Executive Vice President and Secretary    Indefinite Term; Trustee and Executive Vice President since June 2012; Secretary since November 2010    Senior Retail Fund Analyst of Highland Capital Management, L.P. since 2007 and Pyxis since its inception; and Secretary of the funds in the Pyxis Fund Complex since November 2010; Manager in the Merger and Acquisitions Division at Ernst & Young from 1999 to [2006].

Alan Head

(8/5/1973)

   Chief Compliance Officer    Indefinite Term; Chief Compliance Officer since January 2012    Compliance Director at Highland Capital Management and Chief Compliance Officer of NexBank Securities, Inc. (an affiliated broker-dealer) since November 2010; Vice President, Manager of Reporting and Research from May 2008 to September 2010 and Compliance; Manager from August 2005 to May 2008 at Capital Institutional Services.

 

 

1

The “Pyxis Fund Complex” consists of all of the registered investment companies advised by the Adviser as of the date of this SAI.

2

Mr. Powell is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Fund under the 1940 Act because of his position with the Adviser.

 

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Qualifications of Trustees

The following provides an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual serving as a Trustee of the Trust should so serve. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s business and professional experience and accomplishments; (ii) the individual’s ability to work effectively with the other members of the Board; (iii) the individual’s prior experience, if any, serving on company boards (including public companies and, where relevant, other investment companies) and the boards of other complex enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individual’s skills, experiences and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board.

In respect of each current Trustee, the individual’s professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Trust, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should serve as a Trustee of the Trust. Each Trustee’s professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board are summarized in the table above.

Trustees’ Compensation

The officers of the Trust and those of its Trustees who are “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund receive no direct remuneration from the Trust. The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation paid to each of the Trustees who is not an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”) by the Trust and the total compensation paid to each of the Trustees by the Pyxis Fund Complex for the [fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.]

 

Name of

Trustee

   Aggregate
Compensation

From the  Fund*
  Pension or Retirement
Benefits Accrued as

Part of the Fund’s
Expense
  Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
  Total
Compensation
From the Fund and

the Pyxis Fund
Complex

Interested Trustee

        

Ethan Powell

   $0   $0   $0   $0

Independent Trustees

        

Timothy K. Hui

   [•]   [$0]   [$0]   [$150,000]

Scott F. Kavanaugh

   [•]   [$0]   [$0]   [$150,000]

James F. Leary

   [•]   [$0]   [$0]   [$150,000]

Bryan A. Ward

   [•]   [$0]   [$0]   [$150,000]

 

* 

The Fund has not yet commenced operations; hence no compensation was paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

Each Independent Trustee receives an annual retainer of [$150,000] payable in quarterly installments and allocated among each portfolio in the Pyxis Fund Complex based on relative net assets.

Role of the Board of Trustees, Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The Role of the Board of Trustees

The Board oversees the management and operations of the Trust. Like most registered investment companies, the day-to-day management and operation of the Trust is performed by various service providers to the Trust, such as the Adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian, and transfer agent, each of which is discussed in greater detail in this Statement of Additional Information. The Board has appointed senior employees of certain of these service providers as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s operations. The Board receives regular reports from these officers and service providers regarding the Trust’s operations. For example, the Treasurer provides reports as to financial reporting matters and investment personnel report on the

 

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performance of the Trust’s portfolios. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who administers the Trust’s compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters. Some of these reports are provided as part of formal in person Board meetings which are typically held quarterly, in person, and involve the Board’s review of, among other items, recent Trust operations. The Board also periodically holds telephonic meetings as part of its review of the Trust’s activities. From time to time one or more members of the Board may also meet with management in less formal settings, between scheduled Board meetings, to discuss various topics. In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.

Board Structure and Leadership

The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively. The Board consists of five Trustees, four of whom (including the Chairman) are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”). The remaining Trustee, Mr. Powell, also serves as Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Trust, and as such he participates in the oversight of the Trust’s day-to-day business affairs. Mr. Powell is an “interested person” of the Trust (an “Interested Trustee”) because of his position with Pyxis. The Trustees meet periodically throughout the year in person and by telephone to oversee the Trust’s activities, review contractual arrangements with service providers for the Trust and review the Trust’s performance. The Board conducts much of its work through certain standing Committees, each of which is comprised exclusively of all of the Independent Trustees and each of whose meetings are chaired by an Independent Trustee. The Board has four committees, the Audit Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Litigation Committee and the Qualified Legal Compliance Committee, which are discussed in greater detail below.

Audit Committee. Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board of Trustees, the function of the Audit Committee is to (1) oversee the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Trust’s financial statements and (2) assist in Board oversight of the integrity of the Trust’s financial statements, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance. The Audit Committee is comprised of Messrs. Hui, Kavanaugh, Leary and Ward. The Audit Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. Mr. Kavanaugh acts as the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Governance Committee. The Governance Committee’s function is to oversee and make recommendations to the full Board with respect to governance of the Fund, selection and nomination of Trustees, compensation of Trustees, and related matters. The Governance Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from shareholders sent to the [Secretary of the Trust, 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201]. A nomination submission must include all information relating to the recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy statements for the election of Trustees, as well as information sufficient to evaluate the recommended nominee’s ability to meet the responsibilities of a Trustee of the Trust. Nomination submissions must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board of Trustees and to serve if elected by the shareholders, and such additional information must be provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee is comprised of all of the Fund’s Trustees. The Governance Committee was established in June 2012 to replace the Nominating Committee and did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The Nominating Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. [•] acts as the Chairman of the Governance Committee.

Litigation Committee. The Litigation Committee’s function is to seek to address any potential conflicts of interest among the Trust and the Adviser in connection with any potential or existing litigation or other legal proceeding relating to securities held by the Trust and the Adviser or another client of the Adviser. The Litigation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Hui, Kavanaugh, Leary and Ward. The Litigation Committee met eleven times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The Litigation Committee does not have a Chairman, although meetings of the Committee are chaired by an Independent Trustee.

 

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Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. The Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (“QLCC”) is charged with compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys representing the Trust who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the Trust. The QLCC is comprised of Messrs. Hui, Kavanaugh, Leary and Ward. The QLCC did not meet during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. The QLCC does not have a Chairman, although meetings of the Committee are chaired by an Independent Trustee.

The Trust does not have a lead Independent Trustee. As noted above, the Board’s leadership structure features all of the Independent Trustees serving as members of each Board Committee. Inclusion of all Independent Trustees in the Committees allows them to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of the risk management process. In addition, although the Independent Trustees recognize that having a lead Independent Trustee may in some circumstances help coordinate communications with management and otherwise assist a board in the exercise of its oversight duties, the Independent Trustees believe that because of the relatively small size of the Board, the ratio of Independent Trustees to Interested Trustees and the good working relationship among the Board members, it has not been necessary to designate a lead Independent Trustee.

The Board periodically reviews its leadership structure, including the role of the Chairman. The Board also completes an annual self-assessment during which it reviews its leadership and committee structure and considers whether its structure remains appropriate in light of the Trust’s current operations. The Board believes that its leadership structure, including having an Independent Chairman and the current percentage of the Board who are Independent Trustees, is appropriate given its specific characteristics. These characteristics include: (i) the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing Committees, each of whose meetings are chaired by an Independent Trustee; (ii) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet as needed, together with their independent legal counsel, in the absence of members of management and members of the Board who are “interested persons” of the Trust; and (iii) Mr. Powell’s position with the Adviser, which enhances the Board’s understanding of the operations of the Adviser.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board’s role is one of oversight, rather than active management. This oversight extends to the Trust’s risk management processes. These processes are embedded in the responsibilities of officers of, and service providers to, the Trust. For example, the Adviser and other service providers to the Trust are primarily responsible for the management of the Trust’s investment risks. The Board has not established a formal risk oversight committee; however, much of the regular work of the Board and its standing Committees addresses aspects of risk oversight. For example, the Trustees seek to understand the key risks facing the Trust, including those involving conflicts of interest; how management identifies and monitors these risks on an ongoing basis; how management develops and implements controls to mitigate these risks; and how management tests the effectiveness of those controls.

In the course of providing that oversight, the Board receives a wide range of reports on the Trust’s activities from the Adviser and other service providers, including reports regarding the Fund’s investment portfolios, the compliance of the Fund with applicable laws, and the Fund’s financial accounting and reporting. The Board also meets periodically with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer to receive reports regarding the compliance of the Fund with the federal securities laws and the Trust’s internal compliance policies and procedures, and meets with the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer periodically, including at least annually, to review the Chief Compliance Officer’s annual report, including the Chief Compliance Officer’s risk-based analysis for the Trust. The Board’s Audit Committee also meets regularly with the Treasurer and Trust’s independent public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Trust’s financial reporting function. The Board also meets periodically with the portfolio managers of the Fund to receive reports regarding the management of the Fund, including its investment risks.

 

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Share Ownership

The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities owned by the Trustees in all funds overseen by the Trustees in the Pyxis Fund Complex as of December 31, 2011.

 

Name of

Trustee

  Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Owned in

the Fund
  Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
Securities Owned in All Funds  Overseen
by Trustee in the Pyxis Fund Complex

Interested Trustee

   

Ethan Powell

  [•]   [•]

Independent Trustees

   

Timothy K. Hui

  [•]   [•]

Scott F. Kavanaugh

  [•]   [•]

James F. Leary

  [•]   [•]

Bryan A. Ward

  [•]   [•]

Trustee Positions

[As of December 31, 2011, no Independent Trustee nor any of his immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities of the Adviser or Distributor or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such entities.]

Code of Ethics

The Fund and the Adviser have each adopted codes of ethics that essentially prohibit certain of their personnel, including the Fund’s portfolio managers, from engaging in personal investments that compete or interfere with, or attempt to take advantage of a client’s, including the Fund’s, anticipated or actual portfolio transactions, and are designed to assure that the interests of clients, including Fund shareholders, are placed before the interests of personnel in connection with personal investment transactions. Under the codes of ethics of the Fund and the Adviser, personal trading is permitted by such persons subject to certain restrictions; however, they are generally required to pre-clear most securities transactions with the appropriate compliance officer and to report all transactions on a regular basis.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

The Fund and its service providers may be required to comply with various anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Consequently, the Fund and its service providers may request additional information from its Authorized Participants (as defined under “Policy on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings” in this SAI) to verify the identity of its Authorized Participants. If at any time the Fund believes an Authorized Participant may be involved in suspicious activity or if certain account information matches information on government lists of suspicious persons, the Fund may choose not to establish a new account or may be required to “freeze” an Authorized Participant’s account. The Fund and its service providers also may be required to provide a governmental agency with information about transactions that have occurred in an Authorized Participant’s account or to transfer monies received to establish a new account, transfer an existing account or transfer the proceeds of an existing account to a governmental agency. In some circumstances, the Fund or its service providers may not be permitted to inform the Authorized Participant that it has taken the actions described above.

Proxy Voting Policies

The Board has delegated voting of proxies in respect of the Fund’s portfolio holdings to the Adviser, to vote the Fund’s proxies in accordance with the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy. Pursuant to the applicable Proxy Voting Policy, the Adviser will vote proxies related to Fund securities in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy is attached as Appendix B.

 

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The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling [(877) 665-1287] and (ii) on the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Information as of June 30 each year will generally be available on or about the following August 31.

Policy on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The Board of Trustees must approve all material amendments to this policy. A complete schedule of the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the end of each fiscal quarter will be filed with the SEC (and publicly available) within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters and within 70 days of the second and fourth quarters. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business via the Fund’s website at http://www.pyxisais.com.

The portfolio composition file (“PCF”) and the IOPV file, which contain equivalent portfolio holdings information, will be made available as frequently as daily to the Fund’s service providers to facilitate the provision of services to the Fund and to certain other entities (“Entities”) in connection with the dissemination of information necessary for transactions in Creation Units, as contemplated by exemptive orders issued by the SEC and other legal and business requirements pursuant to which the Fund creates and redeems shares. Entities are generally limited to National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) members and subscribers to various fee-based services, including large institutional investors (“Authorized Participants”) that have been authorized by the Distributor to purchase and redeem Creation Units and other institutional market participants that provide information services. Each business day, Fund portfolio holdings information will be provided to the Distributor or other agent for dissemination through the facilities of the NSCC and/or through other fee-based services to NSCC members and/or subscribers to the fee-based services, including Authorized Participants, and to entities that publish and/or analyze such information in connection with the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units or trading shares of the Fund in the secondary market.

Daily access to the PCF and IOPV file is permitted (i) to certain personnel of those service providers that are involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, or other support to portfolio management, including Authorized Participants, and (ii) to other personnel of the Adviser and the Fund’s distributor, administrator, custodian and fund accountant who are involved in functions which may require such information to conduct business in the ordinary course.

Portfolio holdings information may not be provided prior to its public availability (“Non-Standard Disclosure”) in other circumstances except where appropriate confidentiality arrangements limiting the use of such information are in effect. Non-Standard Disclosure may be authorized by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer or, in his absence, any other authorized officer of the Trust if he determines that such disclosure is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, no conflict exists between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Adviser or Distributor and such disclosure serves a legitimate business purpose. The length of lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed shall be determined by the officer authorizing the disclosure.

Book Entry Only System

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for the shares. The shares of the Fund are represented by global securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except as provided below, certificates will not be issued for shares.

DTC has advised the Trust as follows: it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the 1934 Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants (“DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities

 

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certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). DTC agrees with and represents to DTC Participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and by-laws and requirements of law. Beneficial ownership of shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants).

Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability of certain investors to acquire beneficial interests in shares. Beneficial Owners of shares are not entitled to have shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and are not considered the registered holder thereof. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC, the DTC Participant and any Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of shares. The Trust understands that under existing industry practice, in the event the Trust requests any action of holders of shares, or a Beneficial Owner desires to take any action that DTC, as the record owner of all outstanding shares, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the DTC Participants to take such action and that the DTC Participants would authorize the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners acting through such DTC Participants to take such action and would otherwise act upon the instructions of Beneficial Owners owning through them. As described above, the Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the owner of all shares for all purposes. Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of shares holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Distributions of shares shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in shares as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants. The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of shares, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.

 

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No dividend reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. However, certain brokers may make a dividend reinvestment service available to their clients. Brokers offering such services may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate. Investors interested in such a service should contact their broker for availability and other necessary details.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

Pyxis serves as the Fund’s investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreements with the Fund. Pyxis is owned by Highland Capital Management Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HCM Services, Inc.”), and its general partner Strand Advisors XVI, Inc., of which James Dondero is the sole stockholder. HCM Services, Inc. is controlled by Mr. Dondero and Mark Okada by virtue of their respective share ownership.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Pyxis receives a monthly fee, computed and accrued daily, at the annual rate of [[•]% of [the Fund’s average daily managed assets]]. “Average Daily Managed Assets” of the Fund means the average daily value of the total assets of the Fund, less all accrued liabilities of the Fund (other than the aggregate amount of any outstanding borrowings constituting financial leverage).

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Pyxis, among other things: (i) continuously furnishes an investment program for the Fund; (ii) places orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the accounts of the Fund; and (iii) votes, exercises consents and exercises all other rights pertaining to such securities on behalf of the Fund.

Pyxis carries out its duties under the Investment Advisory Agreement at its own expense. The Fund pays its own ordinary operating and activity expenses, such as legal and auditing fees, investment advisory fees, administrative fees, custodial fees, transfer agency fees, the cost of communicating with shareholders and registration fees, as well as other operating expenses such as interest, taxes, brokerage, insurance, bonding, compensation of Independent Trustees of the Fund and extraordinary expenses.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance (or reckless disregard) of its obligations or duties thereunder on the part of Pyxis, Pyxis shall not be subject to liability to the Fund for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Investment Advisory Agreement relates.

Conflicts of Interests. Pyxis and/or its general partner, limited partners, officers, affiliates and employees provide investment advice to other parties and manage other accounts and private investment vehicles. In connection with such other investment management activities, the Adviser and/or its general partner, limited partners, officers, affiliates and employees may decide to invest the funds of one or more other accounts or recommend the investment of funds by other parties, rather than the Fund’s monies, in a particular security or strategy. In addition, the Adviser and such other persons will determine the allocation of funds from the Fund and such other accounts to investment strategies and techniques on whatever basis they consider appropriate or desirable in their sole and absolute discretion.

The Adviser has built a professional working environment, a firm-wide compliance culture and compliance procedures and systems designed to protect against potential incentives that may favor one account over another. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, the Adviser furnishes advisory services to numerous clients in addition to the Fund, and the Adviser may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts (including accounts that are hedge funds or have performance or higher fees paid to the Adviser or in which portfolio managers have a personal interest in the receipt of such fees) that may be the same as or different from those made to the Fund. In addition, the Adviser, its affiliates and any of their partners, directors, officers, stockholders or employees may or may not have an interest in the securities whose purchase and sale the Adviser recommends to the Fund. Actions with respect to securities of the same kind may be the same as or different from the action that the Adviser, or any of its affiliates, or any of their partners, directors,

 

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officers, stockholders or employees or any member of their families may take with respect to the same securities. Moreover, the Adviser may refrain from rendering any advice or services concerning securities of companies of which any of the Adviser’s (or its affiliates’) partners, directors, officers or employees are directors or officers, or companies as to which the Adviser or any of its affiliates or partners, directors, officers and employees of any of them has any substantial economic interest or possesses material non-public information. In addition to its various policies and procedures designed to address these issues, the Adviser includes disclosure regarding these matters to its clients in both its Form ADV and investment advisory agreements.

The Adviser, its affiliates or their partners, directors, officers or employees similarly serve or may serve other entities that operate in the same or related lines of business. Accordingly, these individuals may have obligations to investors in those entities or funds or to other clients, the fulfillment of which might not be in the best interests of the Fund. As a result, the Adviser will face conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities to the Fund and other funds and clients. In order to enable such affiliates to fulfill their fiduciary duties to each of the clients for which they have responsibility, the Adviser will endeavor to allocate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner which may, subject to applicable regulatory constraints, involve pro rata co-investment by the Fund and such other clients or may involve a rotation of opportunities among the Fund and such other clients.

While the Adviser does not believe there will be frequent conflicts of interest, if any, the Adviser and its affiliates have both subjective and objective procedures and policies in place designed to manage the potential conflicts of interest between the Adviser’s fiduciary obligations to the Fund and their similar fiduciary obligations to other clients so that, for example, investment opportunities are allocated in a fair and equitable manner among the Fund and such other clients. An investment opportunity that is suitable for multiple clients of the Adviser and its affiliates may not be capable of being shared among some or all of such clients due to the limited scale of the opportunity or other factors, including regulatory restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ efforts to allocate any particular investment opportunity fairly among all clients for whom such opportunity is appropriate will result in an allocation of all or part of such opportunity to the Fund. Not all conflicts of interest can be expected to be resolved in favor of the Fund.

INFORMATION REGARDING PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

The portfolio managers of the Fund are Greg Stuecheli and Ethan Powell. The following tables provide information about funds and accounts, other than the Fund, for which the portfolio manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management.

As of [•] [•], 2012, Greg Stuecheli managed the following client accounts:

 

Type of Accounts

   Total
# of Accounts
Managed
  Total Assets
(millions)
  # of Accounts
Managed  with
Performance-Based
Advisory Fee
  Total Assets  with
Performance-Based
Advisory Fee
(millions)

Registered Investment Companies:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

Other Accounts:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

As of [•] [•], 2012, Ethan Powell managed the following client accounts:

 

Type of Accounts

   Total
# of Accounts
Managed
  Total Assets
(millions)
  # of Accounts
Managed  with
Performance-Based
Advisory Fee
  Total Assets  with
Performance-Based
Advisory Fee
(millions)

Registered Investment Companies:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

Other Accounts:

   [•]   [•]   [•]   [•]

 

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Compensation Structure – Pyxis

Pyxis’s financial arrangements with its portfolio managers, its competitive compensation and its career path emphasis at all levels reflect the value senior management places on key resources. Compensation may include a variety of components and may vary from year to year based on a number of factors, including the pre-tax relative performance of a portfolio manager’s underlying account, the pre-tax combined performance of the portfolio manager’s underlying accounts, and the pre-tax relative performance of the portfolio manager’s underlying accounts measured against other employees. The principal components of compensation include a base salary, a discretionary bonus, various retirement benefits and one or more of the incentive compensation programs established by Pyxis, such as its “Short-Term Incentive Plan” and its “Long-Term Incentive Plan,” described below.

Base compensation. Generally, portfolio managers receive base compensation based on their seniority and/or their position with Pyxis, which may include the amount of assets supervised and other management roles within Pyxis. Base compensation is determined by taking into account current industry norms and market data to ensure that Pyxis pays a competitive base compensation.

Discretionary compensation. In addition to base compensation, portfolio managers may receive discretionary compensation, which can be a substantial portion of total compensation. Discretionary compensation can include a discretionary cash bonus paid to recognize specific business contributions and to ensure that the total level of compensation is competitive with the market, as well as participation in incentive plans, including one or more of the following:

Short-Term Incentive Plan—The purpose of this plan is to attract and retain the highest quality employees for positions of substantial responsibility, and to provide additional incentives to a select group of management or highly-compensated employees of Pyxis in order to promote the success of Pyxis.

Long-Term Incentive Plan—The purpose of this plan is to create positive morale and teamwork, to attract and retain key talent and to encourage the achievement of common goals. This plan seeks to reward participating employees based on the increased value of Pyxis.

Because each person’s compensation is based on his or her individual performance, Pyxis does not have a typical percentage split among base salary, bonus and other compensation. Senior portfolio managers who perform additional management functions may receive additional compensation in these other capacities. Compensation is structured such that key professionals benefit from remaining with Pyxis.

Conflicts of Interest – Pyxis

Because each portfolio manager manages other accounts, including accounts that may pay higher fees, potential conflicts of interest exist, including potential conflicts between the investment strategy of the Fund and the investment strategy of the other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts.

Ownership of Securities

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities of the Fund beneficially owned by each portfolio manager. This information is provided as of [June 30, 2011].

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Dollar Range of Fund Equity Securities

Beneficially Owned by Portfolio Manager

Greg Stuecheli    [None]
Ethan Powell    [None]

 

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ADMINISTRATOR

Under an administration agreement dated as of [•], [SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456 (“SEI”)] provides administration services to the Fund, as well as other services including fund accounting, shareholder services, contact center, distribution and trade order processing. [SEI] receives a monthly administration fee from the Fund, calculated and assessed in arrears based on the aggregate net assets of the Fund at an annual rate of [•]% on the first $[•] of net assets, [•]% on the next $[•] of net assets, and [•]% on all net assets exceeding $[•]. Additional distribution fees apply for [SEI’s] distribution and trade order processing services. The Fund pays all expenses other than those paid by [SEI], including but not limited to printing and postage charges and securities registration and custodian fees.

ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGENT

[SEI] provides accounting services to the Fund pursuant to an accounting services agreement with the [Adviser] dated as of [•], as amended from time to time. [SEI] receives a monthly accounting services fee from the Fund, computed and accrued daily, at an annual rate of [•].

DISTRIBUTOR

Shares of the Fund are offered for sale on a continuous basis through the Fund’s distributor and principal underwriter, [SEI] (the “Distributor”) only in Creation Units, as described in the Prospectus and in the “Purchase and Redemption of Shares” section of this SAI below. Fund shares in amounts less than Creation Units are not distributed by the Distributor.

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% may be made as reimbursement or compensation for distribution related activities with respect to the Fund. Under its terms, the Plan remains in effect from year to year, provided such continuance is approved annually by vote of the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount to be spent for the services provided by the Distributor without approval by the shareholders of the Fund, and all material amendments of the Plan also require Board approval. The Plan may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or, by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as such vote is defined in the 1940 Act).

TRANSFER AGENT

[SEI] provides transfer agency and dividend disbursing services for the Fund. As part of these services, [SEI] maintains records pertaining to the sale, redemption and transfer of Fund shares and distributes the Fund’s securities and cash distributions to shareholders.

CUSTODIAN

[SEI] is the custodian for the Fund. [SEI] is responsible for holding all securities, other investments and cash, receiving and paying for securities purchased, delivering against payment securities sold, receiving and collecting income from investments, making all payments covering expenses and performing other administrative duties, all as directed by authorized persons. [SEI] does not exercise any supervisory function in such matters as purchase and sale of portfolio securities, payment of dividends or payment of expenses.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund is [•], located at [•]. The independent registered public accounting firm audits and reports on the annual financial statements, reviews certain regulatory reports and U.S. federal income tax returns, and performs other professional accounting, auditing and tax services when engaged to do so.

 

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PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Selection of Broker-Dealers; Order Placement

Subject to the overall review of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities and other portfolio holdings of the Fund, for selecting the broker or dealer to be used and for negotiating any commission rates paid. In underwritten offerings, securities usually are purchased at a fixed price that includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. On occasion, certain money market instruments may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.

The Adviser and its affiliates manage other accounts, including private funds and individual accounts that invest in Fund investments. Although investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of such other accounts, investments of the type the Fund may make also may be made on behalf of such other accounts. When the Fund and one or more other accounts is prepared to invest in, or desires to dispose of, the same investment, available investments or opportunities for each are allocated in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable over time. The Adviser may (but is not obligated to) aggregate orders, which may include orders for accounts in which the Adviser or its affiliates have an interest, to purchase and sell securities to obtain favorable execution or lower brokerage commissions, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations. Although the Adviser believes that, over time, the potential benefits of participating in volume transactions and negotiating lower transaction costs should benefit all participating accounts, in some cases these activities may adversely affect the price paid or received or the size of the position obtained by or disposed of for the Fund. Where trades are aggregated, the investments or proceeds, as well as the expenses incurred, will be allocated by the Adviser in a manner designed to be equitable and consistent with the Adviser’s fiduciary duty to the Fund and its other clients (including its duty to seek to obtain best execution of client trades).

Commission Rates; Brokerage and Research Services

The Adviser seeks to obtain “best execution,” considering the execution price and overall commission costs paid and other factors. The Adviser routes its orders to various broker-dealers for execution at its discretion. Factors involved in selecting brokerage firms include the size, type and difficulty of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved, the quality of service, the quality of research and investment information provided and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. Within the framework of the policy of obtaining the most favorable price and efficient execution, the Adviser does consider “brokerage and research services” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided by brokers who effect portfolio transactions with the Adviser or the Fund. “Brokerage and research services” are services that brokerage houses customarily provide to institutional investors and include statistical and economic data and research reports on particular issuers and industries.

Because the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, information on brokerage commissions paid by the Fund is not included in this SAI.

Certain Affiliations

The Fund and Pyxis are currently affiliated with NexBank Securities, Inc. (“NexBank”), a FINRA member broker-dealer that is indirectly controlled by the principals of Pyxis. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers. The Fund may utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, subject to compliance with policies and procedures adopted pursuant to a 1940 Act rule. These policies and procedures are designed to provide that commissions, fees or other remuneration received by any affiliated broker or its affiliates for agency transactions are reasonable and fair compared to the remuneration received by other brokers in comparable transactions.

 

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In addition to the affiliation with NexBank, the Fund and Pyxis are currently affiliated with Barrier Advisors, Inc. (“Barrier”), a restructuring and financial advisor, and Governance Re Ltd. (“Governance Re”), an insurance company, both of which are indirectly controlled by the principals of Pyxis. NexBank, Barrier and Governance Re may offer certain services to portfolio companies whose securities, including loans, are owned by one or more registered investment companies advised by Pyxis (the “Portfolio Companies”). For example, NexBank may provide agent services for Portfolio Companies under credit agreements pursuant to which the Fund may be a lender; Barrier may offer strategic, financial and operational advisory services to Portfolio Companies; and Governance Re may offer insurance services to the Portfolio Companies. NexBank, Barrier, Governance Re and other affiliated service providers may receive fees from Portfolio Companies or other parties for services provided.

The Fund’s Board will, in accordance with specific procedures and policies adopted by the Board, review any investment or operational decisions that are brought to the attention of the Board and that may present potential conflicts of interest between Pyxis and the Fund.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND’S SHARES

The Fund is a series of the Trust, a Delaware statutory trust formed on February 28, 2006. The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of its shares of beneficial interest in separate series and classes of each series. The Trust is not required to hold regular annual shareholder meetings, but may hold special meetings for consideration of proposals requiring shareholder approval, such as changing fundamental policies or upon the written request of 10% of the Trust’s shares to replace its Trustees. The Trust’s Board of Trustees is authorized to classify or reclassify the unissued shares of the Trust into one or more separate series of shares representing a separate, additional investment portfolio or one or more separate classes of new or existing series. Shares of all series will have identical voting rights, except where by law certain matters must be approved by the requisite proportion of the shares of the affected series. Each share of any class when issued has equal dividend, liquidation (see “Purchase and Redemption of Shares”) and voting rights within the class for which it was issued and each fractional share has those rights in proportion to the percentage that the fractional share represents a whole share. Shares will be voted in the aggregate except where otherwise required by law and except that each class of each series will vote separately on certain matters pertaining to its distribution and shareholder servicing arrangements.

There are no conversion or preemptive rights in connection with any shares of the Fund. All shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the offering, will be fully paid and nonassessable. At the option of the shareholder, shares will be redeemed at NAV, subject, however, in limited circumstances to a redemption fee or a CDSC, all as described in the applicable Prospectus.

The shares of the Fund have noncumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares of the Trust can elect 100% of the Trustees if the holders choose to do so, and, in that event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any person or persons to the Board of Trustees.

Description of the Trust

Under Delaware law, shareholders of a statutory trust shall have the same limitation of personal liability that is extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the trust’s governing instrument. The Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) provides that shareholders shall not be personally liable to any person in connection with any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, that at such time is owned or held by or for the account of a particular series. Moreover, the Declaration of Trust expressly provides that the shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability that is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the State of Delaware.

The Declaration of Trust provides that no Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust or any series of the Trust shall be subject in such capacity to any personal liability whatsoever to any person, unless, as to liability to the Trust or its shareholders, the Trustees engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices.

 

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The Trust shall continue without limitation of time subject to the provisions in the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the Trustees, and without any vote of the Trust’s shareholders, except as may be required under the 1940 Act.

Trust Matters

The Trust reserves the right to create and issue a number of series shares, in which case the shares of each series would participate equally in the earnings, dividends and assets of the particular series and would vote separately to approve investment advisory agreements or changes in fundamental investment policies, but shares of all series would vote together in the election or selection of Trustees and on any other matters as may be required by applicable law.

Upon liquidation of the Trust or any series, shareholders of the affected series would be entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of their respective series available for distribution to such shareholders.

Shareholder Approval

Other than elections of Trustees, which is by plurality, any matter for which shareholder approval is required by the 1940 Act requires the affirmative “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Fund or the Trust at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval. For other matters, generally an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter (assuming a quorum is present) shall be required for approval of such matter.

Information for Shareholders

All shareholder inquiries regarding administrative procedures, including the purchase and redemption of shares, should be directed to the distributor, [SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456]. For assistance, call [(877) 665-1287] or visit the Fund’s website at http://www.pyxisais.com.

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

[As of [•] [•], 2012, the Trustees and officers of the Fund as a group owned less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of the Fund.]

Although the Trust does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares held in the names of Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) participants, as of [•] the name and percentage ownership of each DTC participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a Fund that was operational as of that date is set forth in the table below:

[TO BE UPDATED]

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The Fund issues and redeems shares only in aggregations of Creation Units. A Creation Unit is comprised of [50,000] shares. The value of a Creation Unit at the Fund’s inception was $[500,000].

The Board reserves the right to declare a split or a consolidation in the number of shares outstanding of the Fund, and may make a corresponding change in the number of shares constituting a Creation Unit, in the event that the per shares price in the secondary market rises (or declines) to an amount that falls outside the range deemed desirable by the Board.

Purchase and Issuance of Creation Units. The Fund issues and sells shares only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined herein), of an order in proper form. A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business.

 

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Creation Units of shares may be purchased only by or through a DTC Participant that has entered into an Authorized Participant Agreement with the Distributor. Such Authorized Participant will agree pursuant to the terms of such Authorized Participant Agreement on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, as the case may be, to certain conditions, including that such Authorized Participant will make available an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Balancing Amount (as defined below) if required and the Transaction Fee described in the Prospectus. The Authorized Participant may require the investor to enter into an agreement with such Authorized Participant with respect to certain matters, including payment of the Balancing Amount. Investors who are not Authorized Participants must make appropriate arrangements with an Authorized Participant. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not be a DTC Participant or may not have executed an Authorized Participant Agreement, and that therefore orders to purchase Creation Units of shares may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. As a result, purchase orders placed through an Authorized Participant may result in additional charges to such investor. The Fund does not expect to enter into an Authorized Participant Agreement with more than a small number of DTC Participants.

Creation Deposit. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of shares of the Fund generally consists of cash only (including the appropriate Transaction Fee). However, the Fund also reserves the right to permit or require the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (“Deposit Securities”) constituting a representation of the Underlying Index, along with the Balancing Amount and the appropriate Transaction Fee (collectively, the “Creation Deposit”) as consideration for the purchase of a Creation Unit. The “Balancing Amount” will be the amount equal to the differential, if any, between the total aggregate market value of the Deposit Securities and the NAV of the Creation Units being purchased and will be paid to, or received from, the Trust after the NAV has been calculated.

The [Administrator] makes available through the NSCC on each Business Day, either immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange or the night before, the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Creation Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day). Such Creation Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of shares the Fund until such time as the next-announced Creation Deposit composition is made available. The [Administrator] will also make available through the NSCC on each Business Day information about the previous day’s Balancing Amount.

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Creation Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the securities constituting the relevant securities index. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to be added to the Balancing Amount to replace any Deposit Security or Deposit Securities which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or for other similar reasons. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Creation Deposit, in the composition of the subject index being tracked by the Fund, or resulting from stock splits and other corporate actions.

In addition to the list of names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of a Creation Deposit, on each Business Day, the Balancing Amount effective through and including the previous Business Day, per outstanding share of the Fund, will be made available.

Shares may be issued in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a greater value than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to the available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Balancing Amount, plus (ii) [105]% of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”). An additional amount of cash shall be required to

 

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be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 115% of the daily mark-to-market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Participation Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a Transaction Fee, as listed below, will be charged in all cases. The delivery of shares so purchased will occur no later than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

Purchases through and outside the Clearing Process. An Authorized Participant may place an order to purchase (or redeem) Creation Units (i) through the Continuous Net Settlement clearing processes of NSCC as such processes have been enhanced to effect purchases (and redemptions) of Creation Units, such processes being referred to herein as the “Clearing Process,” or (ii) outside the Clearing Process. To purchase or redeem through the Clearing Process, an Authorized Participant must be a member of NSCC that is eligible to use the Continuous Net Settlement system. For purchase orders placed through the Clearing Process, the Authorized Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit through the Fund’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) to NSCC, on behalf of an Authorized Participant, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Authorized Participant’s purchase order. Pursuant to such trade instructions to NSCC, the Authorized Participant agrees to deliver the requisite deposit securities and the Balancing Amount to the Trust, together with the Transaction Fee and such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. A purchase order must be received by the Distributor at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time if transmitted by mail or by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time if transmitted by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means permitted under the Participant Agreement in order to receive that day’s Closing NAV per Share.

An Authorized Participant that wishes to place an order to purchase Creation Units outside the Clearing Process must state that it is not using the Clearing Process and that the purchase instead will be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. Purchases (and redemptions) of Creation Units settled outside the Clearing Process will be subject to a higher Transaction Fee than those settled through the Clearing Process. Purchase orders effected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the Authorized Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. The Creation Deposit transfer must be ordered on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the Fund by no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time of the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date. The cash equal to the Cash Amount must be transferred directly to the Fund through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Fund no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer.

Rejection of Purchase Orders. The Trust reserves the absolute right to reject a purchase order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect to the Fund if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the purchaser or group of purchasers, upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of any Fund; (c) the deposit securities delivered are not as specified by the Adviser and the Adviser has not consented to acceptance of an in-kind deposit that varies from the designated deposit securities; (d) acceptance of the purchase transaction order would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (e) the acceptance of the purchase transaction order would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (f) the acceptance of the purchase order transaction would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Adviser, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of

 

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beneficial owners; (g) the value of a cash purchase amount, or the value of the Balancing Amount to accompany an in-kind deposit, exceeds a purchase authorization limit extended to an Authorized Participant by the custodian and the Authorized Participant has not deposited an amount in excess of such purchase authorization with the custodian prior to the relevant cut-off time for the Fund on the Transmittal Date; or (h) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Distributor and the Adviser make it impractical to process purchase orders. The Trust shall notify a prospective purchaser of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of purchase transaction orders nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

Redemption of Creation Units. Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Distributor on any Business Day. The Trust will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Beneficial owners also may sell shares in the secondary market, but must accumulate enough shares to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit of shares. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

The [Administrator], through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange on each Business Day, the identity of the Fund securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form on that day. Fund securities received in redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units. Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of cash; however, the Fund also reserves the right to make the redemptions entirely or partly in the announced Fund securities plus or minus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund securities, less a redemption transaction fee.

Redemptions of shares for Fund securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, and the Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash if the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. This would specifically prohibit delivery of Fund securities that are not registered in reliance upon Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a redeeming investor that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.

The Fund, however, may suspend the right of redemption and postpone payment for more than seven days: (i) during periods when trading on the Exchange is closed on days other than weekdays or holidays; (ii) during periods when trading on the Exchange is restricted; (iii) during any emergency which makes it impractical for the Fund to dispose of its securities or fairly determine the NAV of the Fund; and (iv) during any other period permitted by the SEC for your protection.

Placement of Redemption Orders through and outside Clearing Process. Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund through the Clearing Process must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that is a member of NSCC that is eligible to use the Continuous Net Settlement System. A redemption order must be received by the Distributor prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by mail or by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means permitted under the Participant Agreement in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. All other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement must be followed in order for you to receive the NAV determined on that day. The requisite cash or Fund securities and the Balancing Amount will be transferred by the third NSCC Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.

 

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Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Units of a Fund to be effected outside the Clearing Process need not be a “participating party” under the Authorized Participant Agreement, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units will instead be effected through transfer of Shares directly through DTC. A redemption order must be received by the Distributor prior to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by mail or by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time if transmitted by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means permitted under the Authorized Participant Agreement in order to receive that day’s closing NAV per Share. All other procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement must be followed in order for you to receive the NAV determined on that day. The order must be accompanied or preceded by the requisite number of shares of the Fund specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than 11:00am Eastern Time on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date (“DTC Cut-Off Time”). All other procedures set forth in the Authorized Participant Agreement must be properly followed. After the Transfer Agent has deemed an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process received, the Transfer Agent will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite cash and, if applicable, Fund securities, which are expected to be delivered within three Business Days following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Transfer Agent.

Transaction Fees. Authorized Participants are charged standard creation and redemption transaction fees (“Transaction Fees”) to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. There is a fixed and a variable component to the total Transaction Fee. A fixed Transaction Fee is applicable to each creation or redemption transaction, regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased or redeemed. In addition, a variable Transaction Fee equal to a percentage of the value of each Creation Unit purchased or redeemed is applicable to each creation or redemption transaction. An additional charge of up to four times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage of the value of the Deposit Securities) may be imposed for (i) in-kind creations effected outside the normal Clearing Process, and (ii) cash creations (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with using cash to purchase the requisite Deposit Securities).

Purchasers of shares in Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. Investors will also bear the costs of transferring securities from the Fund to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services.

Continuous Offering. The method by which Creation Units of shares are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units of shares are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells some or all of the shares comprising such Creation Units directly to its customers; or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether a person is an underwriter for the purposes of the 1933 Act depends upon all the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person’s activities. Thus, the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter. Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are effecting transactions in shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. The Trust has been granted an exemption by the SEC from this prospectus delivery obligation in ordinary secondary market transactions involving shares under certain circumstances, on the condition that purchasers of shares are provided with a product description of the shares. Broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary market transaction), and thus dealing with shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of section 4(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, would be unable to take advantage of the

 

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prospectus delivery exemption provided by section 4(3) of the 1933 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus-delivery obligation with respect to shares are reminded that under 1933 Act Rule 153 a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to a national securities exchange member in connection with a sale on the national securities exchange is satisfied by the fact that the Fund’s Prospectus is available at the national securities exchange on which the shares of the Fund trade upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on a national securities exchange and not with respect to “upstairs” transactions.

INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS [TO BE UPDATED BY AMENDMENT]

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences of investment in the Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authority, as of the date of this SAI. These authorities are subject to change by legislative, administrative, or judicial action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to investments in the Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situation and the possible application of U.S. federal, state, local, foreign and other tax laws.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund has elected or intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and intends each year to qualify and to be eligible to be treated as such. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, the Fund must, among other things:

(a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as described below);

(b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets consists of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. government or other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as described below); and

(c) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt income, for such year.

In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized directly by the RIC. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income sources described in paragraph (a)(i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code Section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

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For purposes of meeting the diversification requirement described in (b) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership. Also, for purposes of the diversification requirement described in (b) above, the identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to issuer identification for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet diversification test in (b) above.

If the Fund qualifies as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).

If the Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification or distribution test (described respectively in (a), (b) and (c) above), the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a Fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any taxable year, or if the Fund were otherwise to fail to qualify as a RIC accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions might be eligible for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and to be treated as “qualified dividend income” and thus taxable at the lower long-term capital gain rate in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided in both cases, the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund’s shares (as described below). In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

The Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and may distribute its net capital gain. Any investment company taxable income retained by the Fund will be subject to Fund-level tax at regular corporate rates. The Fund may also retain for investment its net capital gain. If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to Fund-level tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a timely notice to its shareholders who would then, in turn, be (i) required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by that Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly-filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If the Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund would be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as the greatest of net capital loss, net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss, in each case attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, plus (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

 

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If the Fund were to fail to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 of such year, plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the Fund would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, the Fund’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be taken into account after October 31 of a calendar year generally are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also for these purposes, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year.

A dividend paid to shareholders in January of a year generally is deemed to have been paid by the Fund on December 31 of the preceding year, if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November or December of that preceding year. The Fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. In that event, the Fund will be liable for the excise tax only on the amount by which it does not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

The Fund distributes its net investment income and capital gains to shareholders as dividends at least annually to the extent required to qualify as a RIC under the Code and generally to avoid U.S. federal income or excise tax. Under current law, the Fund may treat the portion of redemption proceeds paid to redeeming shareholders that represents the redeeming shareholders’ portion of the undistributed investment company taxable income and capital gain of that Fund as a distribution of investment company taxable income and net capital gain on that Fund’s tax return. This practice, which involves the use of equalization accounting, will reduce the amount of income and gains that the Fund is required to distribute as dividends to shareholders in order for that Fund to avoid U.S. federal income tax and excise tax, which may include reducing the amount of distributions that otherwise would be required to be paid to non-redeeming shareholders. The Fund’s net asset value generally will not be reduced by the amount of any undistributed income or gains allocated to redeeming shareholders under this practice and thus the total return on a shareholder’s investment generally will not be reduced as a result of this practice.

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against the Fund’s net investment income. Instead, subject to certain limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses forward to subsequent taxable years to offset capital gains, if any, realized during such subsequent taxable year. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. If the Fund has incurred net capital losses in a taxable year beginning before December 22, 2010 (“pre-2011 losses”), the Fund is permitted to carry such losses forward for eight taxable years to offset any capital gains realized during such subsequent taxable years; in the year to which they are carried forward, such losses are treated as short-term capital losses that first offset any short-term capital gains, and then offset any long-term capital gains.

If the Fund incurs net capital losses in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010, those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration. Any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term; this may well result in larger distributions of short-term capital gains to shareholders (taxable to individual shareholders as ordinary income) than would have resulted under the previous regime described above. The Fund must use any such carryforwards, which will not expire, applying them first against gains of the same character before it uses any pre-2011 losses. This increases the likelihood that pre-2011 losses will expire unused at the conclusion of the eight-year carryforward period. The Fund’s ability to use net capital losses to offset gains may be limited as a result of certain (i) acquisitive reorganizations and (ii) shifts in the ownership of the Fund by a shareholder owning or treated as owning 5% or more of the stock of the Fund. The Fund’s available capital loss carryforwards will be set forth in its annual shareholder report for each fiscal year.

Fund Distributions

Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

 

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The Fund will send you information after the end of each calendar year setting forth the amount and tax status of any distributions paid to you by the Fund. Ordinary income dividends and Capital Gain Dividends (defined below) may also be subject to state, local or other taxes.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, the Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Distributions of net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to loss carryforwards) that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced—in general, to 15% with a 0% rate applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets—for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013. These reduced rates will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, distributions of investment income reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level. This provision will expire for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.

In order for some portion of the dividends received by the 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 that Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.

In general, distributions of investment income designated by the Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual, provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to that Fund’s shares. If the aggregate dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income (excluding long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. As noted above, it is unclear whether Congress will extend the special tax treatment accorded qualified dividend income to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of Fund distributions to be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

Dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the Fund generally will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by that Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by the Fund will not be treated as a dividend eligible for the dividends-received deduction (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-

 

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dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction may otherwise be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of that Fund or (2) by application of the Code (for instance, the dividends-received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock (generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds)). The Fund does not expect a significant portion of Fund distributions to be eligible for this corporate dividends-received deduction.

If the Fund receives dividends from another investment company that qualifies as a RIC and the investment company reports such dividends as qualified dividend income or as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income or as eligible for the dividends received deduction, as applicable, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the investment company.

Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction or (ii) dividend income received by the Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by that Fund, will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

Return of Capital Distributions

If the Fund makes a distribution to a shareholder in excess of that Fund’s 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 such shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of its shares.

Dividends and distributions on the Fund’s shares are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax as described herein to the extent they do not exceed that Fund’s realized income and gains, even though such dividends and distributions may economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects either unrealized gains or realized but undistributed gains that were therefore included in the price that the shareholder paid. Such distributions may reduce the fair market value of the Fund’s shares below the shareholder’s cost basis in those shares. As described above, the Fund is required to distribute realized income and gains regardless of whether that Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses.

Tax Implications of Certain Fund Investments

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that are acquired by the Fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having market discount. Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security. Alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently and thus distribute it over the term of

 

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the debt security, even though the payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance that are acquired by the Fund may be treated as having OID or “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). Generally, the Fund will be required to include the OID or acquisition discount in income (as ordinary income) over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. The rate at which OID or acquisition discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.

A substantial portion of the Fund’s investments in loans and other debt obligations will be treated as having market discount and/or OID, which, in some cases, could be significant.

Some preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer the payment of distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring the payment of its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of any such deferred distribution even though the Fund has not yet actually received the cash distribution.

If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of securities, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest that Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or, if necessary, by liquidation of portfolio securities (including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In the event the Fund realizes net long-term or short-term capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution or ordinary dividend, respectively, than they would in the absence of such transactions.

Investments in high-yield debt obligations or other distressed debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund investing in or holding such securities. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether or to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund as necessary, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a RIC and does not become subject to U.S. federal income or excise tax.

A portion of the OID paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations owned by the Fund may not be deductible to the issuer and will instead be treated as a dividend paid by the issuer for purposes of the dividends-received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the obligation is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such OID.

The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC will be allocated to shareholder of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, the Fund investing in such interests may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts. See “Tax-Exempt Shareholders” below.

 

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In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax.

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts or forward contracts (or similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent years.

Any equity investments by the Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject that Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF election”), in which case that Fund will be required to include its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC. The Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of that Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect that Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.” Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

Income received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. These withholding and other taxes will decrease the Fund’s yield on the securities subject to such taxes. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the Fund’s assets at year end consists of the securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portions of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes paid by the Fund. A shareholder’s ability to claim an offsetting foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund is subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in the shareholder’s not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their U.S. federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but not a deduction) for such foreign taxes. Shareholders of the Fund generally will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by or withheld from the Fund.

The Fund’s derivatives transactions, as well as any hedging, straddle and short sale transactions, generally are subject to one or more special tax rules (including, for instance, notional principal contract, mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary or capital and/or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of

 

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the Fund’s securities. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. In addition, because these and other tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.

In addition, certain of the Fund’s derivatives transactions and investments foreign currency-denominated debt instruments as well as any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies or its hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between the Fund’s book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including net realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution (if any) of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of that Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in its shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), that Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment.

To the extent the Fund participates in short sales by contracting for the sale of securities it does not own and later purchasing securities necessary to close the sale, the character of the gain or loss realized on such a short sale is determined by reference to the property used to close the short sale and is thus generally short-term. Because net short-term capital gain (after reduction by any long-term capital loss) is generally taxed at ordinary income rates, the Fund’s short sale transactions can increase the percentage of the Fund’s gains that are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

Backup Withholding

The Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding tax rate is 28% for amounts paid through 2012. This rate will expire and the backup withholding rate will be 31% for amounts paid after December 31, 2012, unless Congress enacts tax legislation providing otherwise. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Fund Shares

The sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss to the shareholder. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to those shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the “wash-sale” rule of the Code if other substantially identical shares of the Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Shareholders may be entitled to offset their Capital Gain Dividends with capital loss. The Code contains a number of statutory provisions affecting the circumstances under which capital loss may be offset against capital gain and limiting the use of loss from certain investments and activities. Accordingly, shareholders that have capital losses are urged to consult their tax advisers.

 

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Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct holders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

Distributions properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends generally will not be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax. In general, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends paid by the Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (a “foreign shareholder”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign shareholder directly, would not be subject to withholding.

However, effective for taxable years of the Fund beginning before January 1, 2012, the Fund is not required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign shareholder (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders (“interest-related dividends”), and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than (a) distributions to an individual foreign shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (b) distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs” as defined below)) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses to the extent such distributions are properly reported by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders (“short-term capital gain dividends”). The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. The exemption from withholding for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends will expire for distributions with respect to taxable years of the Fund beginning on or after January 1, 2012, unless Congress enacts legislation providing otherwise.

In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to shareholders. Foreign shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.

A foreign shareholder is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of USRPIs apply to the foreign shareholder’s sale of shares of the Fund or to the Capital Gain Dividend the foreign shareholder received (as described below).

Foreign shareholders with respect to whom income from the Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the foreign shareholder within the United States will, in general, be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income derived from the Fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in shares of the Fund and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax.

 

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If a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States. More generally, foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Special rules apply to distributions to certain foreign shareholders from a RIC that is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or former USRPHC or would be a USRPHC absent certain exclusions from the definition thereof. Additionally, special rules apply to the sale of shares in a RIC that is a USRPHC or former USRPHC. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs — USRPIs are defined generally as any interest in U.S. real property or any equity interest in a USRPHC — the fair market value of which, during specified testing periods, equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States and other assets. The Fund generally does not expect that it will be a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of the special exceptions referred to above, and thus does not expect these special tax rules to apply.

In order to qualify for any exemption from withholding described above (to the extent applicable) or for lower withholding tax rates under applicable income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, a foreign shareholder must comply with applicable certification requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). Foreign shareholders should contact their tax advisers in this regard.

A foreign shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal tax on income referred to above.

Tax-Exempt Shareholders

Under current law, the Fund serves to “block” (that is, prevent the attribution to shareholders of) unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from being realized by tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in that Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).

A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes excess inclusion income derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICS or equity interests in TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in RICs that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT (as defined in section 664 of the Code) that realizes any UBTI for a taxable year must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI as a result of investing in the Fund to the extent it recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of the Fund and that Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund.

 

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CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and Other Foreign Financial Assets

Certain individuals (and, if provided in future guidance, certain domestic entities) must disclose annually their interests in “specified foreign financial assets” on IRS Form 8938, which must be attached to their U.S. federal income tax returns for taxable years beginning after March 18, 2010. The IRS has released the Form 8938 and instructions in draft form. The instructions indicate that shareholders generally will not be required to report their indirect interests in the Fund’s “specified foreign financial assets” (if any), but this preliminary guidance is subject to change pending the IRS’s release of the finalized Form 8938 and its instructions. Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, and persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements

Rules enacted in March 2010 require the reporting to the IRS of direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts and foreign entities by U.S. persons. Failure to provide this required information can result in a 30% withholding tax on certain payments (“withholdable payments”), beginning in 2014 or 2015, depending on the type of payment. Specifically, withholdable payments subject to this 30% withholding tax include payments of U.S.-source dividends and interest made on or after January 1, 2014, and payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposal of property that can produce U.S.-source dividends or interest made on or after January 1, 2015.

The IRS has issued only preliminary guidance with respect to these rules; their scope remains unclear and potentially subject to material change. Very generally, it is possible that all or a portion of distributions made by the Fund on or after the dates noted above (or such later dates as may be provided in future guidance) to a shareholder, including a distribution in redemption of shares and a distribution of income or gains otherwise exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to non-U.S. shareholders described above (e.g., Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain and interest-related dividends, as described above), will be subject to the 30% withholding requirement. Payments will generally not be subject to withholding under these rules so long as shareholders provide the Fund with certifications or other documentation as the Fund may request including, to the extent required, with regard to their direct and indirect owners. Payments to a foreign shareholder that is a “foreign financial institution” (as defined under these rules) will generally be subject to withholding unless such shareholder enters into, and provides certification to the Fund of, a valid and timely information reporting and withholding agreement with the IRS to report, among other requirements, required information including about certain direct and indirect U.S. investors or U.S. accounts. Future guidance may exempt certain foreign financial institutions from these requirements, but it is currently unclear whether or when such regulations will be issued.

Persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary regarding the application of this reporting and withholding regime to their investments in the Fund.

Shareholders are urged to consult a tax advisor regarding this reporting and withholding regime, in light of their particular circumstances.

Shares Purchased Through Tax Qualified Plans

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the suitability of shares of the Trust as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

 

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General Considerations

The U.S. federal income tax discussion set forth above is for general information only. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the specific U.S. federal tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing of shares of the Fund, as well as the effects of state, local, foreign and other tax law and any proposed tax law changes.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Because the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not yet available.

 

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APPENDIX A — RATINGS CATEGORIES

Ratings in General. A rating of a rating service represents the service’s opinion as to the credit quality of the security being rated. However, the ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality or guarantees as to the creditworthiness of an issuer. Consequently, the Adviser believes that the quality of debt securities should be continuously reviewed and that individual analysts give different weightings to the various factors involved in credit analysis. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security because it does not take into account market value or suitability for a particular investor. When a security has received a rating from more than one service, each rating should be evaluated independently. Ratings are based on current information furnished by the issuer or obtained by the rating services from other sources that they consider reliable. Ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn as a result of changes in or unavailability of such information, or for other reasons. The following is a description of the characteristics of ratings used by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”).

Moody’s

Long-term Obligation Ratings

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

Aaa

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

Aa

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

A

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

Baa

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

Ba

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

B

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

Caa

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

Ca

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

C

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

 

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

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

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

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

P-1

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

P-2

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

P-3

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

NP

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

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

S&P

Long-term Issue Credit Ratings

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

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

AAA

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

AA

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

 

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A

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

BBB

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

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C

Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB

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

B

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

CCC

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

CC

An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C

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

D

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the shorter of the stated grace period but not longer than five business days. Both a longer stated grace period and the absence of a stated grace period are irrelevant. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

 

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Plus (+) or minus (-)

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

NR

This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1

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

A-2

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

A-3

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

B

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

C

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

D

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

SPUR (S&P’s Underlying Rating)

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

 

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APPENDIX B — PYXIS CAPITAL, L.P. PROXY VOTING POLICY

1. Application; General Principles

1.1 This proxy voting policy (the “Policy”) applies to securities held in Client accounts (including registered investment companies and other pooled investment vehicles) as to which the above-captioned investment adviser (the “Company”) has voting authority, directly or indirectly. Indirect voting authority exists where the Company’s voting authority is implied by a general delegation of investment authority without reservation of proxy voting authority.

1.2 The Company shall vote proxies in respect of securities owned by or on behalf of a Client in the Client’s best economic interests and without regard to the interests of the Company or any other Client of the Company.

2. Voting; Procedures

2.1 Monitoring. The Company has hired Broadridge as its proxy voting agent to vote proxies in respect of securities held in Client accounts for which the Company has proxy voting authority. The Company utilizes Broadridge’s ProxyEdge® internet tool to identify for Broadridge Client accounts for which the Company has proxy voting authority and Broadridge monitors the holdings in these Client accounts via automated electronic interfaces with the Company’s custodian banks and brokers for purposes of determining whether there are shareholder meetings or similar corporate actions affecting holdings in the Client accounts.

2.2 Voting. The Company has authorized Broadridge to vote proxies with respect to securities held in Client accounts for which the Company has proxy voting authority in accordance with recommendations provided by Glass, Lewis & Co. in its US 2010 Proxy Season Proxy Paper Guidelines (and, absent further action, future annual or special Proxy Paper Guidelines issued by Glass, Lewis & Co.). Glass Lewis’s Proxy Paper Guidelines are available on the Company’s internet website and to all Clients, prospective clients, and due diligence inquiries upon request. Broadridge is responsible for ensuring proxies are voted and submitted in a timely manner in accordance with such Guidelines, provided, however, that the Company may instruct Broadridge to vote in a manner inconsistent with the Guidelines in accordance with the procedures set forth below.

The CCO or his/her designee will be responsible for creating a weekly report of all upcoming shareholder meetings or similar corporate actions affecting securities held in Client accounts for which the Company has proxy voting authority, which will include Glass Lewis’s recommendation, if available. The report will be distributed to the relevant portfolio managers and sub-advisers for review and approval. If warranted and determined to be in the best interest of a Client after taking into account all the relevant facts and circumstances, the portfolio manager responsible for the Client account or security can override the recommendations of Glass, Lewis & Co. and direct Broadridge to vote one or more proxies according to his or her own determination of the clients’ best interests. If the Company decides to direct Broadridge to vote a proxy in a manner that is inconsistent with the recommendations of Glass, Lewis & Co., the CCO or his/her designee shall document the reasons for these votes and for the override of the Glass Lewis recommendation.

2.3 Guidelines. In determining how to vote a particular proxy, Glass Lewis follows the principles outlined in its Proxy Paper guidelines. It conducts careful analysis on each issuer looking specifically at Board composition of an issuer, the firm’s financial reporting and integrity of those financial statement, compensation plans and governance structure. The Company has accepted the proxy voting guidelines published by Glass, Lewis & Co., and The Company’s CCO or his/her designee will annually review the Glass Lewis Guidelines to ensure they remain appropriate and relevant to the Company’s proxy voting needs.

2.4 Conflicts of Interest. If a portfolio manager determines that a potential material conflict of interest (as defined in Section 3 of this Policy) exists between the Company and a Client account with respect to voting a particular proxy, the portfolio manager(s) shall contact the Company’s compliance department prior to the proxy being voted

 

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by Broadridge. In the event of a potential material conflict of interest, the Company will (i) vote such proxy according to the Glass Lewis Guidelines; or (ii) seek instructions from the Client or request that the Client vote such proxy. All such instances shall be reported to Pyxis’s Compliance Department at least quarterly

2.4.1. For a security held by an investment company, the Company shall disclose any potential material conflict of interest and its reasoning for voting as it did to the investment company’s Board of Trustees at the next regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. In voting proxies for securities held by an investment company, the Company may consider only the interests of the Fund. It is the responsibility of the Compliance Department to document the basis for the proxy voting decision when a potential material conflict of interest exists and to furnish the documentation to the Board of Trustees.

2.5 Non-Votes. The Company may determine not to vote proxies in respect of the securities of any issuer if it determines it would be in its Client’s overall best interests not to vote. Such determination may apply in respect of all Client holdings of the securities or only certain specified Clients, as the Company deems appropriate under the circumstances. As examples, the portfolio manager(s) may determine: (a) not to recall securities on loan if, in his or her judgment, the matters being voted upon are not material events affecting the securities and the negative consequences to Clients of disrupting the securities lending program would outweigh the benefits of voting in the particular instance or (b) not to vote certain foreign securities positions if, in its judgment, the expense and administrative inconvenience outweighs the benefits to Clients of voting the securities.

2.6 Recordkeeping. Following the submission of any proxy vote by Broadridge, a record of how proxy ballots were voted will be maintained electronically on the ProxyEdge® system, and will be continuously available for review. Broadridge will aggregate the proxy voting records of each investment company client of the Company for purposes of preparing and filing Form N-PX on such investment company’s behalf.

3. Conflicts of Interest

3.1 Voting the securities of an issuer where the following relationships or circumstances exist are deemed to give rise to a material conflict of interest for purposes of this Policy:

3.1.1 The issuer is a Client of the Company, or of an affiliate, accounting for more than 5% of the Company’s or affiliate’s annual revenues.

3.1.2 The issuer is an entity that reasonably could be expected to pay the Company or its affiliates more than $1 million through the end of the Company’s next two full fiscal years.

3.1.3 The issuer is an entity in which a “Covered Person” (as defined in the Company’s Policies and Procedures Designed to Detect and Prevent Insider Trading and to Comply with Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Code of Ethics”)) has a beneficial interest contrary to the position held by the Company on behalf of Clients.

3.1.4 The issuer is an entity in which an officer or partner of the Company or a relative1 of any such person is or was an officer, director or employee, or such person or relative otherwise has received more than $150,000 in fees, compensation and other payment from the issuer during the Company’s last three fiscal years; provided, however, that the Compliance Department may deem such a relationship not to be a material conflict of interest if the Company representative serves as an officer or director of the issuer at the direction of the Company for purposes of seeking control over the issuer.

3.1.5 The matter under consideration could reasonably be expected to result in a material financial benefit to the Company or its affiliates through the end of the Company’s next two full fiscal years (for example, a vote to increase an investment advisory fee for a Fund advised by the Company or an affiliate).

 

1 

For the purposes of this Policy, “relative” includes the following family members: spouse, minor children or stepchildren or children or stepchildren sharing the person’s home.

 

 

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3.1.6 Another Client or prospective Client of the Company, directly or indirectly, conditions future engagement of the Company on voting proxies in respect of any Client’s securities on a particular matter in a particular way.

3.1.7 The Company holds various classes and types of equity and debt securities of the same issuer contemporaneously in different Client portfolios.

3.1.8 Any other circumstance where the Company’s duty to serve its Clients’ interests, typically referred to as its “duty of loyalty,” could be compromised.

3.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, a conflict of interest described in Section 3.1 shall not be considered material for the purposes of this Policy in respect of a specific vote or circumstance if:

3.2.1 The securities in respect of which the Company has the power to vote account for less than 1% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities, but only if: (i) the securities for which the Company has voting authority do not, in the aggregate, represent one of top 10 largest shareholders of such issuer and (ii) such securities do not represent more than 2% of the Client’s assets under management with the Company.

3.2.2 The matter to be voted on relates to a restructuring of the terms of existing securities or the issuance of new securities or a similar matter arising out of the holding of securities, other than common equity, in the context of a bankruptcy or threatened bankruptcy of the issuer.

4. Recordkeeping, Retention and Compliance Oversight

4.1 The Company shall retain records relating to the voting of proxies, including:

4.1.1 Copies of this Policy and any amendments thereto.

4.1.2 A copy of the Glass Lewis Proxy Voting Guidelines, amended annually.

4.1.3. A copy of each proxy statement that the Company receives regarding Client securities.

4.1.4 Records of each vote cast by the Company on behalf of Clients.

4.1.5 A copy of any documents created by the Company that were material to making a decision how to vote or that memorializes the basis for that decision.

4.1.6 A copy of each written request for information on how the Company voted proxies on behalf of the Client, and a copy of any written response by the Company to any (oral or written) request for information on how the Company voted.

4.2 These records shall be maintained and preserved in an easily accessible place for a period of not less than five years from the end of the Company’s fiscal year during which the last entry was made in the records, the first two years in an appropriate office of the Company.

4.3 The Company may rely on proxy statements filed on the SEC’s EDGAR system or on proxy statements and records of votes cast by the Company maintained by Broadridge.

4.4 Records relating to the voting of proxies for securities held by investment company Clients will be reported periodically, as requested, to the investment company’s Board of Trustees and, to the SEC on an annual basis pursuant to Form N-PX.

4.5 If at any time any person is pressured or lobbied either by Company personnel or affiliates or third parties with respect to a particular shareholder vote, he or she should provide information regarding such activity to the CCO, who will keep a record of this information.

4.6 Compliance oversees the implementation of this procedure, including oversight over voting and the retention of proxy ballots voted. The CCO may review proxy voting pursuant to the firm’s compliance program.

 

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PART C: Other Information

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)

     (1         Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated February 27, 2006 (1)
     (2   (i)       Certificate of Designation for Pyxis Long/Short Equity Fund (formerly, Highland Long/Short Equity Fund, Highland Equity Opportunities Fund) (“Long/Short Equity Fund”) (3)
     (ii)       Certificate of Designation for Pyxis Long/Short Healthcare Fund (formerly, Highland Long/Short Healthcare Fund, Highland Healthcare Fund) (“Long/Short Healthcare Fund”) (5)
     (iii)       Certificate of Designation for Pyxis Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (formerly, Highland Floating Rate Opportunities Fund) (“Floating Rate Opportunities Fund”) (13)
     (iv)       Certificate of Designation for Pyxis/iBoxx Liquid Loan ETF (“Liquid Loan ETF”), to be filed by amendment

(b)

           By-laws of the Registrant (1)

(c)

           Not Applicable

(d)

     (1         Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Pyxis Capital, L.P. (formerly, Highland Capital Management, L.P.) (“Pyxis”) and the Registrant with respect to Long/Short Equity Fund (1)
     (2         Form of Fee Waiver Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant on behalf of Long/Short Equity Fund (2)
     (3         Investment Advisory Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant with respect to Long/Short Healthcare Fund (8)
     (4         Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant with respect to Long/Short Healthcare Fund (16)
     (5         Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Pyxis and Cummings Bay Capital Management, L.P. (“CBCM”) with respect to Long/Short Healthcare Fund (11)
     (6         Investment Advisory Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant with respect to Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (15)
     (7         Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant with respect to Liquid Loan ETF, to be filed by amendment

(e)

     (1         Form of Underwriting Agreement between BNY Mellon Distributors Inc. (formerly, PFPC Distributors, Inc.) and the Registrant (1)
     (2         Exhibit A to Underwriting Agreement between BNY Mellon Distributors Inc. (formerly, PFPC Distributors, Inc.) and the Registrant (15)
     (3         Form of Underwriting Agreement related to Acquisition of the Indirect Parent of PFPC Distributors, Inc. between BNY Mellon Distributors Inc. and the Registrant (11)
     (4         Form of Selling Group Agreement (8)
     (5         Form of Distribution Agreement between SEI Investments Distribution Co. and the Registrant, to be filed by amendment
     (6         Form of Distribution Services Agreement between SEI Investments Distribution Co. and the Registrant, to be filed by amendment

(f)

           Not Applicable

(g)

     (1         Form of Custodian Services Agreement between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company (formerly, PFPC Trust Company) and the Registrant (1)
     (2         Exhibit A to Custodian Services Agreement between Registrant and PFPC Trust Company (15)
     (3         Form of Custodian Services Agreement between SEI Investments Distribution Co. and the Registrant, to be filed by amendment

(h)

     (1         Form of Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PFPC Inc.) (1)
     (2         Exhibit A to Accounting Services Agreement between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.. (formerly, PFPC Inc.) (15)
     (3         Form of Administration Services Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant (1)
     (4         Amendment No. 1 to Administration Services Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant (6)
     (5         Revised Exhibit A to Administration Services Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant (15)


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     (6         Form of Sub-Administration Services Agreement between Pyxis and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PFPC Inc.) (1)
     (7         Exhibit A to Sub-Administration Services Agreement between Pyxis and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PFPC Inc.) (15)
     (8         Form of Transfer Agency Services Agreement between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., (formerly, PFPC Inc.) and the Registrant (1)
     (9         Amendment No. 1 to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., (formerly, PFPC Inc.) and the Registrant (7)
     (10         Amendment No. 2 to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., (formerly, PFPC Inc.) and the Registrant (7)
     (11         Exhibit A to Transfer Agency Services Agreement between Registrant and BNY Mellon Investment Services (US) Inc. (formerly, PFPC Inc.) (15)
     (12         Form of Administration Agreement between SEI Investments Global Funds Services and the Registrant, to be filed by amendment
     (13         Form of Authorized Participant Agreement, to be filed by amendment

(i)

     (1         Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect to Long/Short Equity Fund (2)
     (2         Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP with respect to Long/Short Healthcare Fund (5)
     (3         Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP with respect to Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (15)
     (4         Opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP with respect to Liquid Loan ETF, to be filed by amendment

(j)

     (1         Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, to be filed by amendment
     (2         Power of Attorney (4)
     (3         Power of Attorney dated March 2, 2011 (15)

(k)

           Not Applicable

(l)

     (1         Initial Capital Agreement between Pyxis and the Registrant on behalf of Long/Short Equity Fund (2)

(m)

     (1         Form of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan relating to Class A and Class C Shares of Long/Short Equity Fund (1)
     (2         Form of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan relating to Class A and Class C Shares of Long/Short Healthcare Fund (5)
     (3         Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan relating to Class A, Class B and Class C Shares of Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (15)
     (4         Form of Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan relating to Shares of Liquid Loan ETF, to be filed by amendment

(n)

     (1         Form of Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan relating to Long/Short Equity Fund (1)
     (2         Form of Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan relating to Long/Short Healthcare Fund (5)
     (3         Rule 18f-3 Multi-Class Plan relating to Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (15)

(o)

           Reserved

(p)

     (1         Code of Ethics of the Registrant (14)
     (2         Code of Ethics of Pyxis, Adviser for the Registrant (12)
     (3         Code of Ethics of BNY Mellon Distributors Inc. (formerly, PFPC Distributors, Inc.), Principal Underwriter for the Registrant (1)
     (4         Code of Ethics of CBCM, Sub-Adviser for Long/Short Healthcare Fund (11)

 

(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on March 14, 2006.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on November 22, 2006.
(3) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on March 1, 2007.

 

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(4) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on December 21, 2007.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 8 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on March 14, 2008.
(6) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on October 16, 2008.
(7) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on December 23, 2008.
(8) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on October 30, 2009.
(9) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 19 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on December 29, 2009.
(10) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on March 31, 2010.
(11) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 22 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on August 27, 2010.
(12) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on October 29, 2010.
(13) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on February 24, 2011.
(14) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-172618, filed on April 15, 2011.
(15) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on June 10, 2011.
(16) Incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, File No. 333-132400, filed on October 28, 2011.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

Not applicable

Item 30. Indemnification

Section 4.2 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides as follows:

(a) The Trust hereby agrees, solely out of the assets of the affected Series, to indemnify each Person who at any time serves as Trustee or officer of the Trust (each such Person being an “indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and reasonable counsel fees reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he

 

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may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth above in this Article IV by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall not have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust or the respective Series of the Trust and furthermore, in the case of any criminal proceeding, as to which he shall have had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that no indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to any Person or any expense of such indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence, or (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such indemnitee was (1) authorized by a majority of the Trustees or (2) was instituted by the indemnitee to enforce his or her rights to indemnification hereunder in a case in which the indemnitee is found to be entitled to such indemnification. The rights to indemnification set forth in this Declaration shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. No amendment or restatement of this Declaration or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate any of the benefits provided to any Person who at any time is or was a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder in respect of any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment, restatement or repeal.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made hereunder unless there has been a determination (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the issue of entitlement to indemnification hereunder was brought that such indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum (being one-third of such Trustees) of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”), that the indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion conclude that the indemnitee should be entitled to indemnification hereunder. All determinations to make advance payments in connection with the expense of defending any proceeding shall be authorized and made in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph (c) below.

(c) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation by the indemnitee of the indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standards of conduct necessary for indemnification have been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification and if a majority of the Trustees determine that the applicable standards of conduct necessary for indemnification appear to have been met. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or (3) a majority of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees, or if a majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall conclude, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is substantial reason to believe that the indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

(d) The rights accruing to any indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he or she may be lawfully entitled.

(e) Subject to any limitations provided by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and this Declaration, the Trust shall have the power and authority, solely out of the assets of the affected Series, to indemnify and provide for the advance payment of expenses to employees, agents and other Persons providing services to the Trust or serving in any capacity at the request of the Trust to the full extent as corporations organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law may indemnify or provide for the advance payment of expenses for such Persons provided that such indemnification has been approved by a majority of the Trustees.

Section 6 of each Investment Advisory Agreement with Pyxis Capital, L.P. provides as follows:

(a) The Trust hereby agrees to indemnify the Adviser and each of the Adviser’s partners, officers, employees, and agents (including any individual who serves at the Adviser’s request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another corporation) and controlling persons (each such person being an “Indemnitee”) against any liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees (all as provided in accordance with applicable

 

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state law) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative or investigative body in which he may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he may be or may have been threatened, while acting in any capacity set forth above in this paragraph or thereafter by reason of his having acted in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust and furthermore, in the case of any criminal proceeding, so long as he had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful, provided, however, that (1) no Indemnitee shall be indemnified hereunder against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders or any expense of such Indemnitee arising by reason of (i) willful misfeasance, (ii) bad faith, (iii) gross negligence (iv) reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his position (the conduct referred to in such clauses (i) through (iv) being sometimes referred to herein as “Disabling Conduct”), (2) as to any matter disposed of by settlement or a compromise payment by such Indemnitee, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for any other expenses shall be provided unless there has been a determination that such settlement or compromise is in the best interests of the Trust and that such Indemnitee appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust and did not involve Disabling Conduct by such Indemnitee and (3) with respect to any action, suit or other proceeding voluntarily prosecuted by any Indemnitee as plaintiff, indemnification shall be mandatory only if the prosecution of such action, suit or other proceeding by such Indemnitee was authorized by a majority of the full Board of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not be obligated to provide any such indemnification to the extent such provision would waive any right that the Trust cannot lawfully waive.

(b) The Trust shall make advance payments in connection with the expenses of defending any action with respect to which indemnification might be sought hereunder if the Trust receives a written affirmation of the Indemnitee’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification has been met and a written undertaking to reimburse the Trust unless it is subsequently determined that he is entitled to such indemnification and if the Trustees of the Trust determine that the facts then known to them would not preclude indemnification. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must be met: (1) the Indemnitee shall provide adequate security for his undertaking, (2) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, (3) a majority of a quorum of Trustees of the Trust who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding (“Disinterested Non-Party Trustees”) or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the Indemnitee ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification or (4) there is not a Disinterested Non-Party Trustee, Indemnitee provides the written affirmation referred to above.

(c) All determinations with respect to indemnification hereunder shall be made (1) by a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the proceeding was brought that such Indemnitee is not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct or, (2) in the absence of such a decision, by (i) a majority vote of a quorum of the Disinterested Non-Party Trustees of the Trust, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if a majority vote of such quorum so directs, independent legal counsel in a written opinion.

(d) Each Indemnitee shall, in the performance of its duties, be fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of the Trust’s officers or employees or by any advisor, administrator, manager, distributor, selected dealer, accountant, appraiser or other expert or consultant selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or other person may also be a Trustee.

(e) The rights accruing to any Indemnitee under these provisions shall not exclude any other right to which he may be lawfully entitled.

Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement with BNY Mellon Distributors, Inc. (formerly, PFPC Distributors, Inc.) provides as follows:

(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless BNY Mellon Distributors and its affiliates from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under the Securities Laws and any state and foreign securities and blue sky laws) arising directly or indirectly from any action or omission to act which BNY Mellon Distributors takes in connection with the provision of services to the Fund. Neither BNY Mellon Distributors, nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) caused by BNY Mellon Distributors’ or its affiliates’ own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(b) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless BNY Mellon Distributors, its officers, directors, and employees, and any person who controls BNY Mellon Distributors within the meaning of Section 15 of the [Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”)], free and harmless (a) from and against any and all claims, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) losses, damages, charges, payments and liabilities of any sort or kind which BNY Mellon Distributors, its officers, directors, employees or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, or sales literature (including amendments and supplements thereto), or (ii) any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information or sales literature (including amendments or supplements thereto), necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided, however, that insofar as losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by BNY Mellon Distributors or its affiliated persons for use in the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectus, or Statement of Additional Information or sales literature (including amendments or supplements thereto), such indemnification is not applicable; and (b) from and against any and all such claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including such costs and counsel fees) which you, your officers and directors, or such controlling person, may incur in connection with this Agreement or BNY Mellon Distributors’ performance hereunder (but excluding such claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including such costs and counsel fees) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or arising out of or based upon any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated in either any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in either thereof not misleading), unless such claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including such costs and counsel fees) arise by reason of BNY Mellon Distributors’ willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of BNY Mellon Distributors’ duties hereunder. The Fund acknowledges and agrees that in the event that BNY Mellon Distributors, at the request of the Fund, is required to give indemnification comparable to that set forth in this paragraph to any broker-dealer selling Shares of the Fund or servicing agent servicing the shareholders of the Fund and such broker-dealer or servicing agent shall make a claim for indemnification against BNY Mellon Distributors, BNY Mellon Distributors shall make a similar claim for indemnification against the Fund.

(c) BNY Mellon Distributors agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, its several officers and Board Members and each person, if any, who controls a Portfolio within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any and all claims, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), losses, damages, charges, payments and liabilities of any sort or kind which the Fund, its officers, Board Members or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liability or expense incurred by the Fund, its officers or Board Members, or any controlling person resulting from such claims or demands arose out of the acquisition of any Shares by any person which may be based upon any untrue statement, or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in the Fund’s Registration Statement, Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information (including amendments and supplements thereto), or any omission, or alleged omission, to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished or confirmed in writing to the Fund by BNY Mellon Distributors or its affiliated persons (as defined in the 1940 Act). The foregoing rights of indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which the Fund or any such person shall be entitled to as a matter of law.

(d) In any case in which one party hereto (the “Indemnifying Party”) may be asked to indemnify or hold the other party hereto (the “Indemnified Party”) harmless, the Indemnified Party will notify the Indemnifying Party promptly after identifying any situation which it believes presents or appears likely to present a claim for indemnification (an “Indemnification Claim”) against the Indemnifying Party, although the failure to do so shall not prevent recovery by the Indemnified Party, and shall keep the Indemnifying Party advised with respect to all developments concerning such situation. The Indemnifying Party shall have the option to defend the Indemnified Party against any Indemnification Claim which may be the subject of this indemnification, and, in the event that the Indemnifying Party so elects, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party and satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and thereupon the Indemnifying Party shall take over complete defense of the Indemnification Claim and the Indemnified Party shall sustain no further legal or other expenses in respect of such Indemnification Claim. In the event that the Indemnifying Party does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit, or in case the Indemnified Party reasonably does not approve of counsel chosen by the Indemnifying Party, or in case there is a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party will reimburse the Indemnified Party for the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the Indemnified Party. Each party agrees promptly to notify the other party of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the notifying party or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares. The Indemnified Party will not confess any Indemnification Claim or make any compromise in any case in which the Indemnifying Party will be asked to provide indemnification, except with the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent.

 

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Section 8.02 of the Distribution Agreement with SEI Investments Distribution Co. provides as follows:

[To be provided by amendment]

Section 4.02 of the Distribution Services Agreement with SEI Investments Distribution Co. provides as follows:

[To be provided by amendment]

Section 12 of the Administration Agreement with Pyxis Capital, L.P. provides as follows:

(a) The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Pyxis and its affiliates from all taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims and liabilities (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and liabilities arising under the Securities Laws and any state and foreign securities and blue sky laws) (collectively, “Losses”) arising directly or indirectly from any action or omission to act which Pyxis takes (i) at the request or on the direction of or in reliance on the advice of the Trust or (ii) upon Oral Instructions or Written Instructions; provided, however, neither Pyxis nor any of its affiliates, shall be indemnified against any liability (or any expenses incident to such liability) arising out of Pyxis’s or its affiliates’ own willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Trust shall not be liable to Pyxis or its affiliates for any consequential, special or indirect losses or damages which Pyxis or its affiliates may incur or suffer as a consequence of this Agreement, whether or not the likelihood of such damages or losses was known by the Trust.

In addition, the Trust will maintain a trustees and officers liability insurance policy under which the Trust and its trustees and officers will be named insureds.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser and Investment Sub-Advisers

(a) The description of the business of Pyxis, the investment adviser, is set forth under the caption “Management of the Funds” in the Prospectus and under the caption “Management” in the SAI, each forming part of this Registration Statement. The information as to other businesses, if any, and the directors and officers of Pyxis is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2012 (File No. 801-69968) and as amended through the date hereof, and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) The description of the business of CBCM, a registered investment adviser affiliated with Pyxis and the investment Sub-Adviser to Long/Short Healthcare Fund, is set forth under the caption “Management of the Funds” in Long/Short Healthcare Fund’s Prospectus and under the caption “Management” in Long/Short Healthcare Fund’s SAI. Acis Capital Management, L.P., Tunstall Capital Management, L.P., Granite Bay Advisors, L.P., NexPoint Advisors, L.P. and Highland Capital Management, L.P., each with its principal place of business at 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas, 75201, are registered investment advisers affiliated with Pyxis. The following are officers of CBCM:

(1) James D. Dondero, President

(2) Thomas Surgent, Chief Compliance Officer

The following is an officer of Acis Capital Management, L.P., Tunstall Capital Management, L.P., and Granite Bay Advisors, L.P.:

(1) Thomas Surgent, Chief Compliance Officer

The following is an officer of NexPoint Advisors, L.P.:

(1) Thomas Surgent, Secretary

(2) Alan Head, Chief Compliance Officer

(3) Ethan Powell, President

 

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(4) Frank Waterhouse, Treasurer

The following is an officer of Highland Capital Management, L.P.:

(1) Mark Okada, Chief Investment Officer

(2) Scott Ellington, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel

(3) Thomas Surgent, Chief Compliance Officer

(4) Frank Waterhouse, Chief Financial Officer

Item 32. Principal Underwriter

(a) BNY Mellon Distributors, Inc. (“BNY”), the principal underwriter for all series of the Registrant except for Liquid Loan ETF, is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of the FINRA. As of [ ], BNY acted as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:

Aston Funds

E.I.I. Realty Securities Trust

FundVantage Trust

GuideStone Funds

The Industry Leaders Fund

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust

Matthews International Funds, dba Matthews Asia Funds

Metropolitan West Funds

The Motley Fool Funds Trust

New Alternatives Fund, Inc.

Old Westbury Funds, Inc.

Pyxis Funds I

Pyxis Funds II

The RBB Fund, Inc.

Stratton Multi-Cap Fund, Inc.

Stratton Real Estate Fund, Inc.

The Stratton Funds, Inc.

The Torray Fund

[SEI Investments Distribution Co. (“SEI”) serves as the principal underwriter for Liquid Loan ETF. As of [ ], SEI acted as principal underwriter for the following investment companies:]

[To be provided by amendment]

(b) BNY is a Massachusetts corporation located at 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. BNY is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon Distributors Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a publicly traded company.

The following is a list of the directors and executive officers of BNY:

 

(1) Name and Principal

     Business Address*

   (2) Positions and Offices with
     Underwriter
   (3) Positions and Offices with
     Registrant
Nicholas M. Marsini, Jr.    Director    None
Michael DeNofrio    Director    None
Steven Turowski    Director    None
T. Thomas Deck    Director    None
Dennis J. Westley    Director    None
T. Thomas Deck    President and Chief Executive Officer    None

 

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Bruno DiStefano    Vice President    None
Susan K. Moscaritolo    Vice President, Secretary and Clerk    None
Matthew O. Tierney    Treasurer and Financial Operations Principal, Chief Financial Officer    None
Felicia Antonio    Chief Compliance Officer    None
Jodi L. Jamison    Chief Legal Officer    None
Ellen C. Krause    Chief Risk Officer    None
Maria C. Schaffer    Controller and Assistant Treasurer    None
John Munera    Anti-Money Laundering Officer    None
Ronald Berge    Assistant Vice President    None
Dianna A. Stone    Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk    None
Kevin D. Peterson    Assistant Treasurer – Tax    None
Gary E. Abbs    Assistant Treasurer – Tax    None
Joanne S. Huber    Assistant Treasurer – Tax    None
Barbara J. Parrish    Assistant Secretary    None
Mary Lou Olinski    Assistant Secretary    None
Cristina Rice    Assistant Secretary    None

 

* 

The principal business address for each individual is BNY Mellon Distributors Holdings Inc., 760 Moore Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19406

[SEI is located at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456. The following is a list of the directors and executive officers of SEI:]

 

(1) Name and Principal Business
     Address
   (2) Positions and Offices with
     Underwriter
   (3) Positions and Offices with
     Registrant

[To be provided by amendment]

     

 

* 

The principal business address for each individual is SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456

(c) Not applicable

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

(1) BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581 (records relating to its function as transfer agent and accounting services agent).

(2) BNY Mellon Distributors, Inc., 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406 (records relating to its function as distributor).

(3) BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company, 8800 Tinicum Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19153 (records relating to its function as custodian).

(4) Pyxis Capital, L.P., 200 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201 (records relating to its function as adviser and as administrator).

 

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(5) BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406 (records relating to its function as sub-administrator).

[(6) SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456 (records relating to its function as distributor, custodian and administrator with respect to Liquid Loan ETF).]

Item 34. Management Services

Not applicable

Item 35. Undertakings

Not applicable

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the Registrant, Pyxis Funds I, has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 under the Securities Act and Amendment No. 34 under the 1940 Act to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Dallas and State of Texas on the 2nd day of July, 2012.

 

PYXIS FUNDS I
By  

/s/ Ethan Powell

  Ethan Powell
  Executive Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the Registration Statement has been signed on July 2, 2012 by the following persons in the capacities indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Ethan Powell

Ethan Powell

  

Trustee,

Executive Vice President and Secretary

/s/ Timothy K. Hui*

Timothy K. Hui

   Trustee

/s/ Scott F. Kavanaugh*

Scott F. Kavanaugh

   Chairman of the Board, Trustee

/s/ James F. Leary*

James F. Leary

   Trustee

/s/ Bryan A. Ward*

Bryan A. Ward

   Trustee

/s/ Brian Mitts*

Brian Mitts

  

Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

*By:  

/s/ Ethan Powell

  Ethan Powell
  Attorney-in-Fact
  July 2, 2012

 

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