N-CSRS 1 d167592dncsrs.htm QS GLOBAL MARKET NEUTRAL FUND QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-22338

 

 

Legg Mason Global Asset Management Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-877-721-1926

Date of fiscal year end: September 30

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2016

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


LOGO

 

Semi-Annual Report   March 31, 2016

QS

GLOBAL MARKET

NEUTRAL FUND

 

 

 

LOGO

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE


What’s inside      
Letter from the president     II   
Investment commentary     III   
Fund at a glance     1   
Fund expenses     2   
Schedule of investments     4   
Statement of assets and liabilities     25   
Statement of operations     26   
Statement of changes in net assets     27   
Financial highlights     28   
Notes to financial statements     31   

Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements

    43   

Fund objective

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Letter from the president

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of QS Global Market Neutral Fund for the period since the Fund’s inception on November 30, 2015 through March 31, 2016. Please read on for Fund performance information and a detailed look at prevailing economic and market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period.

As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish this is through our website, www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:

 

 

Fund prices and performance,

 

 

Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and

 

 

A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

President and Chief Executive Officer

April 29, 2016

 

II    QS Global Market Neutral Fund


Investment commentary

 

This Investment Commentary covers the Fund’s initial reporting period (the Fund’s inception on November 30, 2015 through March 31, 2016).

Economic review

The pace of U.S. economic activity was mixed during the period from the Fund’s inception on November 30, 2015 through March 31, 2016 (the “reporting period”). Looking back, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that third quarter 2015 U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”)i growth was 2.0%. The U.S. Department of Commerce then reported that fourth quarter 2015 GDP growth was 1.4%. Slower growth was attributed to downturns in nonresidential fixed investment and state and local government spending, along with a deceleration in personal consumption expenditures (“PCE”) and less export activity. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s initial reading for first quarter 2016 GDP growth — released after the reporting period ended — was 0.5%. This further slowdown was attributed to a number of factors, including a decrease in nonresidential fixed investment,

a deceleration in PCE and a downturn in federal government spending.

Job growth in the U.S. was solid overall and was a tailwind for the economy during the reporting period. When the period ended in March 2016 unemployment was 5.0%, close to its lowest level since February 2008.

Turning to the global economy, in its April 2016 World Economic Outlook Update, released after the reporting period ended, the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) said “Global recovery continues, but at an ever-slowing and increasingly fragile pace. The months since the last World Economic Outlook have seen a renewed episode of global asset market volatility, some loss of growth momentum in the advanced economies, and continuing headwinds for emerging market economies and lower-income countries.” From a regional perspective, the IMF currently estimates 2016 growth in the Eurozone will be 1.5%, versus 1.6% in 2015. Japan’s economy is expected to expand 0.5% in 2016, the same as in 2015. Elsewhere, the IMF projects that overall growth in emerging market countries will tick up to 4.1% in 2016, versus 4.0% in 2015.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund   III


Investment commentary (cont’d)

 

Market review

Q. How did the Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)ii respond to the economic environment?

A. After an extended period of maintaining the federal funds rateiii at a historically low range between zero and 0.25%, the Fed increased the rate at its meeting on December 16, 2015. This marked the first rate hike since 2006. In particular, the U.S. central bank raised the federal funds rate to a range between 0.25% and 0.50%. In its official statement after the December 2015 meeting, the Fed said, “The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative after this increase, thereby supporting further improvement in labor market conditions and a return to 2 percent inflation…. The Committee expects that economic conditions will evolve in a manner that will warrant only gradual increases in the federal funds rate; the federal funds rate is likely to remain, for some time, below levels that are expected to prevail in the longer run.” At its meetings that concluded on January 27, 2016, March 16, 2016 and April 27, 2016 (after the reporting period ended), the Fed kept rates on hold.

Q. What actions did international central banks take during the reporting period?

A. Given the economic challenges in the Eurozone, the European Central Bank (“ECB”)iv took a number of actions to stimulate growth and ward off deflation. In January 2015, before the beginning of the reporting period, the ECB announced that, beginning in March 2015, it would start a 60 billion-a-month bond buying program that is expected to run until September 2016. In December 2015, the ECB extended its monthly bond buying program until at least March 2017. Finally, in March 2016, the ECB announced that it would increase its bond purchasing program to 80 billion a month. It also cut its deposit rate to -0.4% and its main interest rate to 0%. In other developed countries, the Bank of England kept rates on hold at 0.50% during the reporting period, its lowest level since 2006. After holding rates steady at 0.10% for more than five years, in January 2016 the Bank of Japan announced that it cut the rate on current accounts that commercial banks hold with it to -0.10%. Elsewhere, after keeping rates steady at 6.0% since July 2012, the People’s Bank of China lowered rates six times from November 23, 2014 through October 23, 2015, with the last cut pushing rates down to 4.35%.

Q. What factors impacted the U.S. stock market during the reporting period?

A. The U.S. stock market was volatile over the reporting period. The market edged higher during the first month of the reporting period. However, the market then reversed course and declined during the next three months of the period. This turnaround was triggered by a number of factors, including concerns about the fallout from moderating economic growth in China, uncertainties surrounding future Fed actions and several geopolitical issues. The market then rallied sharply in March 2016, as U.S. economic data was generally solid, oil prices moved higher and the Fed reduced its expectations for rate hikes in 2016. All told, the S&P 500 Indexv returned -0.25% during the reporting period.

Looking at the U.S. stock market more closely, large-cap stocks, as measured by the Russell 1000 Indexvi, generated the best relative results, as they returned -0.65% over the reporting period. In contrast, small-cap stocks generated the worst returns, with

 

IV    QS Global Market Neutral Fund


the Russell 2000 Indexvii declining 6.46%, whereas mid-cap stocks, as measured by the Russell Midcap Indexviii, fell 0.50%. From an investment style perspective, growth and value stocks, as measured by the Russell 3000 Growthix and Russell 3000 Valuex Indices, returned -1.39% and -0.80%, respectively, during the reporting period.

Q. How did the international stock market perform during the reporting period?

A. As was the case in the U.S., international equities were also volatile during the reporting period. Developed market equities, as measured by the MSCI EAFE Index,xi declined during the reporting period. Despite a strong rebound in March 2016, it was not enough to push developed market equities back into positive territory. All told, the MSCI EAFE Index fell 4.31% during the reporting period. Emerging market equities were not immune to the market’s gyrations, as the MSCI Emerging Markets Indexxii rose and fell in the same pattern as developed market equities. However, a double-digit rally in March 2016 helped emerging market equities generate a positive 3.36% return over the reporting period.

Performance review

For the period since inception on November 30, 2015 through March 31, 2016, Class A shares of QS Global Market Neutral Fund, excluding sales charges, returned 0.30%. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmark, the Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Indexxiii, returned 0.06% for the same period. The Lipper Alternative Equity Market Neutral Funds Category Average1 returned -0.22% over the same time frame.

 

Performance Snapshot as of March 31, 2016
(unaudited)
 
(excluding sales charges)   Since Fund
Inception*
 
QS Global Market Neutral Fund:  

Class A

    0.30

Class I

    0.40

Class IS

    0.40
Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index     0.06
Lipper Alternative Equity Market Neutral Funds
Category Average1
    -0.22

The performance shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown above. Principal value and investment returns will fluctuate and investors’ shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month-end, please visit our website at www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors.

All share class returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value and the deduction of all Fund expenses. Returns have not been adjusted to include sales charges that may apply or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions. If sales charges were reflected, the performance quoted would be lower. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year represent cumulative figures and are not annualized. Results for longer periods will differ, in some cases, substantially.

 

1 

Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the four-month period ended March 31, 2016, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 105 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category, and excluding sales charges.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund   V


Investment commentary (cont’d)

 

Fund performance figures reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which the performance would have been lower.

* The Fund’s inception date is November 30, 2015.

 

Total Annual Operating Expenses (unaudited)

As of the Fund’s current prospectus dated November 30, 2015, the gross total annual operating expense ratios for Class A, Class I and Class IS shares were 5.93%, 5.58% and 5.48%, respectively.

Actual expenses may be higher. For example, expenses may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile.

As a result of expense limitation arrangements, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions and expenses, fees, costs and expenses associated with any prime brokerage arrangement (including the costs of any securities borrowing arrangement); dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets are not expected to exceed 1.55% for Class A shares, 1.20% for Class I shares and 1.10% for Class IS shares. In addition, the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses for Class IS shares will not exceed the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses for Class I shares. These expense limitation arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2017 without the Board of Trustees’ consent.

The manager is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to a class within three years after the fiscal year in which the manager earned the fee or incurred the expense if the class’ total annual operating expenses have fallen to a level below the expense limitation (“expense cap”) in effect at the time the fees were earned or the expenses incurred. In no case will the manager recapture any amount that would result, on any particular business day of the Fund, in the class’ total annual operating expenses exceeding the expense cap or any other lower limit then in effect.

As always, thank you for your confidence in our stewardship of your assets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

President and Chief Executive Officer

April 29, 2016

RISKS: The Fund is a newly organized, open-end investment company with no history of operations. The Fund may employ leverage, which increases the volatility of investment returns and subjects the Fund to magnified losses if the Fund’s investments decline in value. The Fund may use derivatives, such as options and futures, which can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on Fund performance. The Fund may employ short selling, a speculative strategy. Unlike the possible loss on a security that is purchased, there is no limit on the amount of loss on an appreciating security that is sold short. There is no assurance strategies used by the Fund will be successful. Equity securities are subject to market and price fluctuations. International investments are subject to special risks including currency fluctuations, social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are

 

VI    QS Global Market Neutral Fund


magnified in emerging markets. Small-and mid-cap stocks involve greater risks and volatility than large-cap stocks. Investing in securities issued by investment companies and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) involves risks similar to those of investing directly in the securities and other assets held by investment companies or ETFs. The Fund will indirectly bear its pro rata share of the fees and expenses incurred by any fund it invests in, including advisory fees, and will pay brokerage commissions in connection with the purchase and sale of shares of ETFs. Investing in hedge funds and other privately offered funds involves the additional risks of limited liquidity and potentially significant volatility. Some assets held by the Fund may be impossible or difficult to sell, particularly during times of market turmoil. These illiquid assets may also be difficult to value. If the Fund is forced to sell an illiquid asset to meet redemption requests or other cash needs, the Fund may be forced to sell at a loss. Please see the Fund’s prospectus for a more complete discussion of these and other risks, and the Fund’s investment strategies.

All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.

The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as a whole. Forecasts and predictions are inherently limited and should not be relied upon as an indication of actual or future performance.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund   VII


Investment commentary (cont’d)

 

 

 

i 

Gross domestic product (“GDP”) is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time.

 

ii 

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) is responsible for the formulation of U.S. policies designed to promote economic growth, full employment, stable prices and a sustainable pattern of international trade and payments.

 

iii 

The federal funds rate is the rate charged by one depository institution on an overnight sale of immediately available funds (balances at the Federal Reserve) to another depository institution; the rate may vary from depository institution to depository institution and from day to day.

 

iv 

The European Central Bank (“ECB”) is responsible for the monetary system of the European Union and the euro currency.

 

v 

The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 stocks and is generally representative of the performance of larger companies in the U.S.

 

vi 

The Russell 1000 Index measures the performance of the large-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. It is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index and includes approximately 1,000 of the largest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell 1000 represents approximately 92% of the U.S. market. The Russell 3000 Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market

 

vii 

The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell 2000 is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership.

 

viii 

The Russell Midcap Index measures the performance of the mid-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Russell Midcap is a subset of the Russell 1000 Index. It includes approximately 800 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market cap and current index membership. The Russell Midcap represents approximately 31% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 1000 companies.

 

ix 

The Russell 3000 Growth Index measures the performance of the broad growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 3000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. (A price-to-book ratio is the price of a stock compared to the difference between a company’s assets and liabilities.)

 

x 

The Russell 3000 Value Index measures the performance of the broad value segment of the U.S. equity value universe. It includes those Russell 3000 Index companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

 

xi 

The MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada.

 

xii 

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.

 

xiii 

The Citigroup 3-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index generally representative of the average yield of 3-month U.S. Treasury bills.

 

VIII    QS Global Market Neutral Fund


Fund at a glance (unaudited)

 

Investment breakdown† (%) as a percent of total investments

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2016 and does not include derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.

Securities sold short breakdown* (%) as a percent of total securities sold short

 

LOGO

 

* The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s securities sold short as of March 31, 2016 and does not include derivatives. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s securities sold short is subject to change at any time.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   1


Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of the Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including front-end and back-end sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; service and/or distribution (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on October 1, 2015 and held for the six months ended March 31, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

Actual expenses

The table below titled “Based on Actual Total Return” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period”.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The table below titled “Based on Hypothetical Total Return” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use the information provided in this table to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare the 5.00% hypothetical example relating to the Fund with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as front-end or back-end sales charges (loads). Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Based on actual total return1         Based on hypothetical total return4  
     Actual
Total Return
Without
Sales
Charge2
    Beginning
Account
Value
    Ending
Account
Value
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid
During
the
Period3
             Hypothetical
Annualized
Total Return
    Beginning
Account
Value
    Ending
Account
Value
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid
During
the
Period5
 
Class A     0.30   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,003.00        4.06   $ 13.55        Class A     5.00   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,004.70        4.06   $ 20.35   
Class I     0.40        1,000.00        1,004.00        4.84        16.17        Class I     5.00        1,000.00        1,000.80        4.84        24.21   
Class IS     0.40        1,000.00        1,004.00        3.77        12.59        Class IS     5.00        1,000.00        1,006.15        3.77        18.91   

 

1

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016.

 

2

Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value and does not reflect the deduction of the applicable sales charge with respect to Class A shares. Total return is not annualized, as it may not be representative of the total return for the year. Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee

 

2    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

3

Expenses (net of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are equal to each class’ respective annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal period (122), then divided by 366.

 

4

For the six months ended March 31, 2016.

 

5

Expenses (net of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are equal to the class’ annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (183), then divided by 366.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   3


Schedule of investments (unaudited)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  
Common Stocks — 92.2%                        
Consumer Discretionary — 16.1%                        

Auto Components — 2.4%

                       

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

            1,859      $ 28,610  *(a) 

Cooper-Standard Holding Inc.

            216        15,517  

Faurecia

            642        24,227  (b) 

Lear Corp.

            127        14,119  (a) 

Toyota Boshoku Corp.

            2,200        35,737  (b) 

Visteon Corp.

            345        27,459  (a) 

Total Auto Components

                    145,669   

Automobiles — 0.9%

                       

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

            800        28,164  (b) 

Peugeot SA

            1,736        29,703  *(b) 

Total Automobiles

                    57,867   

Distributors — 0.6%

                       

Inchcape PLC

            3,772        39,042  (a)(b) 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.8%

                       

BJ’s Restaurants Inc.

            342        14,217  *(a) 

Carnival Corp.

            864        45,593  (a) 

Diamond Resorts International Inc.

            798        19,392  *(a) 

Great Canadian Gaming Corp.

            1,400        20,061  

Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.

            642        8,988  *(a) 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                    108,251   

Household Durables — 5.2%

                       

Barratt Developments PLC

            4,364        35,003  (a)(b) 

Berkeley Group Holdings PLC

            805        37,058  (a)(b) 

Crest Nicholson Holdings PLC

            3,808        30,717  (b) 

Forbo Holding AG, Registered Shares

            24        29,047  *(b) 

Foster Electric Co., Ltd.

            1,700        35,739  (b) 

Helen of Troy Ltd.

            182        18,872  *(a) 

Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

            1,800        35,000  (b) 

Persimmon PLC

            1,355        40,441  (a)(b) 

Taylor Wimpey PLC

            11,979        32,609  (a)(b) 

ZAGG Inc.

            3,225        29,057  *(a) 

Total Household Durables

                    323,543   

Media — 0.7%

                       

Mediaset Espana Comunicacion SA

            3,850        44,222  (b)  

Multiline Retail — 0.8%

                       

Debenhams PLC

            19,902        21,463  (b) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

4    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Multiline Retail — continued

                       

Target Corp.

            366      $ 30,114  (a) 

Total Multiline Retail

                    51,577   

Specialty Retail — 3.7%

                       

Adastria Co., Ltd.

            800        24,212  (b) 

Children’s Place Inc.

            266        22,203  (a) 

Express Inc.

            1,593        34,106  *(a) 

Foot Locker Inc.

            300        19,350  (a) 

Hibbett Sports Inc.

            276        9,908  *(a) 

Howden Joinery Group PLC

            2,633        18,025  (a)(b) 

JB Hi-Fi Ltd.

            1,676        30,251  (b) 

Lowe’s Cos. Inc.

            524        39,693  (a) 

WH Smith PLC

            1,161        30,267  (b) 

Total Specialty Retail

                    228,015   

Total Consumer Discretionary

                    998,186   
Consumer Staples — 6.4%                        

Food & Staples Retailing — 2.1%

                       

Axfood AB

            1,240        22,882  (b) 

Delhaize Group, ADR

            800        20,776  (a) 

Koninklijke Ahold NV

            1,520        34,122  (b) 

Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co., Ltd.

            300        15,660  (b) 

Metro Inc.

            1,100        38,164  (a) 

Total Food & Staples Retailing

                    131,604   

Food Products — 2.0%

                       

Dean Foods Co.

            1,181        20,455   

Megmilk Snow Brand Co., Ltd.

            1,200        30,110  (b) 

Morinaga & Co., Ltd.

            4,000        20,337  (b) 

Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd.

            7,600        36,878  (b) 

Premium Brands Holdings Corp.

            400        16,881   

Total Food Products

                    124,661   

Household Products — 0.5%

                       

Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA, Class B Shares

            975        30,331  (b)  

Personal Products — 0.6%

                       

Blackmores Ltd.

            279        37,853  (b)  

Tobacco — 1.2%

                       

Imperial Brands PLC

            714        39,528  (a)(b) 

Swedish Match AB

            964        32,642  (b) 

Total Tobacco

                    72,170   

Total Consumer Staples

                    396,619   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   5


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  
Energy — 7.2%                        

Energy Equipment & Services — 1.4%

                       

Noble Corp. PLC

            2,214      $ 22,915  (a) 

Petrofac Ltd.

            3,485        45,763  (a)(b) 

Technip SA

            285        15,760  (b) 

Total Energy Equipment & Services

                    84,438   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 5.8%

                       

Caltex Australia Ltd.

            1,376        35,831  (b) 

ERG SpA

            1,603        21,799  (b) 

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

            1,800        32,042  (b) 

JX Holdings Inc.

            8,000        30,820  (b) 

Parex Resources Inc.

            5,600        47,215  

Saras SpA

            22,359        35,862  *(b) 

Shell Midstream Partners LP

            524        19,184  (a) 

Showa Shell Sekiyu KK

            3,400        30,496  (b) 

Tesoro Corp.

            349        30,017  (a) 

TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK

            4,000        36,105  (b) 

Valero Energy Corp.

            661        42,397  (a) 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                    361,768   

Total Energy

                    446,206   
Financials — 15.7%                        

Banks — 2.3%

                       

Bank Hapoalim Ltd.

            6,273        32,532  (b) 

Bank Leumi Le-Israel

            6,822        24,487  *(b) 

Bank of Nova Scotia

            600        29,322  (a) 

Chiba Bank Ltd.

            3,000        14,946  (b) 

Great Western Bancorp Inc.

            1,560        42,541  (a) 

Total Banks

                    143,828   

Capital Markets — 2.3%

                       

American Capital Ltd.

            1,527        23,271  *(a) 

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

            667        24,566  (a) 

BinckBank NV

            1,931        14,334  (b) 

KCG Holdings Inc., Class A Shares

            2,191        26,182  *(a) 

Man Group PLC

            17,472        38,078  (b) 

Partners Group Holding AG

            36        14,427  (b) 

Total Capital Markets

                    140,858   

Consumer Finance — 0.8%

                       

Cembra Money Bank AG

            196        13,677  *(b) 

Hitachi Capital Corp.

            1,700        36,884  (b) 

Total Consumer Finance

                    50,561   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

6    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Diversified Financial Services — 0.4%

                       

Euronext NV

            567      $ 23,487  (b)(c) 

Insurance — 6.2%

                       

AXA SA

            1,659        39,003  (b) 

Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

            1,500        18,145  (b) 

Hannover Rueck SE

            380        44,254  (b) 

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

            800        24,146   

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc.

            1,000        27,844  (b) 

NN Group NV

            1,194        38,955  (b) 

Old Republic International Corp.

            1,985        36,286  (a) 

SCOR SE

            803        28,483  (b) 

Sun Life Financial Inc.

            1,000        32,262  (a) 

T&D Holdings Inc.

            3,200        29,821  (b) 

Talanx AG

            1,351        46,119  (b) 

Tokio Marine Holdings Inc.

            500        16,869  (b) 

Total Insurance

                    382,187   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.6%

                       

Goodman Group

            6,110        31,140  (b) 

Hersha Hospitality Trust

            1,722        36,748  (a) 

Safestore Holdings PLC

            6,350        30,536  (b) 

Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

                    98,424   

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.9%

                       

Altisource Portfolio Solutions SA

            563        13,596  *(a) 

LendLease Group

            2,288        24,240  (b) 

Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc.

            1,100        20,269  (b) 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                    58,105   

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 1.2%

                       

BofI Holding Inc.

            1,929        41,165  *(a) 

Genworth MI Canada Inc.

            1,500        35,353   

Total Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

                    76,518   

Total Financials

                    973,968   
Health Care — 4.2%                        

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.6%

                       

Hologic Inc.

            680        23,460  *(a) 

Hoya Corp.

            300        11,406  (b) 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

                    34,866   

Health Care Providers & Services — 1.2%

                       

Express Scripts Holding Co.

            464        31,872  

Molina Healthcare Inc.

            382        24,635  *(a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   7


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Health Care Providers & Services — continued

                       

Rhoen-Klinikum AG

            699      $ 21,696  (b) 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                    78,203   

Life Sciences Tools & Services — 1.2%

                       

ICON PLC

            440        33,044  *(a) 

Lonza Group AG, Registered Shares

            257        43,315  *(b) 

Total Life Sciences Tools & Services

                    76,359   

Pharmaceuticals — 1.2%

                       

Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

            500        30,240  (b) 

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

            400        18,779  (b) 

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., ADR

            430        23,009  (a) 

Total Pharmaceuticals

                    72,028   

Total Health Care

                    261,456   
Industrials — 17.8%                        

Aerospace & Defense — 1.6%

                       

BWX Technologies Inc.

            576        19,331  (a) 

CAE Inc.

            1,500        17,347   

Qinetiq Group PLC

            11,884        38,887  (b) 

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., Class A Shares

            542        24,585  

Total Aerospace & Defense

                    100,150   

Air Freight & Logistics — 0.5%

                       

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc.

            767        32,421  *(a) 

Airlines — 4.7%

                       

Delta Air Lines Inc.

            888        43,228  (a) 

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Registered Shares

            2,418        39,090  *(b) 

Hawaiian Holdings Inc.

            938        44,264  *(a) 

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA

            5,301        41,955  (a)(b) 

JetBlue Airways Corp.

            1,873        39,558  *(a) 

Qantas Airways Ltd.

            11,505        35,866  *(b) 

Southwest Airlines Co.

            645        28,896  (a) 

United Continental Holdings Inc.

            269        16,102  *(a) 

Total Airlines

                    288,959   

Building Products — 0.2%

                       

Owens Corning

            294        13,900  (a) 

Commercial Services & Supplies — 2.1%

                       

Intrum Justitia AB

            1,209        42,497  (b) 

Mitie Group PLC

            9,414        34,643  (b) 

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc.

            1,000        27,026   

Transcontinental Inc., Class A Shares

            1,800        28,523   

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                    132,689   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

8    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Construction & Engineering — 2.8%

                       

ACS, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA

            1,580      $ 46,892  (b) 

CIMIC Group Ltd.

            1,350        35,923  (b) 

Hochtief AG

            141        17,171  (b) 

Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.

            3,700        15,437  (b) 

Tokyu Construction Co., Ltd.

            2,600        21,245  (b) 

YIT OYJ

            6,538        36,889  (b) 

Total Construction & Engineering

                    173,557   

Electrical Equipment — 1.8%

                       

Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc.

            786        16,820  *(a) 

Fujikura Ltd.

            3,000        14,118  (b) 

Gamesa Corp. Tecnologica SA

            1,737        34,251  (b) 

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

            636        44,692  (b) 

Total Electrical Equipment

                    109,881   

Machinery — 1.9%

                       

Federal Signal Corp.

            1,376        18,246  (a) 

OKUMA Corp.

            3,000        20,963  (b) 

Ryobi Ltd.

            6,000        23,592  (b) 

Takuma Co., Ltd.

            2,000        17,850  (b) 

Wabash National Corp.

            2,840        37,488  *(a) 

Total Machinery

                    118,139   

Professional Services — 1.7%

                       

Experian PLC

            1,782        31,709  (a)(b) 

Meitec Corp.

            800        27,959  (b) 

Resources Connection Inc.

            607        9,445  (a) 

WS Atkins PLC

            1,735        34,045  (b) 

Total Professional Services

                    103,158   

Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.5%

                       

Mitsubishi Corp.

            900        15,232  (b) 

Wolseley PLC

            287        16,161  (a)(b) 

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

                    31,393   

Total Industrials

                    1,104,247   
Information Technology — 11.0%                        

Communications Equipment — 1.7%

                       

Brocade Communications Systems Inc.

            1,246        13,183  (a) 

Juniper Networks Inc.

            1,547        39,464  (a) 

Motorola Solutions Inc.

            482        36,487  (a) 

Sonus Networks Inc.

            2,151        16,197  

Total Communications Equipment

                    105,331   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   9


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 1.2%

                       

Dexerials Corp.

            2,600      $ 25,677  (b) 

Ibiden Co., Ltd.

            1,500        18,291  (b) 

Orbotech Ltd.

            669        15,909  

Sanmina Corp.

            705        16,483  *(a) 

Total Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

                    76,360   

Internet Software & Services — 2.0%

                       

Auto Trader Group PLC

            3,216        17,951  (a)(b)(c) 

Moneysupermarket.com Group PLC

            5,885        26,815  (b) 

NetEnt AB

            280        15,784  *(b) 

Rightmove PLC

            746        45,002  (a)(b) 

Web.com Group Inc.

            839        16,629  *(a) 

Total Internet Software & Services

                    122,181   

IT Services — 1.4%

                       

Genpact Ltd.

            562        15,281  *(a) 

Leidos Holdings Inc.

            619        31,148  (a) 

NeuStar Inc., Class A Shares

            470        11,562  *(a) 

NS Solutions Corp.

            1,400        27,464  (b) 

Total IT Services

                    85,455   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 1.5%

                       

Intel Corp.

            420        13,587  (a) 

Mellanox Technologies Ltd.

            238        12,931  *(a) 

SMA Solar Technology AG

            572        29,753  *(b) 

Tessera Technologies Inc.

            492        15,252  (a) 

Ulvac Inc.

            700        22,849  (b) 

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

                    94,372   

Software — 2.2%

                       

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

            146        12,771  *(a) 

Kinaxis Inc.

            600        19,935  

MicroStrategy Inc., Class A Shares

            99        17,792  *(a) 

Nuance Communications Inc.

            1,992        37,230  

Sage Group PLC

            1,824        16,421  (a)(b) 

Software AG

            863        33,652  (b) 

Total Software

                    137,801   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 1.0%

                       

Apple Inc.

            206        22,452  (a) 

BlackBerry Ltd.

            5,100        41,389  *(a) 

Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

                    63,841   

Total Information Technology

                    685,341   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  
Materials — 8.6%                        

Chemicals — 2.8%

                       

Chemtura Corp.

            736      $ 19,430  *(a) 

Givaudan SA, Registered Shares

            8        15,648  (b) 

Johnson Matthey PLC

            1,106        43,456  (a)(b) 

Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.

            5,000        35,416  (b) 

LyondellBasell Industries NV, Class A Shares

            256        21,908  (a) 

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

            6,000        27,040  (b) 

Ube Industries Ltd.

            8,000        14,104  (b) 

Total Chemicals

                    177,002   

Construction Materials — 0.4%

                       

CSR Ltd.

            11,302        28,461  (b) 

Containers & Packaging — 2.6%

                       

Amcor Ltd.

            2,800        30,712  (b) 

BillerudKorsnas AB

            1,102        17,972  (b) 

Cascades Inc.

            5,000        32,993   

Intertape Polymer Group Inc.

            2,700        38,689   

Orora Ltd.

            11,751        22,441  (b) 

Sealed Air Corp.

            415        19,924  (a) 

Total Containers & Packaging

                    162,731   

Metals & Mining — 2.1%

                       

APERAM

            651        24,777  (b) 

OZ Minerals Ltd.

            4,853        18,590  (b) 

Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd.

            4,000        18,223  (b) 

Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

            5,100        30,296  (b) 

Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd.

            1,700        36,886  (b) 

Total Metals & Mining

                    128,772   

Paper & Forest Products — 0.7%

                       

UPM-Kymmene OYJ

            2,277        41,070  (b) 

Total Materials

                    538,036   
Telecommunication Services — 1.9%                        

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 1.1%

                       

BT Group PLC

            5,650        35,586  (a)(b) 

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

            800        34,398  (b) 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                    69,984   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.8%

                       

NTT DoCoMo Inc., ADR

            1,000        22,770  (a) 

Telephone & Data Systems Inc.

            932        28,044  (a) 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                    50,814   

Total Telecommunication Services

                    120,798   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   11


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security               Shares     Value  
Utilities — 3.3%                            

Electric Utilities — 2.4%

                           

Acciona SA

                502      $ 38,804  (b) 

Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc.

                1,200        16,719  (b) 

Endesa SA

                804        15,396  (b) 

Genesis Energy Ltd.

                6,842        9,687  (b) 

Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc.

                2,200        19,440  *(b) 

Scottish & Southern Energy PLC

                1,400        29,896  (a)(b) 

Tokyo Electric Power Co. Inc.

                3,900        21,395  *(b) 

Total Electric Utilities

                        151,337   

Multi-Utilities — 0.7%

                           

Centrica PLC

                4,655        15,161  (a)(b) 

E.ON SE

                2,654        25,472  (b) 

Total Multi-Utilities

                        40,633   

Water Utilities — 0.2%

                           

Severn Trent PLC

                500        15,565  (a)(b) 

Total Utilities

                        207,535   

Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $5,515,637)

  

                5,732,392   
     Rate                     
Short-Term Investments — 10.9%                            

State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, Premier Class (Cost — $680,125)

    0.108         680,125        680,125   

Total Investments — 103.1% (Cost — $6,195,762#)

                        6,412,517   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (3.1)%

                        (194,800

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                      $ 6,217,717   

 

* Non-income producing security.

 

(a) 

All or a portion of this security is held at broker as collateral for open securities sold short.

 

(b) 

Security is valued in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (See Note 1).

 

(c) 

Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees, unless otherwise noted.

 

# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same.

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

ADR   — American Depositary Receipts
REIT   — Real Estate Investment Trust
RSP   — Retail Selling Price
SDR   — Swedish Depositary Receipts

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

 

Summary of Investments by Country† (unaudited)       
United States      24.7 
Japan      17.8   
United Kingdom      13.4   
Canada      7.0   
Australia      5.2   
Germany      4.0   
Spain      2.8   
Sweden      2.5   
France      2.1   
Switzerland      2.1   
Israel      1.9   
Netherlands      1.7   
Finland      1.2   
Italy      0.9   
Denmark      0.7   
Ireland      0.5   
Luxembourg      0.4   
Belgium      0.3   
New Zealand      0.2   
Short-Term Investments      10.6   
       100.0

 

As a percentage of total investments. Please note that the Fund holdings are as of March 31, 2016 and are subject to change.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   13


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

 

Security             Shares     Value  
Securities Sold Short** — (92.3)%                        
Consumer Discretionary — (14.9)%                        

Auto Components — (0.3)%

                       

NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.

            (900   $ (17,164 ) (a) 

Automobiles — (1.0)%

                       

Volkswagen AG

            (215     (27,346 ) (a) 

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

            (1,900     (31,482 ) (a) 

Total Automobiles

                    (58,828

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — (3.7)%

                       

Accor SA

            (282     (11,936 ) (a) 

Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.

            (81     (11,998 ) 

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

            (35     (16,484 ) 

Crown Resorts Ltd.

            (3,561     (33,878 ) (a) 

H.I.S. Co., Ltd.

            (1,100     (30,681 ) (a) 

Kona Grill Inc.

            (942     (12,199 ) 

Kuoni Reisen Holding AG, Registered Shares

            (106     (39,758 ) *(a) 

Resorttrust Inc.

            (1,200     (26,896 ) (a) 

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

            (286     (26,721

Yoshinoya Holdings Co., Ltd.

            (1,700     (20,775 ) (a) 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                    (231,326

Household Durables — (2.1)%

                       

Garmin Ltd.

            (558     (22,298

Jarden Corp.

            (616     (36,313 ) 

JM AB

            (964     (24,991 ) (a) 

JVC Kenwood Corp.

            (7,200     (18,562 ) (a) 

SodaStream International Ltd.

            (2,113     (29,751 ) 

Total Household Durables

                    (131,915

Internet & Catalog Retail — (1.5)%

                       

Netflix Inc.

            (244     (24,944 ) 

Ocado Group PLC

            (3,099     (12,884 ) *(a) 

Rakuten Inc.

            (2,900     (27,954 ) (a) 

Yoox Net-A-Porter Group SpA

            (984     (30,138 ) *(a) 

Total Internet & Catalog Retail

                    (95,920

Media — (1.3)%

                       

EW Scripps Co., Class A Shares

            (1,416     (22,075

Modern Times Group MTG AB, Class B Shares

            (434     (12,973 ) (a) 

Pearson PLC

            (2,734     (34,257 ) (a) 

Schibsted ASA, Class B Shares

            (442     (12,209 ) *(a) 

Total Media

                    (81,514

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Multiline Retail — (1.2)%

                       

Don Quijote Holdings Co., Ltd.

            (800   $ (27,721 ) (a) 

Hudson’s Bay Co.

            (1,600     (23,641

Marui Group Co., Ltd.

            (1,700     (24,351 ) (a) 

Total Multiline Retail

                    (75,713

Specialty Retail — (1.7)%

                       

Dufry AG, Registered Shares

            (296     (36,417 ) 

Halfords Group PLC

            (4,394     (24,922 ) (a) 

Hennes & Mauritz AB, Class B Shares

            (941     (31,222 ) (a) 

Party City Holdco Inc.

            (1,051     (15,807 ) 

Total Specialty Retail

                    (108,368

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — (2.1)%

                       

Burberry Group PLC

            (1,310     (25,660 ) (a) 

Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA, Registered Shares

            (410     (27,023 ) (a) 

Onward Holdings Co., Ltd.

            (4,000     (27,323 ) (a) 

Swatch Group AG

            (51     (17,614 ) (a) 

Under Armour Inc., Class A Shares

            (352     (29,860 ) 

Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

                    (127,480

Total Consumer Discretionary

                    (928,228
Consumer Staples — (5.1)%                        

Beverages — (1.3)%

                       

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

            (254     (31,664 ) (a) 

Coca-Cola East Japan Co., Ltd.

            (1,600     (26,503 ) (a) 

Pernod Ricard SA

            (206     (22,948 ) (a) 

Total Beverages

                    (81,115

Food & Staples Retailing — (1.2)%

                       

Aeon Co., Ltd.

            (2,000     (28,882 ) (a) 

COSMOS Pharmaceutical Corp.

            (200     (33,182 ) (a) 

Jean Coutu Group PJC Inc., Class A Shares

            (800     (13,564

Total Food & Staples Retailing

                    (75,628

Food Products — (2.1)%

                       

Aryzta AG

            (610     (25,165 ) *(a) 

Barry Callebaut AG, Registered Shares

            (15     (16,269 ) *(a) 

CALBEE Inc.

            (200     (7,929 ) (a) 

Dairy Crest Group PLC

            (2,912     (25,864 ) (a) 

Kewpie Corp.

            (1,300     (29,465 ) (a) 

Marine Harvest ASA

            (840     (12,953 ) *(a) 

SunOpta Inc.

            (3,680     (16,413 ) 

Total Food Products

                    (134,058

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   15


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Household Products — (0.2)%

                       

PZ Cussons PLC

            (2,619   $ (11,335 ) (a) 

Personal Products — (0.3)%

                       

Avon Products Inc.

            (3,647     (17,542

Total Consumer Staples

                    (319,678
Energy — (7.8)%                        

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — (7.8)%

                       

AltaGas Ltd.

            (800     (20,574

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

            (340     (15,834

Cheniere Energy Inc.

            (745     (25,203 ) 

Cimarex Energy Co.

            (102     (9,921

Concho Resources Inc.

            (346     (34,960 ) 

Crescent Point Energy Corp.

            (1,300     (17,997

Diamondback Energy Inc.

            (180     (13,892 ) 

Encana Corp.

            (2,998     (18,258

Energen Corp.

            (162     (5,928

EQT Corp.

            (479     (32,218

Etablissements Maurel et Prom

            (1,693     (5,954 ) *(a) 

Golar LNG Ltd.

            (602     (10,818

Gulfport Energy Corp.

            (433     (12,271 ) 

Lundin Petroleum AB

            (1,254     (21,207 ) *(a) 

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

            (1,243     (12,654 ) 

NGL Energy Partners LP

            (899     (6,760

Noble Energy Inc.

            (754     (23,683

NuVista Energy Ltd.

            (7,000     (26,410 ) 

Origin Energy Ltd.

            (8,474     (32,726 ) (a) 

Parsley Energy Inc., Class A Shares

            (1,145     (25,877 ) 

PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.

            (800     (15,178

RSP Permian Inc.

            (870     (25,265 ) 

Santos Ltd.

            (8,949     (27,754 ) (a) 

Synergy Resources Corp.

            (2,760     (21,445 ) 

Tourmaline Oil Corp.

            (1,200     (25,409 ) 

Total Energy

                    (488,196
Financials — (16.5)%                        

Banks — (3.9)%

                       

Ameris Bancorp

            (441     (13,045

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA

            (9,138     (5,184 ) *(a) 

Banco Popular Espanol SA

            (8,608     (22,207 ) (a) 

Bank of Queensland Ltd.

            (1,627     (15,021 ) (a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Banks —continued

                       

Chugoku Bank Ltd.

            (2,800   $ (29,146 ) (a) 

HSBC Holdings PLC

            (4,515     (27,976 ) (a) 

Jyske Bank A/S, Registered Shares

            (702     (31,610 ) (a) 

Nordea Bank AB

            (1,312     (12,592 ) (a) 

People’s United Financial Inc.

            (841     (13,397

Standard Chartered PLC

            (4,573     (30,772 ) *(a) 

Sterling Bancorp

            (1,613     (25,695

Westpac Banking Corp.

            (711     (16,521 ) (a) 

Total Banks

                    (243,166

Capital Markets — (1.9)%

                       

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC

            (6,267     (24,764 ) (a) 

Banca Generali SpA

            (875     (25,717 ) (a) 

Oaktree Capital Group LLC

            (580     (28,611

Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC, Class A Shares

            (4,862     (21,150

Stifel Financial Corp.

            (503     (14,889 ) 

Total Capital Markets

                    (115,131

Consumer Finance — (1.4)%

                       

Aiful Corp.

            (9,200     (32,408 ) *(a) 

Orient Corp.

            (16,500     (32,733 ) *(a) 

Provident Financial PLC

            (590     (25,021 ) (a) 

Total Consumer Finance

                    (90,162

Diversified Financial Services — (0.9)%

                       

Investment AB Kinnevik, Class B Shares

            (814     (22,963 ) (a) 

London Stock Exchange Group PLC

            (748     (30,132 ) (a) 

Total Diversified Financial Services

                    (53,095

Insurance — (2.0)%

                       

Greenlight Capital Re Ltd., Class A Shares

            (1,060     (23,097 ) 

Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd.

            (900     (12,006 ) (a) 

Lancashire Holdings Ltd.

            (3,211     (25,387 ) (a) 

Mapfre SA

            (14,249     (30,743 ) (a) 

Willis Towers Watson PLC

            (272     (32,276)   

Total Insurance

                    (123,509

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — (5.7)%

                       

Acadia Realty Trust

            (582     (20,446)   

Activia Properties Inc.

            (6     (31,099) (a)   

British Land Co. PLC

            (2,166     (21,704) (a)   

Cofinimmo

            (142     (17,420) (a)   

Equinix Inc.

            (95     (31,417)   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   17


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — continued

                       

Gramercy Property Trust

            (1   $ (5

HCP Inc.

            (471     (15,345

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp.

            (29     (25,496 ) (a) 

Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp.

            (2     (8,138 ) (a) 

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

            (4     (23,097 ) (a) 

Medical Properties Trust Inc.

            (2,796     (36,292

Merlin Properties Socimi SA

            (2,204     (25,553 ) (a) 

New Senior Investment Group Inc.

            (1,978     (20,373

Physicians Realty Trust

            (1,519     (28,223

Rexford Industrial Realty Inc.

            (1,387     (25,188

WP Carey Inc.

            (433     (26,950

Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

                    (356,746

Real Estate Management & Development — (0.7)%

                       

Capital & Counties Properties PLC

            (6,001     (28,300 ) (a) 

Grainger PLC

            (4,218     (13,709 ) (a) 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                    (42,009

Total Financials

                    (1,023,818
Health Care — (4.9)%                        

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — (2.4)%

                       

Alere Inc.

            (567     (28,696 ) 

Cardiovascular Systems Inc.

            (741     (7,684 ) 

Endologix Inc.

            (3,431     (28,683 ) 

Greatbatch Inc.

            (365     (13,008 ) 

Hogy Medical Co., Ltd.

            (400     (21,429 ) (a) 

Nevro Corp.

            (238     (13,390 ) 

Novadaq Technologies Inc.

            (1,100     (12,510 ) 

Spectranetics Corp.

            (1,647     (23,914 ) 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

                    (149,314

Health Care Providers & Services — (1.3)%

                       

Capital Senior Living Corp.

            (442     (8,186 ) 

Healthscope Ltd.

            (14,291     (29,087 ) (a) 

Orpea

            (351     (29,214 ) (a) 

Sonic Healthcare Ltd.

            (827     (11,852 ) (a) 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                    (78,339

Health Care Technology — (0.2)%

                       

athenahealth Inc.

            (98     (13,600 ) * 

Life Sciences Tools & Services — (0.3)%

                       

MorphoSys AG

            (382     (18,343 ) *(a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Pharmaceuticals — (0.7)%

                       

BTG PLC

            (3,736   $ (33,326 ) *(a) 

Catalent Inc.

            (475     (12,668 ) 

Total Pharmaceuticals

                    (45,994

Total Health Care

                    (305,590
Industrials — (18.2)%                        

Aerospace & Defense — (2.9)%

                       

Cobham PLC

            (9,133     (28,357 ) (a) 

Cubic Corp.

            (779     (31,129

KLX Inc.

            (1,088     (34,968 ) 

MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd.

            (300     (19,057

Saab AB, Class B Shares

            (1,070     (36,538 ) (a) 

Zodiac Aerospace

            (1,494     (29,844 ) (a) 

Total Aerospace & Defense

                    (179,893

Air Freight & Logistics — (0.4)%

                       

TNT Express NV

            (2,907     (26,085 ) (a)  

Building Products — (1.0)%

                       

Caesarstone Sdot-Yam Ltd.

            (357     (12,263 ) 

Geberit AG, Registered Shares

            (80     (29,796 ) (a) 

Okabe Co., Ltd.

            (2,500     (17,827 ) (a) 

Total Building Products

                    (59,886

Commercial Services & Supplies — (0.7)%

                       

G4S PLC

            (5,470     (14,905 ) (a) 

Stericycle Inc.

            (174     (21,957 ) 

Team Inc.

            (266     (8,081 ) 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                    (44,943

Construction & Engineering — (0.6)%

                       

Primoris Services Corp.

            (1,400     (34,020

Electrical Equipment — (0.9)%

                       

Kendrion NV

            (310     (7,631 ) (a) 

Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.

            (300     (13,921 ) (a) 

Nidec Corp.

            (500     (34,192 ) (a) 

Total Electrical Equipment

                    (55,744

Machinery — (5.0)%

                       

Burckhardt Compression Holding AG

            (54     (18,509 ) (a) 

DMG Mori AG

            (647     (30,056 ) (a) 

IMI PLC

            (2,690     (36,623 ) (a) 

Makita Corp.

            (400     (24,796 ) (a) 

Melrose Industries PLC

            (6,023     (30,831 ) (a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   19


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Machinery — continued

                       

Minebea Co., Ltd.

            (4,000   $ (31,182 ) (a) 

Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp.

            (5,000     (17,403 ) (a) 

THK Co., Ltd.

            (1,900     (35,028 ) (a) 

Wartsila OYJ Abp

            (570     (25,690 ) (a) 

Weir Group PLC

            (2,480     (39,444 ) (a) 

Woodward Inc.

            (348     (18,103

Total Machinery

                    (307,665

Professional Services — (1.8)%

                       

ALS Ltd.

            (12,189     (37,226 ) (a) 

Bureau Veritas SA

            (575     (12,782 ) (a) 

Capita PLC

            (2,094     (31,224 ) (a) 

McMillan Shakespeare Ltd.

            (3,229     (30,887 ) (a) 

Total Professional Services

                    (112,119

Road & Rail — (0.7)%

                       

Genesee & Wyoming Inc., Class A Shares

            (364     (22,823 ) 

Heartland Express Inc.

            (657     (12,187

Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

            (1,000     (10,880 ) (a) 

Total Road & Rail

                    (45,890

Trading Companies & Distributors — (2.8)%

                       

Bunzl PLC

            (1,182     (34,223 ) (a) 

Kuroda Electric Co., Ltd.

            (2,200     (32,923 ) (a) 

MISUMI Group Inc.

            (2,200     (31,404 ) (a) 

Monotaro Co., Ltd.

            (1,000     (29,699 ) (a) 

Rush Enterprises Inc., Class A Shares

            (1,166     (21,268 ) 

Wajax Corp.

            (1,900     (25,558

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

                    (175,075

Transportation Infrastructure — (1.4)%

                       

BBA Aviation PLC

            (7,805     (22,454 ) (a) 

Macquarie Infrastructure Corp.

            (335     (22,592

Mitsubishi Logistics Corp.

            (1,000     (13,125 ) (a) 

Transurban Group

            (3,464     (30,103 ) (a) 

Total Transportation Infrastructure

                    (88,274

Total Industrials

                    (1,129,594
Information Technology — (10.3)%                        

Communications Equipment — (0.5)%

                       

ViaSat Inc.

            (402     (29,539 ) * 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — (2.2)%

                       

Badger Meter Inc.

            (481     (31,991

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — continued

                       

Hamamatsu Photonics KK

            (1,000   $ (27,509 ) (a) 

Hexagon AB, Class B Shares

            (757     (29,436 ) (a) 

National Instruments Corp.

            (564     (16,982

Topcon Corp.

            (2,500     (32,945 ) (a) 

Total Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

                    (138,863

Internet Software & Services — (1.3)%

                       

LinkedIn Corp., Class A Shares

            (103     (11,778 ) 

LivePerson Inc.

            (1,662     (9,723 ) 

SMS Co. Ltd.

            (600     (11,462 ) (a) 

Yahoo! Inc.

            (869     (31,988 ) 

Yelp Inc.

            (798     (15,864 ) 

Total Internet Software & Services

                    (80,815

IT Services — (1.9)%

                       

First Data Corp., Class A Shares

            (1,863     (24,107 ) 

GMO Payment Gateway Inc.

            (600     (40,603 ) (a) 

InterXion Holding NV

            (989     (34,200 ) 

Paysafe Group PLC

            (3,102     (18,861 ) *(a) 

Total IT Services

                    (117,771

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — (1.2)%

                       

Cavium Inc.

            (461     (28,195 ) 

NXP Semiconductors NV

            (379     (30,725 ) 

Sanken Electric Co., Ltd.

            (6,000     (17,947 ) (a) 

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

                    (76,867

Software — (2.1)%

                       

Descartes Systems Group Inc.

            (900     (17,518 ) 

EnerNOC Inc.

            (2,778     (20,780 ) 

Gemalto NV

            (457     (33,682 ) (a) 

NetSuite Inc.

            (326     (22,328 ) 

Playtech PLC

            (1,406     (17,446 ) (a) 

Proofpoint Inc.

            (322     (17,317 ) 

Total Software

                    (129,071

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — (1.1)%

                       

Ricoh Co., Ltd.

            (2,900     (29,516 ) (a) 

Toshiba TEC Corp.

            (10,000     (39,193 ) *(a) 

Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

                    (68,709

Total Information Technology

                    (641,635

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   21


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  
Materials — (8.7)%                        

Chemicals — (2.1)%

                       

Air Liquide SA

            (170   $ (19,069 ) (a) 

Arkema SA

            (189     (14,141 ) (a) 

K&S AG, Registered Shares

            (814     (19,038 ) (a) 

Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.

            (1,500     (33,258 ) (a) 

Platform Specialty Products Corp.

            (1,655     (14,233 ) 

Solvay SA

            (320     (31,998 ) (a) 

Total Chemicals

                    (131,737

Construction Materials — (0.6)%

                       

Italcementi SpA

            (1,921     (22,510 ) (a) 

LafargeHolcim Ltd., Registered Shares

            (325     (15,250 ) (a) 

Total Construction Materials

                    (37,760

Containers & Packaging — (0.5)%

                       

RPC Group PLC

            (2,842     (30,989 ) (a) 

Metals & Mining — (5.0)%

                       

Acacia Mining PLC

            (6,344     (25,618 ) (a) 

Alcoa Inc.

            (3,157     (30,244

Antofagasta PLC

            (3,174     (21,234 ) (a) 

BHP Billiton PLC

            (2,642     (29,830 ) (a) 

Franco-Nevada Corp.

            (400     (24,565

Fresnillo PLC

            (2,402     (32,800 ) (a) 

HudBay Minerals Inc.

            (2,400     (8,796

MAG Silver Corp.

            (3,800     (35,871 ) 

Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd.

            (1,100     (11,747

Pretium Resources Inc.

            (4,400     (23,613 ) 

Randgold Resources Ltd.

            (162     (14,747 ) (a) 

Silver Wheaton Corp.

            (2,000     (33,186

Tahoe Resources Inc.

            (1,800     (18,045

Total Metals & Mining

                    (310,296

Paper & Forest Products — (0.5)%

                       

Interfor Corp.

            (2,700     (29,874 ) * 

Total Materials

                    (540,656
Telecommunication Services — (2.5)%                        

Diversified Telecommunication Services — (1.1)%

                       

Inmarsat PLC

            (1,439     (20,259 ) (a) 

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.

            (500     (12,431

Swisscom AG, Registered Shares

            (34     (18,410 ) (a) 

Telecom Italia SpA

            (13,973     (15,067 ) *(a) 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                    (66,167

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Security             Shares     Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services — (1.4)%

                       

Drillisch AG

            (480   $ (19,656 ) (a) 

Millicom International Cellular SA, SDR

            (434     (23,659 ) (a) 

SoftBank Group Corp.

            (400     (18,994 ) (a) 

Tele2 AB, Class B Shares

            (2,688     (24,804 ) (a) 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                    (87,113

Total Telecommunication Services

                    (153,280
Utilities — (3.4)%                        

Electric Utilities — (1.2)%

                       

Fortum OYJ

            (2,203     (33,200 ) (a) 

Portland General Electric Co.

            (700     (27,643

Westar Energy Inc.

            (315     (15,627

Total Electric Utilities

                    (76,470

Gas Utilities — (0.5)%

                       

APA Group

            (4,772     (32,196 ) (a) 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — (1.1)%

                       

Drax Group PLC

            (5,089     (19,834 ) (a) 

Enel Green Power SpA Rights

            (9,799     (4 ) *(a) 

Enel Green Power SpA

            (9,799     (21,001 ) (a) 

Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.

            (2,500     (27,161

Total Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

                    (68,000

Multi-Utilities — (0.6)%

                       

Canadian Utilities Ltd., Class A Shares

            (1,200     (33,586

Total Utilities

                    (210,252

Total Securities Sold Short (Proceeds — $(5,642,992))

                  $ (5,740,927

 

* Non-income producing security.

 

** Percentages indicated are based on net assets.

 

(a) 

Security is valued in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (See Note 1).

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   23


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2016

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

 

 

Summary of Securities Sold Short by Country‡ (unaudited)       
United States      28.2
Japan      20.3   
United Kingdom      13.0   
Canada      8.6   
Australia      5.7   
Switzerland      4.3   
Sweden      3.8   
France      2.5   
Netherlands      2.3   
Italy      2.1   
Germany      1.5   
Belgium      1.4   
Spain      1.4   
Finland      1.0   
Israel      0.7   
Mexico      0.6   
Denmark      0.6   
Norway      0.4   
Luxembourg      0.4   
Chile      0.4   
Isle of Man      0.3   
Jersey      0.3   
Bermuda      0.2   
       100.0

 

As a percent of total securities sold short. Please note that the Fund holdings are as of March 31, 2016 and are subject to change.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)

March 31, 2016

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost — $6,195,762)

   $ 6,412,517   

Foreign currency, at value (Cost — $2,800)

     2,806   

Foreign cash collateral held at broker for securities sold short (Cost — $3,614,278)

     3,799,644   

Deposits with broker for securities sold short

     1,776,485   

Receivable for securities sold

     323,071   

Deferred offering costs

     110,438   

Receivable from investment manager

     31,200   

Dividends and interest receivable

     19,610   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     1,816   

Prepaid expenses

     9,784   

Total Assets

     12,487,371   
Liabilities:         

Investments sold short, at value (proceeds received — $5,642,992)

     5,740,927   

Payable for securities purchased

     368,251   

Due to custodian

     66,229   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     33,764   

Payable for offering costs

     16,961   

Dividends payable on securities sold short

     13,712   

Trustees’ fees payable

     61   

Service and/or distribution fees payable

     21   

Accrued expenses

     29,728   

Total Liabilities

     6,269,654   
Total Net Assets    $ 6,217,717   
Net Assets:         

Par value (Note 6)

   $ 6   

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     6,204,994   

Accumulated net investment loss

     (43,898)   

Accumulated net realized loss on investments, short sales and foreign currency transactions

     (215,734)   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, short sales and foreign currencies

     272,349   
Total Net Assets    $ 6,217,717   
Net Assets:         

Class A

     $100,330   

Class I

     $1,296,878   

Class IS

     $4,820,509   
Shares Outstanding:         

Class A

     10,000   

Class I

     129,187   

Class IS

     480,000   
Net Asset Value:         

Class A

     $10.03   

Class I

     $10.04   

Class IS

     $ 10.04   
Maximum Public Offering Price Per Share:         

Class A (based on maximum initial sales charge of 5.75%)

     $10.64   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   25


Statement of operations (unaudited)

For the Period Ended March 31, 2016†

 

Investment Income:         

Dividends

   $ 31,327   

Less: Foreign taxes withheld

     (2,604)   

Total Investment Income

     28,723   
Expenses:         

Offering costs (Note 1)

     73,626   

Dividend expense on securities sold short

     50,355   

Organization costs (Note 1)

     26,372   

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     17,700   

Shareholder reports

     10,577   

Audit and tax fees

     8,400   

Legal fees

     6,666   

Fund accounting fees

     6,508   

Custody fees

     4,224   

Interest expense on securities sold short

     1,675   

Registration fees

     337   

Trustees’ fees

     186   

Service and/or distribution fees (Notes 2 and 5)

     84   

Transfer agent fees (Note 5)

     40   

Miscellaneous expenses

     1,835   

Total Expenses

     208,585   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (Notes 2 and 5)

     (135,964)   

Net Expenses

     72,621   
Net Investment Loss      (43,898)   
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Short Sales
and Foreign Currency Transactions (Notes 1, 3 and 4):
        

Net Realized Gain (Loss) From:

        

Investment transactions

     (203,097)   

Securities sold short

     77,805   

Foreign currency transactions

     (90,442)   

Net Realized Loss

     (215,734)   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:

        

Investments

     216,755   

Securities sold short

     (97,935)   

Foreign currencies

     153,529   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     272,349   
Net Gain on Investments, Short Sales and Foreign Currency Transactions      56,615   
Increase in Net Assets From Operations    $ 12,717   

 

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


Statement of changes in net assets

 

For the Period Ended March 31, 2016    2016†  
Operations:         

Net investment loss

   $ (43,898)   

Net realized loss

     (215,734)   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     272,349   

Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     12,717   
Fund Share Transactions (Note 6):         

Net proceeds from sale of shares

     6,205,000   

Increase in Net Assets From Fund Share Transactions

     6,205,000   

Increase in Net Assets

     6,217,717   
Net Assets:         

Beginning of period

       

End of period*

   $ 6,217,717   

*Includes accumulated net investment loss of:

     $(43,898)   

 

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   27


Financial highlights

 

For a share of each class of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year ended September 30,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class A Shares1    20162  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:   

Net investment loss

     (0.09)   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.12   

Total income from operations

     0.03   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.03   

Total return3

     0.30
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $100   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     11.47

Net expenses4,5,6

     4.06   

Net investment loss4

     (2.67)   
Portfolio turnover rate      44 %7  

 

1

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016 (unaudited).

 

3

Performance figures, exclusive of sales charges, may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4

Annualized.

 

5

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions and expenses; fees, costs and expenses associated with any prime brokage arrangement (including costs of any securities borrowing arrangement); dividend and interest expense on securities sold short, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets of Class A shares did not exceed 1.55%. Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses exceed the expense cap as a result of dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2017 without the Board of Trustees’ consent.

 

6

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7

Excluding short sale transactions. If short sale transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 214%.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


For a share of each class of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year ended September 30,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class I Shares1    20162  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:   

Net investment loss

     (0.07)   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.11   

Total income from operations

     0.04   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.04   

Total return3

     0.40
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $1,297   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     11.28

Net expenses4,5,6

     4.84   

Net investment loss4

     (2.15)   
Portfolio turnover rate      44 %7 

 

1

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016 (unaudited).

 

3

Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4

Annualized.

 

5

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions and expenses; fees, costs and expenses associated with any prime brokage arrangement (including costs of any securities borrowing arrangement); dividend and interest expense on securities sold short, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets of Class I shares did not exceed 1.20%. Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses exceed the expense cap as a result of dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2017 without the Board of Trustees’ consent.

 

6

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7

Excluding short sale transactions. If short sale transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 214%.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   29


Financial highlights (cont’d)

 

For a share of each class of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each year ended September 30,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class IS Shares1    20162  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:   

Net investment loss

     (0.08)   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.12   

Total income from operations

     0.04   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.04   

Total return3

     0.40
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $4,821   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     11.18

Net expenses4,5,6

     3.77   

Net investment loss4

     (2.38)   
Portfolio turnover rate      44 %7 

 

1

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016 (unaudited).

 

3

Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4

Annualized.

 

5

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions and expenses; fees, costs and expenses associated with any prime brokage arrangement (including costs of any securities borrowing arrangement); dividend and interest expense on securities sold short, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets of Class IS shares did not exceed 1.10%. Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses exceed the expense cap as a result of dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short. In addition, the ratio of the total annual fund operating expenses for Class IS shares did not exceed the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses for Class I shares. These expense limitation arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2017 without the Board of Trustees’ consent.

 

6

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7

Excluding short sale transactions. If short sale transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 214%.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

30    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

QS Global Market Neutral Fund (the “Fund”) is a separate diversified investment series of Legg Mason Global Asset Management Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust, a Maryland statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company.

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.

(a) Investment valuation. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Short-term fixed income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. Investments in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Legg Mason North Atlantic Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   31


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

Trustees. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making fair value determinations. Examples of possible methodologies include, but are not limited to, multiple of earnings; discount from market of a similar freely traded security; discounted cash-flow analysis; book value or a multiple thereof; risk premium/yield analysis; yield to maturity; and/or fundamental investment analysis. The Valuation Committee will also consider factors it deems relevant and appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances. Examples of possible factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security; the issuer’s financial statements; the purchase price of the security; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase; analysts’ research and observations from financial institutions; information regarding any transactions or offers with respect to the security; the existence of merger proposals or tender offers affecting the security; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; and the existence of a shelf registration for restricted securities.

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Trustees quarterly.

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

 

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

 

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

32    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities carried at fair value:

 

ASSETS  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   

Significant

Unobservable

Inputs

(Level 3)

    Total  
Long-term investments†:                                

Common stocks:

                               

Consumer discretionary

  $ 397,259      $ 600,927             $ 998,186   

Consumer staples

    96,276        300,343               396,619   

Energy

    161,728        284,478               446,206   

Financials

    365,438        608,530               973,968   

Health care

    136,020        125,436               261,456   

Industrials

    417,180        687,067               1,104,247   

Information technology

    405,682        279,659               685,341   

Materials

    132,944        405,092               538,036   

Telecommunication services

    50,814        69,984               120,798   

Utilities

           207,535               207,535   
Total long-term investments   $ 2,163,341      $ 3,569,051             $ 5,732,392   
Short-term investments†     680,125                      680,125   
Total investments   $ 2,843,466      $ 3,569,051             $ 6,412,517   
Other financial instruments:                                

Forward foreign currency contracts

           1,816               1,816   
Total   $ 2,843,466      $ 3,570,867             $ 6,414,333   
LIABILITIES  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   

Significant
Unobservable

Inputs
(Level 3)

    Total  
Other financial instruments:                                

Securities sold short†:

                               

Common stocks:

                               

Consumer discretionary

  $ 308,508      $ 619,720             $ 928,228   

Consumer staples

    47,519        272,159               319,678   

Energy

    400,555        87,641               488,196   

Financials

    376,399        647,419               1,023,818   

Health care

    162,339        143,251               305,590   

Industrials

    284,006        845,588               1,129,594   

Information technology

    343,035        298,600               641,635   

Materials

    230,174        310,482               540,656   

Telecommunication services

    12,431        140,849               153,280   

Utilities

    104,017        106,235               210,252   

Total securities sold short

  $ 2,268,983      $ 3,471,944             $ 5,740,927   

Forward foreign currency contracts

           33,764               33,764   
Total   $ 2,268,983      $ 3,505,708             $ 5,774,691   

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   33


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

For the period ended March 31, 2016, as a result of the fair value pricing procedures for international equities utilized by the Fund, certain securities have transferred in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 measurements during the period. The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the reporting period. At March 31, 2016, securities valued at $3,569,051 and securities sold short valued at $3,471,940 were classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy because fair value procedures were applied when the change in value of a domestic equity security index suggested that the closing prices on foreign exchanges may no longer have represented the value of those securities at the time of closing of the NYSE.

(b) Short sale transactions. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, a Fund must borrow the security to deliver to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it in the open market at the time of replacement. The proceeds received by the Fund for the short sale are retained by the broker as collateral until the Fund replaces the borrowed security. The collateral required is determined daily by reference to the market value of the short positions. Liabilities for securities sold short are marked-to-market daily and reported at market value in the financial statements.

Short sale transactions may result in a risk of loss that may exceed the amount shown on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. A gain, limited to the price at which the Fund sold the security short, or a loss, potentially unlimited in size, will be recognized upon termination of a short sale. Dividends on short positions are recorded as a liability on the ex-dividend date and are shown in the Statement of Operations as Dividend Expense because the Fund must pay the dividend to the lender of the security.

Short selling is a technique that may be considered speculative, involves risk beyond the amount of money used to secure each transaction and may represent a form of leverage.

(c) Foreign currency translation. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions.

The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, including gains and losses on forward foreign currency contracts, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the

 

34    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, on the date of valuation, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower levels of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability.

(d) Forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund enters into a forward foreign currency contract to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate risk on its non-U.S. dollar denominated securities or to facilitate settlement of a foreign currency denominated portfolio transaction. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set price with delivery and settlement at a future date. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in value is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When a forward foreign currency contract is closed, through either delivery or offset by entering into another forward foreign currency contract, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value of the contract at the time it is closed.

Forward foreign currency contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rate underlying the forward foreign currency contract. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

(e) Foreign investment risks. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Since securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies or pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments.

(f) Counterparty risk and credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments. The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions, where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s subdadviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   35


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment of such counterparty risk by the subadviser. In addition, declines in the values of underlying collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.

The Fund has entered into master agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, events of default or termination and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or NAV over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearinghouse for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the master agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.

As of March 31, 2016, the Fund held forward foreign currency contracts with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $33,764. If a contingent feature in the master agreements would have been triggered, the Fund would have been required to pay this amount to its derivatives counterparties.

(g) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Foreign dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as practicable after the Fund determines the existence of a dividend declaration after exercising reasonable due diligence. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults or a credit event occurs that impacts the issuer, the Fund may halt any additional interest income accruals and consider the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default or credit event.

(h) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income and distributions of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(i) REIT distributions. The character of distributions received from Real Estate Investment Trusts (‘‘REITs’’) held by the Fund is generally comprised of net investment income,

 

36    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


capital gains, and return of capital. It is the policy of the Fund to estimate the character of distributions received from underlying REITs based on historical data provided by the REITs. After each calendar year end, REITs report the actual tax character of these distributions. Differences between the estimated and actual amounts reported by the REITs are reflected in the Fund’s records in the year in which they are reported by the REITs by adjusting related investment cost basis, capital gains and income, as necessary.

(j) Share class accounting. Investment income, common expenses and realized/unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated to the various classes of the Fund on the basis of daily net assets of each class. Fees relating to a specific class are charged directly to that share class.

(k) Compensating balance arrangements. The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian bank whereby a portion of the custodian’s fees is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank.

(l) Organization costs. Organization costs associated with the establishment of the Fund are charged to expense as they are incurred.

(m) Offering costs. Costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the commencement of the Fund’s operations are being amortized on a straight line basis over twelve months.

(n) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax may be imposed on interest, dividends and capital gains at various rates.

(o) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager and QS Investors, LLC (“QS Investors”) is the Fund’s subadviser. Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”) manages the portion of the Fund’s cash and short-term instruments allocated to it. LMPFA, QS Investors and Western Asset are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”).

Under the investment management agreement, the Fund pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   37


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

LMPFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. LMPFA delegates to the subadviser the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund, except for the management of the portion of the cash and short-term instruments allocated to Western Asset. For its services, LMPFA pays QS Investors an aggregate fee equal to 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Fund. For Western Asset’s services to the Fund, LMPFA pays Western Asset 0.02% of the portion of the Fund’s average daily net assets that are allocated to Western Asset by LMPFA.

As a result of expense limitation arrangements between the Fund and LMPFA, the ratio of expenses, other than interest; brokerage commissions and expenses; fees, costs and expenses associated with any prime brokage arrangement (including costs of any securities borrowing arrangement); dividend and interest expense on securities sold short, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets of Class A, Class I and Class IS shares did not exceed 1.55%, 1.20% and 1.10%, respectively. In addition, the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses for Class IS shares did not exceed the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses for Class I shares. Total annual fund operating expenses after waiving fees and/or reimbursing expenses exceed the expense cap as a result of dividend and interest expenses on securities sold short. These expense limitation arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2017 without the Board of Trustees’ consent.

During the period ended March 31, 2016, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $135,964.

LMPFA is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to a class within three years after the fiscal year in which LMPFA earned the fee or incurred the expense if the class’ total annual operating expenses have fallen to a level below the expense limitation (“expense cap”) in effect at the time the fees were earned or the expenses incurred. In no case will LMPFA recapture any amount that would result, on any particular business day of the Fund, in the class’ total annual operating expenses exceeding the expense cap or any other lower limit then in effect.

Pursuant to these arrangements, at March 31, 2016, the Fund had remaining fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements subject to recapture by LMPFA and respective dates of expiration as follows:

 

      Class A      Class I      Class IS  
Expires September 30, 2019    $ 2,485       $ 14,166       $ 119,313   
Total fee waivers/expense reimbursements subject to recapture    $ 2,485       $ 14,166       $ 119,313   

For the period ended March 31, 2016, LMPFA did not recapture any fees.

Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC (“LMIS”), a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Legg Mason, serves as the Fund’s sole and exclusive distributor.

There is a maximum initial sales charge of 5.75% for Class A shares. In certain cases, Class A shares have a 1.00% CDSC, which applies if redemption occurs within 18 months

 

38    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


from purchase payment. This CDSC only applies to those purchases of Class A shares, which, when combined with current holdings of other shares of funds sold by LMIS, equal or exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate. These purchases do not incur an initial sales charge.

For the period ended March 31, 2016, LMIS and its affiliates did not retain sales charges on sales of the Fund’s Class A shares. In addition, there were no CDSCs paid to LMIS and its affiliates for the period ended March 31, 2016.

All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Legg Mason or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.

As of March 31, 2016, Legg Mason and its affiliates owned 81% of the Fund.

3. Investments

During the period ended March 31, 2016, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:

 

        Investments*  
Purchases      $ 7,849,240   
Sales        2,140,425   

 

* Excluding securities sold short and covers on securities sold short in the amount of $8,370,467 and $2,669,894 respectively.

At March 31, 2016, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation      $ 393,146   
Gross unrealized depreciation        (176,391)   
Net unrealized appreciation      $ 216,755   

At March 31, 2016, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

Currency

Purchased

   

Currency

Sold

    Counterparty  

Settlement

Date

   

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

 
USD     719,965      GBP     500,000      Bank of New York     4/15/16      $ 1,816   
USD     1,005,486      JPY     114,000,000      Bank of New York     4/15/16        (7,816)   
USD     416,355      CAD     550,000      Citibank, N.A.     4/15/16        (7,142)   
USD     294,029      AUD     390,000      Northern Trust Co.     4/15/16        (4,777)   
USD     725,855      EUR     650,000      Northern Trust Co.     4/15/16        (14,029)   
Total                              $ (31,948)   

 

Abbreviations used in this table:

AUD   — Australian Dollar
CAD   — Canadian Dollar
EUR   — Euro
GBP   — British Pound
JPY   — Japanese Yen
USD   — United States Dollar

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   39


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

4. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

Below is a table, grouped by derivative type, that provides information about the fair value and the location of derivatives within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at March 31, 2016.

 

ASSET DERIVATIVES1  
      Foreign Exchange Risk  
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 1,816   

 

LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1  
      Foreign Exchange Risk  
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 33,764   

 

1 

Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and for liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation).

The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the period ended March 31, 2016. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses) realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information about the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund’s derivatives and hedging activities during the period.

 

AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Foreign Exchange Risk  
Forward foreign currency contracts1    $ (82,195)   

 

1 

Net realized gain (loss) from forward foreign currency contracts is reported in net realized gain (loss) from foreign currency transactions in the Statement of Operations.

 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Foreign Exchange Risk  
Forward foreign currency contracts1    $ (31,948)   

 

1 

The change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from forward foreign currency contracts is reported in the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations.

During the period ended March 31, 2016, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

        Average Market
Value
 
Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)      $ 1,719,018   

The following table presents by financial instrument, the Fund’s derivative assets net of the related collateral received by the Fund at March 31, 2016:

 

      Gross Amount of Derivative
Assets in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities1
     Collateral
Received
     Net
Amount
 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 1,816               $ 1,816   

 

40    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


The following table presents by financial instrument, the Fund’s derivative liabilities net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund at March 31, 2016:

 

      Gross Amount of Derivative
Liabilities in the Statement  of
Assets and Liabilities1
     Collateral
Pledged
     Net
Amount
 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 33,764               $ 33,764   

 

1

Absent an event of default or early termination, derivative assets and liabilities are presented gross and not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

5. Class specific expenses, waivers and/or expense reimbursements

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 shareholder services and distribution plan and under that plan the Fund pays service and/or distribution fees with respect to its Class A shares calculated at the annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the class. Service and/or distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly.

For the period ended March 31, 2016, class specific expenses were as follows:

 

        Service and/or
Distribution Fees†
       Transfer Agent
Fees†
 
Class A      $ 84         $ 13   
Class I                  13   
Class IS                  14   
Total      $ 84         $ 40   

 

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016.

For the period ended March 31, 2016, waivers and/or expense reimbursements by class were as follows:

 

       

Waivers/Expense

Reimbursements†

 
Class A      $ 2,485   
Class I        14,166   
Class IS        119,313   
Total      $ 135,964   

 

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016 .

6. Shares of beneficial interest

At March 31, 2016, the Trust had an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with a par value of $0.00001 per share. The Fund has the ability to issue multiple classes of shares. Each class of shares represents an identical interest and has the same rights, except that each class bears certain direct expenses, including those specifically related to the distribution of its shares.

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report   41


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

Transactions in shares of each class were as follows:

 

     Period Ended
March 31, 2016†
 
      Shares      Amount  
Class A                  
Shares sold      10,000       $ 100,000   
Net increase      10,000       $ 100,000   
Class I                  
Shares sold      129,187       $ 1,305,000   
Net increase      129,187       $ 1,305,000   
Class IS                  
Shares sold      480,000       $ 4,800,000   
Net increase      480,000       $ 4,800,000   

 

For the period November 30, 2015 (inception date) to March 31, 2016.

 

42    QS Global Market Neutral Fund 2016 Semi-Annual Report


Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited)

 

At its November 2015 meeting, the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) approved the management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (the “Manager”), the sub-advisory agreement between the Manager and QS Investors, LLC (“QS”) and the sub-advisory agreement between the Manager and Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”) pursuant to which Western Asset provides day-to-day management of that portion of the Fund’s cash and short-term investments allocated to Western Asset under such sub-advisory agreement. (Each sub-advisory agreement is referred to as a “Sub-Advisory Agreement.”) QS and Western Asset are each referred to herein as a “Sub-Adviser.” (The Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements are jointly referred to as the “Agreements.”) The Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (the “Independent Trustees”), met with the assistance of their independent legal counsel, to review and evaluate the materials provided by the Manager and the Sub-Advisers to assist the Board, and in particular the Independent Trustees, in considering the Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements, respectively.

In voting to approve the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, considered whether approval of the Agreements would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. No single factor or item of information reviewed by the Board was identified as the principal factor in determining whether to approve the Agreements. Based upon its evaluation of all material factors, including those described below, the Board concluded that the terms of each of the Agreements are reasonable and fair and that it was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to approve the Agreements.

The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services to be provided to the Fund by the Manager and each Sub-Adviser under the Management and Sub-Advisory Agreements, respectively. The Board also considered the supervisory activities to be provided by the Manager over the Sub-Advisers. In addition, the Board received and considered other information regarding the administrative and other services to be rendered to the Fund and its shareholders by the Manager and its affiliates. The Board noted information received at regular meetings throughout the year related to the services rendered by the Manager in its management of other funds in the Legg Mason fund complex, including the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Sub-Advisers and the Fund’s other service providers and the services rendered by the Manager and the Sub-Advisers. The Board’s evaluation of the services to be provided by the Manager and the Sub-Advisers took into account the Board’s knowledge and familiarity gained as Board members of funds in the Legg Mason fund complex, including the scope and quality of the investment management and other capabilities of the Manager and the Sub-Advisers, and the quality of the Manager’s administrative and other services.

The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the senior personnel that would be serving the Fund and the portfolio management team that would be primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund   43


Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

discussed with representatives of management the portfolio management strategy of the Fund’s portfolio managers. The Board also considered, based on its knowledge of the Manager and the Manager’s affiliates, the financial resources of the Manager’s parent organization, Legg Mason, Inc.

The Board considered the division of responsibilities between the Manager and the Sub-Advisers and the oversight to be provided by the Manager. The Board also considered brokerage policies and practices.

The Board received and reviewed historical performance results of a composite of other accounts managed by QS under the same investment strategy it would use to manage the Fund (the “Composite”). The Board noted that the Composite (gross and net of fees) outperformed the LIBOR-BBA 3 Month (USD) Rate for the one-year, three-year and since inception (July 1, 2011) periods ended September 30, 2015.

The Board reviewed and considered, the proposed contractual management fee (the “Contractual Management Fee”) payable by the Fund to the Manager in light of the nature, extent and quality of the management and sub-advisory services to be provided by the Manager and the Sub-Advisers, respectively. The Board noted that the Manager, and not the Fund, pays the sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Advisers (the sub-advisory fees and the Contractual Management Fee are collectively referred to as the “Management Fees”). The Board also noted that the Manager would waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to maintain specified expense levels until December 31, 2016 unless the Board consents to an earlier termination.

With respect to profitability, the Board noted the start-up status of the Fund.

Given the expected asset size of the Fund during the term of the Agreements, the Board concluded that, although there were no current breakpoints included in the Contractual Management Fee, any anticipated economies of scale were appropriately reflected in the Contractual Management Fee.

The Board considered other benefits expected to be received by the Manager and its affiliates, as a result of the Manager’s relationship with the Fund, including the opportunity to offer additional products and services to Fund shareholders.

In light of the structure of the fees, as well as the nature, extent and quality of the services expected to be provided, the Manager’s commitment to the Fund and the ancillary benefits expected to be received, the Board concluded that the Management Fees were reasonable.

After evaluation of all material factors, the Board concluded that the approval of each Agreement is in the best interest of the Fund.

 

44    QS Global Market Neutral Fund


QS

Global Market Neutral Fund

 

Trustees

Ruby P. Hearn

Arnold L. Lehman

Chairman

Robin J.W. Masters

Jill E. McGovern

Arthur S. Mehlman

G. Peter O’Brien

S. Ford Rowan

Robert M. Tarola

Jane Trust

Investment manager

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC

Subadviser

QS Investors, LLC

Distributor

Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Transfer agent

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

4400 Computer Drive

Westborough, MA 01581

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, MD

 

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

The Fund is a separate investment series of Legg Mason Global Asset Management Trust, a Maryland statutory trust.

QS Global Market Neutral Fund

Legg Mason Funds

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

 

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. To obtain information on Form N-Q, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-721-1926, (2) on the Fund’s website at www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of QS Global Market Neutral Fund. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors

© 2016 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC

Member FINRA, SIPC


Legg Mason Funds Privacy and Security Notice

 

Your Privacy and the Security of Your Personal Information is Very Important to the Legg Mason Funds

This Privacy and Security Notice (the “Privacy Notice”) addresses the Legg Mason Funds’ privacy and data protection practices with respect to nonpublic personal information the Funds receive. The Legg Mason Funds include any funds sold by the Funds’ distributor, Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, as well as Legg Mason-sponsored closed-end funds and certain closed-end funds managed or sub-advised by Legg Mason or its affiliates. The provisions of this Privacy Notice apply to your information both while you are a shareholder and after you are no longer invested with the Funds.

The Type of Nonpublic Personal Information the Funds Collect About You

The Funds collect and maintain nonpublic personal information about you in connection with your shareholder account. Such information may include, but is not limited to:

 

 

Personal information included on applications or other forms;

 

 

Account balances, transactions, and mutual fund holdings and positions;

 

 

Online account access user IDs, passwords, security challenge question responses; and

 

 

Information received from consumer reporting agencies regarding credit history and creditworthiness (such as the amount of an individual’s total debt, payment history, etc.).

How the Funds Use Nonpublic Personal Information About You

The Funds do not sell or share your nonpublic personal information with third parties or with affiliates for their marketing purposes, or with other financial institutions or affiliates for joint marketing purposes, unless you have authorized the Funds to do so. The Funds do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you except as may be required to perform transactions or services you have authorized or as permitted or required by law. The Funds may disclose information about you to:

 

 

Employees, agents, and affiliates on a “need to know” basis to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business or comply with obligations to government regulators;

 

 

Service providers, including the Funds’ affiliates, who assist the Funds as part of the ordinary course of business (such as printing, mailing services, or processing or servicing your account with us) or otherwise perform services on the Funds’ behalf, including companies that may perform marketing services solely for the Funds;

 

 

The Funds’ representatives such as legal counsel, accountants and auditors; and

 

 

Fiduciaries or representatives acting on your behalf, such as an IRA custodian or trustee of a grantor trust.

 

NOT PART OF THE  SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


Legg Mason Funds Privacy and Security Notice (cont’d)

 

Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds’ behalf are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform.

The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law, such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes, the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties. While it is the Funds’ practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.

Keeping You Informed of the Funds’ Privacy and Security Practices

The Funds will notify you annually of their privacy policy as required by federal law. While the Funds reserve the right to modify this policy at any time they will notify you promptly if this privacy policy changes.

The Funds’ Security Practices

The Funds maintain appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to guard your nonpublic personal information. The Funds’ internal data security policies restrict access to your nonpublic personal information to authorized employees, who may use your nonpublic personal information for Fund business purposes only.

Although the Funds strive to protect your nonpublic personal information, they cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you provide or transmit to them, and you do so at your own risk. In the event of a breach of the confidentiality or security of your nonpublic personal information, the Funds will attempt to notify you as necessary so you can take appropriate protective steps. If you have consented to the Funds using electronic communications or electronic delivery of statements, they may notify you under such circumstances using the most current email address you have on record with them.

In order for the Funds to provide effective service to you, keeping your account information accurate is very important. If you believe that your account information is incomplete, not accurate or not current, or if you have questions about the Funds’ privacy practices, write the Funds using the contact information on your account statements, email the Funds by clicking on the Contact Us section of the Funds’ website at www.leggmason.com, or contact the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

 

NOT PART OF THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors

© 2016 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC Member FINRA, SIPC

QSIN263159 5/16 SR16-2770


ITEM 2.    CODE OF ETHICS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 3.    AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 4.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 5.    AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 6.    SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
   Included herein under Item 1.
ITEM 7.    DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 8.    PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 9.    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 10.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 11.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
  

(a)    The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a- 3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

  

(b)    There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting


ITEM 12.    EXHIBITS.
   (a) (1) Not applicable.
   Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
   (a) (2) Certifications pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
   Exhibit 99.CERT
   (b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
   Exhibit 99.906CERT


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto duly authorized.

Legg Mason Global Asset Management Trust

 

By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 20, 2016

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

 

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 20, 2016

 

By:

 

/s/ Richard F. Sennett

  Richard F. Sennett
  Principal Financial Officer

Date: May 20, 2016