485APOS 1 hull_485a.htm 485APOS

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2023

File No.  333-191495

File No.  811-22895


U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
     
  PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.  
     
  POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 133   
     
  and/or  
     
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x
  AMENDMENT NO. 134  

 

Capitol Series Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

 

513-587-3400

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

 

Matthew J. Miller

President and Chief Executive Officer

Capitol Series Trust

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Thomas G. Sheehan

Practus LLP

11300 Tomahawk Creek Pkwy

Suite 310

Leawood, KS 66211

 


It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

    immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

       on [] pursuant to paragraph (b)

 

    60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)

 

    on pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)

 

  X 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)

 

    on pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

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

 

 
 

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

 

 

 

Hull Tactical US ETF

 

TICKER: HTUS

 

 

 

Prospectus

 

[May [ ],2023]

 

 

LISTED ON THE NYSE ARCA, INC. (THE “EXCHANGE”)

 

 

HTAA, LLC

141 W. JACKSON BOULEVARD

SUITE 1650

CHICAGO, IL 60604

 

Telephone: []

 

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The Prospectus gives you important information about the fund that you should know before you invest. Please read this Prospectus carefully before investing and use it for future reference.

 

 

Not A Deposit • Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee • Not Insured By Any Government Agency

 

 

 

 
 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

PAGE SECTION
1 SUMMARY INFORMATION
1 Investment Objective

1

1

Fees and Expenses

Portfolio Turnover

2 Principal Investment Strategies
3 Principal Investment Risks
7 Performance
8 Investment Adviser and Portfolio Managers
8 Purchase and Sale of Shares
8 Tax Information
8 Payments to Brokers-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
9 ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES INFORMATION
10 ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL RISK INFORMATION

15

15

15

FUND MANAGEMENT

Investment Adviser

Portfolio Manager

15 BUYING AND SELLING FUND SHARES
16 DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN
16 DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
19 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
20 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
23 DISCLAIMERS
Back Cover FOR MORE INFORMATION
 
 
 

SUMMARY INFORMATION

 

Hull Tactical US ETF

 

 

Investment Objective

 

The Hull Tactical US ETF (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund (“Shares”). You may pay other fees on your purchases and sales of Shares, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and examples below.

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 
Management Fee(1) 0.91%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fee 0.00%
Other Expenses 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(2) 0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses(2) 0.95%
(1)Pursuant to its Advisory Agreement, HTAA, LLC, the Fund’s adviser (the “Adviser”), pays all other expenses of the Fund, except for the management fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Excluded Expenses”). Expenses have been restated to reflect estimated expenses of the Fund for its current fiscal year. The Fund is the successor to Hull Tactical US ETF, a series of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (the “Predecessor Fund”), which was reorganized into the Fund on May [], 2023.
(2)The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses in this fee table may not correlate to the expense ratios in the Fund's financial highlights and financial statements because the financial highlights and financial statements reflect only the operating expenses of the Fund and do not include Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, which are fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the Fund through its investments in certain underlying investment companies.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. This Example does not reflect the effect of brokerage commissions or other transaction costs you paid in connection with the purchase or sale of Fund Shares. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
$97 $303 $525 $1,166

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022, the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 215% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

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Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities and instruments issued by or economically tied to U.S. issuers. In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, HTAA, LLC, the Fund’s Adviser (the “Adviser”), uses various proprietary analytical investment models that examine current and historical market data to attempt to predict the performance of the S&P 500®Index (the “S&P 500®”), a widely recognized benchmark of U.S. stock market performance that is composed primarily of large-capitalization U.S. issuers. The models deliver investment signals that the Adviser uses to make investment decisions for the Fund. Depending on the discretion of the Adviser and the investment signals delivered by the models, the Adviser takes long or short positions in the S&P 500® by allocating the Fund’s assets to one or more S&P 500®-related instruments. When the Fund takes long positions, it may maintain long exposure of up to 200% of its net assets and, when the Fund takes short positions, its short exposure is limited to no more than 100% of its net assets. The Adviser may adjust the allocation between the Fund’s long and short positions as necessary to account for new market conditions as well as data from the models. The Fund’s positions may be adjusted at the Adviser’s discretion as model predictions and market opportunities fluctuate.

 

The Adviser implements the Fund’s S&P 500® investment strategy by taking positions in one or more exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that seek to track the performance of the S&P 500®(each an “S&P 500®-related ETF”). The Adviser may then further obtain or adjust the Fund’s long or short exposure to the S&P 500® by engaging in transactions in the following S&P 500®-related instruments:

 

  entering into futures contracts on the S&P 500®;

 

  buying or selling (writing) put or call options on the S&P 500® Index or on S&P 500® Index-related ETFs (together, “S&P 500® Options”);

 

  investing up to 10% of its total assets in leveraged or inverse ETFs that, on a daily basis, seek to deliver multiples (long), or the inverse (short), of the performance of the S&P 500®, respectively; or

 

  taking long positions or short positions, including through short sales, in one or more pooled investment vehicles designed to provide leveraged exposure to an index that measures the returns of a portfolio of monthly VIX futures contracts with a weighted average of one month to expiration.

 

In addition to the S&P 500®-focused strategy described above, in an effort to generate income for the Fund, the Adviser may buy and sell (write) exchange-listed put and call options on individual U.S. equity securities or on securities indices (“Equity Options”). When engaging in this strategy, the Adviser seeks to opportunistically exploit inefficiencies in the pricing of Equity Options. The Adviser’s models attempt to identify Equity Options that the market may have mispriced and deliver investment signals that alert the Adviser to sell overpriced Equity Options and purchase underpriced Equity Options. From time to time, the Fund may own the equity security underlying an Equity Option as a means of hedging the Fund’s exposure consistent with the Adviser’s strategy.

 

During periods when the Fund’s assets (or portion thereof) are not fully invested in accordance with the above, all or a portion of the Fund may be invested in cash instruments, which for this purpose include U.S. Treasury obligations; cash and cash equivalents including commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances; repurchase agreements; shares of money market mutual funds; and high-quality, short-term debt instruments including, in addition to U.S. Treasury obligations, other U.S. government securities (collectively, “Cash Instruments”). Additionally, to respond to certain adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its assets, without limitation, in Cash Instruments. The Fund may be invested in this manner for extended periods, depending on the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions. During this time, the Fund may not be able to meet its investment objective. To the extent that the Fund invests in ETFs or money market mutual funds, the Fund would bear its pro rata portion of each such money market fund’s advisory fees and operational expenses.

 

Additional information relating to the S&P 500®-related instruments is included below:

 

Futures contracts are exchange-traded contracts that call for the future delivery of an asset at a certain price and date or cash settlement of the terms of the contract (i.e., payment of the gain or loss on the contract). They provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price.

 

A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract. Call and put options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied

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by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

The Fund may invest in leveraged or inverse ETFs on a daily basis or longer consistent with the Adviser’s views on prevailing and anticipated market conditions. In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund does not seek performance that is a specific multiple or inverse, or inverse multiple of the S&P 500®.

 

The Fund may invest in one or more pooled investment vehicles to gain exposure to an index that measures the returns of VIX futures contracts. VIX futures contracts are futures contracts based on the Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index (the “VIX Index”). The VIX Index seeks to measure the market’s current expectation of 30-day volatility of the S&P 500® as reflected by the prices of near-term S&P 500® options. The market’s current expectation of the possible rate and magnitude of movements in an index is commonly referred to as the “implied volatility” of the index. Because S&P 500® options derive value from the possibility that the S&P 500® may experience movement before such options expire, the prices of near-term S&P 500® options are used to calculate the implied volatility of the S&P 500®.

 

Principal Investment Risks

 

 

The value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate and is subject to investment risks, which means investors could lose money. An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

Please see “Additional Principal Risk Information” in this Prospectus for a more detailed description of the Fund’s risks. It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund. The first five risks are presented in an order that reflects the Adviser’s current assessment of relative importance, but this assessment could change over time as the Fund's portfolio changes or in light of changes in the market or the economic environment, among other things. The remaining risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate your ability to find particular risks and compare them with the risk of other funds. The Fund is not required to and will not update this Prospectus solely because its assessment of the relative importance of the principal risks of investing in the Fund changes. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears.

 

Model and Data RiskThe Adviser utilizes, in part, proprietary analytical investment models to attempt to predict the performance of the S&P 500® Index. The use of predictive models has inherent risks. Because the use of predictive models are usually constructed based on data supplied by third parties, the success of using such models as part of the Adviser’s investment approach may depend heavily on the accuracy and reliability of the supplied data. If incorrect data is used, the resulting information will be incorrect, which could cause the Fund to underperform. In addition, the models may not perform as intended for many reasons, including errors, omissions, imperfections or malfunctions.

 

Management Risk. The Adviser continuously evaluates the Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving the Fund’s investment objective. However, the achievement of the stated investment objective cannot be guaranteed over short- or long-term market cycles. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. The quantitative models used by the Adviser may not perform as expected, particularly in volatile markets.

 

Operational RiskThe Fund and its service providers may experience disruptions that arise from human error, processing and communications errors, counterparty or third-party errors, technology or systems failures, any of which may have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Market Risk. The market price of a security or instrument could decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions throughout the world, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. The market value of a security may also decline because of factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry.

 

Derivatives Risk. The Fund uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative contract. ETFs in which the Fund invests, and in particular leveraged and inverse ETFs, may use futures contracts and other types of derivatives, such as options and options on futures and enter into swap agreements. A derivative refers to any financial instrument whose value is derived, at least in part, from the price of another security or an asset, rate or, in the case of the Fund, a specified index - the S&P 500. The use of derivatives presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Gains or losses in a derivative may be magnified and may

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be much greater than the derivative’s original cost. On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) which, following an implementation period, replaced existing SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, like the Fund. The Derivatives Rule became effective on February 19, 2021, with a required compliance date of August 19, 2022. To the extent the Fund uses derivatives, complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. The regulation of the use of derivatives in the United States is a changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by government, self-regulatory and judicial action.

 

Cash Transactions Risk. Because the Fund generally effects its creations and redemptions for cash rather than in-kind securities, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times in order to obtain the cash needed to meet redemption orders. This may cause the Fund to sell a security and recognize a capital gain or loss that might not have been incurred if it had made a redemption in-kind. The use of cash creations and redemptions may also cause the Fund’s shares to trade in the market at wider bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the Fund’s NAV.

 

Counterparty RiskThe Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument may default on its payment obligation to the Fund. Such a default may cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. Changes in the credit rating of a debt security held by the Fund could have a similar effect.

 

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities, or the ability to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may result in the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments. In such circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments, and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual issuers, industries or the stock market as a whole.

 

Futures Contracts Risk. There may be an imperfect correlation between the changes in market value of the securities or other underlying assets held by the Fund and the prices of futures contracts. When the Fund has an open futures contract position, it is subject to daily variation margin calls that could be substantial in the event of adverse price movements. If the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily variation margin requirements, it might need to sell securities at a time when such sales are disadvantageous.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk. This risk exists when particular Fund investments are difficult to purchase or sell, which can reduce the Fund’s returns because the Fund may be unable to transact at advantageous times or prices or achieve its desired exposure to the S&P 500® Index.

 

Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund’s fixed-income assets will decline because of rising interest rates. The magnitude of this decline will often be greater for longer-term fixed-income securities than shorter-term fixed-income securities.

 

Investment Focus Risk. The Fund may be susceptible to an increased risk of loss due to adverse occurrences to the extent that the Fund’s investments are focused in a particular country, region, market, group of industries, sector or asset class.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Changes in the financial condition of an issuer may have a negative impact on the value of the Fund. To the extent that the Fund has exposure to issuers via its short positions, the Fund is more susceptible to the risk that an issuer’s securities may appreciate in value because of, among other events, increased demand for the issuer’s products or services or improved management performance.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. The Fund, through its investments in ETFs, will invest a relatively large percentage of its assets in the securities of large-capitalization companies. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform (or in the case of short positions, outperform) securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion.

 

Leveraging Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, such as short sales and investments in ETFs that use leverage to seek to deliver multiples (long), or the inverse (short), of the performance of the S&P 500® Index, will cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not entered into those transactions. The greater the investment in instruments that give rise to leverage, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Because the Fund is an ETF, only a limited number of institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occurs, the risk of which is higher during periods of market stress, the Fund’s shares may trade at a material discount to net asset value (“NAV”) and possibly face delisting: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to

4 
 

process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

 

Options Risk. Selling (writing) and buying options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The value of an option may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller, and will be affected by changes in the value or yield of the option’s underlying asset, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market or the underlying asset and the remaining time to expiration. Additionally, the value of an option does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying asset. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying asset. If the price of the underlying asset of an option is above the strike price of a written put option, the value of the option, and consequently of the Fund, may decline significantly more than if the Fund invested directly in the underlying asset instead of using options. While the Fund will segregate liquid assets at least equal in value to the maximum potential loss for the Fund, the Fund could still lose a significant amount or nearly all of its value if the price of an underlying asset changes significantly enough.

 

The Fund’s use of put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. When selling a put option, the Fund will receive a premium; however, this premium may not be enough to offset a loss incurred by the Fund if the price of the underlying asset is below the strike price by an amount equal to or greater than the premium. Purchasing of put options involves the payment of premiums, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a specified quantity of an underlying asset at a fixed exercise price over a defined period of time. Purchased put options may expire worthless resulting in the Fund’s loss of the premium it paid for the option.

 

Options Premium Tax RiskThe Fund’s writing of options may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income, which for non-corporate shareholders are subject to federal income tax at rates of up to 20%. Options premiums are treated as capital gains, and are generally taxed as ordinary income as the capital gains will be short-term.  To meet QDI requirements, a long equity position in the Fund’s portfolio must meet a holding period requirement, and such holding periods can be suspended when the Fund writes an option against that holding.  Consequently, any dividend that is received from the long equity position may not meet the holding period requirements and therefore is not eligible as QDI when paid to shareholders.  In addition, because option premiums are considered short-term capital gains, the Fund’s investment strategy with respect to options may also limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. The Fund’s investment strategy may also limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. For these reasons, a significant portion of distributions received by Fund shareholders may be subject to tax at effective tax rates that are higher than the rates that would apply if the Fund were to engage in a different investment strategy. You should consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of shares of the Fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s investment strategy may result in relatively high portfolio turnover, which may result in increased transaction costs and may lower Fund performance.

 

Secondary Market Liquidity Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade at prices other than NAV. As with all exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Fund’s daily NAV and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV (premium) or less than the NAV (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. When an ETF is first launched, it is unlikely to have immediate secondary market liquidity. There is likely to be a lead market maker making markets of significant size, but it is unlikely there will be many market participants on day one of trading. This lack of secondary market liquidity may make it difficult for investors to transact in Fund shares in the market, and the market price consequently may deviate from the Fund’s NAV. As the Fund begins to trade and as client interest increases, more and more market participants buy or sell shares of the Fund and secondary market liquidity will grow. While all ETFs can be held for prolonged periods or intraday, some ETFs experience more secondary market trading than others.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be higher or lower than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. If the underlying security goes down in price between the time the Fund sells the security and buys it back, the Fund will realize a gain on the transaction. Conversely, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction. Any such loss is increased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security. Likewise, any gain will be decreased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security. Because a short position loses value as the security’s price increases and the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the loss on a short sale is theoretically unlimited. Short sales involve leverage because the Fund borrows securities and then sells them, effectively leveraging its assets. The use of leverage may magnify gains or losses for the Fund.

 

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Smaller Fund Risk. A smaller fund is subject to the risk that its performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term. In addition, smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve an economically viable size, in which case it could ultimately liquidate. The Fund may be liquidated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of the Fund will receive an amount equal to the Fund’s NAV, after deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during the Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

  

Trading Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) above (premium) or below (discount) their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand and may deviate significantly from the value of the Fund’s holdings, particularly in times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay more or receive less than the underlying value of the Fund shares bought or sold. When buying or selling shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask), which is known as the bid-ask spread. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares of the Fund inadvisable. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. In such circumstances, the Fund’s shares could trade at a premium or discount to their NAV.

 

Underlying ETF Risk. The Fund will invest in (and short) ETFs, and its performance will be directly related to the performance of the ETFs. Through its positions in these ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles, including the possibility that the value of the securities or instruments held by an ETF could decrease (or increase in the case of short positions). Lack of liquidity in an ETF can result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio investment. In addition, by investing in the Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. As a result, the cost of investing in the Fund may exceed the costs of investing directly in the ETFs. The Fund may purchase ETFs at prices that exceed the net asset value of their underlying investments and may sell ETF investments at prices below such net asset value, and will likely incur brokerage costs when it purchases and sells ETFs.

 

An underlying ETF may not be actively managed and therefore the ETF would not sell shares of an equity security due to current or projected underperformance of a security, industry or sector, unless that security is removed from the S&P 500® Index or the selling of shares is otherwise required upon a rebalancing of the S&P 500® Index. Also, an ETF will not be able to replicate exactly the performance of the S&P 500® Index because the total return generated by portfolio securities of an ETF will be reduced by transaction costs and other expenses not incurred by the S&P 500® Index.

 

Through its investment in ETFs, the Fund is also indirectly subject to Counterparty Risk, Investment Focus Risk, Derivatives Risk, Equity Risk, Issuer Risk, Large-Capitalization Risk, Leveraging Risk, Management Risk, Market Risk and Trading Risk.

 

Underlying Leveraged and Inverse ETF Risk. When the Fund invests in underlying ETFs that seek to provide investment results that are the inverse of the performance of an underlying index, the Fund will indirectly be subject to the risk that the performance of such ETFs will fall as the performance of the ETF’s benchmark rises - a result that is the opposite from traditional mutual funds. In addition, the ETFs held by the Fund may utilize leverage (i.e., borrowing) to acquire their underlying portfolio investments. The use of leverage may exaggerate changes in an ETF’s share price and the return on its investments. Accordingly, the value of the Fund’s investments in ETFs may be more volatile and all other risks, including the risk of loss of an investment, tend to be compounded or magnified. Any losses suffered by an ETF as a result of the use of leverage could adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value and an investor could incur a loss in their investment in the Fund. Inverse and leveraged ETFs are designed to achieve their objectives for a single day only. For periods longer than a single day, a leveraged or inverse ETF will lose money when the level of the underlying index is flat over time, and it is possible that a leveraged or inverse ETF will lose money over time even if the level of the underlying index rises or, in the case of an inverse ETF, falls. Longer holding periods, higher index volatility, greater leverage and inverse exposure each exacerbate the impact of compounding on a fund’s returns.

  

U.S. Government Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities, which are subject to price fluctuations and to default in the event that an agency or instrumentality defaults on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

VIX Investment Vehicle Risk. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Fund may take long and short positions in a pooled investment vehicle designed to provide exposure to VIX futures contracts. Through its positions in such a vehicle, which is not registered under the 1940 Act, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles, including the possibility that the value of their securities or instruments could decrease. VIX futures contracts are unlike traditional futures contracts and are not based on a tradable reference asset. The VIX Index is not directly investable, and the settlement price of a VIX futures contract is based on the calculation

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that determines the level of the VIX Index. As a result, the behavior of a VIX futures contract may be different from traditional futures and options contracts whose settlement price is based on a specific tradable asset.

 

Performance Information

 

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for certain time periods compare with the average annual total returns of the S&P 500® Index and a 60/40 hybrid index consisting of the S&P 500® Index and Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index. All returns assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

On January 4, 2021, the Fund’s investment strategy expanded to permit the Fund to enter into S&P 500® Options and, on January 31, 2022, the Fund’s investment strategy expanded to permit the Fund to enter into Equity Options; therefore, the performance shown for periods prior to those dates may have differed had the Fund’s current investment strategies been in effect during those periods. Updated performance information is available online at http://www.hulltacticalfunds.com or by calling toll-free -(___) ___ ____.

 

Annual Total Returns as of 12/31

 

 

 

 

 

Best and Worst Quarter Returns (for the period reflected in the bar chart above)1

 

  Return Quarter/Year
Highest Return 18.79% Q2/2020
Lowest Return -23.42% Q1/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 20221

 

Hull Tactical US ETF 1 Year

 

5 Year

Since Inception
(06-24-2015)
Return Before Taxes (11.06)% 6.64% 7.02%
Return After Taxes on Distributions2 (13.37)% 4.39% 4.90%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares2 (6.18)% 4.28% 4.63%
S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 3 (18.11)% 9.42% 10.34%
60/40 Hybrid Index Consisting of S&P 500® Index and Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 3, 4 (10.20)% 6.53% 6.84%
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(1) The Fund is the accounting successor of Hull Tactical US ETF, a series of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust which commenced operations on June 24, 2015, and for which the Adviser served as the sole sub-adviser (the “Predecessor Fund”). In a transaction that was consummated on [ , 2023] (the “Reorganization”), the Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Predecessor Fund. Accordingly, the performance results shown above in the bar chart and the average annual total returns table for periods prior to ________ ; 2023 represent the performance of the Predecessor Fund. The Fund’s performance has not been restated to reflect any differences in expenses paid by the Predecessor Fund and those paid by the Fund. In addition, the Fund’s performance during the periods reflected in the bar chart and table may have been different from that of the Predecessor Fund due to some differences in their principal investment strategies.

(2) After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. In some cases, the return after taxes may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of shares of the Fund at the end of the measurement period.

(3) The S&P 500® Index is market-cap weighted index of 500 leading US companies covering approximately 80% of available market capitalization and is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large-cap U.S. equities.

(4)This Citigroup 3-Month Treasury Bill Index measures monthly return equivalents of yield averages of the last three three-month Treasury bill issues that are not marked to market.

 

Investment Adviser

 

HTAA, LLC serves as the investment adviser to the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Petra Bakosova, Chief Executive Officer of the Adviser, has served as portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2015.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

The Fund issues shares to, and redeems shares from, certain institutional investors known as “Authorized Participants” (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions for the Fund generally are conducted in exchange for cash. Individual shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in the secondary market through a broker or dealer at a market price. You can purchase and sell individual shares of the Fund throughout the trading day like any publicly traded security. The Fund’s shares are listed on the Exchange. The price of the Fund’s shares is based on a market price and, because exchange-traded fund shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, shares may trade at prices greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling shares of the Fund in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at http://www.hulltacticalfunds.com.

 

Tax Information

 

Distributions made by the Fund may be taxable as ordinary income, qualified dividend income, or long-term capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-advantaged arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or individual retirement account. In that case, you may be taxed when you take a distribution from such account, depending on the type of account, the circumstances of your distribution, and other factors.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

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Additional Principal Investment Strategies Information

 

The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The Fund may change its investment objective without shareholder approval.

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF and, thus, does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified passive index of securities. Instead, the Fund uses an active investment strategy in seeking to meet its investment objective. The Adviser, subject to the oversight of the Board, has discretion on a daily basis to manage the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and investment policies.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities and instruments issued by or economically tied to U.S. issuers. For purposes of this policy, the Fund considers a security or instrument to be economically tied to a U.S. issuer if the issuer (a) has been organized under the laws of, or has a principal place of business in, the United States, (b) derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the United States, or (c) has the principal trading market for its securities in the United States. This investment policy may be changed without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders.

 

Additional Principal Risk Information

 

The following section provides additional information regarding certain of the principal risks identified under “Principal Investment Risks” in the Fund’s Summary, as well with additional risk information. The Fund’s SAI contains more detailed information about the Fund’s investment policies and risks.

 

Model and Data Risk. The Adviser may use investment programs that are fundamentally dependent on proprietary or licensed technology through the Adviser’s use of, among other things, certain hardware, software, model-based strategies, data gathering systems, order execution, and trade allocation systems, and/or risk management systems. These strategies may not be successful on an ongoing basis or could contain errors, omissions, imperfections, or malfunctions. Any such errors, imperfections or limitations in a model could affect the ability of the Adviser to implement strategies. Despite testing, monitoring and independent safeguards, these errors may result in, among other things, execution and allocation failures and failures to properly gather and organize data – all of which may have a negative effect on the Fund. Such errors are often extremely difficult to detect and some may go undetected for long periods of time and some may never be detected. The adverse impact caused by these errors can compound over time. The Adviser may detect certain errors that it chooses, in its sole discretion, not to address or fix. By necessity, models make simplifying assumptions that limit their efficacy. Models that appear to explain prior market data can fail to predict future market events.

 

Management Risk. The Adviser continuously evaluates the Fund’s holdings, purchases and sales with a view to achieving the Fund’s investment objectives. However, the achievement of the stated investment objectives cannot be guaranteed. Various legislative, regulatory, or tax restrictions, policies or developments may affect the investment techniques available to the Adviser in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. The quantitative models used by the Adviser may not perform as expected, particularly in volatile markets. If the Adviser is incorrect in its assessment of the income, growth or price realization potential of the Fund’s holdings or incorrect in its assessment of general market or economic conditions, then the value of the Fund’s shares may decline.

 

Operational RiskYour ability to transact in shares of the Fund or the valuation of your investment may be negatively impacted because of the operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third party service providers or trading counterparties. Although the Fund attempts to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

 

Market Risk. An investment in the Fund involves risks similar to those of investing in any fund, such as market fluctuations caused by such factors as economic and political developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Local, regional, or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the market generally and on specific securities. For example, since December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus has spread globally, which has resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and factories, and other businesses across the world. As the extent of the impact on global markets from the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to predict, the extent to which the pandemic may negatively affect the Fund’s performance or the duration of any potential business disruption is uncertain. Any potential impact on performance will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the pandemic or treat its impact.

 

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The values of the securities in which the Fund invests could decline generally or could underperform other investments. Different types of securities tend to go through cycles of out-performance and under-performance in comparison to the general securities markets. In addition, securities may decline in value due to factors affecting a specific issuer, market or securities markets generally. During a general market downturn, multiple asset classes may be negatively affected. Changes in market conditions and interest rates generally do not have the same impact on all types of securities and instruments.

 

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the resulting responses by the United States and other countries, and the potential for wider conflict could increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. The United States and other countries have imposed broad-ranging economic sanctions on Russia, certain Russian individuals, banking entities and corporations, and Belarus as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and may impose sanctions on other countries that provide military or economic support to Russia. The extent and duration of Russia’s military actions and the repercussions of such actions (including any retaliatory actions or countermeasures that may be taken by those subject to sanctions, including cyber attacks) are impossible to predict, but could result in significant market disruptions, including in certain industries or sectors, such as the oil and natural gas markets, and may negatively affect global supply chains, inflation and global growth. These and any related events could significantly impact the Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to Russian issuers or issuers in other countries affected by the invasion.

 

Derivatives Risk. The Fund uses futures contracts, which are a type of derivative contract. Underlying ETFs, and in particular leveraged and inverse ETFs, may use futures contracts and other types of derivatives, such as options and options on futures and enter into swap agreements. To the extent the Fund invests in ETFs that hold derivatives positions, the Fund will indirectly be subject to derivatives risk. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the gains or losses of an ETF. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives bought and sold by an ETF. An ETF could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold.

 

The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent an ETF from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to an ETF. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and an ETF may lose more than a derivative than it originally invested in it.

 

An ETF may purchase or sell options, which involve the payment or receipt of a premium by the investor and the corresponding right or obligation, as the case may be, to either purchase or sell the underlying security for a specific price at a certain time or during a certain period. Purchasing options involves the risk that the underlying instrument will not change price in the manner expected, so that the investor loses its premium. Selling options involves potentially greater risk because the investor is exposed to the extent of the actual price movement in the underlying security rather than only the premium payment received (which could result in a potentially unlimited loss). Over-the-counter options also involve counterparty solvency risk. A derivative refers to any financial instrument whose value is derived, at least in part, from the price of another security or an asset, rate or, in the case of the Fund, a specified index - the S&P 500. The use of derivatives presents risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in traditional securities. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Gains or losses in a derivative may be magnified and may be much greater than the derivative’s original cost.

 

On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) under the 1940 Act which, following an implementation period, replaced existing SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered funds, like the Fund. The Derivatives Rule became effective on February 19, 2021, with a required compliance date of August 19, 2022. Among other changes, the Derivatives Rule requires the Fund to trade derivatives and certain other instruments that create future payment or delivery obligations subject to a value-at-risk (“VaR”) leverage limit, develop and implement a derivatives risk management program and new testing requirements, and comply with new requirements related to board and SEC reporting. These new requirements apply unless the Fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in the Derivatives Rule. To the extent the Fund uses derivatives, complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.

 

Cash Transactions Risk. The Fund generally expects to effect its creations and redemptions for cash rather than in-kind securities. Paying redemption proceeds in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio securities or other assets at an inopportune time to obtain the cash needed to meet redemption orders. This may cause the Fund to sell a security and recognize a capital gain or loss that might not have been incurred if it had made a redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher or lower annual capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. The use of cash creations and redemptions may also cause the Fund’s shares to trade in the market at greater bid-ask spreads or greater premiums or discounts to the Fund’s NAV. Furthermore, the Fund may not be able to execute cash transactions for creation and redemption purposes at the same price used to determine the Fund’s NAV. To the extent that the maximum additional charge for creation or redemption transactions is insufficient to cover the execution shortfall, the Fund’s performance could be negatively impacted.

 

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Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk (i.e., the risk that a counterparty is unwilling or unable to make timely payments to meet its contractual obligations) with respect to the amount the Fund expects to receive from counterparties to financial instruments and repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund. The Fund may be negatively impacted if a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations. Such a default may cause the value of an investment in the Fund to decrease. Changes in the credit rating of a debt security held by the Fund could have a similar effect.

   

Early Close/Trading Halt Risk. An exchange or market may close early or issue trading halts on specific securities or financial instruments. The ability to trade certain securities or financial instruments may be restricted, which may disrupt the Fund’s creation and redemption process, potentially affect the price at which the Fund’s shares trade in the secondary market, and/or result in the Fund being unable to trade certain securities or financial instruments. In these circumstances, the Fund may be unable to rebalance its portfolio, may be unable to accurately price its investments and/or may incur substantial trading losses.

 

Equity Securities Risk. The prices of equity securities in which the Fund’s underlying ETFs invest may rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. Individual companies may report better than expected results or be positively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may increase in response. In addition, the equity market tends to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to rise over short or extended periods of time.

 

Futures Contracts Risk. The Fund’s use of futures contracts involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments and could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. Because futures require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they involve a high degree of leverage. Accordingly, the fluctuation of the value of futures in relation to the underlying assets upon which they are based is magnified. Thus, the Fund may experience losses that exceed losses experienced by funds that do not use futures contracts. There may be imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of a futures contract and price movements of investments for which futures are used as a substitute. Lack of correlation (or tracking) may be due to factors unrelated to the value of the investments being hedged, such as speculative or other pressures on the markets in which these instruments are traded. Consequently, the effectiveness of futures as a security substitute will depend, in part, on the degree of correlation between price movements in the futures and price movements in underlying securities. While futures contracts are generally liquid instruments, under certain market conditions they may become illiquid. Futures exchanges may impose daily or intra-day price change limits and/or limit the volume of trading. Additionally, government regulation may further reduce liquidity through similar trading restrictions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to close out its futures contracts at a time which is advantageous. The successful use of futures depends upon a variety of factors, particularly the ability of the Adviser to predict movements of the underlying securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. There can be no assurance that any particular futures strategy adopted will succeed.

 

Illiquid Investments Risk. In certain circumstances, it may be difficult for the Fund to purchase and sell particular portfolio investments due to infrequent trading in such investments. The prices of such securities may experience significant volatility, make it more difficult for the Fund to transact significant amounts of such securities without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices, or make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of such securities at a fair price.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed-income securities fall. However, market factors, such as the demand for particular fixed-income securities, may cause the price of certain fixed-income securities to fall while the prices of other securities rise or remain unchanged.

 

Investment Focus Risk. The Fund may be susceptible to an increased risk of loss due to adverse occurrences to the extent the Fund’s investments are focused in a particular country, region, market, group of industries, sector or asset class. The ETFs in which the Fund invests track a subset of the U.S. stock market, which could cause the Fund to perform differently than the overall stock market. An ETF’s index may, at times, become focused in stocks of a particular sector, which would subject the Fund to proportionately higher exposure to the risks of that sector.

 

Issuer-Specific Risk. Issuer-specific events, including changes in the financial condition of an issuer, changes in specific economic or political conditions that affect a particular type of security, and changes in general economic or political conditions, may have a negative impact on the value of the Fund. To the extent that the Fund has exposure to issuers via its short positions, the Fund is more susceptible to the risk that an issuer’s securities may appreciate in value because of, among other events, increased demand for the issuer’s products or services or improved management performance.

 

Large-Capitalization Risk. The Fund, through its investments in ETFs, will invest a relatively large percentage of its assets in the securities of large-capitalization companies. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected if securities of large-capitalization companies underperform (or in the case of short positions, outperform) securities of smaller-capitalization companies or the market as a whole. The securities of large-capitalization companies may be relatively mature compared to smaller companies and therefore subject to slower growth during times of economic expansion.

 

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Leveraging Risk. The Fund may engage in transactions and purchase instruments that give rise to forms of leverage, including reverse repurchase agreements and other borrowings, futures contracts and short sales. To the extent that the Fund invests in ETFs, and in particular in leveraged and inverse ETFs, the Fund will indirectly be subject to leveraging risk. The greater the investment in instruments that give rise to leverage, the more this leverage will magnify any losses on those investments. Such transactions and instruments may include, among others, the use of reverse repurchase agreements and other borrowings, the investment of collateral from loans of portfolio securities, forward commitment transactions or short sales. The use of leverage may also cause the Fund or an ETF to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements. Certain types of leveraging transactions, such as short sales that are not “against the box,” could theoretically be subject to unlimited losses in cases where the Fund or an ETF, for any reason, is unable to close out the transaction. In addition, to the extent that the Fund or an ETF borrows money, interest costs on such borrowed money may not be recovered by any appreciation of the securities purchased with the borrowed funds and could exceed the fund’s investment income, resulting in greater losses. The value of a leveraged fund’s shares will tend to increase or decrease more than the value of any increase or decrease in its underlying index due to the fact that a fund’s investment strategies involve consistently applied leverage.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk. Only an Authorized Participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. Particularly in times of market stress, Authorized Participants, market makers, or liquidity providers may exit the business, reduce their business activities, or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders, and there is a possibility that no other entities will step forward to perform these services. This may result in a significantly diminished trading market for the Fund’s shares, differences between the market price of the Fund’s shares and the underlying value of those shares, and delisting of the shares.

 

Options Risk. Selling (writing) and buying options are speculative activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The value of an option may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller, and will be affected by changes in the value or yield of the option’s underlying asset, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual or perceived volatility of the stock market or the underlying asset and the remaining time to expiration. Additionally, the value of an option does not increase or decrease at the same rate as the underlying asset. The Fund’s use of options may reduce the Fund’s ability to profit from increases in the value of the underlying asset. If the price of the underlying asset of an option is above the strike price of a written put option, the value of the option, and consequently of the Fund, may decline significantly more than if the Fund invested directly in the underlying asset instead of using options. While the Fund will segregate liquid assets at least equal in value to the maximum potential loss for the Fund, the Fund could still lose a significant amount or nearly all of its value if the price of an underlying asset changes significantly enough.

 

As the seller (writer) of a call option, the Fund assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise option price. The Fund continues to bear the risk that it will lose money if the value of the security falls below the strike price. Option premiums are treated as short-term capital gains and when distributed to shareholders, are usually taxable as ordinary income, which may have a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains for shareholders holding Fund shares in a taxable account. As the buyer of a call option, the Fund assumes the risk that the market price of the underlying security will not increase above the strike price plus the premiums paid, so the Fund bears the risk that it will lose the premium paid for the option.

 

The Fund’s use of put options can lead to losses because of adverse movements in the price or value of the underlying asset, which may be magnified by certain features of the options. When selling a put option, the Fund will receive a premium; however, this premium may not be enough to offset a loss incurred by the Fund if the price of the underlying asset is below the strike price by an amount equal to or greater than the premium. Purchasing of put options involves the payment of premiums, which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Purchasing a put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a specified quantity of an underlying asset at a fixed exercise price over a defined period of time. Purchased put options may expire worthless resulting in the Fund’s loss of the premium it paid for the option.

 

Options Premium Tax Risk. The Fund’s writing of options may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income (“QDI”), which for non-corporate shareholders are subject to federal income tax at rates of up to 20%. Options premiums are treated as capital gains, and are generally taxed as ordinary income as the capital gains will be short-term.  To meet QDI requirements, a long equity position in the Fund’s portfolio must meet a holding period requirement, and such holding periods can be suspended when the Fund writes an option against that holding.  Consequently, any dividend that is received from the long equity position may not meet the holding period requirements and therefore is not eligible as QDI when paid to shareholders.  In addition, because option premiums are considered short-term capital gains, the Fund’s investment strategy with respect to options may also limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. For these reasons, a significant portion of distributions received by Fund shareholders may be subject to tax at effective tax rates that are higher than the rates that would apply if the Fund were to engage in a different investment strategy. You should consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of shares of the Fund. 

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund’s investment strategies may result in relatively high portfolio turnover, which may result in increased transaction costs and may lower Fund performance. The relatively high portfolio turnover may also result in a substantial amount of

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distributions from the Fund to be characterized as short-term capital gain distributions. Short-term capital gain distributions from the Fund are subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates and are to be reported by shareholders as ordinary income on their U.S. federal income tax returns.

 

Secondary Market Liquidity Risk. Shares of the Fund may trade at prices other than NAV. As with all exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), Fund shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Fund’s daily NAV and there may be times when the market price of the shares is more than the NAV (premium) or less than the NAV (discount). This risk is heightened in times of market volatility or periods of steep market declines. Additionally, in stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. When an ETF is first launched, it is unlikely to have immediate secondary market liquidity. There is likely to be a lead market maker making markets of significant size, but it is unlikely there will be many market participants on day one of trading. This lack of secondary market liquidity may make it difficult for investors to transact in Fund shares in the market, and the market price consequently may deviate from the Fund’s NAV. As the Fund begins to trade and as client interest increases, more and more market participants buy or sell shares of the Fund and secondary market liquidity will grow. While all ETFs can be held for prolonged periods or intraday, some ETFs experience more secondary market trading than others.

 

Short Sales Risk. Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own. To complete the transaction, the Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be higher or lower than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. If the underlying security goes down in price between the time the Fund sells the security and buys it back, the Fund will realize a gain on the transaction. Conversely, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period, the Fund will realize a loss on the transaction. Any such loss is increased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security. Likewise, any gain will be decreased by the amount of premium or interest the Fund must pay to the lender of the security. The Fund is also required to segregate other assets on its books to cover an obligation to return the security to the lender which means that those other assets may not be available to meet the Fund’s needs for immediate cash or other liquidity. The Fund’s investment performance may also suffer if the Fund is required to close out a short position earlier than it had intended. This would occur if the securities lender required the Fund to deliver the securities the Fund borrowed at the commencement of the short sale and the Fund was unable to borrow the securities from another securities lender or otherwise obtain the security by other means. In addition, the Fund may be subject to expenses related to short sales that are not typically associated with investing in securities directly, such as costs of borrowing and margin account maintenance costs associated with the Fund’s open short positions. These expenses negatively impact the performance of the Fund. For example, when the Fund sells short an equity security that pays a dividend, the Fund must pay out the dividend rate of the equity security to the lender and records this as an expense of the Fund and reflects the expense in the financial statements. However, a dividend paid on a security sold short generally has the effect of reducing the market value of the shorted security and thus, increases the Fund’s unrealized gain or reduces the Fund’s unrealized loss on its short sale transaction. To the extent that the dividend that the Fund is obligated to pay is greater than the interest earned by the Fund on investments, the performance of the Fund will be negatively impacted. These types of short sales expenses are sometimes referred to as the “negative cost of carry,” and will tend to cause the Fund to lose money on a short sale even in instances where the price of the underlying security sold short does not change over the duration of the short sale. Regulatory bans on certain short selling activities may prevent the Fund from fully implementing its strategies.

 

Smaller Fund Risk. A smaller fund’s performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term if and when it becomes larger and has fully implemented its investment strategies. Investment positions may have a disproportionate impact (negative or positive) on performance in smaller funds. Smaller funds may also require a period of time before they are fully invested in securities that meet their investment objectives and policies and achieve a representative portfolio composition. Fund performance may be lower or higher during this “ramp-up” period, and may also be more volatile, than would be the case after the fund is fully invested. Similarly, a smaller fund’s investment strategy may require a longer period of time to show returns that are representative of the strategy. Smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. If a smaller fund were to fail to successfully implement its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective, performance may be negatively impacted. Further, when a fund’s size is small, the fund may experience low trading volumes and wide bid/ask spreads. In addition, a fund may face the risk of being delisted if the fund does not meet certain conditions of the listing exchange. If a fund were to be required to delist from the listing exchange, the value of a fund may rapidly decline and performance may be negatively impacted. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve an economically viable size. Any of the foregoing may result in the Fund being liquidated. The Fund may be liquidated by the Board without a shareholder vote. In a liquidation, shareholders of the Fund will receive an amount equal to the Fund’s NAV, after deducting the costs of liquidation, including the transaction costs of disposing of the Fund’s portfolio investments. Receipt of a liquidation distribution may have negative tax consequences for shareholders. Additionally, during the Fund’s liquidation all or a portion of the Fund’s portfolio may be invested in a manner not consistent with its investment objective and investment policies.

 

Trading Risk. Although Fund shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained. Secondary market trading in the Fund’s shares may be halted by the Exchange because of market conditions or for other reasons. In addition, trading in the Fund’s shares is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market

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volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund’s shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

Shares of the Fund may trade at, above or below their most recent NAV. The per share NAV of the Fund is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings since the prior most recent calculation. The market prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares may deviate significantly from the value of the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, particularly in times of market stress, with the result that investors may pay more or receive less than the underlying value of the Fund shares bought or sold. This can be reflected as a spread between the bid and ask prices for the Fund’s shares quoted during the day or a premium or discount in the closing price from the Fund’s NAV. In stressed market conditions, the market for the Fund’s shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings. These factors, among others, may lead to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. However, given that shares of the Fund can be created and redeemed only in Creation Units at NAV (unlike shares of many closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their NAVs), the Adviser does not believe that large discounts or premiums to NAV will exist for extended periods of time. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that the Fund’s shares normally will trade close to the Fund’s NAV, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with the Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme volatility may result in trading prices that differ significantly from NAV.

 

As with all ETFs, the Fund’s shares may be bought and sold in the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of the Fund’s shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price of shares is more than the NAV intra-day (premium) or less than the NAV intra-day (discount) due to supply and demand of shares or during periods of market volatility. This risk is heightened in times of market volatility, periods of steep market declines, and periods when there is limited trading activity for shares in the secondary market, in which case such premiums or discounts may be significant. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price of the Fund is at a premium to its NAV or sells at time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.

 

Investors buying or selling shares of the Fund in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of Fund shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that an investor is willing to pay for shares of the Fund (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor is willing to sell shares of the Fund (the “ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund’s shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund’s shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling shares of the Fund, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of such shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in the Fund’s shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.

 

Underlying ETF Risk. The Fund will invest in (and short) ETFs. Through its positions in these ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles, including the possibility that the value of the securities or instruments held by an ETF could decrease (or increase in the case of short positions). Lack of liquidity in an ETF can result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio investment. In addition, by investing in the Fund, shareholders indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the ETFs in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses.

 

Underlying Leveraged and Inverse ETF Risk. When the Fund invests in ETFs that seek to provide investment results that are the inverse of the performance of an underlying index, the Fund will indirectly be subject to the risk that the performance of such ETF will fall as the performance of the ETF’s benchmark rises - a result that is the opposite from traditional mutual funds. In addition, the ETFs held by the Fund may utilize leverage (i.e., borrowing) to acquire their underlying portfolio investments. The use of leverage may exaggerate changes in an ETF’s share price and the return on its investments. Accordingly, the value of the Fund’s investments in ETFs may be more volatile and all other risks, including the risk of loss of an investment, tend to be compounded or magnified. Any losses suffered by an ETF as a result of the use of leverage could adversely affect the Fund’s NAV and an investor could incur a loss in their investment in the Fund. Inverse and leveraged ETFs are designed to achieve their objectives for a single day only. For periods longer than a single day, a leveraged or inverse ETF will lose money when the level of the underlying index is flat over time, and it is possible that a leveraged or inverse ETF will lose money over time even if the level of the underlying index rises or, in the case of an inverse ETF, falls. Longer holding periods, higher index volatility, greater leverage and inverse exposure each exacerbate the impact of compounding on a fund’s returns.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, authorities and instrumentalities and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States only guarantee principal and interest will be timely paid to holders of the securities. The entities do not guarantee that the value of the securities will increase and, in fact, the market values of such obligations may fluctuate. In addition, not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States;

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some are the obligation solely of the entity through which they are issued. There is no guarantee that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. 

 

VIX Investment Vehicle Risk. In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Fund may take long and short positions in a pooled investment vehicle designed to provide exposure to VIX futures contracts. Such vehicle is not registered pursuant to the 1940 Act and, therefore, not subject to the regulatory scheme of the 1940 Act. VIX futures contracts are unlike traditional futures contracts and are not based on a tradable reference asset. The VIX Index is not directly investable, and the settlement price of a VIX futures contract is based on the calculation that determines the level of the VIX Index. As a result, the behavior of a VIX futures contract may be different from traditional futures and option contracts whose settlement price is based on a specific tradable asset.

 

Fund Management

 

Adviser

 

HTAA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company founded in 2013 and located at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1650, Chicago, Illinois 60604, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser (“HTAA” or “Adviser”). HTAA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hull Investments, LLC, a family office with more than $[24] million in assets under management as of [February 1], 2023. Pursuant to its advisory contract with the Fund (“Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser assumes all investment duties and has full discretionary power and authority with respect to the investment of the assets of Fund. In that capacity, HTAA is responsible for making day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund and trading portfolio securities and other investment instruments on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has also agreed to pay all expenses incurred by the Fund except for the advisory fee, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, extraordinary expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (“Uncovered Expenses”). For the services it provides to the Fund, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.91% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

  

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser will be available in the Fund’s annual shareholder report for the period ending October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Petra Bakosova is the Fund’s portfolio manager and is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Ms. Bakosova, who is HTAA’s Chief Executive Officer, has been with the Adviser since October 2014. Prior to the Adviser, Ms. Bakosova worked five months at Toji Trading Group, LLC, as a quantitative researcher and three years at ArbHouse, LLC, as a strategist. Prior to Arbhouse, Ms. Bakosova was working towards and received her Master of Science degree in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago.

 

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

 

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

 

General

 

Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on the Exchange. When you buy or sell shares of the Fund on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price. You may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The shares of the Fund will trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of such shares. A business day with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. The Exchange is generally open Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

The per share NAV of the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by its total number of shares outstanding. Expenses and fees, including management and distribution fees, if any, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. NAV is determined each business day, normally as of the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time).

 

When determining NAV, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities is based on market prices of such securities, which generally means a valuation obtained from an exchange or other market (or based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of the value supplied by an exchange or other market) or a valuation obtained from an independent pricing service. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the security, the security will be valued by another method that the

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Trust’s Fair Valuation Designee believes will better reflect fair value in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures, as approved by the Board. Fair value pricing may be used in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to situations when the value of a security in the Fund’s portfolio has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which the security is principally traded but prior to the close of the Exchange (such as in the case of a corporate action or other news that may materially affect the price of a security) or trading in a security has been suspended or halted. Accordingly, the Fund’s NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices.

 

Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that a fair value determination for a security will materially differ from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.

 

Frequent Purchases and Redemptions of Fund Shares

 

The Fund does not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units; however, the Fund reserves the right to reject or limit purchases at any time as described in the SAI. When evaluating whether such a restriction or policy was necessary, the Board evaluated the risks posed by arbitrage and market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy, or whether they would cause the Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of the Fund are issued and redeemed only in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units available only from the Fund directly to Authorized Participants, and that most trading in the Fund occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market prices and does not involve the Fund directly. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that trading due to arbitrage opportunities or market timing by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders. In addition, frequent trading of shares of the Fund by Authorized Participants and arbitrageurs is critical to ensuring that the market price remains at or close to NAV.

 

Distribution and Service Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which payments of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets may be made for the sale and distribution of its shares. No payments pursuant to the Distribution and Service Plan will be made during the twelve (12) month period from the date of this Prospectus. Thereafter, 12b-1 fees may only be imposed after approval by the Board. Because these fees, if imposed, would be paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, if payments are made in the future, these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

 

Dividends, Distributions and Taxes

 

Fund Distributions

 

The Fund pays out dividends from its net investment income and distributes its net capital gains, if any, to investors at least annually.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service

 

Brokers may make available to their customers who own shares of the Fund the Depository Trust Company book-entry dividend reinvestment service. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and capital gains will automatically be reinvested in additional whole shares of the Fund purchased on the secondary market. Without this service, investors would receive their distributions in cash. To determine whether the dividend reinvestment service is available and whether there is a commission or other charge for using this service, consult your broker. Brokers may require the Fund’s shareholders to adhere to specific procedures and timetables.

 

Tax Information

 

The following is a summary of some important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. The summary is based on current tax laws, which may be changed by legislative, judicial or administrative action. You should not consider this summary to be a comprehensive explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund, or the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. This summary does not apply to shares held in an individual retirement account or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. More information about taxes is located in the SAI.

 

You are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as to federal, state and local income taxes.

 

Tax Status of the Fund

 

The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify for the special tax treatment afforded to a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Internal Revenue Code”). If the Fund maintains its qualification as a RIC and meets

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certain minimum distribution requirements, then the Fund is generally not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements it would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and consequently a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Unless you are a tax-exempt entity or your investment in Fund shares is made through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions, you sell Fund shares and you purchase or redeem Creation Units (Authorized Participants only).

 

Tax Status of Distributions

 

·The Fund intends to distribute each year substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains income.

 

·Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

 

·The income dividends you receive from the Fund may be taxed as either ordinary income or “qualified dividend income.”

 

·Dividends that are reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income are generally taxable to non-corporate shareholders at a maximum tax rate currently set at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income generally is income derived from dividends paid to the Fund by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that the Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. For such dividends to be taxed as qualified dividend income to a non-corporate shareholder, the Fund must satisfy certain holding period requirements with respect to the underlying stock and the non-corporate shareholder must satisfy holding period requirements with respect to his or her ownership of the Fund’s shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. The Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

·Taxes on distributions of capital gains (if any) are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned their shares. Sales of assets held by the Fund for more than one year generally result in long-term capital gains and losses, and sales of assets held by the Fund for one year or less generally result in short-term capital gains and losses.

 

·Distributions from the Fund’s short-term capital gains are generally taxable as ordinary income. Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares. For non-corporate shareholders, long-term capital gains are generally taxable at a maximum tax rate currently set at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets).

 

·Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends-received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from the Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. The Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations

 

·In general, your distributions are subject to federal income tax for the year in which they are paid. However, distributions paid in January but declared by the Fund in October, November or December of the previous year payable to shareholders of record in such a month may be taxable to you in the previous year.

 

·You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

·The Fund (or your broker) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income, and net capital gain distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.

 

Tax Status of Share Transactions

 

Each sale of shares by a shareholder of the Fund or redemption of Creation Units by an Authorized Participant will generally be a taxable event. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of shares of the Fund is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if such shares have been held for more than twelve months. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of shares of the Fund held for twelve months or less is generally treated as short-term gain or loss. Any capital loss on the sale of shares of the Fund held for six months or less is

17 
 

treated as long-term capital loss to the extent distributions of long-term capital gains were paid (or treated as paid) with respect to such shares. Any loss realized on a sale will be disallowed to the extent shares of the Fund are acquired, including through reinvestment of dividends, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the sale of such shares. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between (i) the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange plus any cash received in the exchange and (ii) the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus any cash paid for the Creation Units. An Authorized Participant who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and (ii) the aggregate market value of the securities and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss that is realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units may not be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales” (for a person who does not mark-to-market their holdings), or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Authorized Participants should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether wash sales rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

  

The Fund may include cash when paying the redemption price for Creation Units in addition to, or in place of, the delivery of a basket of securities. The Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Fund to recognize investment income and/or capital gains or losses that it might not have recognized if it had completely satisfied the redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may be less tax efficient if it includes such a cash payment than if the in-kind redemption process was used.

 

Foreign Taxes

 

To the extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund (or your broker) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by the Fund as a result of an investment in an Underlying Fund taxable as a regulated investment company will not be passed through to you unless the Fund qualifies as a “qualified fund of funds” under the Internal Revenue Code. If the Fund is a “qualified fund of funds” it will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. The Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund of funds” under the Internal Revenue Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other regulated investment companies.

 

Investments in Complex Securities

 

The Fund intends may invest in certain entities which may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”), as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other requirements described in the SAI, meet certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its assets. The Fund’s investment in one or more of such QPTPs is limited under such diversification requirement to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund will monitor its investment in such QPTPs in order to ensure it qualifies as a RIC. Please see the discussion in the SAI regarding the consequences if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. Partnerships that the Fund may invest in will deliver Schedule K-1 to the Fund to report its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the partnership. A Schedule K-1 may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that the Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your tax reporting statement.

 

“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “QPTP,” as defined above. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Internal Revenue Code does not contain a provision permitting a RIC, such as the Fund, to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in RICs that invest in such entities will not. It is uncertain whether future technical corrections or administrative guidance will address this issue to enable the Fund to pass through the special character of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” to shareholders.

 

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Net Investment Income Tax

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes interest, dividends, and certain capital gains (including certain capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.

 

Non-U.S. Investors  

 

If you are a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation, trust or estate, (i) the Fund’s ordinary income dividends will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies, but (ii) gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless you are a nonresident alien individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Non-U.S. shareholders who fail to provide an applicable Internal Revenue Service form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if you are a foreign shareholder engaged in a trade or business within the United States or if you are a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty.

 

Backup Withholding

 

The Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which shareholders own shares of the Fund) generally is required to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and the sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current U.S. federal income tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.

 

More information about taxes is in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

Investments by Other Registered Investment Companies

 

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as a registered investment company. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of the Fund. The SEC recently adopted Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act, which permits registered investment companies to invest in exchange-traded funds offered by the Trust, including the Fund, beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions, including that such registered investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust. However, if the Fund were to invest in securities of other investment companies beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) in reliance on Rule 12d1-4, other registered investment companies would not be permitted to rely on Rule 12d1-4 to invest in the Fund in excess of the limits.

 

Continuous Offering

 

The method by which Creation Units are purchased and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the Prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

 

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Fund’s distributor, breaks them down into individual shares of the Fund, and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares of the Fund. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.

 

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares of the Fund, whether or not participating in the distribution of such shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus

19 
 

delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available with respect to such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker dealer-firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with shares of the Fund that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that under Rule 153 under the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the Fund’s Prospectus is available on the SEC’s electronic filing system. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

 

Premium/Discount Information

 

Information regarding how often the shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund for various time periods can be found at www.hulltacticalfunds.com.

 

Financial Highlights

 

The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The Fund is a continuation of the Predecessor Fund and, therefore, the financial information presented below is for the Predecessor Fund, for the fiscal year ended November 30th. The Predecessor Fund’s shareholders approved the Reorganization into the Fund on [ ], 2023. The reorganization subsequently took place on [ ], 2023. Accordingly, the Financial Highlights tables represent the financial performance of the Predecessor Fund and have not been restated to reflect any differences in expenses paid by the Predecessor Fund and those paid by the Fund. This information has been derived from the financial statements audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Predecessor Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Predecessor Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Predecessor Fund’s Annual Report, which is available upon request.

 

 

 

20 
 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios

For the Years Ended November 30

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Year

  Net Asset
Value,
Beginning
of Year
Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)*
Net
Realized
and
Unrealized
Gain on
Investments
Total from
Operations
Distributions
from
Investment
Income
Distributions
from Net
Realized
Capital Gains
Total
Distributions
Net
Asset
Value,
End of
Year
Total Return Net
Assets
End of
Year
(000)
Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net
Assets
(2)
Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income
(Loss) to
Average
Net
Assets
(2)
  Portfolio Turnover(3)
   2022 $34.50 $ 0.04 $ (0.97) $ (0.93) $   — $   (2.80) $   (2.80)  $  30.77 (3.07)% $ 24,612 0.91% 0.12%   215%
2021  29.12   (0.01)    6.65   6.64 $   — $  (1.26) $  (1.26)  34.50 23.60  27,596 0.96%(5) (0.03)%   393%
2020 26.72 0.08 2.57 2.65 (0.25) 0.00 (0.25) 29.12 9.99 26,211 0.91 0.31   833
2019 27.35 0.28 1.25(4) 1.53 (0.23) (1.93) (2.16) 26.72 7.91 45,424 0.91 1.13   560
2018 28.73 0.23 0.60 0.83 (0.16) (2.05) (2.21) 27.35 3.01 62,916 0.91 0.83   1,320

*   Per share data calculated using average shares method.

(1)  Total return is for the period indicated. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes the shareholder would pay on fund distributions or redemption of Fund shares.

(2)  These ratios exclude the impact of expenses of the underlying security holdings as represented in the Schedule of Investments. Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the underlying exchange-traded funds in which the Fund invests.

(3)  Portfolio turnover rate is for the period indicated. Excludes effect of securities received or delivered from processing in-kind creations or redemptions.

(4)  The amount shown for a share outstanding throughout the period does not accord with the aggregate net gains on investments for that period because the sales and repurchase of Fund shares in relation to fluctuating market value of the investments of the Fund.

(5)  The expense ratio includes security sold short fees on securities sold short. Had this expense been excluded, the ratio would have been 0.91%.

 

 

21 
 

 

 

Capitol Series Trust

225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450

Cincinnati, Ohio 45246

 

ANNUAL/SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

Additional information about the Fund’s investments is available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders. In the annual report you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

 

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund. The SAI is incorporated by reference into, and is thus legally a part of, this Prospectus.

 

HOUSEHOLDING

 

Householding is an option available to certain Fund investors. Householding is a method of delivery, based on the preference of the individual investor, in which a single copy of certain shareholder documents can be delivered to investors who share the same address, even if their accounts are registered under different names. Please contact your broker-dealer if you are interested in enrolling in householding and receiving a single copy of prospectuses and other shareholder documents, or if you are currently enrolled in householding and wish to change your householding status.

  

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database at http://www.sec.gov and copies of this information also may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by emailing the SEC at publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act file number: 811-22895

 

 

 

.

22 
 

 

DISCLAIMERS

 

Shares of the Fund are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “NYSE Arca”) The NYSE Arca makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the shares of the Fund. The NYSE Arca is not responsible for, nor has it participated in, the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of the shares of the Fund to be issued, or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the shares are redeemable. The NYSE Arca has no obligation or liability to owners of the shares of the Fund in connection with the administration, marketing, or trading of the shares of the Fund. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall the NYSE Arca have any liability for any lost profits or indirect, punitive, special, or consequential damages even if notified of the possibility thereof.

23 
 

 

More information about the Fund is available free upon request, including the following:   To obtain the SAI, Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other information without charge, and to make inquiries:
     

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports

Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders upon issuance. In the Fund’s annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI provides more detailed information about the Fund and its policies. A current SAI is on file with the SEC and is incorporated by reference into (considered a legal part of) this Prospectus.

 

 

 

Call

800-___-_____

 

Write

Send a written request to:

 

Hull Tactical US ETF

c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707 

 

Log on the Internet

You may also access Fund information, including copies of the most current SAI and annual and semi-annual reports, at hulltacticalfunds.com or from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

 

Contact the SEC

Information about the Fund, including its reports and the SAI, has been filed with the SEC. It can be reviewed on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s email address (publicinfo@sec.gov).

Hull Tactical US ETF

Investment Company Act No. 811-22895

 

 

 

 
 

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

 

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22895

 

 

Hull Tactical US ETF
Ticker Symbol: HTUS

A series of Capitol Series Trust

Listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

May [ ], 2023 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides general information about the Hull Tactical US ETF (the “Fund”), a series of the Capitol Series Trust (the “Trust”). This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current prospectus dated [May [ ], 2023] (the “Prospectus”), as supplemented and amended from time to time, which is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms used herein that are not defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted. To obtain a copy of the Fund’s Prospectus, free of charge, please write the administrator at Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, P.O. Box 46707, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246, or call Shareholder Services at [(___) -___-____], or visit the Fund’s website at www.hulltacticalfunds.com.  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUND 3
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS 4
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS 22
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST 23
SERVICE PROVIDERS 29
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES 29
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS 31
CODE OF ETHICS 32
VOTING PROXIES OF FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES 32
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 33
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS 33
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE 34
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM 35
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 36
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS 37
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 41
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES 42
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 50
 APPENDIX A – BOND RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

 

2 
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND FUND

 

Hull Tactical US ETF (the “Fund”) was organized as a diversified series of the Trust at a meeting of the Board of Trustees held on March 6-7, 2023. The Fund is the successor to Hull Tactical US ETF, a series of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (the “Predecessor Fund”), which was reorganized into the Fund on May [], 2023. The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated September 18, 2013 (the “Trust Agreement”). HTAA, LLC (the “Adviser” or “HTAA”) serves as investment adviser to the Fund.

 

The Trust Agreement permits the Trust to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest in one or more series representing interests in separate portfolios of securities. Expenses attributable to any series or class are borne by that series or class. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series or class are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.

The Fund only offers, sells, and redeems shares on a continuous basis at NAV in large aggregations or “Creation Units.” The Fund’s shares are individually redeemable.

Under the Trust Agreement, the Board has the unrestricted right and power to alter the number of shares of the Fund that constitute a Creation Unit. Therefore, in the event of a termination of the Fund, the Board, in its sole discretion, could determine to permit the Fund’s shares to be individually redeemable. In such circumstances, the Trust might elect to pay cash redemptions to all shareholders with an “in-kind” election for shareholders owning in excess of a certain stated minimum amount.

The Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). Creation Unit transactions for the Fund are generally conducted in exchange for cash. Shares of the Fund are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for cash. However, the Fund reserves the right to create or redeem its shares in exchange for a deposit or delivery of a portfolio of securities closely approximating the holdings of the Fund. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares are not redeemable securities.

The Fund may impose a transaction fee in connection with the purchase and redemption of its Creation Units. Such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Once “created,” the Fund’s shares trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

Shares of the Fund that are approved for listing and trading on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”), subject to notice of issuance, will be available for purchase and sale through a broker-dealer at market price on each day that the Exchange is open for business (“Business Day”). The market price of the Fund’s shares may trade below, at, or above the most recently calculated NAV per share of the Fund. As is the case of other publicly traded securities, your purchase or sale of Fund shares in the secondary market will be subject to brokerage commissions which will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

 

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of the Fund will continue to be met. The Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of the Fund from listing if, among other things: (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of Fund shares, there are fewer than 50 record and/or beneficial owners of shares of the Fund; (ii) the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (iii) if any of the other listing requirements are not continuously maintained; or (iv) any event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will also remove shares of the Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

 

In order to provide investors with a basis to gauge whether the market price (and related bid/ask spread) of individual Shares traded on an Exchange is approximately consistent with the current NAV on a per Share basis, every 15 seconds throughout the Exchange’s regular trading hours, an estimated intra-day NAV (“INAV”), if applicable, is calculated and disseminated in accordance with the relevant listing standards of the Exchange. The Fund is not involved in or responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the INAV, and the Fund makes no warranty as to its accuracy. The INAV does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities and instruments held by the Fund at a particular point in time or the best possible valuation of the current portfolio. The Fund believes that, when purchasing Shares traded on an Exchange, placing “limit orders” rather than “market orders” may help investors

3 
 

avoid excessive bid/ask spreads. The INAV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV per Share of the Fund because (i) the INAV may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally, at the end of the business day; (ii) 1 the calculation of NAV may be subject to fair valuation at different prices than those used in the calculations of the INAV; (iii) unlike the calculation of NAV, the INAV does not take into account Fund expenses; and (iv) the INAV calculations are based on local market prices and may not reflect events that occur subsequent to the local market’s close, which could affect premiums and discounts between the INAV and the market price of the Fund’s Shares. Accordingly, a shareholder purchasing Shares of the Fund at a price calculated based upon the Shares’ INAV is subject to valuation risk. If there is a mismatch between the INAV and NAV, shareholders could lose money upon redemption or could pay too much for Shares purchased.

 

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the price levels of shares in the future to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.

 

The base and trading currencies of the Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which the Fund’s net asset value per share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENTS AND RISK CONSIDERATIONS

 

The Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and principal risks are described in the Prospectus. The Adviser selects securities for the Fund’s investment pursuant to an “active” management strategy for security selection and portfolio construction. As described more fully in the Fund’s prospectus, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily by taking long and short positions in underlying exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”). Through its positions in Underlying ETFs, the Fund will be subject to the risks associated with such vehicles and its underlying investments.

 

An investment in the Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of securities generally and other factors.

 

An investment in the Fund should also be made with an understanding of the risks inherent in an investment in securities, including the risk that the financial condition of issuers may become impaired or that the general condition of the securities markets may deteriorate (either of which may cause a decrease in the value of the portfolio securities and thus in the value of shares of the Fund). Securities are susceptible to general market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. These investor perceptions are based on various and unpredictable factors including expectations regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or regional political, economic and banking crises.

 

The investment techniques and instruments described below and in the Fund’s Prospectus may, consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and investment policies, be used by the Fund if, in the opinion of the Adviser or the Adviser, such strategies will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund may not invest in all of the instruments and techniques described below. In addition, the Fund is free to reduce or eliminate its activity with respect to any of the investment techniques described below without changing the Fund’s fundamental investment policies, and the Fund will periodically change the composition of its portfolio to best meet its investment objective. For more information about the Fund’s principal strategies and risks, please see the Fund’s Prospectus.

 

Unless otherwise specified, percentage limitations on investments set forth in the Prospectus and this SAI will be applied at the time of investment. Therefore, these percentages could be exceeded due to a decline in the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) due to fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and the liquidation of portfolio securities to fulfill repurchase requests (which the Fund’s Board has, in its sole discretion, authorized) or to pay expenses.

 

Except for the Fund’s fundamental policies listed below, no other policy of the Fund, including its investment objective, is a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board without the vote of such Fund’s shareholders.

 

The principal and non-principal investment strategies the Fund uses to pursue its investment objective and the risks of those strategies are discussed in the Prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, investment strategies and techniques are generally discretionary. This means that the Adviser may elect to engage or not engage in various strategies and techniques in its sole discretion. Investors should not assume that any particular discretionary investment technique or strategy will always or ever be employed by the Fund.

 

In addition to the principal and non-principal investment strategies and the risks of the Fund as described in the Prospectus, the Fund may employ secondary investment practices and may be subject to additional secondary risks, which are described below. The following

4 
 

is a description of secondary investment strategies and secondary risks for how the Fund might evolve, not necessarily how it currently operates.

 

Diversification

 

The Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Under applicable federal laws, to qualify as a diversified fund, the Fund, with respect to 75% of its total assets, may not invest greater than 5% of its total assets in any one issuer and may not hold greater than 10% of the securities of one issuer. The remaining 25% of the Fund’s total assets does not need to be “diversified” and may be invested in securities of a single issuer, subject to other applicable laws. The diversification of the Fund’s holdings is measured at the time the Fund purchases a security. However, if the Fund purchases a security and holds it for a period of time, the security may become a larger percentage of the Fund’s total assets due to movements in the financial markets. If the market affects several securities held by the Fund, the Fund may have a greater percentage of its assets invested in securities of fewer issuers.

 

Borrowing

 

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, the Fund may borrow money for investment purposes. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV per share of the Fund will increase more when the Fund’s portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund’s portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Fund may use leverage during periods when the Adviser believes that the Fund’s investment objective would be furthered.

 

The Fund may also borrow money to facilitate management of the Fund’s portfolio by enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the Fund promptly. As required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), the Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Fund’s assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the Fund’s borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage requirement. Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Fund is authorized to borrow money as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes in amounts not in excess of 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. Borrowings for extraordinary or emergency purposes are not subject to the foregoing 300% asset coverage requirement. The Fund is authorized to pledge portfolio securities the Adviser deems appropriate as may be necessary in connection with any borrowings for extraordinary or emergency purposes, in which event such pledging may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s assets, valued at cost.

 

Equity Securities

 

The Underlying ETFs in which the Fund invests may invest in equity securities. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company or partnership and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, securities convertible into common stock, and investments in master limited partnerships. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the NAV per share of the Fund to fluctuate. The U.S. stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices generally decline. An Underlying ETF may purchase equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Certain of the equity securities in which the Fund and the Underlying ETFs may invest. including, rights and warrants, are derivatives, which are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying assets, reference rate, or index. Please see “Derivatives” for additional disclosure concerning such investments and their associated risks.

 

The Fund may invest, indirectly through Underlying ETFs, in the types of equity securities described below:

 

·Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

5 
 
·Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

Risks of Preferred Stock. The fundamental risk of investing in preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. The market value of all securities, including preferred stocks, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company’s worth. Because many preferred stocks lack a fixed maturity date, these securities generally fluctuate substantially in value when interest rates change; such fluctuations often exceed those of long-term bonds of the same issuer. Some preferred stocks pay an adjustable dividend that may be based on an index, formula, auction procedure or other dividend rate reset mechanism. In the absence of credit deterioration, adjustable rate preferred stocks tend to have more stable market values than fixed rate preferred stocks. All preferred stocks are also subject to the same types of credit risks of the issuer as corporate bonds. In addition, because preferred stock is junior to debt securities and other obligations of an issuer, deterioration in the credit rating of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior fixed income security with similar yield characteristics. 

 

·Rights A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it issued. Rights normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. An investment in rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

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

 

Warrants. Warrants are instruments that entitle the holder to buy an equity security at a specific price for a specific period of time. Changes in the value of a warrant do not necessarily correspond to changes in the value of its underlying security. The price of a warrant may be more volatile than the price of its underlying security, and a warrant may offer greater potential for capital appreciation as well as capital loss. Warrants do not entitle a holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying security and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company. A warrant ceases to have value if it is not exercised prior to its expiration date. These factors can make warrants more speculative than other types of investments.

 

·Risks of Warrants. Warrants may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. If the market price of the underlying stock does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant or right will expire worthless. Warrants may increase the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities. Similarly, the percentage increase or decrease in the value of an equity security warrant may be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the underlying common stock.

 

Warrants may relate to the purchase of equity or debt securities. Debt obligations with warrants attached to purchase equity securities have many characteristics of convertible securities and their prices may, to some degree, reflect the performance of the underlying stock. Debt obligations also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional debt securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit the Fund to sell such warrants at a profit. If interest rates rise, these warrants would generally expire with no value.

 

·Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.
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Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

Risks of Convertible Securities. The value of a convertible security generally increases when interest rates decline and generally decreases when interest rates rise. The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. Generally, a convertible security’s conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. In addition, a convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value determined by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock.

 

Because convertible securities are typically issued by smaller capitalized companies whose stock price may be volatile, the price of a convertible security may reflect variations in the price of the underlying common stock in a way that nonconvertible debt does not. Also, while convertible securities generally have higher yields than common stock, they have lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities and are subject to less fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

 

·Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”). MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to real estate development and oil and gas industries, but they also may finance motion pictures, research and development and other projects. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership.

 

Risks of Master Limited Partnerships. The risks of investing in an MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Additional risks involved with investing in an MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and gas industries.

 

DERIVATIVES

 

Generally. The Fund and the Underlying ETFs may engage in transactions involving derivatives including options, futures, rights, warrants, and swaps. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying assets, reference rate, or index. The Fund and the Underlying ETFs may also acquire rights/warrants issued in connection with common/preferred stock or bonds that it may hold.

 

Options, Futures and Other Strategies-Generally. The Fund and the Underlying ETFs may use options (both traded on an exchange and over-the-counter (“OTC”)), futures contracts (sometimes referred to as “futures”), swaps, and other derivative securities (collectively, “Financial Instruments”) as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying security, to attempt to hedge or limit the exposure of a particular portfolio security, to create a synthetic money market position, for certain tax-related purposes, to close out previously established options and futures positions, to reduce volatility, to enhance income, and to gain market exposure.

 

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The use of Financial Instruments is subject to applicable regulations of the SEC, the several exchanges upon which they are traded and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”).  In addition, the Fund’s ability to use Financial Instruments will be limited by tax considerations.  Pursuant to a claim for exemption filed with the National Futures Association on behalf of the Fund, the Fund is not deemed to be a commodity pool operator or a commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act and is not subject to registration or regulation as such under the Commodity Exchange Act.  In addition to the instruments, strategies and risks described below, the Adviser may discover additional opportunities in connection with Financial Instruments and other similar or related techniques.  These new opportunities may become available as the Adviser develops new investment techniques, as regulatory authorities broaden the range of permitted transactions and as new Financial Instruments or other techniques are developed.  The Adviser may utilize these opportunities to the extent that they are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted by the Fund’s investment limitations and applicable regulatory authorities.  This SAI will be supplemented to the extent that new products or techniques involve materially different risks than those described in this SAI.

 

General Risks of Options, Futures and Other Strategies.  The use of Financial Instruments involves special considerations and risks, certain of which are described below.  Risks pertaining to particular Financial Instruments are described in the sections that follow.

 

Successful use of most Financial Instruments may depend upon the Adviser’s ability to predict movements of the overall securities markets, which requires different skills than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities.  The ordinary spreads between prices in the cash and futures markets, due to the differences in the natures of those markets, are subject to distortion.  Due to the possibility of distortion, a correct forecast of market trends by the Adviser may still not result in a successful transaction.  The Adviser may be incorrect in its expectations as to the extent of market movements or the time span within which the movements take place, which may result in the strategy being unsuccessful.

 

Options and futures prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments.  Options and futures prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way.  Imperfect or no correlation also may result from differing levels of demand in the options and futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how options and futures and securities are traded, and from the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts.

 

As described below, the Fund and/or the Underlying ETFs might be required to maintain assets as “cover,” maintain segregated accounts or make margin payments when it takes positions in Financial Instruments involving obligations to third parties (e.g., Financial Instruments other than purchased options).  If the Fund is unable to close out its positions in such Financial Instruments, it might be required to continue to maintain such assets or accounts or make such payments until the position expires or matures.  These requirements might impair the Fund’s or the Underlying ETFs ability to sell a portfolio security or make an investment when it would otherwise be favorable to do so or require that the Fund sells a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time.  The Fund’s or the Underlying ETFs ability to close out a position in a Financial Instrument prior to expiration or maturity depends on the existence of a liquid secondary market or, in the absence of such a market, the ability and willingness of the other party to the transaction (the “counterparty”) to enter into a transaction closing out the position.  Therefore, there is no assurance that any position can be closed out at a time and price that is favorable to the Fund or the Underlying ETFs.

 

Financial Instruments may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small position in a Financial Instrument could have a large potential impact on the Fund’s performance. Losses may arise due to unanticipated market price movements, lack of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at a particular time or due to losses from premiums paid by the Fund on options transactions.

 

Risks of Government Regulation of Derivatives.  The U.S, Securities and Exchange Commission recently adopted Rule 18f-4 (the “Derivatives Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) which, following an implementation period, replaced existing SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies, like the Fund. The Derivatives Rule became effective on February 19, 2021, with a required compliance date of August 19, 2022. To the extent the Fund uses derivatives, complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.

 

The regulation of the use of derivatives in the United States is a changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by government, self-regulatory and judicial action, and it is possible that additional government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures, options, and swap contracts, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective.  It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse.  It is possible that legislative and regulatory activity could limit or restrict the ability of the Fund to use certain instruments as part of its investment strategy.  Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using certain instruments. There is also a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies.  The

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futures, options, and swaps markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements.  In addition, the SEC, the CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits, and the suspension of trading.  The regulation of futures, options, and swaps transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government action.  In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act has changed the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated.  Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a new legislative framework for OTC derivatives, including Financial Instruments such as swaps.  Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act made broad changes to the OTC derivatives markets, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants, and required clearing and exchange trading of many OTC derivative transactions.  The CFTC and the SEC finalized the definition of “swap” and “security-based swap.”

 

Provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act include capital and margin requirements and the mandatory use of clearinghouse mechanisms for many OTC derivative transactions.  Any position limits imposed on the Fund or its counterparties as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and related rules and regulations enacted by the CFTC, the SEC and other federal regulators may impact the Fund’s ability to invest in futures, options, and swaps in a manner that efficiently meets its investment objective.  These new requirements, even if not directly applicable to the Fund, including capital requirements and mandatory clearing, may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors.

 

Cover.  Transactions using Financial Instruments, other than purchasing options, expose the Fund to an obligation to another party.  The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (1) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or futures contracts or (2) cash and liquid assets with a value, marked-to-market daily, sufficient to cover its potential obligations to the extent not covered as provided in (1) above.  The Fund and the Underlying ETFs will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and will, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid assets in an account with the Custodian, in the prescribed amount as determined daily.

 

Assets used as cover or held in an account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding Financial Instrument is open, unless they are replaced with other appropriate assets.  As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s or an Underlying ETF’s assets to cover accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

 

Options and Futures Transactions

 

Options. An option contract is a bilateral agreement that permits, but does not obligate the purchaser, in return for a premium paid to the writer (seller) of the option, to buy an asset from (in the case of a call option) or sell an asset to (in the case of a put options) the writer (seller) at the exercise price on or before the expiration date of the contract. The Fund and the Underlying ETFs will only write calls on assets it holds in its portfolio (i.e., covered calls). The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market value of the underlying investment, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price to the market price of the underlying investment and general market conditions.  Options that expire unexercised have no value.  Options currently are traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”), the American Stock and Options Exchange (“AMEX”) and other exchanges, as well as the OTC markets. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract.  While this type of arrangement allows the Fund and the Underlying ETFs additional flexibility to tailor the option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization.

 

The Underlying ETFs may close out a call or put written on an asset by purchasing a call or put, respectively, on the asset and with same exercise price and expiration date. To close out a position as purchaser of an option, the Fund may sell the option previously purchased, although it could exercise the option should it deem it advantageous to do so. Closing transactions permit the Fund to realize profits or limit losses on an option position prior to its exercise or expiration.

 

The Underlying ETFs may purchase and write options in combination with each other.  For example, the Fund may purchase a put option and write a call option on the same underlying instrument in order to construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract.  Another possible combined position would involve writing a call option at one strike price and buying a call option at a lower price, in order to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase.  Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Underlying ETFs in which the Fund may invest may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on indices and enter into related closing transactions. A put option on a security gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying security at any time during the option period. A call option on a security gives the purchaser of the

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option the right to buy, and the writer of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying security at any time during the option period. The premium paid to the writer is the consideration for undertaking the obligations under the option contract.

 

Put and call options on indices are similar to options on securities except that options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the particular market represented by the index generally, rather than the price movements in individual securities.

 

All options written on indices or securities must be covered. The SEC staff has indicated that a written call option on a security may be covered if a fund: (1) owns the security underlying the call until the option is exercised or expires; (2) holds an American-style call on the same security as the call written with an exercise price (a) no greater than the exercise price of the call written or (b) greater than the exercise price of the call written if the difference is maintained by the Fund in cash or other liquid assets designated on the Fund’s records or placed in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian; (3) has an absolute and immediate right to acquire the security without additional cost (or if additional consideration is required, cash or other liquid assets in such amount have been segregated); or (4) segregates cash or other liquid assets on the Fund’s records or with the custodian in an amount equal to (when added to any margin on deposit) the current market value of the call option, but not less than the exercise price, marked to market daily. If the call option is exercised by the purchaser during the option period, the seller is required to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price or pay the difference. The seller’s obligation terminates upon expiration of the option period or when the seller executes a closing purchase transaction with respect to such option.

 

All put options written by an Underlying ETF will be covered by: (1) segregating cash, cash equivalents, such as U.S. Treasury securities or overnight repurchase agreements, or other liquid assets on the Underlying ETF’s records or with the custodian having a value at least equal to exercise price of the option (less cash received, if any); or (2) holding a put option on the same security as the option written where the exercise price of the written put option is (i) equal to or higher than the exercise price of the option written or (ii) less than the exercise price of the option written provided the Fund segregates cash or other liquid assets in the amount of the difference.

 

An Underlying ETF may trade put and call options on securities, securities indices and currencies, as the Underlying ETF’s investment adviser determines is appropriate in seeking the Underlying ETF’s investment objective, and except as restricted by the Underlying ETF’s investment limitations.

 

The initial purchase (sale) of an option contract is an “opening transaction.” In order to close out an option position, an Underlying ETF may enter into a “closing transaction,” which is simply the purchase of an option contract on the same security with the same exercise price and expiration date as the option contract originally opened. If an Underlying ETF is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the option expires or the Fund delivers the security upon exercise.

 

An Underlying ETF may purchase put and call options on securities to protect against a decline in the market value of the securities in its portfolio or to anticipate an increase in the market value of securities that the Fund may seek to purchase in the future. An Underlying ETF purchasing put and call options pays a premium; therefore, if price movements in the underlying securities are such that exercise of the options would not be profitable for the Underlying ETF, loss of the premium paid may be offset by an increase in the value of the Fund’s securities or by a decrease in the cost of acquisition of securities by the Fund.

 

An Underlying ETF may write covered call options on securities as a means of increasing the yield on its assets and as a means of providing limited protection against decreases in its market value. When the Underlying ETF writes an option, if the underlying securities do not increase or decrease to a price level that would make the exercise of the option profitable to the holder thereof, the option generally will expire without being exercised and the Underlying ETF will realize as profit the premium received for such option. When a call option of which the Underlying ETF is the writer is exercised, the Underlying ETF will be required to sell the underlying securities to the option holder at the strike price, and will not participate in any increase in the price of such securities above the strike price. When a put option of which the Underlying ETF is the writer is exercised, the Underlying ETF will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the market value of such securities.

 

An Underlying ETF may purchase and write options on an exchange or over-the-counter. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in several respects. They are transacted directly with dealers and not with a clearing corporation, and therefore entail the risk of non-performance by the dealer. OTC options are available for a greater variety of securities and for a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices than are available for exchange-traded options. Because OTC options are not traded on an exchange, pricing is done normally by reference to information from a market maker. It is the SEC’s position that OTC options are generally illiquid.

 

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The market value of an option generally reflects the market price of an underlying security. Other principal factors affecting market value include supply and demand, interest rates, the pricing volatility of the underlying security and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

Risks of Options on Commodities, Currencies and Securities.  The buyer of call and put options risk losing the entire premium paid to purchase the options. The seller (writer) of a call option assumes the risk of a theoretical unlimited increase in the market value of the underlying asset above the exercise price. The seller (writer) of a put option assumes the risk of a theoretical unlimited decline in the market value of the underlying asset below the exercise price.

 

Exchange-traded options in the U.S. are issued by a clearing organization affiliated with the exchange on which the option is listed that, in effect, guarantees completion of every exchange-traded option transaction.  In contrast, OTC options are contracts between the Fund and its counter-party (usually a securities dealer or a bank) with no clearing organization guarantee.  Thus, when the Fund or an Underlying ETF purchases an OTC option, it relies on the counterparty from whom it purchased the option to make (in the case of a call option) or take delivery of (in the case of a put option) the underlying asset upon exercise of the option.  Failure by the counterparty to do so would result in the loss of any premium paid by the Fund as well as the loss of any expected benefit of the transaction.

 

The Fund’s and the Underlying ETFs ability to establish and close out positions in exchange-traded options depends on the existence of a liquid market.  However, there can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time.  Closing transactions can be made for OTC options only by negotiating directly with the counterparty or by a transaction in the secondary market if any such market exists.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will in fact be able to close out an OTC option position at a favorable price prior to expiration.  In the event of insolvency of the counter-party, the Fund might be unable to close out an OTC option position at any time prior to its expiration.

 

If the Fund or an Underlying ETF were unable to affect a closing transaction for an option it had purchased, it would have to exercise the option to realize any profit.  The inability to enter into a closing purchase transaction for a covered call option written by the Fund could cause material losses because the Fund would be unable to sell the investment used as cover for the written option until the option expires or is exercised.

 

Futures and Options on Futures. The Fund and the Underlying ETFs may engage in futures and options transactions.

 

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a specified future time and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in exchange for a premium, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price during the term of the option. A fund will reduce the risk that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures contracts that are traded on a national futures exchange regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). Underlying ETFs in which the Fund may invest may use futures contracts and related options for bona fide hedging; attempting to offset changes in the value of securities held or expected to be acquired or be disposed of; attempting to gain exposure to a particular market, index or instrument; or other risk management purposes. To the extent the Fund invests in futures or in Underlying ETFs that invest in futures, options on futures or other instruments subject to regulation by the CFTC, it will do so in reliance upon and in accordance with CFTC Rule 4.5. The Adviser has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” in accordance with CFTC Rule 4.5. Therefore, the Fund is not deemed to be a “commodity pool” or “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and it is not subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA. In addition, as of the date of this SAI, neither the Adviser nor the Adviser is deemed to be a “commodity pool operator” or “commodity trading adviser” with respect to the advisory services it provides to the Fund.

 

The Fund and Underlying ETFs may buy and sell index futures contracts with respect to any index that is traded on a recognized exchange or board of trade. An index futures contract is a bilateral agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified dollar amount times the difference between the index value at the close of trading of the contract and the price at which the futures contract is originally struck. No physical delivery of the securities comprising the index is made. Instead, settlement in cash must occur upon the termination of the contract, with the settlement being the difference between the contract price, and the actual level of the stock index at the expiration of the contract. Generally, contracts are closed out prior to the expiration date of the contract.

 

When the Fund or an Underlying ETF purchases or sells a futures contract, or sells an option thereon, it is required to “cover” its position in order to limit leveraging and related risks. To cover its position, the Fund or Underlying ETF may maintain with its custodian bank (and marked-to-market on a daily basis), a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities that, when added to any amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract or otherwise “cover” its position in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and SEC interpretations thereunder. If the Fund or an Underlying ETF continues to engage in the described securities trading practices and properly segregates assets, the segregated account will function as a practical limit on the amount of leverage which the Fund or Underlying ETF may undertake and on the potential increase in the

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speculative character of the Fund or the Underlying ETF’s outstanding portfolio securities. Additionally, such segregated accounts will generally assure the availability of adequate funds to meet the obligations of the fund arising from such investment activities.

 

The Fund or an Underlying ETF may also cover its long position in a futures contract by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price (i.e., an exercise price) as high or higher than the price of the futures contract. In the alternative, if the strike price of the put is less than the price of the futures contract, the Fund or an Underlying ETF will maintain, in a segregated account, cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract. The Fund or an Underlying ETF may also cover its long position in a futures contract by taking a short position in the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract. The Fund or the Underlying ETF may cover its short position in a futures contract by taking a long position in the instruments underlying the futures contracts, or by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the futures contract.

 

The Fund or Underlying ETF may cover its sale of a call option on a futures contract by taking a long position in the underlying futures contract at a price less than or equal to the strike price of the call option. In the alternative, if the long position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price greater than the strike price of the written (sold) call, the Underlying ETF will maintain, in a segregated account, cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the call and the price of the futures contract. The Underlying ETF may also cover its sale of a call option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the call option. The Underlying ETF may cover its sale of a put option on a futures contract by taking a short position in the underlying futures contract at a price greater than or equal to the strike price of the put option, or, if the short position in the underlying futures contract is established at a price less than the strike price of the written put, the Underlying ETF will maintain, in a segregated account, cash or liquid securities equal in value to the difference between the strike price of the put and the price of the futures contract. The Underlying ETF may also cover its sale of a put option by taking positions in instruments with prices which are expected to move relatively consistently with the put option.

 

Futures Risks. There are significant risks associated with the Fund and an Underlying ETF’s use of futures contracts and related options, including the following: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an investment adviser’s ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect or no correlation between the changes in market value of the securities held by the Fund and the prices of futures and options on futures; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for a futures contract or option; (4) trading restrictions or limitations may be imposed by an exchange; and (5) government regulations may restrict trading in futures contracts and options on futures. In addition, some strategies reduce an Underlying ETF’s exposure to price fluctuations, while others tend to increase its market exposure.

 

Risks associated with options transactions include: (1) the success of a hedging strategy may depend on an ability to predict movements in the prices of individual securities, fluctuations in markets and movements in interest rates; (2) there may be an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of options and the securities underlying them; (3) there may not be a liquid secondary market for options; and (4) while the Fund will receive a premium when it writes covered call options, it may not participate fully in a rise in the market value of the underlying security.

 

Covered Call Tax Risk. The Fund’s covered call strategy may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income, which for non-corporate shareholders are subject to federal income tax at rates of up to 20%. The Fund’s investment strategy may also limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders. For these reasons, a significant portion of distributions received by Fund shareholders may be subject to tax at effective tax rates that are higher than the rates that would apply if the Fund were to engage in a different investment strategy. You should consult your tax advisor as to the tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of shares of the Fund.

 

Options on Indices.  The Fund or Underlying ETF may purchase and write (sell) put and call options on indices. An index fluctuates with changes in the market values of the securities included in the index.  Options on indices operate consistent with options on a specific asset except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss depends on changes in the index in question rather than on changes in the value of an individual asset. If the exercise price of a call option is less than the value of the index, the purchaser may exercise the option and receive a cash amount from the seller equal to the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the index, multiplied by a factor (typically $100), on the date of exercise. If the strike price of a put option exceeds the value of the index, the purchaser may exercise the option and receive a cash amount from the seller equal to the difference between the exercise price and the closing price of the index, multiplied by a factor (typically $100), on the exercise date. Options on indices give the holder the right to receive an amount of cash upon exercise of the option.

 

Each of the exchanges has established limitations governing the maximum number of call or put options on the same index that may be bought or written by a single investor, whether acting alone or in concert with others (regardless of whether such options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written on one or more accounts or through one or more brokers).  Under these limitations, option positions of all investment companies advised by the Adviser are combined for purposes of these limits.  Pursuant to these

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limitations, an exchange may order the liquidation of positions and may impose other sanctions or restrictions.  These position limits may restrict the number of listed options that the Fund may buy or sell.

 

Risks of Options on Indices. If the Fund or Underlying ETF has purchased an index option and exercises it before the closing index value for that day is available, it runs the risk that the level of the underlying index may subsequently change.  If such a change causes the exercised option to fall out-of-the-money, the Fund will be required to pay the difference between the closing index value and the exercise price of the option (times the applicable multiplier) to the assigned writer.

 

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts.  A futures contract is a bilateral agreement where one party agrees to accept delivery/purchase of an asset (a long position), and the other party agrees to make delivery/sell the asset (a short position), as called for in the contract, on a specified date and at an agreed-upon price (the “Settlement Price”). When the Fund or Underlying ETF writes an option on a futures contract, it becomes obligated, in return for the premium received, to assume a position in the futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option.  If the Fund or Underlying ETF writes a call, it assumes a short futures position.  If the Fund or Underlying ETF writes a put, it assumes a long futures position.  When the Fund or Underlying ETF purchases an option on a futures contract, it acquires the right in return for the premium it pays to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put).

 

Whether the Fund or Underlying ETF realizes a gain or loss from futures contracts depends upon movements in value of the underlying asset.  The extent of the Fund’s loss from an unhedged short position in futures contracts or from writing unhedged call options on futures contracts is potentially unlimited.  The Fund only purchases and sells futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade.

 

No price is paid upon entering into a futures contract.  Instead, at the inception of a futures contract the Fund is required to deposit “initial margin” in an amount generally equal to 10% or less of the contract value.  Margin also must be deposited when writing a call or put option on a futures contract, in accordance with applicable exchange rules.  Unlike margin in securities transactions, initial margin does not represent a borrowing, but rather is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to the Fund at the termination of the transaction if all contractual obligations have been satisfied.  Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, the Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment, and initial margin requirements might be increased generally in the future by regulatory action.

 

Subsequent “variation margin” payments are made to and from the futures commission merchant daily as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking-to-market.”  Variation margin does not involve borrowing, but rather represents a daily settlement of the Fund’s obligations to or from a futures commission merchant.

 

Purchasers and sellers of futures contracts and options on futures can enter into offsetting closing transactions, similar to closing transactions in options, by selling or purchasing, respectively, an instrument identical to the instrument purchased or sold.  Positions in futures and options on futures contracts may be closed only on an exchange or board of trade that provides a secondary market.

 

Index Futures and Options on Index Futures.  The Fund or an Underlying Fund may invest in index futures and options on index futures. An index future obligates the seller to deliver (and the purchaser to take), effectively, an amount of cash equal to a specific dollar amount times the difference between the value of a specific stock index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. No physical delivery of the underlying assets comprising the index is made. The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts only for indices for which it can obtain the best price with consideration also given to liquidity.

 

Interest Rate Futures Contracts and Options on Interest Rate Futures Contracts. The Fund may invest in interest rate futures contracts and purchase options on interest rate futures contracts as a substitute for a comparable market position in the underlying asset or to speculate on the direction of interest rates. The Fund may also sell options on interest rate futures contracts as part of closing purchase transactions to terminate its options positions. No assurance can be given that such closing transactions can be effected or as to the degree of correlation between price movements in the options on interest rate futures and price movements in the Fund’s portfolio securities which are the subject of the transaction.

 

Swap Agreements. The Fund may enter into swap agreements including credit default, currency rate, equity index, interest rate, and total return swap agreements. Swap agreements are individually negotiated bilateral contracts created to gain exposure to of different types of investments or market factors. The term of swap agreement ranging from a few weeks to more than a year. For example, swap agreements may be structured to increase or decrease the Fund’s exposure to long-term or short-term interest rates, foreign currency values, corporate borrowing rates, or other factors such as security prices, baskets of securities or inflation rates. These transactions are entered into in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so, possibly at a lower cost than if the Fund had invested directly in the asset that yielded the desired return.

 

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These transactions generally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets or principal. Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund will require the calculation of the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement generally will be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). Therefore, the risk of loss with respect to swaps is thus limited to the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make. If the counterparty to a swap defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund contractually is entitled to receive.

 

Risks of Swap Agreements. Swap agreements are sophisticated hedging instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. As a result, swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on the Fund’s performance. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. Additionally, whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on the Adviser’s ability to correctly predict whether certain types of investments likely are to produce greater returns than other investments. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered illiquid. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factor that determines the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of a swap agreement likely would decline, potentially resulting in losses for the Fund. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate outstanding swap agreements (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions (i.e., by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party).

 

Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swaps involve the agreement by one party to make regular payments equal to a floating rate of interest times a “notional principal amount” (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate), in return for payments from the counterparty equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for a specific period of time. Payments may be made in the same or different currencies.

 

Forms include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent interest rates exceed a specified rate or “cap;” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent interest rates fall below a specified level or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

Equity Index Swaps. Equity index swaps involve the exchange between parties of cash flows based upon the performance of an index or a portion of an index of securities which usually includes dividends. A party may purchase cash-settled options on equity index swaps. A cash-settled option on a swap gives the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, in return for the premium paid, to receive an amount of cash equal to the value of the underlying swap as of the exercise date. These options typically are purchased in privately negotiated transactions from financial institutions, including securities brokerage firms.

 

Currency Swaps. Currency swaps involve the exchange of rights to make or receive payments in specified foreign currencies. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for another designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. The use of currency swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves special investment techniques and risks. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of market values and currency exchange rates, the Fund’s performance will be adversely affected. If there is a default by the other party to such a transaction, the Fund will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

Credit Default Swaps. The buyer of a credit default swap makes periodic premium payments to the seller during the swap term in exchange for the seller agreeing to make certain defined payments to the buyer in the event certain defined credit events occur with respect to a particular security, issuer or basket of securities. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the underlying security whose value may have significantly decreased. As a seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. Credit default swap agreements may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the underlying obligation directly since, in addition to risks relating to the reference obligation, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk.

 

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Total Return Swaps. A total return payor sells to the total return receiver an amount equal to all cash flows and price appreciation on a defined security or asset payable at periodic times during the swap term (i.e., credit risk) in return for a periodic payment from the total return receiver based fixed or floating rate plus the amount of any price depreciation on the reference security or asset. The total return payor does not need to own the underlying security or asset. The final payment at the end of the swap term includes final settlement of the current market price of the underlying reference security or asset, and payment by the applicable party for any appreciation or depreciation in value. Usually, collateral must be posted by the total return receiver to secure the periodic interest-based and market price depreciation payments depending on the credit quality of the underlying reference security and creditworthiness of the total return receiver, and the collateral amount is marked-to-market daily equal to the market price of the underlying reference security or asset between periodic payment dates.

 

Illiquid Investments

 

The Fund may not acquire any illiquid investments if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. If the percentage of the Fund’s net assets invested in illiquid investments exceeds 15% due to market activity or changes in the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund will take appropriate measures to reduce its holdings of illiquid investments.

 

The Fund may not be able to sell illiquid investments when desired or may have to sell such investments at a price that is lower than the price that could be obtained if the investments were more liquid. In addition, the sale of illiquid investments also may require more time and may result in higher dealer discounts and other selling expenses than does the sale of investments that are not illiquid. Illiquid investments also may be more difficult to value due to the unavailability of reliable market quotations and such investments may have an adverse impact on NAV.

 

Investments in Other Investment Companies, including Underlying ETFs

 

The Fund may invest in the securities of other investment companies, including money market funds, subject to applicable limitations under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act.  Pursuant to Section 12(d)(1)(A), the Fund may invest in the securities of another investment company (the “acquired company”) provided that the Fund, immediately after such purchase or acquisition, does not own in the aggregate:  (i) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of the acquired company; (ii) securities issued by the acquired company having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the total assets of the Fund; or (iii) securities issued by the acquired company and all other investment companies (other than Treasury stock of the Fund) having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the Fund.   To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or rule, regulation, no-action relief, or exemptive relief thereunder, the Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies in excess of the limits discussed above, subject to applicable conditions.

 

When the Fund invests in, and thus, is a shareholder of, another investment company, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by such other investment company, including advisory fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the Fund to the Fund’s own investment adviser and the other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with the Fund’s own operations.

 

The Fund will invest in Underlying ETFs that are index-based, which hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing a specific index. The main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specific index because of transaction costs and the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.

 

The Fund also may invest in Underlying ETFs that are actively managed.

 

The acquisition of the Fund’s shares by investment companies is subject to the same limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act discussed above. Similarly, investments in excess of the limitations may be permitted by the 1940 Act or rule, regulation, no-action relief, or exemptive relief thereunder, subject to applicable conditions.

 

Pooled Investment Vehicles

 

The Fund may invest in the securities of pooled vehicles that are not investment companies and, thus, not required to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act. As a result, as a shareholder of such pooled vehicles, the Fund will not have all of the investor protections afforded by the 1940 Act. Such pooled vehicles may, however, be required to comply with the provisions of other federal securities laws, such as the Securities Act. These pooled vehicles typically hold currency or commodities, such as gold or oil, or other property

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that is itself not a security. If the Fund invests in, and thus, is a shareholder of, a pooled vehicle, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by the pooled vehicle, including any applicable management fees, in addition to both the management fees payable directly by the Fund to the Adviser and the other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

Certain pooled vehicles may be exchange-traded products (“ETPs”) that are not taxable as regulated investment companies (“RICs”). These non-RIC ETPs may produce non-qualifying income for purposes of the “90% Test” (as defined below), which must be met in order for the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. If one or more of these non-RIC ETPs generates more non-qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test than the Fund’s portfolio management expects, this non-qualifying income may be attributed to the Fund and could cause the Fund to inadvertently fail the 90% Test, thereby causing the Fund to inadvertently fail to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

Portfolio turnover may vary from year to year, as well as within a year. High turnover rates are likely to result in comparatively greater brokerage expenses. The overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions is evaluated by the Adviser based upon its knowledge of available information as to the general level of commissions paid by other institutional investors for comparable services. For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2022 and November 30, 2021, the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 215% and 393% respectively, of the average value of its portfolio. The variation in the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rates over the two most recently completed fiscal years is a result of the investment strategy that the Fund uses to seek to meet its investment objective.

 

Recent Market Circumstances

 

Since the financial crisis that started in 2008, the U.S. and many foreign economies continue to experience its after-effects. Conditions in the U.S. and many foreign economies have resulted, and may continue to result, in certain instruments experiencing unusual liquidity issues, increased price volatility and, in some cases, credit downgrades and increased likelihood of default. These events have reduced the willingness and ability of some lenders to extend credit, and have made it more difficult for some borrowers to obtain financing on attractive terms, if at all. In some cases, traditional market participants have been less willing to make a market in some types of debt instruments, which has affected the liquidity of those instruments. During times of market turmoil, investors tend to look to the safety of securities issued or backed by the U.S. Treasury, causing the prices of these securities to rise and the yields to decline. Reduced liquidity in fixed income and credit markets may negatively affect many issuers worldwide. In addition, global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the possibilities that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region. A rise in protectionist trade policies, and the possibility of changes to some international trade agreements, could affect the economies of many nations in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. In some countries where economic conditions are recovering, such countries are nevertheless perceived as still fragile. Withdrawal of government support, failure of efforts in response to the crisis, or investor perception that such efforts are not succeeding, could adversely impact the value and liquidity of certain securities. The severity or duration of adverse economic conditions may also be affected by policy changes made by governments or quasi-governmental organizations, including changes in tax laws. The impact of new financial regulation legislation on the markets and the practical implications for market participants may not be fully known for some time. Regulatory changes are causing some financial services companies to exit long-standing lines of business, resulting in dislocations for other market participants. In addition, the contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as the U.S. Government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, the threat of a federal government shutdown and threats not to increase the federal government’s debt limit, may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. The U.S. Government has recently reduced the federal corporate income tax rate, and future legislative, regulatory and policy changes may result in more restrictions on international trade, less stringent prudential regulation of certain players in the financial markets, and significant new investments in infrastructure and national defense. Markets may react strongly to expectations about the changes in these policies, which could increase volatility, especially if the markets’ expectations for changes in government policies are not borne out.

 

Changes in market conditions will not have the same impact on all types of securities. Interest rates have been unusually low in recent years in the United States and abroad. Because there is little precedent for this situation, it is difficult to predict the impact of a significant rate increase on various markets. For example, because investors may buy securities or other investments with borrowed money, a significant increase in interest rates may cause a decline in the markets for those investments. Because of the sharp decline in the worldwide price of oil, there is a concern that oil producing nations may withdraw significant assets now held in U.S. Treasuries, which could force a substantial increase in interest rates. Regulators have expressed concern that rate increases may cause investors to sell fixed income securities faster than the market can absorb them, contributing to price volatility. In addition, there is a risk that the prices of goods and services in the U.S. and many foreign economies may decline over time, known as deflation (the opposite of inflation).

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Deflation may have an adverse effect on stock prices and creditworthiness and may make defaults on debt more likely. If a country’s economy slips into a deflationary pattern, it could last for a prolonged period and may be difficult to reverse.

 

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (“UK”) held a referendum on whether to remain a member state of the European Union (“EU”), in which voters favored the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, an event widely referred to as “Brexit” and which triggered a two-year period of negotiations on the terms of withdrawal. The formal notification to the European Council required under Article 50 of the Treaty on EU was made on March 29, 2017, following which the terms of exit were negotiated. On January 31, 2020, the UK formally withdrew from the EU, subject to a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020. The longer term economic, legal, political and social framework to be put in place between the UK and the EU are unclear at this stage and are likely to lead to ongoing political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the UK and in wider European markets for some time. The outcomes may cause increased volatility and have a significant adverse impact on world financial markets, other international trade agreements, and the United Kingdom and European economies, as well as the broader global economy for some time. Additionally, a number of countries in Europe have suffered terror attacks, and additional attacks may occur in the future. Europe also has been struggling with mass migration from the Middle East and Africa. The ultimate effects of these events and other socio-political or geographical issues are not known but could profoundly affect global economies and markets.

 

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 resulted in the United States, other countries, and certain international organizations levying broad economic sanctions against Russia. These sanctions froze certain Russian assets and prohibited, among other things, trading in certain Russian securities and doing business with specific Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs. The sanctions also included the removal of some Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), the electronic network that connects banks globally, and imposed restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. The United States and other countries have also imposed economic sanctions on Belarus and may impose sanctions on other countries that support Russia’s military invasion. A number of large corporations and U.S. states have also announced plans to divest interests or otherwise curtail business dealings with certain Russian businesses. These sanctions and any additional sanctions or other intergovernmental actions that may be undertaken against Russia or other countries that support Russia’s military invasion in the future may result in the devaluation of Russian or other affected currencies, a downgrade in the sanctioned country’s credit rating, and a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian securities and securities of issuers in other countries that support the invasion. The potential for wider conflict may further decrease the value and liquidity of certain Russian securities and securities of issuers in other countries affected by the invasion. In addition, the ability to price, buy, sell, receive, or deliver such securities is also affected due to these measures. For example, a fund may be prohibited from investing in securities issued by companies subject to such sanctions. In addition, the sanctions may require a fund to freeze its existing investments in companies operating in or having dealings with Russia or other sanctioned countries, which would prevent a fund from selling these investments. Any exposure that a fund may have to Russian counterparties or counterparties in other sanctioned countries also could negatively impact the fund’s portfolio.

 

The extent and duration of Russia’s military actions and the repercussions of such actions, including any retaliatory actions or countermeasures that may be taken by Russia or others subject to sanctions (such as cyberattacks on other governments, corporations or individuals) are unpredictable, but could result in significant market disruptions, including in the oil and natural gas markets, and may negatively affect global supply chains, inflation and global growth. These and any related events could significantly impact the Fund’s performance and the value of an investment in the Fund, even beyond any direct exposure the Fund may have to Russian issuers or issuers in other countries affected by the invasion.

 

The current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the United States, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

 

Periods of market volatility may continue to occur in response to pandemics or other events outside of our control. These types of events could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. For example, since December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus has spread globally, which has resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and factories, and other businesses across the world. As the extent of the impact on global markets from the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to predict, the extent to which the pandemic may negatively affect the Fund’s performance or the duration of any potential business disruption is uncertain. Any potential impact on performance will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the pandemic or treat its impact.

 

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The impact of these developments in the near- and long-term is unknown and could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions, which may be deemed to be loans. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. In addition, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will always be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. It is the current policy of the Fund not to invest in repurchase agreements that do not mature within seven days if any such investment, together with any other illiquid assets held by the Fund, amount to more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements without limit as part of the Fund’s investment strategy. However, the Fund does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 33 1/3% of its assets. Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund will establish a segregated account with the Trust’s custodian bank in which the Fund will maintain cash, cash equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to the Fund’s obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Such reverse repurchase agreements could be deemed to be a borrowing, but are not senior securities.

 

Short Sales

 

The Fund intends to engage regularly in short sales transactions in which the Fund sells a security it does not own such as an Underlying ETF. To complete such a transaction, the Fund must borrow or otherwise obtain the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the Fund. Until the security is replaced, the Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest, which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund may also use repurchase agreements to satisfy delivery obligations in short sales transactions. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet the margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until the Fund closes its short position or replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will: (a) maintain a segregated account containing cash or liquid securities at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short; or (b) otherwise cover the Fund’s short position. The Fund may use up to 100% of its portfolio to engage in short sales transactions and collateralize its open short positions.

 

Swap Agreements

 

The Underlying ETFs in which the Fund may invest may enter into swap agreements, including, but not limited to, total return swaps, index swaps, and interest rate swaps. An Underlying ETF may utilize swap agreements in an attempt to gain exposure to the securities in a market without actually purchasing those securities, or to hedge a position. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one-year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.

 

Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap,” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified level, or “floor;” and interest rate collars,

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under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

 

Most swap agreements entered into by an Underlying ETF will calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Underlying ETF’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). Other swap agreements may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation.

 

An Underlying ETF’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by segregating assets determined to be liquid. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Underlying ETF’s investment restriction concerning senior securities. Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund’s illiquid investment limitations. An Underlying ETF bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty.

 

An Underlying ETF may enter into swap agreements to invest in a market without owning or taking physical custody of the underlying securities in circumstances in which direct investment is restricted for legal reasons or is otherwise impracticable. The counterparty to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. The counterparty will generally agree to pay the Underlying ETF the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. The Underlying ETF will agree to pay to the counterparty a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Underlying ETF on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.

 

Swap agreements typically are settled on a net basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Underlying ETF receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term. Other swap agreements, may require initial premium (discount) payments as well as periodic payments (receipts) related to the interest leg of the swap or to the default of a reference obligation. The Underlying ETF will earmark and reserve assets necessary to meet any accrued payment obligations when it is the buyer of a credit default swap.

 

Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, the risk of loss with respect to swap agreements is limited to the net amount of payments that the Underlying ETF is contractually obligated to make. If a swap counterparty defaults, the Underlying ETF’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments the Underlying ETF is contractually entitled to receive, if any. The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Underlying ETF’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each equity swap will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of cash or liquid assets, having an aggregate NAV at least equal to such accrued excess will be maintained in a segregated account by a custodian.

 

The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments, which are traded in the OTC market.

 

The use of swap agreements is a highly specialized activity which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. If a counterparty’s creditworthiness declines, the value of the swap would likely decline. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the Fund could eliminate its exposure under an outstanding swap agreement by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same or another party.

 

U.S. Government Securities

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the

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Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. Government provides financial support to such U.S. Government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will always do so, since the U.S. Government is not so obligated by law. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity.

 

Securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are generally considered to be among the most creditworthy investments available. While the U.S. Government continuously has honored its credit obligations, political events have, at times, called into question whether the United States would default on its obligations. Such an event would be unprecedented and there is no way to predict its impact on the securities markets; however, it is very likely that default by the United States would result in losses and market prices and yields of securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government would be adversely affected.

 

·U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations that are transferable through the federal book-entry system known as Separately Traded Registered Interest and Principal Securities (“STRIPS”) and Treasury Receipts (“TRs”).

 

·Receipts. Interests in separately traded interest and principal component parts of U.S. Government obligations that are issued by banks or brokerage firms and are created by depositing U.S. Government obligations into a special account at a custodian bank. The custodian holds the interest and principal payments for the benefit of the registered owners of the certificates or receipts. The custodian arranges for the issuance of the certificates or receipts evidencing ownership and maintains the register. TRs and STRIPS are interests in accounts sponsored by the U.S. Treasury. Receipts are sold as zero coupon securities.

 

·U.S. Government Zero Coupon Securities. STRIPS and receipts are sold as zero coupon securities, that is, fixed income securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons. Zero coupon securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. The amount of this discount is accreted over the life of the security, and the accretion constitutes the income earned on the security for both accounting and tax purposes. Because of these features, the market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities.

 

·U.S. Government Agencies. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. Government are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. Guarantees of principal by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of shares.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds. These securities are U.S. Treasury bonds which have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves, and receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations and coupons. Interest is not paid in cash during the term of these securities, but is accrued and paid at maturity. Such obligations have greater price volatility than coupon obligations and other normal interest-paying securities, and the value of zero coupon securities reacts more quickly to changes in interest rates than do coupon bonds. Because dividend income is accrued throughout the term of the zero coupon obligation, but is not actually received until maturity, the Fund may have to sell other securities to pay said accrued dividends prior to maturity of the zero coupon obligation. Unlike regular U.S. Treasury bonds which pay semi-annual interest, U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds do not generate semi-annual coupon payments. Instead, zero coupon bonds are purchased at a substantial discount from the maturity value of such securities, the discount reflecting the current value of the deferred interest; this discount is amortized as interest income over the life of the security, and is taxable even though there is no cash return until maturity. Zero coupon U.S. Treasury issues originally were created by government bond dealers who bought U.S. Treasury bonds and issued receipts representing an ownership interest in the interest coupons or in the principal portion of the bonds. Subsequently, the U.S. Treasury began directly issuing zero coupon bonds with the introduction of “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities” (or “STRIPS”). While

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zero coupon bonds eliminate the reinvestment risk of regular coupon issues, that is, the risk of subsequently investing the periodic interest payments at a lower rate than that of the security held, zero coupon bonds fluctuate much more sharply than regular coupon-bearing bonds. Thus, when interest rates rise, the value of zero coupon bonds will decrease to a greater extent than will the value of regular bonds having the same interest rate.

 

LENDING PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. The Fund will be entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable on the loaned securities which enable the Fund an opportunity to earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned securities collateral. The Fund typically will receive collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or irrevocable letters of credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities.

 

Risks of Securities Lending. The Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund. Other risks in lending portfolio securities include possible delay in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities or the possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. In addition, the Fund is responsible for any loss that might result from its investment of the borrower’s collateral.

 

LEVERAGE

 

The Fund may engage in various forms of leverage. Leverage can be employed in a variety of ways including using margin (an amount of cash or eligible securities an investor deposits with a broker when borrowing to buy equity and fixed income securities), selling short equity and fixed income securities, using derivatives and participating in other forms of direct or indirect borrowings.

 

Risks of Leverage. Generally, leverage creates the risk of magnified capital. Leverage may involve the creation of a liability that requires the payment of interest (or the creation of a liability that does not entail any interest costs (for instance, a futures contract). The risks of leverage include a higher volatility of the NAV of the Fund and the relatively greater effect on the NAV caused by favorable or adverse market movements or changes in the cost of cash obtained by leveraging and the yield from invested cash. So long as the Fund is able to realize a net return on its investment portfolio that is higher than interest expense incurred, if any, leverage will result in higher current net investment income than if the portfolio was not leveraged. Changes in interest rates and related economic factors could cause the relationship between the cost of leveraging and the yield to change so that rates involved in the leveraging arrangement may substantially increase relative to the yield on the obligations in which the proceeds of the leveraging have been invested. To the extent that the interest expense involved in leveraging approaches the net return on the Fund’s investment portfolio, the benefit of leveraging will be reduced, and, if the interest expense on borrowings were to exceed the net return to investors, the use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return than if leverage was not employed. In an extreme case, if the Fund’s investment income was not sufficient to meet the interest expense of leveraging, it could be necessary for the Fund, as applicable, to liquidate certain of its investments at an inappropriate time.

 

SHORT SELLING

 

The Fund may engage in short selling. The Fund may use short selling to limit its exposure to a possible market decline in its portfolio investments or to take advantage of anticipated market declines of certain securities. Short selling involves selling securities, which may or may not be owned, by borrowing the securities and delivering them to a purchaser, with an obligation to return the borrowed securities at a later date. Short selling allows the investor to profit from declines in market prices.

 

Risks of Short Selling. To the extent that the borrowed securities must be replaced by purchases at market prices in order to close out the short position, any appreciation in the price of the borrowed securities results in a loss. Possible losses from short sales differ from losses on long positions because losses from short sales may be unlimited whereas losses from purchases cannot exceed the total amount invested. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the losses from short sales. The Fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining, and closing short sales against the box.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box. Short sales of securities that the Fund owns or has the right to obtain (equivalent in kind or amount to the securities sold short). If the Fund enters into a short sale against the box, it will be required to set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will be required to hold such securities while the short sale is outstanding.

 

CYBER SECURITY

 

Investment companies, such as the Fund, and their service providers may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally,

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denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, custodian, transfer agent, intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential company information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses, and cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of

securities in which the Fund invests, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and may cause the Fund’s investment in such portfolio companies to lose value.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Limitations

 

The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (“Fundamental”), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and this SAI, the term “majority of the outstanding shares” of the Fund means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices which may be changed by the Board without the approval of shareholders to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or regulatory policy are considered non-fundamental (“Non-Fundamental”).

 

1.Borrowing Money. The Fund will not Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to: (1) borrow from any bank (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets, (2) borrow money for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of the loan, and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements.

 

2.Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments issued by persons that purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts; but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling and entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), options on financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), warrants, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts or other derivative instruments that are not related to physical commodities.

 

3.Diversification. The Fund will not purchase securities of an issuer if such purchase would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time, including i) With respect to 75% of its total assets, purchase securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities or shares of investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding (voting securities of any one issuer.

 

4.Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry or group of industries. This limitation does not apply to investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, or shares of investment companies.

 

5.Loans. The Fund will not make loans, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

6.Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Fund may (a) invest in securities or other instruments directly or indirectly secured by real estate, and (b) invest in securities or other instruments issued by issuers that invest in real estate.

 

7.Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable exemptive relief.

 

8.Underwriting. The Fund will not underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act in the disposition of restricted securities or in connection with investments in other investment companies.

 

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With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on the Fund’s investment policies and limitations, an excess amount above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess amount results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth above.

 

If the Fund’s borrowings exceed one-third of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings), such borrowings will be reduced within three days, (not including Sundays and holidays) or such longer period as may be permitted by the 1940 Act, to the extent necessary to comply with the one-third limitation.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within ninety days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.

 

Non-Fundamental Limitations

 

In addition to the investment restrictions adopted as fundamental policies as set forth above, the Fund has the following non-fundamental policy, which may be changed without shareholder approval. Without providing 60 days’ prior notice to shareholders, the Fund may not change its policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities and instruments issued by or economically tied to U.S. issuers.

 

If a percentage limitation is adhered to at the time of investment or contract, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from any change in value or total or net assets will not result in a violation of such restriction, except that the percentage limitations with respect to the borrowing of money will be observed continuously.

 

The Fund’s investment objective is Non-Fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Fund’s shareholders.

The Fund has adopted the following Non-Fundamental investment restrictions which may be changed by the Board without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders. Any changes in the Fund’s Non-Fundamental limitations will be communicated to the Fund’s shareholders prior to effectiveness.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

A.       General Information

 

The Board supervises the business activities of the Trust and is responsible for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Chairman of the Board is Walter B. Grimm, who is an Independent Trustee of the Trust.

 

Each Trustee serves as a Trustee for the lifetime of the Trust or until the earlier of his or her required retirement as a Trustee as of December 31 of the year that he or she turns, age 78, death, resignation, or removal. At the invitation of the Board, a Trustee may serve as an Emeritus Trustee for no more than 2 years after December 31 of the year that he or she turns 78, subject to such terms as the Board may specify, including with respect to compensation. Officers are re-elected annually by the Board. The address of each Trustee and Officer is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.

 

As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees oversee the operations of 15 series.

 

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Interested Trustee Background. The following table provides information regarding the Interested Trustee.

 

Name, Address, (Age), Position with Trust,
Term of Position with Trust

 

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

and Other Directorships

David James*

Birth Year: 1970

TRUSTEE

Began Serving: March 2021

 

Principal Occupation(s): Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2018 to present).

 

Previous Position(s): Managing Director and Senior Managing Counsel, State Street Bank and Trust Company (2009 to 2018).

 

* Mr. James is considered an “interested person” of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act because of his relationship with the Trust’s administrator, transfer agent, and distributors.
       

 

 

Independent Trustee Background. The following table provides information regarding the Independent Trustees.

 

Name, Address, (Age), Position with Trust,
Term of Position with Trust

 

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

and Other Directorships

Walter B. Grimm

Birth Year: 1945

Trustee and chair

Began Serving: November 2013

 

Principal Occupations(s): President, Leigh Management Group, LLC (consulting firm) (October 2005 to present); President, Leigh Investments, Inc. (1988 to present); and Board member, Boys & Girls Club of Coachella (2018 to present).

 

     

Lori Kaiser

Birth Year: 1963

TRUSTEE

Began Serving: July 2018

 

Principal Occupations(s): Founder and CEO, Kaiser Consulting since 1992.

 

     

Janet Smith-Meeks

Birth Year: 1955

TRUSTEE

Began Serving: July 2018

 

 

Principal Occupations(s): Co-Founder and CEO, Healthcare Alignment Advisors, LLC (consulting company) since August 2015.

 

Previous Position(s): President and Chief Operating Officer, Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital (2006 to 2015).

     

Mary Madick

Birth Year: 1958

Trustee

Began Serving: November 2013

 

 

Principal Occupations(s): President, US Health Holdings, a division of Ascension Insurance (2020 to present).  

 

Previous Position(s): President (2019 to 2020) and Chief Operating Officer (2018 to 2019), Dignity Health Managed Services Organization; Chief Operating Officer, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness (fully owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation) (2016 to 2018); Vice President, Gateway Heath (2015 to 2016).

     

 

**Mr. John C. Davis, Independent Trustee, passed away on September 15, 2021. The Board of the Trust, on behalf of shareholders, wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Davis and expresses their thanks and gratitude for his years of service to the Trust.**

 

 

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Officers. The following table provides information regarding the Officers.

 

Name, Address, (Age), Position with Trust,
Term of Position with Trust

 

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

and Other Officer Positions

     

Matthew J. Miller

Birth Year: 1976

PRESIDENT and CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Began Serving: September 2013 (as VP); September 2018 (as President)

 

Principal Occupation(s): Assistant Vice President, Relationship Management, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (December 2015 to present).

 

Previous Position(s): Vice President, Capitol Series Trust (September 2013 to March 2017); Chief Executive Officer and President, Capitol Series Trust (March 2017 to March 2018); Secretary, Capitol Series Trust (March 2018 to September 2018).

     

Zachary P. Richmond

Birth Year: 1980

TREASURER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Began Serving: August 2014

 

Principal Occupation(s): Vice President, Director of Financial Administration for Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (February 2019 to present).

 

Previous Position(s): Assistant Vice President, Associate Director of Financial Administration for Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (December 2015 to February 2019).

     

Martin R. Dean

Birth Year: 1963

CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

Began Serving: May 2019

 

Principal Occupation(s): President, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (2023 to present); Senior Vice President, Director of Fund Compliance, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (January 2016 to January 2023).

 

     

Paul Leone

Birth Year: 1963

SECRETARY

Began Serving: June 2021

 

Principal Occupation(s): Vice President and Senior Counsel, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (2020 to present).

 

Previous Position(s): Managing Director, Leone Law Office, P.C. (2019 to 2020); and served in the roles of Senior Counsel – Distribution and Senior Counsel - Compliance, Empower Retirement/Great-West Life & Annuity Ins. Co. (2015 to 2019).

     

Stephen L. Preston

Birth Year: 1966

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING OFFICER

Began Serving: December 2016

 

Principal Occupation(s): Chief Compliance Officer, Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (June 2011 to present).

 

Previous Position(s): Chief Compliance Officer, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (June 2011 to August 2019).

 

 

B. Qualifications of the Trustees

 

In addition to the information provided above, below is a summary of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee and the reason why he or she was selected to serve as Trustee:

 

Mr. Walter B. Grimm – Mr. Grimm has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including as a trustee of other mutual funds and as the head of Client Services and Relationship Management areas for a mutual fund servicing company. He was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based primarily on his extensive knowledge of mutual fund operations. Mr. Grimm has been a Trustee since November 2013 and began serving as Chair of the Board in March 2018.

 

Mr. David James – Mr. James currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Ultimus. Mr. James has over 25 years of experience in the mutual fund servicing industry. He has been a Trustee since March 2021. Before joining Ultimus in 2018, Mr. James served as the Department Head of State Street Bank and Trust Company’s Fund Administration Legal Department, a group of over 54 attorneys and paralegals that provided legal regulatory services to over 60 mutual fund complexes. Mr. James spent 15 years at State Street, and prior to that role, he worked in the legal departments for Fidelity Investments and PNC Global Investment Servicing (US), Inc. Before entering the financial services industry in 1997, Mr. James began his legal career as a trial attorney in Boston. Mr. James serves on (i) ICI’s Chief Risk Officer Committee, (ii) NICSA’s Legal and Regulatory Committee, and (iii) NICSA’s Compliance and Risk Committee. He has also served on industry panels for BoardIQ, Independent Directors Council of the ICI, NICSA, State Street, and Boston Financial Data Services. Mr. James holds law degree from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law (1995). He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from East Tennessee State University (1993). He is a member of the Massachusetts and New York Bars and maintains active Ohio Corporate Counsel Status.

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Ms. Lori Kaiser - Ms. Kaiser is the CEO of Kaiser Consulting, an international professional services firm that she founded in 1992, which specializes in accounting, finance, and IT consulting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, with over 20-years’ experience serving the needs of auto/auto-parts manufacturers and various other industries, including financial, communications, not-for-profits, mutual funds, and insurance. She advises executive management on issues of risk identification and mitigation, mergers, acquisitions, and integrations. Prior to Kaiser Consulting, Ms. Kaiser was the Chief Financial Officer at Lowestpremium.com, an online insurance aggregator enabling users to search for the lowest auto insurance rates. Earlier in her career, Ms. Kaiser served as Corporate Controller for Nationwide Communications, Inc., the media subsidiary of Nationwide Insurance Company, and she began her career in the audit practice of KPMG, LLP in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Ms. Kaiser has board and community service experience with a variety of organizations. She is a Board member of the Business Advisory Council at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. Ms. Kaiser also serves on the Board of Trustees and is Chair for the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. She also serves on the Board of National Church residences, the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing, and is on its Finance and Audit Committee. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Franklin University and is also an Audit Committee member. As a member of the Executive Board of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, she chairs its Small Business Council. She is also on the Governing Council of the AICPA. Ms. Kaiser completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners, where she also served as Treasurer and as a member of the Executive Committee. Ms. Kaiser was selected to serve as a Trustee as a result of her board and executive level leadership experience, as well as her extensive financial, IT and risk management experience. Ms. Kaiser has been a Trustee since July 2018. Ms. Kaiser earned an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago and received a BS from Miami University, graduating cum laude. In addition, she is an adjunct professor in the MBA Program at Ohio State University Fisher School of Business. Ms. Kaiser also serves as Chair of the Trust’s Audit Committee and has been designated as an “audit committee financial expert” to the Trust’s Audit Committee, as that designation is defined by SEC rules.

 

Ms. Janet S. Meeks - Ms. Meeks has 43 years of experience in the healthcare and financial services industries. Ms. Meeks founded Healthcare Alignment Advisers, LLC in 2015, a consulting company located in Westerville, Ohio, that provides advice to healthcare executives with respect to, among other things, strategy development and implementation and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Meeks previously served for nine years as President and Chief Operating Officer of Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital (MCSA), a regional medical center located in Westerville, Ohio, and currently ranked among the Top 100 hospitals nationally. She served in executive roles for four nationally known healthcare systems, including Trinity Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Before entering the healthcare sector, Ms. Meeks worked in the financial services industry for Bank of Mississippi.

 

As an experienced corporate director, Ms. Meeks currently serves on the Board of Directors of National Church Residences, where she also serves on the Executive Committee, the Healthcare Quality Committee and as Chairperson of the Affordable Housing Subsidiary Committee, which oversees 300 properties nationally. Ms. Meeks also serves on the Advisory Board of LeaderStat, a national healthcare staffing, consulting and executive search organization. She has also served on the Governance Committee and Human Resources/Executive Compensation Committee of that organization. Ms. Meeks has served as a faculty member of the AHA Society for Healthcare Planning and Marketing National Conferences, the Healthcare Strategy Institute National Conferences, and as an Instructor for the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration. Ms. Meeks has published extensively and is an accomplished national speaker. Ms. Meeks was selected to serve as a Trustee as a result of her board and executive level leadership experience and her extensive financial industry, marketing, and strategy expertise. Ms. Meeks has been a Trustee since July 2018 and serves as Chair of the Valuation Committee. Ms. Meeks is a two-time graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she received an undergraduate degree in banking and finance and an MBA in finance.

Ms. Mary Madick – Ms. Madick has over 25 years of experience in customer service, processing operations, and systems implementation experience both in the managed care and financial services arenas. Prior to work in the managed care arena, Ms. Madick served as the Vice President in charge of Business Applications for a large mutual fund company and as a Senior Vice President of Transfer Agency Operations for a mutual fund services provider. She was selected to serve as a Trustee of the Trust based primarily on her significant corporate experience as well as her operational knowledge of mutual fund operations. Ms. Madick has been a Trustee since November 2013. Ms. Madick also serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

 

 

C.       Risk Management

 

The overall management and affairs of the Trust are supervised by the Board. The Board consists of five individuals. The Trustees are fiduciaries and are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio in this regard. The Board establishes policies for the operation of the Trust and appoints the officers who conduct the daily business of the Trust. The Board provides oversight over the management and operations of the Trust. The day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Trust is the responsibility of various officers and service providers to the Trust and its individual series, such as the Adviser, Distributor, administrator, custodian, and Transfer Agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and its service

26 
 

providers, including the agreements with the Adviser, Distributor, administrator, custodian, and Transfer Agent. The Board has appointed various individuals of certain of these service providers as officers of the Trust, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Trust’s day-to-day operations. In all cases, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations, or activities.

 

The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to effectively perform its oversight function. The Board is comprised of four Independent Trustees – Mr. Walter Grimm, Ms. Lori Kaiser, Ms. Janet S. Meeks, and Ms. Mary Madick – and one Interested Trustee – Mr. David James. Accordingly, four-fifths of the members of the Board are Independent Trustees and are not affiliated with any investment adviser to the Trust or their respective affiliates or other service providers to the Trust or any Trust series. The Board has established three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee, and a Valuation Committee, which are discussed in greater detail below. Each of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees. The Valuation Committee is comprised of all of the Trustees of the Trust, including the Independent Trustees, plus the Trust’s President/Principal Executive Officer and its Treasurer/Principal Financial Officer. Non-Trustee members of the Valuation Committee serve as non-voting members.

 

As part of its efforts to oversee risk management associated with the Trust, the Board has established the Audit Committee, the Nominating Committee and the Valuation Committee as described below:

       
    The Audit Committee consists of all of the Independent Trustees.  The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of financial statements and the independent audits of the financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the independent auditors and the full Board.
       
    The Nominating Committee consists of all of the Independent Trustees.  The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and nominating Trustee candidates to the full Board.  The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Nominating Committee in care of the Trust.
       
    The Valuation Committee consists of all of the Trustees plus the Trust’s President/Principal Executive Officer and its Treasurer/Principal Financial Officer. Non-Trustee members of the Valuation Committee serve as non-voting members.  The Valuation Committee is responsible for reviewing or approving fair valuation determinations pursuant to the Trust’s Portfolio Valuation Procedures.  As part of its function, the Valuation Committee considers all fair value pricing methodologies proposed by the Valuation Designees and approves such methodologies, and any amendments thereto.

 

The Trust’s Audit Committee generally meets at least quarterly. The Audit Committee reviews reports provided by administrative service providers, legal counsel, and independent accountants. The Nominating Committee and Valuation Committee meet as needed. The Committees report directly to the Board. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Audit Committee met six times, none of which involved matters relating to the Fund. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Nominating Committee did not meet and the Valuation Committee met four times. The inclusion of all Independent Trustees as members of the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Valuation Committee allows all such Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties, including oversight of risk management processes.

 

The Independent Trustees have engaged their own independent legal counsel to provide advice on regulatory, compliance and other topics. In addition, the Board has engaged on behalf of the Trust a full-time Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who is responsible for overseeing compliance risks. The CCO reports to the Board at least quarterly any material compliance items that have arisen, and on an annual basis provides to the Board a comprehensive compliance report outlining the effectiveness of compliance policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers. As part of the CCO’s risk oversight function, the CCO seeks to understand the risks inherent in the operations of the Trust’s series and their advisers and sub-advisers. Periodically the CCO provides reports to the Board that:

 

    Assess the quality of the information the CCO receives from internal and external sources;

 

    Assess how Trust personnel monitor and evaluate risks;

 

    Assess the quality of the Trust’s risk management procedures and the effectiveness of the Trust’s organizational structure in implementing those procedures;

 

    Consider feedback from and provide feedback regarding critical risk issues to administrative and advisory personnel responsible for implementing risk management programs; and

 

    Consider economic, industry, and regulatory developments, and recommend changes to the Trust’s compliance programs as necessary to meet new regulations or industry developments.
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The Trustees meet on a quarterly basis, typically for 1-2 days of meetings. Trustees also participate in special meetings and conference calls as needed. In addition to Board meetings, Trustees may participate in teleconferences to review and discuss 15(c) materials, and to interview advisers and sub-advisers whose contracts are up for renewal at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. Legal counsel to the Trust provides quarterly reports to the Board regarding regulatory developments. On a quarterly basis, the Trustees review and discuss some or all of the following compliance and risk management reports relating to the series of the Trust:

     
  Fund Performance/Morningstar Report/Portfolio Manager’s Commentary

 

  Code of Ethics review

 

  NAV Errors, if any

 

  Distributor Compliance Reports

 

  Timeliness of SEC Filings

 

  Dividends and other Distributions

 

  List of Brokers, Brokerage Commissions Paid and Average Commission Rate

 

  Review of 12b-1 Payments

 

  Multiple Class Expense Reports

 

  Anti-Money Laundering/Customer Identification Reports

 

  Administrator and CCO Compliance Reports

 

  Market Timing Reports

From time to time, one or more members of the Board may also meet with Trust officers in less formal settings, between formal Board meetings to discuss various topics.

The Board has not adopted a formal diversity policy. When soliciting future nominees for Trustee, the Nominating Committee will make efforts to identify and solicit qualified minorities and women.

The Board reviews its structure regularly in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust, including the number of funds that comprise the Trust; the variety of asset classes that those funds reflect; the net assets of the Trust; and the distribution arrangements of the funds. At least annually, the Trustees conducts an assessment of the Board’s and their individual effectiveness in overseeing the Trust. Based upon its assessment, the Board determines whether additional risk assessment or monitoring processes are required with respect to the Trust or any of its service providers.

Based on the qualifications of each of the Trust’s Trustees and officers, the risk management practices adopted by the Board, including a regular review of several compliance and operational reports, and the committee structure adopted by the Board, the Trust believes that its leadership is appropriate.

 

D.       Trustee Ownership of Shares of the Fund and of the Fund Complex

 

The following table provides information regarding shares of the Fund and other portfolios of the Trust owned by each Trustee as of December 31, 2022.

 

 

Trustee

  Dollar
Range of
the Fund’s
Shares
  Aggregate Dollar
Range of Shares of
All Series Within
the Trust(1)
Interested Trustee        
David James   None   $1 - $10,000
Independent Trustees        
Walter B. Grimm   None   $50,001 - $100,000
Lori Kaiser   None   None
Janet Smith Meeks   None   None
Mary M. Morrow   None   None

 

(1) The Trust currently consists of 15 series.

 

Set forth below is the annual compensation paid to the Independent Trustees and by the Trust on an aggregate basis. No Interested Trustee or officer receives compensation from the Trust although all Trustee and officer travel expenses incurred to attend Board and

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committee meetings are reimbursed. Trustees’ fees and Trustee and officer reimbursable travel expenses are Trust expenses and the Fund incurs its share of such expenses, which are allocated among the Funds in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. None of the Trustees receive pension or retirement benefits for his or her services to the Trust.

 

 

 

Trustee

  Compensation from the Fund   Total Compensation
From Trust
Interested Trustee        
David  James   None   None
Independent Trustees        
Walter B. Grimm*   $0   $49,500
Lori Kaiser*   $0   $49,500
Janet Smith-Meeks*   $0   $49,500
Mary Madick*   $0   $49,500

 

* Annual compensation for 2022. As the Fund commenced operations on May [ ], 2023, no compensation was paid by the Fund to the Trustees in 2022.

 

 

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

HTAA, LLC, (the “Adviser”) serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust. Subject to the supervision of the Trustees of the Trust, the Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s assets. The Adviser is controlled by Hull Investments LLC and Marson B. Hull. The Adviser’s address 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1650, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

 

Under the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and the Adviser (“Investment Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser, at its expense, furnishes a continuous investment program for the Fund and makes investment decisions on its behalf, all subject to such policies as the Trustees may determine. Investment decisions are subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement and By-Laws, and the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser makes decisions consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions as set forth in the Prospectus and this SAI, and such policies and instructions as the Trustees may, from time to time, establish. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser may delegate to another investment adviser the responsibility of investing the Fund’s assets subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board. The delegation of investment advisory services to another investment adviser does not relieve the Adviser from any duty or liability it would otherwise have under the Investment Advisory Agreement.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be subject to any liability for any error of judgment, or mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Investment Advisory Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services, or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties on the part of the Adviser.

The Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty with respect to the Fund at any time by the vote of the Trustees or by the shareholders of that Fund upon 60 days’ written notice, or by the Adviser on 90 days’ written notice. The Investment Advisory Agreement may be amended only by a vote of the shareholders of the affected Fund(s). The Investment Advisory Agreement also terminates without payment of any penalty in the event of its assignment.

The Investment Advisory Agreement provides for an initial term of two years. Thereafter, the Investment Advisory Agreement shall continue from year to year so long as such continuance is approved at least annually with respect to the Fund by the vote of either the Trustees or the shareholders of the Fund, and, in either case, by a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

For its services, the Adviser is paid a fee by the Trust, which fee is calculated daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.91% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. 

 

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Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser with respect to the Fund, and subject to the general supervision of the Board, the Adviser has also agreed to pay all other regular and recurring expenses of the Fund such the costs of various third-party services required by the Fund, including administration, certain custody, audit, legal, transfer agency, and printing costs (other than taxes and governmental fees, brokerage fees, commissions and other transaction expenses, certain foreign custodial fees and expenses, costs of borrowing money, including interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and indemnification expenses) so that total annual fund operating expense remain at 0.95% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  The Fund bears other fees and expenses that are not covered by the Investment Advisory Agreement, which may vary and will affect the total expense ratio of the Fund, such as taxes and governmental fees, brokerage fees, commissions and other transaction expenses, certain foreign custodial fees and expenses, costs of borrowing money, including interest expenses, and extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and indemnification expenses).

 

Because the Fund had not commenced operations in the Trust as the effective date of this SAI, the Adviser has not yet collected any fees for its services to the Fund.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Other Accounts Under Management

Petra Bakosova serves as the Fund’s portfolio manager. This section includes information about the portfolio manager, including information about other accounts the portfolio manager manages, the portfolio manager’s compensation, and the dollar range of shares of the Fund owned by the portfolio manager.

Unless otherwise noted, the following information about the Fund’s portfolio manager is provided as of May [], 2023 and no “Other Account” described below has an advisory fee that is based on the performance of that account.

 

 

 

Registered Investment

Companies

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

 

Other Accounts

 

Portfolio Manager

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in millions)

Ms. Petra Bakosova 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

 

Ownership of Fund Shares

 As of May [], 2023, the portfolio manager’s beneficially owned shares of the Fund as summarized in the following table:

 

 

Portfolio Manager

Dollar Range of Beneficial Ownership in the Fund

as of May [], 2023

Ms. Petra Bakosova None

 

Compensation

 

Ms. Bakosova is compensated by the Adviser and does not receive any compensation directly from the Fund. Her compensation is not directly related to the performance of the underlying assets of the Fund.

 

Conflicts of Interest

As a general matter, certain actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise in connection with a portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of other accounts for which the portfolio manager is responsible, on the other. For example, the management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Although the Adviser does not track the time a portfolio manager spends on a single portfolio, the Adviser does periodically assess whether a portfolio manager has adequate time and resources to effectively manage all of the accounts for which he is responsible. Moreover, variances in advisory fees charged from account to account may create an incentive for portfolio managers to devote more attention to those accounts that pay high advisory fees. It is also possible that the various accounts managed could have different investment strategies that, at times, might conflict with one another. Alternatively, to the extent that the same investment opportunities might be desirable for more than one account, possible conflicts could arise in determining how to allocate them.

 

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Other potential conflicts might include conflicts created by specific portfolio manager compensation arrangements, and conflicts relating to selection of brokers or dealers to execute Fund portfolio trades and/or specific uses of commissions from Fund portfolio trades (for example, research, or “soft dollars”).

The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, the Adviser monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with account investment guidelines and compliance with its applicable Code of Ethics. Finally, the Adviser has structured its portfolio managers’ compensation in a manner, and the Trust has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed, to safeguard the Fund from being negatively affected as a result of any such potential conflicts.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Administrator and Fund Accountant

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”) is the administrator and fund accountant for the Fund pursuant to a Master Services Agreement. As compensation for the foregoing services, Ultimus receives a fee, accrued daily, and paid monthly by the Adviser from the management fee. Ultimus is located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.

 

Custodian and Transfer Agent

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBH” or "Custodian") is Custodian of the Fund’s investments. The Custodian acts as the Fund’s depository, safekeeps portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Fund’s request and maintains records in connection with its duties. BBH also serves as the Fund’s Transfer Agent. BBH is located at 50 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02110. The fees paid to BBH in connection with these services are paid by the Adviser.

Compliance Consulting

Under the terms of a Compliance Consulting Agreement with the Trust, Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC (“NLCS”) provides an individual with the requisite background and familiarity with the federal securities laws to serve as the Trust’s CCO and to administer the Trust’s compliance policies and procedures. For these services, the Adviser pays NLCS a base fee per annum, plus an asset-based fee computed at an annual rate. In addition, the Adviser reimburses NLCS for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to these compliance services. NLCS’s principal address is 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022. Martin Dean currently serves as the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer.

Distributor

 

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) is the distributor of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor has entered into a Distribution Agreement with the Trust pursuant to which it distributes Fund shares. Shares are continuously offered for sale by the Fund through the Distributor only in Creation Unit Aggregations, as described in the Prospectus and below under the heading “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units.” The Distributor’s principal address is 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022.

 

Aggregations

 

Fund shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

The Distribution Agreement for the Fund provides that it may be terminated as to the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days written notice by the Trust to the Distributor (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations” below) and DTC Participants of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) (as defined in “DTC Acts as Securities Depository” below).

 

31 
 

 

Securities Lending

 

The Fund may be authorized to lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions, but the Fund is not currently authorized to do so. Since the Fund does not currently lend securities, it does not have any securities lending income, fees, or compensation to report.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd., located at 151 North Franklin Street, Suite 575, Chicago, Illinois 60606, serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and is responsible for auditing the Fund’s annual financial statements.

Legal Counsel

Practus, LLP is counsel to the Trust and will pass upon the legality of the shares offered hereby.

Supplemental Payments to Financial Intermediaries

Financial intermediaries that promote the sale of Fund shares may be paid fees out of the assets of the Distributor, the Adviser and their affiliates (but not out of Fund assets).

Financial intermediaries who solicit the sale of Fund shares may receive fees for providing distribution-related, recordkeeping or shareholder services such as sponsoring sales, providing sales literature, conducting training seminars for employees, and engineering sales-related computer software programs and systems. Also, these financial intermediaries may be paid cash or promotional incentives, such as reimbursement of certain expenses relating to attendance at informational meetings about the Fund or other special events at recreational-type facilities, or items of material value. These payments will be based upon the amount of Fund shares the financial intermediary sells or may sell and/or upon the type and nature of sales or marketing support furnished by the financial intermediary.

From time to time, the Distributor, the Adviser, and their affiliates, at their expense, may provide additional compensation to financial intermediaries that sell or arrange for the sale of Fund shares. Such compensation may include financial assistance to financial intermediaries that enable the Distributor, the Adviser, and their affiliates to participate in or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited employees, client and investor events and other financial intermediary-sponsored events.

The Distributor, the Adviser, and their affiliates also may hold or sponsor, at their expense, sales events, conferences, and programs for employees or associated persons of financial intermediaries in order to facilitate the sale of Fund shares and may pay the travel and lodging expenses of attendees. The Distributor, the Adviser, and their affiliates also may provide, at their expense, meals, and entertainment in conjunction with meetings with these financial intermediaries. Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by applicable laws, regulations or the rules of any self-regulatory agency, such as FINRA.  

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics are designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Adviser, and the Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund (which may also be held by

persons subject to the codes of ethics).

 

There can be no assurance that the codes of ethics will be effective in preventing such activities. Each code of ethics, filed as exhibits to this registration statement, may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. or on the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

VOTING PROXIES OF FUND PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

The Trust and the Adviser have each adopted proxy voting policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in shareholders’ best interests. Pursuant to the Fund’s Policy Related to Proxy Voting, as approved by the Fund’s Board, the Fund has delegated to the Adviser the authority to vote all proxies relating to the Fund’s portfolio securities. In each case, proxies will be voted in accordance with the Adviser’s proxy voting policy, subject to the supervision of the Board. The Adviser has a duty to vote or not vote such proxies in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, and to avoid the influence of conflicts of interest.

 

The policies and procedures used by the Adviser to determine how to vote certain proxies relating to portfolio securities are set forth in Appendix B to this SAI. For a complete copy of the Adviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures, as well as any separate guidelines it uses, please refer to www.hulltacticalfunds.com.

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Proxy Voting Report

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 is available: (1) without charge, upon request, by calling [] toll free; and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s security holdings.

 

The Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly available internet websites. In addition, the composition of the in-kind creation basket and the in-kind redemption basket is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the NSCC. Consistent with this policy, the Fund may make available through the facilities of the NSCC or through posting on www.hulltacticalfunds.com prior to the opening of trading on each Business Day, a list of the Fund’s holdings (generally pro-rata) that Authorized Participants could deliver to the Fund to settle purchases of the Fund (i.e., Deposit Securities) or that Authorized Participants would receive from the Fund to settle redemptions of the Fund (i.e., Fund Securities). These files are known as the Portfolio Composition File and the Fund Data File (collectively, the “Files”). The Files are applicable for the next trading day and are provided to the NSCC and/or posted on www.hulltacticalfunds.com after the close of markets in the U.S.

 

Greater than daily access to information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be permitted (i) to certain personnel of service providers to the Fund involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, and (ii) to other personnel of the Fund’s service providers who deal directly with, or assist in, functions related to investment management, administration, custody and fund accounting, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with the Trust’s exemptive relief, agreements with the Fund, and the terms of the Trust’s current registration statement. From time to time, and in the ordinary course of business, such information may also be disclosed (i) to other entities that provide services to the Fund, including pricing information vendors, and third parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services to the Fund and (ii) generally after it has been disseminated to the NSCC.

 

The Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Fund’s fiscal year-end, within 60 days of the end of the quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.

No consideration may be received by the Fund, the Adviser, or any other person in connection with the disclosure of portfolio information.

 

No person is authorized to disclose any of the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with this policy. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board exercises oversight of the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the policy, the Trust’s Code of Ethics and other relevant policies and procedures of the Trust and its service providers by the CCO; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the CCO concerning material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act); and (3) considering proposed amendments to this policy. The Board also receives and reviews periodically and at least annually a list of the persons who receive nonpublic portfolio holdings information and the purposes for which it is furnished.

 

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

All shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund share held on the record date for any action requiring a vote by the shareholders. Shareholders of the Trust will vote in the aggregate and not by Fund except as otherwise expressly required by law or when the Trustees determine that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular Fund.

Each share of the Fund represents a pro rata interest in the assets of the Fund. Fund shares have no preemptive, exchange, subscription or conversion rights and there are no restrictions on the transfer of Fund shares. Each Fund share participates pro rata in all dividends and distributions of the Fund and in the net distributable assets upon liquidation.

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees except that (1) the Trust is required to hold a shareholder meeting for the election of Trustees at such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders and (2) if, as a result of a vacancy on the Board, less than two-thirds of the Trustees holding office have been elected by the shareholders, that vacancy may only be filled by a vote of the shareholders. Except as set forth above, a Trustee may continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees.

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Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustees have the power to liquidate any Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intent to exercise this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

The rights of shareholders cannot be modified without a majority vote of the shareholders.

 

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

 

While changes to the Fund’s investment portfolio will generally be implemented through the issuance and redemption of the Fund’s Creation Units in exchange for a Creation Basket, there may be occasions wherein the Adviser will purchase or sell securities directly on behalf of the Fund. To the extent that the Fund issues or redeems Creation Units partly or solely for cash, the Adviser may have to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund.

 

The policy of the Trust regarding purchases and sales of securities for the Fund is that primary consideration will be given to obtaining the most favorable prices and efficient executions of transactions. Consistent with this policy, when securities transactions are effected on a stock exchange, the Trust’s policy is to pay commissions which are considered fair and reasonable without necessarily determining that the lowest possible commissions are paid in all circumstances. The Trust believes that a requirement always to seek the lowest possible commission cost could impede effective portfolio management and preclude the Fund and the Sub-Adviser from obtaining a high quality of brokerage and research services. In seeking to determine the reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid in any transaction, the Sub-Adviser will rely upon its experience and knowledge regarding commissions generally charged by various brokers and on its judgment in evaluating the brokerage services received from the broker effecting the transaction. Such determinations are necessarily subjective and imprecise, and in most cases, exact dollar values for those services are not ascertainable. The Trust has adopted policies and procedures that prohibit the consideration of sales of the Fund’s shares as a factor in the selection of a broker or dealer to execute its portfolio transactions.

 

The Adviser owes a fiduciary duty to its clients to seek to provide best execution on trades effected. In selecting a broker/dealer for each specific transaction, the Adviser chooses the broker/dealer deemed most capable of providing the services necessary to obtain the most favorable execution. To the extent that the Adviser engages in brokerage transactions with a broker-dealer that is an affiliated person, it will do so in accordance with applicable law. The Adviser’s use of an affiliated broker-dealer creates a potential conflict of interest to favor an affiliate. The Adviser’s brokerage allocation process and best execution reviews seek to identify and address potential conflicts of interest.

 

Best execution is generally understood to mean the most favorable cost or net proceeds reasonably obtainable under the circumstances. The full range of brokerage services applicable to a particular transaction may be considered when making this judgment, which may include, but is not limited to: liquidity, price, commission, timing, aggregated trades, capable floor brokers or traders, competent block trading coverage, ability to position, capital strength and stability, reliable and accurate communications and settlement processing, use of automation, knowledge of other buyers or sellers, arbitrage skills, administrative ability, underwriting and provision of information on a particular security or market in which the transaction is to occur. The specific criteria will vary depending upon the nature of the transaction, the market in which it is executed, and the extent to which it is possible to select from among multiple broker/dealers. The Adviser will also use electronic crossing networks (“ECNs”) when appropriate.

 

The Adviser may use the Fund’s assets for, or participate in, third-party soft dollar arrangements, in addition to receiving proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser may receive a variety of research services and information on many topics, which it can use in connection with its management responsibilities with respect to the various accounts over which it exercises investment discretion or otherwise provides investment advice. The research services may include qualifying order management systems, portfolio attribution and monitoring services and computer software and access charges which are directly related to investment research. Accordingly, the Fund may pay a broker commission higher than the lowest available in recognition of the broker’s provision of such services to the Adviser, but only if the Adviser determines the total commission (including the soft dollar benefit) is comparable to the best commission rate that could be expected to be received from other brokers. The amount of soft dollar benefits received depends on the amount of brokerage transactions effected with the brokers. A conflict of interest exists because there is an incentive to: (1) cause clients to pay a higher commission than the firm might otherwise be able to negotiate; (2) cause clients to engage in more securities transactions than would otherwise be optimal; and (3) only recommend brokers that provide soft dollar benefits.

 

The Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest when it uses client trades to obtain brokerage or research services. This conflict exists because the Adviser is able to use the brokerage or research services to manage client accounts without paying cash for such services,

34 
 

which reduces the Adviser’s expenses to the extent that the Sub-Adviser would have purchased such products had they not been provided by brokers. Section 28(e) permits the Adviser to use brokerage or research services for the benefit of any account it manages. Certain accounts managed by the Adviser may generate soft dollars used to purchase brokerage or research services that ultimately benefit other accounts managed by the Adviser, effectively cross subsidizing the other accounts managed by the Adviser that benefit directly from the product. The Adviser may not necessarily use all of the brokerage or research services in connection with managing the Fund whose trades generated the soft dollars used to purchase such products.

 

The Adviser does not currently use the Fund’s assets for, or participate in, any third party soft dollar arrangements, although they may do so in the future. However, they may receive proprietary research from various full service brokers, the cost of which is bundled with the cost of the broker’s execution services. The Adviser does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research.

 

The Adviser is responsible, subject to oversight by the Adviser and the Board, for placing orders on behalf of the Fund for the purchase or sale of portfolio securities. If purchases or sales of portfolio securities of the Fund and one or more other investment companies or clients supervised by the Adviser are considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities are allocated among the several investment companies and clients in a manner deemed equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to all by the Sub-Adviser. In some cases, this procedure could have a detrimental effect on the price or volume of the security so far as the Fund is concerned. However, in other cases, it is possible that the ability to participate in volume transactions and to negotiate lower brokerage commissions will be beneficial to the Fund. The primary consideration is prompt execution of orders at the most favorable net price.

 

The Fund may deal with affiliates in principal transactions to the extent permitted by exemptive order or applicable rule or regulation.

 

For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Predecessor Fund paid $10,457, $6,900, and $11,447, respectively, in aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions.

 

Directed Brokerage. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2021, the Predecessor Fund did not pay commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research or other brokerage services to the Adviser.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of the Fund, the Adviser, or the Distributor for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act, the Exchange Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. These rules require that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Board, including those members who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, has adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and reviews these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended November 30, 2019, 2020, and 2021, the Predecessor Fund did not pay brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) which the Fund may hold at the close of its most recent fiscal year. “Regular brokers or dealers” of the Fund are the ten brokers or dealers that, during the most recent fiscal year: (i) received the greatest dollar amounts of brokerage commissions from the Fund’s portfolio transactions; (ii) engaged as principal in the largest dollar amounts of portfolio transactions of the Fund; or (iii) sold the largest dollar amounts of the Fund’s shares.

As of November 30, 2021, the Predecessor Fund did not hold any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers.”

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

The information below supplements disclosure in the Prospectus regarding the book entry system. This information should be read in conjunction with the disclosure included in the Prospectus.

DTC acts as securities depositary for the Fund’s shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Generally, certificates will not be issued for shares.

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities of the DTC Participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the Exchange and FINRA.

35 
 

Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).

Beneficial ownership of the Fund’s shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants, and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Fund’s shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of the Fund’s shares. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of the Fund’s shares for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of the Fund’s shares are not entitled to have Fund shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of the Fund’s shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements, and other communications to Beneficial Owners is affected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee a listing of the Fund’s shares held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall obtain from each such DTC Participant the number of Beneficial Owners holding the Fund’s shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement, or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of the Fund’s shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of the Fund’s shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Fund’s shares, or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to any Fund at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Fund shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of the Fund’s shares, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange. The DTC Participants’ rules and policies are made publicly available through its website at www.dtcc.com.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

A principal shareholder is any person who owns (either of record or beneficially) 5% or more of the outstanding shares of a fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledges the existence of control.

 

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes. Investors owning shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. As of May [], 2023, the Fund had not yet commenced operations, therefore no persons or “groups” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act) own any outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund is the successor to Hull Tactical US ETF, a series of Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (the “Predecessor Fund”), which was reorganized into the Fund on May [], 2023. The following persons or “groups” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)) are DTC members reflecting ownership of 5% or more of the Predecessor Fund’s outstanding shares as of [], 2022:

 

 

Name & Address Percentage of Fund Type of Ownership

UBS Financial Services Inc.

1200 Harbor Boulevard

Weehawken, New Jersey, 07086

[__.__]% Record
36 
 

 

National Financial Services LLC

245 Summer Street, Mail Zone L10C

Boston, Massachusetts, 02210

[__.__]% Record

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

211 Main Street

San Francisco, California, 94105

[__.__]% Record

TD Ameritrade Clearing, Inc.

200 South 108th Avenue

Omaha, Nebraska, 68154

[__.__]% Record

 

As of May [], 2023, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust as a group did not own any shares of the Fund.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

PURCHASE (CREATION). The Trust issues and sells shares of the Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined below), of an order received in proper form.

 

A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. As of the date of the Prospectus, the Exchange observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day (Washington’s Birthday), Good Friday, Memorial Day (observed), Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of a cash payment. However, the Fund reserves the right to accept as consideration for the purchase of a Creation Unit either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, constituting a substantial replication, or a portfolio sampling representation, of the securities included in the Fund’s portfolio and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below, or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) and the Cash Component. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser. These additional costs may be recoverable from the purchaser of Creation Units.

 

Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund. The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares of the Fund (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such positive amount. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, if applicable, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant (as defined below).

 

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Sub-Adviser to the Fund with a view to the investment objectives of the Fund. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash – i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount – to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for transfer through the Clearing Process (discussed below), or which may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting. The Trust also reserves the right to offer an “all cash” option for creations of Creation Units for the Fund.

 

In addition to the list of names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of a Fund Deposit, the Administrator, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day, the estimated Cash Component, effective through and including the previous Business Day, per outstanding Creation Unit of the Fund.

 

PROCEDURES FOR PURCHASE OF CREATION UNITS. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor to create a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant (see “Book Entry Only System”), and, in each case, must have executed an agreement with the Trust, the Distributor and the Administrator with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units (“Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A

37 
 

Participating Party and DTC Participant are collectively referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants that have signed a Participant Agreement with the Fund. All shares of the Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.

 

All orders to create Creation Units must be placed for one or more Creation Unit size aggregations. All orders to create Creation Units, whether through the Clearing Process (through a Participating Party) or outside the Clearing Process (through a DTC Participant), must be received by the Distributor no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, an hour earlier than the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) (“Closing Time”), in each case on the date such order is placed in order for the creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of the Fund as next determined on such date after receipt of the order in proper form. The date on which an order to create Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below (see “Placement of Creation Orders Using Clearing Process” and “Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process”). Severe economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure, may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

Orders to create Creation Units of the Fund shall be placed with an Authorized Participant, as applicable, in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, the Authorized Participant may request the investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, i.e., to provide for payments of cash, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of the Fund have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement. Those placing orders for Creation Units through the Clearing Process should afford sufficient time to permit proper submission of the order to the Distributor prior to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Transmittal Date.

 

Orders for creation that are effected outside the Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the Clearing Process, should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effecting such transfer of Deposit Securities and Cash Component.

 

PLACEMENT OF CREATION ORDERS USING THE CLEARING PROCESS. The Clearing Process is the process of creating or redeeming Creation Units through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC. Fund Deposits made through the Clearing Process must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed a Participant Agreement. The Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit through the Fund’s transfer agent to NSCC, on behalf of the Participating Party, such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Participating Party’s creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions to NSCC, the Participating Party agrees to deliver the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. An order to create Creation Units through the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

 

PLACEMENT OF CREATION ORDERS OUTSIDE THE CLEARING PROCESS. Fund Deposits made outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement with the Trust, the Distributor and the Administrator. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Units to be effected outside the Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash directly through DTC. A Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant on the Transmittal Date in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the Trust by no later than 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, of the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Administrator through the Federal Reserve wire system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Administrator no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the next Business Day immediately following such Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Administrator does not receive both the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component by 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order will be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such cancelled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund. The delivery of Creation Units of the Fund so created will occur no later than the third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

38 
 

Creation Units may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) 115% of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”). The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on such date and federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Administrator by 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time, the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 11:00 a.m. the next Business Day, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the investor shall be liable to the Trust for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 115% of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. To the extent that missing Deposit Securities are not received by 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor or in the event a mark to market payment is not made within one Business Day following notification by the Distributor that such a payment is required, the Trust may use the cash on deposit to purchase the missing Deposit Securities. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Administrator or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee will be charged in all cases. The delivery of Creation Units of the Fund so created will occur no later than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS FOR CREATION UNITS. The Trust reserves the right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor in respect of the Fund including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (d) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (e) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (f) circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent and/or the Adviser make it for all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units.

 

Examples of such circumstances include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, the Custodian, a sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery

of Fund Deposits nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Distributor shall not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units. Given the importance of the ongoing issuance of Creation Units to maintaining a market price that is at or close to the underlying net asset value of the Fund, the Trust does not intend to suspend acceptance of orders for Creation Units.

 

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

 

CREATION TRANSACTION FEE. To compensate the Trust for transfer and other transaction costs involved in creation transactions through the Clearing Process, investors will be required to pay a minimum creation transaction fee, assessed per transaction, as follows:

 

Fund Creation Transaction Fee*
Hull Tactical US ETF $500

 

* To the extent a Creation Unit consists of more than 100 securities, an additional Creation Transaction Fee may be charged to Authorized Participants to the next highest $500 increment at the following rates: (i) $5 per book-entry security settled via the NSCC’s CNS; and (ii) $15 per security for “inkind” settlements settled outside the NSCC, and all physical settlements, including options, futures and other derivatives.

 

The Fund, subject to approval by the Board, may adjust the Creation Transaction Fee from time to time based upon actual experience. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a creation of a Creation Unit may be charged a fee for such services.

39 
 

 

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

 

With respect to the Fund, the Administrator, through the NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time) on each Business Day, the “Fund Securities” that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities which are applicable to creations of Creation Units.

 

CASH REDEMPTION AMOUNT. Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for the Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Fund Securities – as announced by the Administrator on the Business Day of the request for redemption received in proper form plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after receipt of a request in properform, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a redemption transaction fee described below in the section entitled “Redemption Transaction Fee”. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of the Fund, a compensating cashpayment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder.

 

PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDER USING CLEARING PROCESS. Orders to redeem Creation Units through the Clearing Process must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed the Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Units using the Clearing Process is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Administrator not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed; such order will be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Fund after 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date and will be effected at the NAV next determined on such Business Day. The requisite Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount will be transferred by the third (3rd) NSCC Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.

 

PLACEMENT OF REDEMPTION ORDERS OUTSIDE CLEARING PROCESS. Orders to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Units to be effected outside the Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units will instead be effected through transfer of shares directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Administrator on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Administrator not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is accompanied or proceeded by the requisite number of shares of the Fund and/or the Cash Redemption Amount specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Administrator no later than 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, Eastern Time, on the next Business Day following such Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”); and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

 

After the Administrator has deemed an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process received, the Administrator will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities, which are expected to be delivered within three Business Days, and/or the Cash Redemption Amount to the Authorized Participant, on behalf of the redeeming Beneficial Owner, by the third Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Administrator.

 

The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered upon redemption will be made by the Administrator according to the procedures set forth under “Determination of Net Asset Value” computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Administrator. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Administrator by a DTC Participant not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of shares of the Fund are delivered to the custodian prior to the DTC Cut-Off-Time, then the value of the Fund Securities and/or the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by the Administrator on such Transmittal Date. If, however, a redemption order is submitted to the Administrator by a DTC Participant not later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the Transmittal Date, but either (1) the requisite number of shares of the Fund are not delivered by the DTC Cut-Off-Time as described above on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date or (2) the redemption order is not submitted in proper form, then the redemption order will not be deemed received as of the Transmittal Date. In such case, the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be computed on the Business Day that such order is deemed received by the Administrator, i.e., the Business Day on which the shares of the Fund are delivered hrough DTC to the Administrator by the DTC Cut-Off-Time on such Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.

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If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming Beneficial Owner will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash which the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities which differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.

 

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular stock included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment, beneficial ownership of shares or delivery instructions. The Trust also reserves the right to offer an “all cash” option for redemptions of Creation Units for the Fund.

 

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund (1) for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the securities owned by the Fund or determination of the shares’ NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.

 

REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE. To compensate the Trust for transfer and other transaction costs involved in redemption transactions through the Clearing Process, investors will be required to pay a minimum redemption transaction fee, assessed per transaction as follows:

 

 

Fund Redemption Transaction Fee*
Hull Tactical US ETF $500

 

* To the extent a Creation Unit consists of more than 100 securities, an additional Redemption Transaction Fee may be charged to Authorized Participants to the next highest $500 increment at the following rates: (i) $5 per book-entry security settled via the NSCC’s CNS; and (ii) $15 per security for “inkind”settlements settled outside the NSCC, and all physical settlements, including options, futures and other derivatives.

 

The Fund, subject to approval by the Board, may adjust the Redemption Transaction Fee from time to time based upon actual experience. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary in addition to an Authorized Participant to effect a redemption of a Creation Unit may be charged a fee for such services.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

The NAV per share of the Fund is computed by dividing the value of the net assets of the Fund (i.e., the value of its total assets less total liabilities) by the Total number of shares of the Fund outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including without limitation, the management, administration and distribution fees, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV per share. The NAV per share for the Fund is calculated by the Administrator and determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day that such exchange is open, provided that fixed-income assets may be valued as of the announced closing time for trading in fixed-income instruments on any day that the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) announces an early closing time.

 

In calculating the Fund’s NAV per share, the Fund’s investments are generally valued using market valuations. A market valuation generally means a valuation (i) obtained from an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer), (ii) based on a price quotation or other equivalent indication of value supplied by an exchange, a pricing service, or a major market maker (or dealer) or (iii) based on amortized cost. In the case of shares of other funds that are not traded on an exchange, a market valuation means such fund’s published NAV per share. The Adviser may use various pricing services, or discontinue the use of any pricing service, as approved by the Board from time to time. A price obtained from a pricing service based on such pricing service’s valuation matrix may be considered a market valuation. Any assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted into U.S. dollars at the current market rates on the date of valuation as quoted by one or more sources. Futures contracts will be valued at the settlement or

41 
 

closing price determined by the applicable exchange. Cash Instruments may be valued at market values, as furnished by recognized dealers in such securities or assets. Cash Instruments also may be valued on the basis of information furnished by an independent pricing service that uses a valuation matrix which incorporates both dealer-supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques. Shares of money market mutual funds held by the Fund will be valued at their respective NAVs.

 

In the event that current market valuations are not readily available or such valuations do not reflect current market value, the Trust’s procedures require the Fair Value Committee to determine a security’s fair value if a market price is not readily available. In determining such value the Fair Value Committee may consider, among other things, (i) price comparisons among multiple sources, (ii) a review of corporate actions and news events, and (iii) a review of relevant financial indicators (e.g., movement in interest rates, market indices, and prices). In these cases, the Fund’s NAV may reflect certain portfolio securities’ fair values rather than their market prices. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determination for a security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your shares.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

 

General Policies. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid at least annually by the Fund. Distributions of net realized securities gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis for the Fund to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

Dividends and other distributions on shares of the Fund are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Fund.

 

The Fund may make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of the Fund, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Internal Revenue Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends by the Fund if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service. The Trust will not make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by Beneficial Owners for reinvestment of their cash proceeds, but certain individual broker-dealers may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by Beneficial Owners of the Fund through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Beneficial Owners should be aware that each broker may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate in the dividend reinvestment service and investors should ascertain from their brokers such necessary details. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares issued by the Trust of the same Fund at NAV. Distributions reinvested in additional shares of the Fund will nevertheless be taxable to Beneficial Owners acquiring such additional shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.

 

Federal Income Taxes

 

The following is a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that supplements the summary in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning.

 

The following general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

The summary is very general, and does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers

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regarding the application of the provisions of tax law described in this SAI in light of the particular tax situations of the shareholders and regarding specific questions as to federal, state, or local taxes.

 

Regulated Investment Company Status. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify each year to be treated as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least an amount equal to the sum of 90% of the Fund’s net investment company taxable income for such year (including, for this purpose, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses), computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. One of these additional requirements for RIC qualification is that the Fund must receive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, foreign currencies and net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “90% Test”). A second requirement for qualification as a RIC is that the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with these other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets or 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership; and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”). The Fund expects to invest in certain Underlying ETFs and underlying mutual funds (collectively, “Underlying Funds”), some of which will have qualified and will intend to continue to qualify for treatment each year as a RIC.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the 90% Test or the Asset Test, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the Asset Test where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Asset Test, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to the Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at the regular corporate income tax rate without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable as ordinary income dividends to its shareholders, subject to the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders and the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income received by non-corporate shareholders.

 

In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. If the Fund determines that it will not qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will establish procedures to reflect the anticipated tax liability in the Fund’s NAV.

 

Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on certain undistributed income if it does not distribute (and is not deemed to distribute) to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year’s distribution. For this purpose, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. The Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election

43 
 

is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, a RIC may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. The Fund is permitted to carry forward a net capital loss indefinitely. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds with capital loss carryforwards. Underlying Funds with net capital losses may also carry forward those net capital losses indefinitely. Generally, neither the Fund nor any Underlying Fund may carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The Fund will not be able to offset gains distributed by any Underlying Fund in which it invests against losses incurred by another Underlying Fund in which it invests because the Underlying Funds cannot distribute losses. The Fund’s sales of shares in an Underlying Fund, including those resulting from changes in the allocation among Underlying Funds, could cause the Fund to recognize taxable gains or losses. A portion of any such gains may be short-term capital gains that would be distributable as ordinary income to shareholders of the Fund. Further, a portion of losses on sales of shares in the Underlying Funds may be deferred. Short-term capital gains earned by an Underlying Fund will be treated as ordinary dividends when distributed to the Fund and therefore may not be offset by any short-term capital losses incurred by the Fund. Thus, the Fund’s short-term capital losses may instead offset its long-term capital gains, which might otherwise be eligible for the reduced U.S. federal income tax rates for individual and certain other non-corporate shareholders. As a result of these factors, the use of the fund of funds structure by the Fund could adversely affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to its shareholders.

 

Net capital gain distributions by an Underlying Fund will be treated as long-term capital gain, even if the Fund has held shares of the Underlying Fund for less than one year. If not disallowed under the wash sale rules (described below), any loss incurred by the Fund on the sale of such Underlying Fund shares that have a tax holding period of six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the gain distribution received on the shares disposed of by the Fund.

 

Taxation of Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income (as discussed below), whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Subject to certain limitations and requirements, dividends reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are (i) paid from dividends received by the Fund from Underlying Funds that themselves received such income as dividends on common and preferred stock of U.S. corporations or on stock of certain eligible foreign corporations, and (ii) reported as such by the Underlying Funds, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by both the Fund and the shareholders. If the Fund invests directly in stock of U.S. corporations other than Underlying Funds or in stock of certain eligible foreign corporations, dividends the Fund receives on those investments may also be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States or in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States, and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend, (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder), (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an ETF or an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such ETF or underlying fund. If 95% or more of the Fund’s gross income (calculated without taking into account net capital gain derived from sales or other dispositions of stock or securities) consists of qualified dividend income, the Fund may report all distributions of such income as qualified dividend income.

 

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Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gains distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation.

 

Certain dividends received by the Fund from an Underlying Fund and attributable to the Underlying Fund’s dividend income from stock of U.S. corporations (generally, dividends received by an Underlying Fund in respect of any share of stock (1) as to which the Underlying Fund has met certain holding period requirements and (2) that is held in an unleveraged position) and distributed and appropriately so reported by the Underlying Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporate shareholders under the Internal Revenue Code, provided such dividends are also appropriately so reported as eligible for the dividends-received deduction by the Fund. Capital gain distributions distributed to the Fund from Underlying Funds and capital gain dividends distributed to an Underlying Fund from other RICs are not eligible for the dividends-received deduction. In order to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, corporate shareholders must also meet minimum holding period requirements with respect to their Fund shares, taking into account any holding period reductions from certain hedging or other transactions or positions that diminish their risk of loss with respect to their Fund shares. Any corporate shareholder should consult its tax adviser regarding the possibility that its tax basis in its shares may be reduced, for federal income tax purposes, by reason of “extraordinary dividends” received with respect to the shares and, to the extent such basis would be reduced below zero, current recognition of income may be required.

 

The Fund’s participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to Fund shareholders. If the Fund participates in a securities lending transaction and receives a payment in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan in a securities lending transaction, such income generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and thus dividends attributable to such income will not be eligible for taxation at the rates applicable to qualified dividend income for individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December and payable to shareholders of record in such a month that is paid during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared. A taxable shareholder may wish to avoid investing in the Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution, because the distribution will generally be taxable even though it may economically represent a return of a portion of the shareholder’s investment.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits, all or a portion of the distributions made in the taxable year may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce the shareholder’s cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the shares of the Fund on which the distribution was received are sold. After a shareholder’s basis in the shares of the Fund has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares.

 

The Fund’s shareholders will be notified annually by the Fund (or their broker) as to the federal tax status of all distributions made by the Fund. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes.

 

Shareholders who have not held Fund shares for a full year should be aware that the Fund may report and distribute to a shareholder, as ordinary dividends or capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the percentage of the Fund’s ordinary income or net capital gain, respectively, actually earned during the shareholder’s period of investment in the Fund.

 

Sales, Exchanges, or Redemptions. A sale of shares by a shareholder or redemption of Creation Units by an Authorized Participant in the Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months, and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for 12 months or less. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a long-term capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

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An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. The ability of Authorized Participants to receive a full or partial cash redemption of Creation Units of the Fund may limit the tax efficiency of the Fund. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units and the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), however, may assert that an Authorized Participant may not be permitted to currently deduct losses realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units under the rules governing “wash sales” (for an Authorized Participant that does not mark-to-market its holdings), or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

 

Any gain or loss realized upon a creation or redemption of Creation Units will be treated as capital or ordinary gain or loss, depending on the holder’s circumstances. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the creation of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the securities exchanged for such Creation Units have been held for more than one year and were held as capital assets in the hands of the exchanging Authorized Participant. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year. Otherwise, such capital gains or losses will be treated as short-term capital gains or losses. Any capital loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units held for six months or less should be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the applicable Authorized Participant of long-term capital gains with respect to the Creation Units (including any amounts credited to the Authorized Participant as undistributed capital gains).

 

The Trust on behalf of the Fund has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If the Fund does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, the purchaser (orgroup of purchasers) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.

 

Authorized Participants purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction and whether the wash sales rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) exceeding certain threshold amounts ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income.” This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or the redemption of Creation Units), among other categories of income, are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

 

Taxation of Fund and Underlying Fund Investments. Certain of the Fund’s and Underlying Funds’ investments may be subject to complex provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (including provisions relating to hedging transactions, straddles, integrated transactions, foreign currency contracts, forward foreign currency contracts, and notional principal contracts) that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund or Underlying Funds (i.e., may affect the Fund’s and an Underlying Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund or Underlying Funds and defer losses and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund or Underlying Funds to mark to market certain types of positions in their portfolios (e.g., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund or Underlying Funds to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the RIC Distribution Requirement for avoiding income and excise taxes. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund or Underlying Funds may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve its qualification for treatment as a RIC.

 

Certain investments by the Fund, such as certain ETPs, commodity-linked instruments and certain over-the-counter derivatives, do not produce qualifying income for purposes of the “90% Test” described above, which must be met in order for the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of certain derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the “Asset Test” described above. The Fund intends to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that it is adequately diversified

46 
 

under the Asset Test. The Fund, however, may not be able to accurately predict the nonqualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Fund’s determination of the “Asset Test” with respect to such derivatives.

 

The Fund is required, for federal income tax purposes, to mark to market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses as of the end of such year on certain regulated futures contracts, foreign currency contracts and options subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) in addition to the gains and losses actually realized with respect to Section 1256 Contracts during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts will generally be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio, (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Offsetting positions held by the Fund involving certain derivative instruments, such as options, forwards, and futures, as well as its long and short positions in portfolio securities, may be considered to constitute “straddles” for federal income tax purposes. In general, straddles are subject to certain rules that may affect the amount, character and timing of the Fund’s gains and losses with respect to the straddle positions by requiring, among other things, that: (1) any loss realized on disposition of one position of a straddle may not be recognized to the extent that the Fund has unrealized gains with respect to the other positions in straddle; (2) the Fund’s holding period in straddle positions be suspended while the straddle exists (possibly resulting in a gain being treated as short-term rather than long-term capital gain and potentially affecting the ability of a dividend received by a taxpayer to qualify for treatment as qualified dividend income or be eligible for the dividends received deduction); (3) the losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions that are part of a mixed straddle and are non-Section 1256 Contracts be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital loss; (4) losses recognized with respect to certain straddle positions that would otherwise constitute short-term capital losses be treated as long-term capital losses; and (5) the deduction of interest and carrying charges attributable to certain straddle positions may be deferred. Various elections are available to the Fund, which may mitigate the effects of the straddle rules, particularly with respect to mixed straddles.

 

In general, the straddle rules described above do not apply to any straddles held by the Fund if all of the offsetting positions consist of Section 1256 Contracts. The straddle rules described above also do not apply if all the offsetting positions making up a straddle consist of one or more “qualified covered call options” and the stock to be purchased under the options and the straddle is not part of a larger straddle. A qualified covered call option is generally any option granted by the Fund to purchase stock it holds (or stock it acquires in connection with granting the option) if, among other things, (1) the option is traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC or other market the IRS determined has rules adequate to carry out the purposes of the applicable Code provision, (2) the option is granted more than 30 days before it expires, (3) the option is not a “deep-in-the-money option,” (4) such option is not granted by an options dealer in connection with the dealer’s activity of dealing in options, and (5) gain or loss with respect to the option is not ordinary income or loss. In addition, the straddle rules could cause distributions from the Fund that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends received deduction to fail to satisfy the applicable holding period requirements.

 

To the extent the Fund writes options that are not Section 1256 Contracts, the amount of the premium received by the Fund for writing such options is likely to be entirely short-term capital gain to the Fund. In addition, if such an option is closed by the Fund, any gain or loss realized by the Fund as a result of closing the transaction will also generally be short-term capital gain or loss. If such an option is exercised any gain or loss realized by the Fund upon the sale of the underlying security pursuant to such exercise will generally be short-term or long-term capital gain or loss to the Fund depending on the Fund’s holding period for the underlying security.

 

In general, for purposes of the 90% Test described above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (ii) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Internal Revenue Code section 7704(d), and (iii) that generally derives less than 90% of its income from the same sources as described in the 90% Test will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Internal Revenue Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

The Fund may invest in certain pooled investment vehicles which may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. Income from qualified publicly traded partnerships is qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test, but the Fund’s investment in one or more of such qualified publicly traded partnerships is limited under the Asset Test to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund will monitor its investment in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the 90% and Asset Tests. pooled investment vehicles and other partnerships that the Fund may invest in will deliver Schedule K-1s to the Fund to report its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the pooled investment vehicle or other partnership. These Schedule K-1s may

47 
 

be delayed and may not be received until after the time that the Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your tax reporting statement.

 

“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “qualified publicly traded partnership” as defined for the purpose of the immediately preceding paragraphs. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). A RIC, such as the Fund, is not permitted to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in a RIC that invests in such entities will not. It is uncertain whether future technical corrections or administrative guidance will address this issue to enable the Fund to pass through the special character of “qualified publicly traded partnership income” to shareholders.

 

The Fund may make short sales of securities. Short sales may increase the amount of short-term capital gain realized by the Fund, which is taxed as ordinary income when distributed to shareholders.

 

If the Fund enters into a “constructive sale” of any appreciated financial position in its portfolio, the Fund will be treated as if it had sold and immediately repurchased the property and must recognize gain (but not loss) with respect to that position. A constructive sale of an appreciated financial position occurs when the Fund enters into certain offsetting transactions with respect to the same or substantially identical property, including, but not limited to: (i) a short sale; (ii) an offsetting notional principal contract; (iii) a futures or forward contract; or (iv) other transactions identified in future Treasury Regulations. The character of the gain from constructive sales will depend upon the Fund’s holding period in the appreciated financial position. Losses realized from a sale of a position that was previously the subject of a constructive sale will be recognized when the position is subsequently disposed of. The character of such losses will depend upon the Fund’s holding period in the position beginning with the date the constructive sale was deemed to have occurred and the application of various loss deferral provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. Constructive sale treatment does not apply to certain closed transactions, including if such a transaction is closed on or before the 30th day after the close of the Fund’s taxable year and the Fund holds the appreciated financial position unhedged throughout the 60-day period beginning with the day such transaction was closed.

 

Foreign Investments. The Fund or an Underlying Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to any investments in those countries. Any such taxes would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. The Fund cannot guarantee that the Underlying Funds will satisfy the requirements for passing through to their shareholders (including the Fund) any share of foreign taxes paid by such Underlying Funds, with the result that the shareholders of the Fund may not be required to include such taxes in their respective gross incomes and therefore will not be entitled to any tax deductions or credits for such taxes on their own returns.

 

If more than 50 percent of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, then the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file and election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to this election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders’ federal income tax. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which a shareholder holds shares) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

 

48 
 

Foreign tax credits, if any, received by the Fund as a result of an investment in an Underlying Fund taxable as a RIC will not be passed through to you will be eligible to file an election with the IRS that will enable the Fund to pass along these foreign tax credits to its shareholders. The Fund will be treated as a “qualified fund of funds” under the Internal Revenue Code if at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which a shareholder holds shares) will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) at the applicable withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the withheld amount of dividends paid to any shareholder who: (1) fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number certified under penalty of perjury; (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report all payments of interest or dividends; (3) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is not subject to backup withholding; or (4) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The backup withholding rate is 24%. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s ultimate U.S. tax liability.

 

Foreign Shareholders. Any foreign shareholders in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), a U.S. withholding tax of 30% will apply to payments to certain foreign entities of U.S.-source interest and dividends unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements that are different from, and in addition to, the beneficial owner certification requirements described above have been satisfied. A non-U.S. shareholder may be exempt from the withholding described in this paragraph under an applicable intergovernmental agreement between the U.S. and a foreign government, provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement. The Fund will not pay additional amounts in respect to any amounts withheld. Non-U.S. shareholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and sale or disposition of the Fund’s common shares.

 

A beneficial holder of shares of the Fund who is a foreign person may be subject to foreign, state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal income tax consequences referred to above. If a shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the shareholder in the United States.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example, shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account.

 

 

Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. A

49 
 

shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Cost Basis Reporting. The cost basis of shares of the Fund acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for the shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of shares. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account. State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state

nd local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Delaware if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

The foregoing discussion is based on U.S. federal tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this SAI. Such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors concerning their specific situations and the application of foreign, federal, state, and local taxes.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Predecessor Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022, including the report of Cohen & Company, Ltd., the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, are included in the Fund’s annual report and are incorporated by reference into this SAI. The Predecessor Fund’s Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2022, has been previously sent to shareholders of the Fund pursuant to Section 30(d) of the 1940 Act and previously filed with the SEC. You can obtain a copy of the Annual Report without charge by calling Shareholder Services at [] or upon written request to:

 

Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC

P.O. Box 46707

Cincinnati, OH 45246-0707

 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

Bond Ratings

 

Below is a description of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“Standard & Poor’s”) and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) bond rating categories.

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group Corporate Bond Ratings

 

AAA - This is the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s to a debt obligation and indicates an

extremely strong capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

BB - Bonds rated “BB” have less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, they face major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments.

 

B - Bonds rated “b” have a greater vulnerability to default but currently have the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and

repay principal.

 

CCC - Bonds rated “CCC” have a currently identifiable vulnerability to default and are dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, they are not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

 

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Corporate Bond Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Ba - Bonds rated “Ba” are judged to have speculative elements. Their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times

over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.

 

A-1 
 

 

 

 

APPENDIX B

HTAA, LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

PROXY VOTING

 

A public company’s shareholders typically have the right to vote on various corporate issues. Clients typically delegate to an adviser the authority to vote proxies for shares they own. Under the Advisers Act, an adviser has a duty of care and loyalty with respect to all services undertaken for clients, including proxy voting.

 

Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act requires that an adviser must vote proxies in a manner consistent with clients’ best interest and must not place its interests above those of its clients when doing so. It requires an adviser to: (i) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the adviser votes proxies in the best interest of its clients, and (ii) to disclose to clients how they may obtain information on how the adviser voted. In addition, Rule 204-2 requires the adviser to keep records of proxy voting and client requests for information.

 

The Board of Trustees of the Funds has appointed and granted HTAA the authority to vote proxies for the securities in the Funds. The Adviser will vote proxies for securities held in a client's account, using the following procedures to comply with the Advisers Act.

 

 

1.                   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Guidelines – The Adviser generally votes proxies for securities the Adviser has selected that are held in client accounts, unless the client has directed the Adviser to send proxies to the client or another person. The Adviser has adopted Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Guidelines and all proxies will be voted in accordance with such guidelines, which are included in this Manual as Appendix V. Employees are expected to refer to these procedures when dealing with proxy voting issues.

 

2.                   Third Party Proxy Voting Service – The Adviser may retain an outside proxy voting service to make recommendations on proxy voting matters and to assist the Adviser in developing proxy-voting guidelines. However, the Adviser will not delegate its proxy voting responsibility to an outside service.

 

3.                   New Accounts – When the Adviser receives a new client account (or is instructed by an existing client to commence voting proxies), the Adviser instructs the client’s custodian to send and deliver all proxies and proxy related materials directly to the proxy vendor. The proxy vendor provides a proxy voting service utilized by the Adviser to assist the Adviser in the voting of proxies, and to accept votes on the Adviser’s behalf.

 

4. . Contrary Voting Recommendations – In accordance with the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures, the CEO or designee may submit voting recommendations that are contrary to the Adviser Proxy Voting Guidelines or vote recommendation received from the proxy vendor. In such instances, the Management Committee will review the recommendation in order to determine whether the CEO or designee’s voting rationale appears reasonable and in the best interest of clients. If the Management Committee does not agree that the CEO or designee’s rationale is reasonable and in the best interests of clients, the Adviser will vote the proxy and document the reason(s) for the decision. The Adviser shall consider such other matters as may be brought before it for review and action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B-1 
 

HTAA, LLC

 

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures

Proxy Voting Policy

 

HTAA, LLC (“HTAA” or the “Adviser”) votes proxies for the securities in the Funds it manages and votes proxies for securities held in a client’s account using the following guidelines to comply with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. Specifically, Rule 206(4)-6 requires that the Adviser:

 

·Adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that we vote client securities in the best interest of clients;
·Disclose to clients how they may obtain information from us about how we voted proxies for their securities; and
·Describe our proxy voting policies and procedures to clients and furnish them a copy of our policies and procedures on request.

 

A.Objective

 

Where the Adviser is given responsibility for voting proxies, we must take reasonable steps under the circumstances to ensure that proxies are received and voted in the best interest of our clients, which generally means voting proxies with a view to enhancing the value of the shares of stock held in client accounts.

 

The financial interest of our clients is the primary consideration in determining how proxies should be voted. In the case of social and political responsibility issues that in our view do not primarily involve financial considerations, it is not possible to represent fairly the diverse views of our clients and, thus, unless a client has provided other instructions, the Adviser generally votes in accordance with the recommendations of the proxy vendor (see discussion below) on these issues, although, on occasion the Adviser abstains from voting on these issues.

 

When making proxy-voting decisions, the Adviser generally adheres to its Proxy Voting Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), as revised from time to time by the Adviser. The Guidelines, which have been developed with reference to the positions of the proxy vendor, set forth the Adviser’s positions on recurring issues and criteria for addressing non-recurring issues and incorporates many of proxy vendor’s standard operating policies.

 

B.Accounts for Which the Adviser Has Proxy Voting Responsibility

 

The Adviser generally is responsible for voting proxies with respect to securities selected by the Adviser and held in client accounts. The Adviser’s form of Investment Advisory Agreement provides clients with an alternative as to whether the client or the Adviser will be responsible for proxy voting. However, the Adviser does not vote proxies for securities not selected by the Adviser but that are nevertheless held in a client account or where the Adviser otherwise is not vested with discretionary authority over securities held in a client account.

C.Adherence to Client Proxy Voting Policies

 

 

 

B-2 
 

Although clients do not always have proxy-voting policies, if a client has such a policy and instructs the Adviser to follow it, the Adviser is required to comply with it except in any instance in which doing so would be contrary to the economic interests of the client or otherwise imprudent or unlawful.

 

The Adviser must, to the extent possible, comply with each client’s proxy voting policy. If such policies conflict, the Adviser may vote proxies to reflect each policy in proportion to the respective client’s interest in any pooled account, for example (unless in the particular situation voting in such a manner would be imprudent or otherwise inconsistent with applicable law).

 

D.Conflicts

 

From time to time, proxy voting proposals may raise conflicts between the interests of the Adviser’s clients and the interests of the Adviser and its employees. The Adviser must take certain steps designed to ensure, and must be able to demonstrate that those steps resulted in, a decision to vote the proxies that was based on the clients’ best interest and was not the product of the conflict. For example, conflicts of interest may arise when:

 

·proxy votes regarding non-routine matters are solicited by an issuer that has an institutional separate account relationship with the Adviser;12
·a proponent of a proxy proposal has a business relationship with the Adviser; or
·the Adviser has business relationships with participants in proxy contests, corporate directors or director candidates.

 

The Adviser’s Management Committee is primarily responsible for monitoring and resolving possible material conflicts with respect to proxy voting. Any person with knowledge of a personal conflict of interest relating to a particular matter shall disclose that conflict to the Chief Compliance Officer and may be required to recuse him or herself from the proxy voting process. Issues raising possible conflicts of interest are referred to the Management Committee for resolution. Application of the Guidelines or voting in accordance with the proxy vendor vote recommendation should, in most cases, adequately address any possible conflicts of interest.

 

E.Special Issues with Voting Foreign Proxies

 

Although the Adviser has arrangements with the proxy vendor, voting proxies with respect to shares of foreign stocks may involve significantly greater effort and corresponding cost due to the variety of regulatory schemes and corporate practices in foreign countries with respect to proxy voting. Logistical problems in voting foreign proxies include the following:

 

·Each country has its own rules and practices regarding shareholder notification, voting restrictions, registration conditions and share blocking.

 

·To vote shares in some countries, the shares may be “blocked” by the custodian or depository (or bearer shares deposited with a specified financial institution) for a specified number of days (usually five or fewer but sometimes longer) before or after the shareholder meeting. When blocked, shares typically may not be traded until the day after the blocking period. The Adviser may refrain from voting shares of foreign stocks subject to blocking restrictions where, in the

 

 

12For this purpose, Adviser generally will consider as “non-routine” any matter listed in New York Stock Exchange Rule 452.11, relating to when a member adviser may not vote a proxy without instructions from its customer (for example, contested matters are deemed non-routine).
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Adviser’s judgment, the benefit from voting the shares is outweighed by the interest of maintaining client liquidity in the shares. This decision generally is made on a case-by-case basis based on relevant factors, including the length of the blocking period, the significance of the holding, and whether the stock is considered a long-term holding.

 

·Often it is difficult to ascertain the date of a shareholder meeting because certain countries, such as France, do not require companies to publish announcements in any official stock exchange publication.

 

·Time frames between shareholder notification, distribution of proxy materials, book-closure and the actual meeting date may be too short to allow timely action.

 

·Language barriers will generally mean that an English translation of proxy information must be obtained or commissioned before the relevant shareholder meeting.

 

·Some companies and/or jurisdictions require that, in order to be eligible to vote, the shares of the beneficial holders be registered in the company’s share registry.

 

·Lack of a “proxy voting service” by custodians in certain countries.

 

Because the cost of voting on a particular proxy proposal could exceed the expected benefit to a client (including an ERISA plan), the Adviser may weigh the costs and benefits of voting on proxy proposals relating to foreign securities and make an informed decision on whether voting a given proxy proposal is prudent.

 

F.Reports

 

Clients may obtain information from the Adviser about how we voted proxies with respect to their securities. If requested, the Adviser provides clients with periodic reports on the Adviser’s proxy voting decisions and actions for securities in their accounts, in such forms or intervals as the client’s reasonably request.

 

G.Operational Procedures

 

The Adviser’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)is responsible for administering the proxy voting process as set forth in these procedures. The CEO or designee works with the proxy vendor, the proxy voting service, and is responsible for ensuring that meeting notices are reviewed. The CEO or designee will process proxies of a routine nature in accordance with the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Guidelines when the vote recommendation from the proxy vendor and company management are in agreement on how the proposal should be voted. A response or feedback from the CEO or designee will be provided in writing when proposals are not covered by the Guidelines, the proxy vendor recommends a vote contrary to company management, or the Guidelines are unclear on how a proxy should be voted. A response from the CEO or designee is required to be in writing and will be maintained by the Adviser. The CEO or designee is responsible for the actual submission of the proxies in a timely fashion.

 

The CEO or designee may submit a proxy recommendation that is contrary to the Guidelines or the proxy vendor vote recommendation if he determines that it is in the best interest of clients. If the CEO or designee submits voting recommendations that are inconsistent with the Guidelines or the proxy vendor vote recommendations, then the CEO or designee is required to document the rationale for his recommendation. The Management Committee will review the recommendation in order to determine whether the CEO or designee’s voting rationale appears reasonable and in the best interests of clients. If

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the Management Committee does not agree that the CEO or designee’s rationale is reasonable and in the best interests of clients, the Management Committee will vote the proxy and document the reason(s) for its decision. The Adviser is responsible for maintaining the documentation provided by the CEO or designee and the Management Committee and assuring that it adequately reflects the basis for any recommendation or vote that is cast in opposition to the Guidelines or proxy vendor vote recommendation.

 

H.Securities Subject to Lending Arrangements

 

For various legal or administrative reasons, the Adviser, customarily and typically does not, and is often unable to vote securities that are, at the time of such vote, on loan pursuant to a client’s securities lending arrangement with the client’s custodian. The Adviser will refrain from voting such securities where the costs to the client and/or administrative inconvenience of retrieving securities then on loan outweighs the benefit of voting, assuming retrieval under such circumstances is even feasible and/or possible. In certain extraordinary situations, the Adviser may seek to have securities then on loan pursuant to such securities lending arrangements retrieved by the clients’ custodians for voting purposes. This decision will generally be made on a case-by-case basis depending on whether, in the Adviser’s judgment, the matter to be voted on has critical significance to the potential value of the securities in question, the relative cost and/or administrative inconvenience of retrieving the securities, the significance of the holding and whether the stock is considered a long-term holding. There can be no guarantee that any such securities can be retrieved for such purpose.

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 28.   Exhibits
(a)(1)   Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) as filed with the State of Ohio on September 27, 2013 (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 1, 2013.)
     
(a)(2)   Amendment No. 1 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio on November 13, 2013 (“Amendment No. 1”) (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(a)(3)   Amendment No. 2 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio on December 2, 2013 (“Amendment No. 2”) (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(a)(4)   Amendment No. 3 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(a)(5)   Amendment No. 4 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 on October 13, 2015.)
     
(a)(6)   Amendment No. 5 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 on October 13, 2015.)
     
(a)(7)   Amendment No. 6 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(a)(8)   Amendment No. 7 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 on August 26, 2016.)
     
(a)(9)   Amendment No. 8 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(a)(10)   Amendment No. 9 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(a)(11)   Amendment No. 10 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 on June 4, 2018.)
     
(a)(12)   Amendment No. 11 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)

 

 
 

 

 

     
(a)(13)   Amendment No. 12 to Trust Instrument as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(a)(14)   Amendment No. 13 to Trust Instrument filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(a)(15)   Amendment No. 14 to Trust Instrument filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(a)(16)   Amendment No. 15 (form of) to Trust Instrument filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(a)(17)   Amendment No. 16 to Trust Instrument filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(a)(18)   Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) dated November 18, 2021 as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(a)(19)   Amendment to Appendix B to Trust Instrument dated February 2, 2022, as filed with the State of Ohio – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(a)(20)   Amendment to Appendix B to Trust Instrument dated March 7, 2023, as filed with the State of Ohio – to be filed by amendment.  
     
(b)(1)   By-Laws adopted as of September 18, 2013 (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Initial Registration Statement on Form N-1A on October 1, 2013.)
     
(b)(2)   Amendment No. 1 to By-Laws adopted as of November 18, 2013 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 on December 27, 2017.)
     
(b)(3)   Amendment No. 2 to By-Laws adopted as of June 16, 2016 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 on August 26, 2016.)
     
(c)   Instruments Defining Rights of Shareholders – incorporated by reference to the Trust Instrument, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, the By-Laws and Amendment No.1 to the By-Laws.
     
(d)(1)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund, and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(d)(2)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of First Security Municipal Bond Fund, and First Security Fund Advisers, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
 
 

 

 

     
(d)(3)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(d)(4)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC, on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(d)(5)   Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between Preserver Partners, LLC and Semper Capital Management, L.P., on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(d)(6)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Canterbury Investment Management, LLC, on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(d)(7)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Hedeker Wealth LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(d)(8)   Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 on January 30, 2017.)
     
(d)(9)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC dated December 10, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
 (d)(10)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund and Alta Capital Management, LLC dated December 18, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(d)(11)   Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. dated December 19, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(d)(12)   Investment Advisory Agreement (form of) between the Registrant, on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund and Guardian Capital LP dated March 14, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
 
 

 

 

     
(d)(13)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund and Cornerstone Capital Inc. dated September 10, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(14)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Cornerstone Capital Inc. and ARK Investment Management, LLC dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(15)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Cornerstone Capital Inc. and Green Alpha Advisors, LLC dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(16)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Cornerstone Capital Inc. and KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(17)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Cornerstone Capital Inc. and RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(18)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement (form of) between Cornerstone Capital Inc. and Schroders Investment Management North America Inc. dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(19)   Investment Sub-Sub-Advisory Agreement (form of) between Schroders Investment Management North America Inc. and Schroders Investment Management North America Ltd. dated September 30, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(d)(20)   Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund, and Alta Capital Management, LLC dated December 12, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(d)(21)   Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. dated December 9, 2020 and effective January 31, 2021 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(d)(22)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF, and Clockwise Capital LLC dated December 8, 2021 –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
 
 

 

 

     
(d)(23)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund, and Guardian Capital LP dated January 28, 2022 – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(d)(24)   Sub-Advisory Agreement between Guardian Capital LP and GuardCap Asset Management Limited on behalf of the Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund dated January 28, 2022 – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(d)(25)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF, and Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC dated March 8, 2022 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(d)(26)   Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC and Fairlead Strategies LLC on behalf of the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF dated March 8, 2022 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(d)(27)   Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF, and HTAA, LLC dated March 7, 2023 – to be filed by amendment.
     
(e)(1)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(e)(2)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the First Security Municipal Bond Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(e)(3)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(e)(4)   Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Unified Financial Securities, Inc., on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(e)(5)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(e)(6)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the First Security Municipal Bond Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
 
 

 

     
(e)(7)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(e)(8)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(e)(9)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund, and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(e)(10)   Form of Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund, and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(e)(11)   First Amendment to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(e)(12)   Second Amendment to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund and Unified Financial Securities, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(e)(13)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Reynders McVeigh Core Equity Fund dated December 10, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(e)(14)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Alta Capital Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund dated December 18, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(e)(15)   Amendment to the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. and Unified Financial Securities, LLC dated December 18, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
 (e)(16)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Alta Capital Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
 
 

 

(e)(17)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Canterbury Investment Management, LLC and Unified Financial Securities, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(18)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. and Unified Financial Securities, LLC on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(19)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Hedeker Wealth LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(20)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. and Unified Financial Securities, LLC on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(21)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Preserver Partners, LLC and Unified Financial Securities, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(22)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund dated February 1, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(23)   Distribution Agreement (form of) between the Registrant, Guardian Capital LP and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund dated March 14, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(e)(24)   Distribution Agreement between the Registrant, Cornerstone Capital Inc. and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund dated September 10, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(e)(25)   Amendment (form of) dated December 12, 2019 to the Distribution Agreement dated February 1, 2019 between the Registrant, Alta Capital Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund and the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
 
 

 

(e)(26)   Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2019 between the Registrant, Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(e)(27)   Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2019 between the Registrant, Preserver Partners, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(e)(28)   Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2019 between the Registrant, Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(e)(29)   Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2019 between the Registrant, Canterbury Investment Management, LLC and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(e)(30)   ETF Distribution Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF and the Fairlead Tactical Sector Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(e)(31)   Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated January 28, 2022 between the Registrant, Guardian Capital LP and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Guardian Capital Dividend Growth Fund and Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(e)(32)   Schedule B-2 dated March 8, 2022 to the ETF Distribution Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(e)(33)   Schedule B-3 dated March 7, 2023 to the ETF Distribution Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(f)   Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts – not applicable.
     
(g)(1)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Huntington National Bank, on behalf of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund, (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
 
 

 

(g)(2)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(g)(3)   Form of Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(g)(4)   Form of Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(g)(5)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(g)(6)   Form of Custody Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(g)(7)   Amended Appendix B to the Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(g)(8)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(g)(9)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(g)(10)   Amendment to Appendix B of the Custody Agreement dated December 18, 2018 between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(g)(11)   Amendment to Appendix D - Fee Schedule of the Custody Agreement dated December 18, 2018 between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
 
 

 

(g)(12)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(g)(13)   Custody Agreement between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(g)(14)   Amendment to Appendix A and Appendix B dated December 12, 2019 of the Custody Agreement dated December 18, 2018 between the Registrant and the Huntington National Bank, on behalf of the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund and the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(g)(15)   Special Custody Account Pledge and Control Agreement between the Registrant, the Huntington National Bank, and Interactive Brokers, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund dated March 19, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(g)(16)   Amendment to Custody Agreement between the Registrant and The Huntington National Bank on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(g)(17)   Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF and the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(g)(18)   Amendment to Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF and the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 on May 31, 2022).
     
(g)(19)   Amendment to Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(h)(1)   Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington Asset Services, Inc., on behalf of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund, (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(h)(2)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. with respect to Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
 
 

 

(h)(3)   Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington Asset Services, Inc., on behalf of First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(h)(4)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and First Security Fund Advisers, Inc. with respect to First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(h)(5)   Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington Asset Services, Inc., on behalf of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(h)(6)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(h)(7)   Form of Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Huntington Asset Services, Inc., on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(h)(8)   Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC with respect to the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(h)(9)   Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. with respect to Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 on December 23, 2015.)
     
(h)(10)   Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC, on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
 (h)(11)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Canterbury Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(h)(12)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and First Security Fund Advisors, Inc. with respect to the First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 on August 26, 2016.)
     
(h)(13)   Master Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
       
 
 

 

(h)(14)   Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Hedeker Wealth LLC, with respect to the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(h)(15)   Form of Compliance Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(h)(16)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 on January 30, 2017.)
     
(h)(17)   Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 on January 30, 2017.)
     
(h)(18)   Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. with respect to the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 on December 29, 2016.)
     
(h)(19)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and First Security Fund Advisors, Inc. with respect to the First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 on August 25, 2017.)
     
(h)(20)   First Amendment dated October 1, 2017 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(21)   Letter Agreement dated November 9, 2017 between the Registrant, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Funds – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(22)   First Amendment dated October 1, 2017 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(23)   Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan dated December 20, 2017 on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
 
 

 

 

(h)(24)   Expense Limitation Agreement effective December 20, 2017 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(25)   Second Amendment dated December 14, 2017 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(26)   Second Amendment dated December 14, 2017 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(h)(27)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC with respect to the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 42 on December 28, 2017.)
     
(h)(28)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. with respect to the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 43 on December 29, 2017.)
     
(h)(29)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. with respect to the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 49 on June 4, 2018.)
     
(h)(30)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Canterbury Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 on August 27, 2018.)
     
(h)(31)   Amendment to Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund dated June 14, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 on August 27, 2018.)
     
(h)(32)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and First Security Fund Advisers, Inc. with respect to the First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by referenced as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 on August 27, 2018.)
     
(h)(33)   Amendment to Mutual Fund Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the First Security Municipal Bond Fund dated June 14, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by referenced as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 52 on August 27, 2018.)
     
 
 

 

     
(h)(34)   Administrative Services Plan dated December 10, 2018 on behalf of the Reynders McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(h)(35)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
 (h)(36)   Amendment dated December 10, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(h)(37)   Amendment dated December 10, 2018 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(h)(38)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Alta Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(h)(39)   Amendment dated December 18, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(h)(40)   Amendment dated December 18, 2018 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(h)(41)   Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan dated December 18, 2018 on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(h)(42)   Expense Limitation Agreement effective December 19, 2018 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
 
 

 

     
(h)(43)   Amendment dated December 19, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(h)(44)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Hedeker Wealth, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 on December 31, 2018).
     
(h)(45)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 31, 2018 between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 on December 28, 2018.)
     
(h)(46)   Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 18, 2018 between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 on December 28, 2018.)
     
 (h)(47)   Expense Limitation Agreement (form of) between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP with respect to the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(48)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(49)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(50)   Revolving Credit Agreement between the Registrant and The Huntington National Bank on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund dated March 15, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(51)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Canterbury Investment Management, LLC with respect to the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 77 on August 28, 2019.)
     
(h)(52)   Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Cornerstone Capital Inc. with respect to the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
 
 

 

(h)(53)   Amendment dated September 10, 2019 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(h)(54)   Amendment dated September 10, 2019 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(h)(55)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 12, 2019 between the Registrant and Alta Capital, LLC with respect to the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund and the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(56)   Amendment dated December 12, 2019 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(57)   Amendment dated December 12, 2019 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(58)   SEC Jurisdictional Documents – Representations of Alta Capital Management, LLC and GuardCap Asset Management Limited dated March 18, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(h)(59)   Participating Affiliate Memorandum of Understanding between and among Alta Capital Management, LLC, Guardian Capital LP and GuardCap Asset Management Limited dated November 27, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
 (h)(60)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 12, 2019 and effective December 31, 2019 between the Registrant and Hedeker Wealth, LLC with respect to the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(61)   Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit Agreement between the Registrant and The Huntington National Bank on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund dated August 12, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 86 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(62)   Amendment dated June 14, 2018 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     

 

 
 

 

 

     
(h)(63)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(64)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 12, 2019 and effective December 31, 2019 between the Registrant and Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(65)   Amendment dated June 14, 2018 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated November 19, 2013 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(66)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated November 19, 2013 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, the Meritage Value Equity Fund and the Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(67)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated July 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(68)   Amendment dated June 14, 2018 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated March 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated hereby by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post- Effective Amendment No. 88 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(69)   Amendment dated December 31, 2018 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated March 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated hereby by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post- Effective Amendment No. 88 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(70)   Amendment dated March 14, 2019 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated March 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated hereby by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post- Effective Amendment No. 88 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(h)(71)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 12, 2019, and effective February 1, 2020 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated hereby by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 on January 28, 2020.)
 
 

 

     
(h)(72)   Participating Fund Agreement (form of) between the Registrant and ReFlow Fund, LLC on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 94 on January 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(73)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 31, 2020 between the Registrant and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 on May 29, 2020.)
     
(h)(74)   Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated February 28, 2020 between the Registrant and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 97 on May 29, 2020.)
     
(h)(75)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 31, 2020 between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP with respect to the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(76)   Fourteenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
 (h)(77)   Fifteenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(78)   Sixteenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(79)   Seventeenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(80)   Eighteenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund and Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
 
 

 

(h)(81)   Nineteenth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(82)   Twentieth Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(83)   Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated March 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(84)   Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated November 19, 2013 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 99 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(85)   Amendment dated January 1, 2020 to the Mutual Fund Services Agreement dated July 1, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 on August 28, 2020.)
     
(h)(86)   Twenty-first Amendment dated October 1, 2020 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(h)(87)   Expense Limitation Agreement effective January 31, 2021 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(h)(88)   Securities Lending Agency Agreement between the Registrant and BMO Harris Bank, N.A. on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 on May 28, 2021.)
     
 
 

 

(h)(89)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 31, 2020 between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 104 on December 29, 2020).
     
(h)(90)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 9, 2020, and effective January 31, 2021 between the Registrant and Alta Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Alta Quality Growth Fund and the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 on January 28, 2021).
     
(h)(91)   Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 17, 2021, and effective as of May 31, 2021, between the Registrant and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 on May 28, 2021.)
     
(h)(92)   Twenty-second Amendment dated March 18, 2021 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund and the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 on May 28, 2021.)
     
(h)(93)   Amendment dated March 18, 2021 to the Compliance Consulting Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund and Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 on May 28, 2021.)
     
(h)(94)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated August 31, 2021 between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP with respect to the Guardian Capital Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 on August 27, 2021).
     
(h)(95)   Consulting Agreement for compliance services dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF and the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(h)(96)   ETF Master Services Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF and the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(h)(97)   Form of Authorized Participant Agreement between the Registrant, Northern Lights Distributors, LLC and a participant – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(h)(98)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 31, 2021 between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 122 on December 29, 2021.)
 
 

 

     
(h)(99)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 28, 2022 between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP on behalf of the Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(h)(100)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 8, 2021 and effective January 31, 2022 between the Registrant and Alta Capital Management, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(h)(101)   Twenty-third Amendment dated December 18, 2021 to the Master Services Agreement dated December 21, 2016 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund, Guardian Capital Dividend Growth Fund and Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(h)(102)   Assignment of Securities Lending Agency Agreement among the Registrant, BMO Harris Bank N.A. and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(h)(103)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 28, 2022 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(h)(104)   Fund Accounting Fee Letter and Fund Administration Fee Letter dated March 8, 2022 to the ETF Master Services Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, on behalf of the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(h)(105)   Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement dated March 7, 2022, and effective as of May 31, 2022, between the Registrant and Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC with respect to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 on May 31, 2022).
     
(h)(106)   Derivatives Risk Management Program Support Services Addendum between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund, dated June 23, 2022 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 on August 26, 2022).
     
(h)(107)   Fee Waiver Amendment dated August 1, 2022 to the Master Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 128 on August 26, 2022).
     
 
 

 

(h)(108)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 31, 2022 between the Registrant and Preserver Partners, LLC on behalf of the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 on December 29, 2022).
     
(h)(109)   Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement for compliance services dated September 14, 2022 between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 on December 29, 2022).
     
(h)(110)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated December 8, 2022 and effective January 31, 2023 between the Registrant and Alta Capital Management, LLC on behalf of the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 on January 27, 2023).
     
(h)(111)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 31, 2023 between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP on behalf of the Guardian Capital Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 on January 27, 2023).
     
(h)(112)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 31, 2023 between the Registrant and Guardian Capital LP on behalf of the Guardian Capital Dividend Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 on January 27, 2023).
     
(h)(113)   Amended and Restated Administrative Services Plan dated January 25, 2023 on behalf of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 on January 30, 2023).
     
(h)(114)   Expense Limitation Agreement dated January 27, 2023 between the Registrant and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 132 on January 30, 2023).
     
(h)(115)   Shareholder Services Agreement dated [], 2023 between the Trust and Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. with respect to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Equity Fund – to be filed by amendment.
     
 
 

 

(h)(116)   Amended Schedule A to the ETF Master Services Agreement dated December 8, 2021 between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, and Fund Accounting Fee Letter and Fund Administration Fee Letter on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(h)(117)   Derivatives Risk Management Program Support Services Addendum to the ETF Master Services Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC dated December 8, 2021 on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(h)(118)   Amendment No. 1 dated March 6, 2023 to the Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC dated September 14, 2022 – to be filed by amendment.   
     
(i)(1)   Opinion and Consent of Counsel by Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(i)(2)   Opinion and Consent of Counsel by Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(i)(3)   Opinion of Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 9 on October 13, 2015.)
     
(i)(4)   Opinion of Keating, Muething & Klekamp PLL as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(i)(5)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(i)(6)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Hedeker Strategic Appreciation Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 on December 22, 2016.)
     
(i)(7)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(i)(8)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Reynders, McVeigh Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 on December 10, 2018.)
     
(i)(9)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Alta Quality Growth Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 on December 19, 2018.)
     
 
 

 

(i)(10)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(i)(11)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Guardian Dividend Growth Fund - (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 74 on April 16, 2019.)
     
(i)(12)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Cornerstone Capital Access Impact Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(i)(13)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Guardian Fundamental Global Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 85 on December 16, 2019.)
     
(i)(14)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(i)(15)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Clockwise Capital Innovation ETF – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(i)(16)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Fairlead Tactical Sector ETF –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(i)(17)   Opinion of counsel as to the legality of the securities registered with regard to the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(j)(1)   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm – filed herewith.
     
(k)   Omitted Financial Statements – not applicable.
     
(l)   Subscription Agreement (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
 
 

 

 

(m)(1)   Rule 12b-1 Plan for Investor Shares of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(m)(2)   Rule 12b-1 Plan for A Shares of First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(m)(3)   Rule 12b-1 Plan for A Shares of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(m)(4)   Form of Rule 12b-1 Plan for Retail Shares of Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(m)(5)   Amended and Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan for Investor Shares of Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(m)(6)   Amended and Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan for A Shares of First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(m)(7)   Amended and Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan for A Shares of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(m)(8)   Amended and Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan for Retail Shares of Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 16 on January 27, 2016.)
     
(m)(9)   Rule 12b-1 Plan for Investor Shares of Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(m)(10)   Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan for Investor Shares of Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 on January 30, 2017.)
     
(m)(11)   Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan dated December 20, 2017 for Investor Shares of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
 
 

 

(m)(12)   Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan dated December 18, 2018 for A Shares, C Shares and Investor Shares of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(m)(13)   Restated Rule 12b-1 Plan dated December 9, 2020 for A Shares, C Shares and Investor Shares of the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, and Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 108 on January 29, 2021.)
     
(m)(14)   Distribution and Service Plan dated March 7, 2023 on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF – to be filed by amendment.
     
(n)(1)   Rule 18f-3 Plan for Meritage Growth Equity Fund, Meritage Value Equity Fund, and Meritage Yield-Focus Equity Fund (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(n)(2)   Rule 18f-3 Plan for First Security Municipal Bond Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(n)(3)   Rule 18f-3 Plan for Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Core Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 on Form N-14/A on September 18, 2015.)
     
(n)(4)   Rule 18f-3 Plan for Preserver Alternative Opportunities Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 on November 9, 2015.)
     
(n)(5)   Rule 18f-3 Plan for Canterbury Portfolio Thermostat Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 on April 11, 2016.)
     
(n)(6)   Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan for Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 on January 30, 2017.)
     
(n)(7)   Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated December 20, 2017 for the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund and the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 on December 20, 2017.)
     
(n)(8)   Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan dated December 18, 2018 for the Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Cap Growth Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Mid-Cap Value Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Unconstrained Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Small-Mid Core Equity Fund, Fuller & Thaler Behavioral Micro-Cap Equity Fund – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 on December 19, 2018.)
     
(o)   Reserved.
 
 

 

 

(p)(1)   Code of Ethics for the Registrant (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(p)(2)   Code of Ethics of Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. dated September 16, 2019 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 87 on December 30, 2019.)
     
(p)(3)   Code of Ethics of Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(p)(4)   Code of Ethics of First Security Fund Advisers, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(p)(5)   Code of Ethics of Canterbury Investment Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 on August 27, 2021.)
     
(p)(6)   Code of Ethics of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 on May 28, 2021.)
     
(p)(7)   Code of Ethics of Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 on May 31, 2022).
     
(p)(8)   Code of Ethics of Alta Capital Management, LLC as amended September 2021 – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(p)(9)   Code of Ethics of Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(p)(10)   Code of Ethics of Preserver Partners, LLC dated September 2021 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 122 on December 29, 2021.)
     
(p)(11)   Code of Ethics of Hedeker Wealth, LLC dated July 2, 2018 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 on December 31, 2018).
     
(p)(12)   Code of Ethics of Guardian Capital LP – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 115 on August 27, 2021).
     
(p)(13)   Code of Ethics of Cornerstone Capital Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(14)   Code of Ethics of ARK Investment Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(15)   Code of Ethics of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
 
 

 

 

(p)(16)   Code of Ethics of KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(17)   Code of Ethics of RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(18)   Code of Ethics of Schroders Investment Management North America Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(19)   Code of Ethics of Schroders Investment Management North America Limited – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(p)(20)   Code of Ethics of GuardCap Asset Management Limited – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(p)(21)   Code of Ethics of Clockwise Capital LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(p)(22)   Code of Ethics of Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(p)(23)   Code of Ethics of Fairlead Strategies, LLC –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(p)(24)   Code of Ethics of HTAA, LLC – filed herewith.
     
(q)(1)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures for the Registrant (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(q)(2)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. dated August 2016 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 63 on December 28, 2018.)
     
(q)(3)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures for First Security Fund Advisers, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 on May 20, 2015.)
     
(q)(4)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of  Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 124 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(q)(5)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Preserver Partners, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 129 on December 29, 2022.)
     
(q)(6)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Canterbury Investment Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 114 on August 27, 2021.)
 
 

 

(q)(7)   Proxy Voting Policy of Hedeker Wealth, LLC dated November 13, 2017 – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 on December 31, 2018).
     
(q)(8)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 127 on May 31, 2022).
     
(q)(9)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Alta Capital Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
     
(q)(10)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Guardian Capital LP – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 131 on January 27, 2023).
     
(q)(11)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Cornerstone Capital Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(12)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of ARK Investment Management, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(13)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Green Alpha Advisors, LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(14)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(15)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of RBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(16)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Schroders Investment Management North America Inc. – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 on October 1, 2019.)
     
(q)(17)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Clockwise Capital LLC – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 121 on December 22, 2021.)
     
(q)(18)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC –  (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 126 on March 8, 2022.)
     
(q)(19)   Reserved.
     
(q)(20)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of GuardCap Asset Management Limited – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 on January 28, 2022.)
 
 

 

     
(q)(21)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of HTAA, LLC – filed herewith.
     
(r)(1)   Powers of Attorney for Walter B. Grimm, Mary M. Morrow and R. Jeffrey Young (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form N-1A/A on December 12, 2013.)
     
(r)(2)   Powers of Attorney for Walter B. Grimm, Mary M. Morrow and R. Jeffrey Young – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 on August 26, 2016.)
     
(r)(3)   Powers of Attorney for Robert G. Dorsey, Walter B. Grimm and Mary Madick Morrow – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 on August 25, 2017.)
     
(r)(4)   Powers of Attorney for Robert G. Dorsey, Walter B. Grimm, Mary Madick Morrow, John C. Davis, Lori Kaiser and Janet S. Meeks – (Exhibit incorporated herein by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 51 on August 27, 2018.)
     
(r)(5)   Powers of Attorney for David James, Walter B. Grimm, Mary Madick Morrow, John C. Davis, Lori Kaiser and Janet S. Meeks – (Exhibit incorporated by reference as filed to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 111 on March 29, 2021.)

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Funds

 

No person is directly or indirectly controlled by or under common control with the Registrant.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

 

  (k) Article VI, Section 6.4 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, an Ohio business trust, provides that:

 

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

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities may be permitted pursuant to Section 17 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for Trustees, Officers, and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware of the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission as set forth in Investment Company Act Release No. IC-11330.

 
 

Therefore, the Registrant undertakes that in addition to complying with the applicable provisions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or otherwise, in the absence of a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before which the proceeding was brought, that an indemnification payment will not be made unless in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination based upon factual review has been made (i) by a majority vote of a quorum of non-party Trustees who are not interested persons of the Registrant or (ii) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that the indemnitee was not liable for an act of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duties. The Registrant further undertakes that advancement of expenses incurred in the defense of a proceeding (upon undertaking for repayment unless it is ultimately determined that indemnification is appropriate) against an officer, trustee, or controlling person of the Registrant will not be made absent the fulfillment of at least one of the following conditions: (i) the indemnitee provides security for his undertaking; (ii) the Registrant is insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances; or (iii) a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party trustees or independent legal counsel in a written opinion makes a factual determination that there is reason to believe the indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) may be permitted to Trustees, officers, and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers, or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers, or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.

 

(b) Section 7 of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and each Adviser, on behalf of the Hull Tactical US ETF, provides that:

 

The Adviser shall indemnify the Trust, each Fund and the Trust’s officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents (each, a “Trust Indemnitee”) for, and shall defend and hold each Trust Indemnitee harmless from, all losses, costs, damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) (collectively, the “Losses”) incurred by the Trust Indemnitee and arising from or in connection with the performance of this Agreement or a Subadvisory Agreement and resulting from the Adviser’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, or negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or a Subadvisory Agreement, the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or a Subadvisory Agreement, or the breach of its fiduciary duty to the Trust under federal securities laws or state laws; provided, however, no such indemnification shall be required to the extent that the Losses result from the Trust’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, or negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or the Trust’s reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement.

 

The Trust shall indemnify the Adviser, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates and agents (each, an “Adviser Indemnitee”) for, and shall defend and hold each Adviser Indemnitee harmless from all Losses incurred by the Adviser Indemnitee and arising from or in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, no such indemnification shall be required to the extent that the Losses result from the Adviser’s bad faith, willful misfeasance, or negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or a Subadvisory Agreement, the Adviser’s reckless disregard of its duties or obligations under this Agreement or a Subadvisory Agreement, or the Adviser’s breach of its fiduciary duty under federal securities laws and state law.

 
 

 

Upon the assertion of a claim for which a party may be required to indemnify an Trust Indemnitee or an Adviser Indemnity (each, an “Indemnitee”), the Indemnitee must promptly notify the indemnifying party of such assertion, and shall keep the indemnifying party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The indemnifying party shall have the option to participate with the Indemnitee in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the Indemnitee. The Indemnitee shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnifying party may be required to indemnify it except with the indemnifying party’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; notwithstanding Sections 7(a) and 7(b) hereof, in the event the Indemnitee has not secured such consent from the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall have no obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee.

 

Sections 4.3 through 4.5 of the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC provide that:

 

Trust Indemnification. The Trust will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Trust, or arise out of, or are based upon, information furnished by or on behalf of the Trust filed in any state in order to qualify the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws thereof (“Blue Sky Application”), or arise out of, or are based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Distributor, its several officers and directors, and any person who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be liable in any case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Trust in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust by, or on behalf of, and with respect to, the Distributor specifically for inclusion therein. In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

The Trust shall not indemnify any person pursuant to this Section 4.3 unless the court or other body before which the proceeding was brought has rendered a final decision on the merits that such person was not liable by reason of his willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of his duties, or his reckless disregard of obligations and duties, under this Agreement (“disabling conduct”) or, in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination (based upon a review of the facts) that such person was not liable by reason of disabling conduct has been made by the vote of a majority of Trustees who are neither “interested persons” of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) nor parties to the proceeding, or in a written opinion by an independent legal counsel retained by the Trust.

 

The Trust shall advance attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by any person in defending any claim, demand, action or suit which is the subject of a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 4.3, so long as such person shall: (i) undertake to repay all such advances unless it is ultimately determined that he

 
 

is entitled to indemnification hereunder; and (ii) provide security for such undertaking, or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances, or a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party Trustees of the Trust (or an independent legal counsel in a written opinion) shall determine based on a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

Distributor’s Indemnification. The Distributor will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trust, the Trust’s several officers and Trustees and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect hereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any breach of its representations and warranties in Section 4.2 hereof, or the willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement, or which arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, any Blue Sky Application or any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Trust, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust or any of its several officers and Trustees by, or on behalf of, and with respect to, the Distributor specifically for inclusion therein, and will reimburse the Trust, the Trust’s several officers and Trustees, and any person who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in investigating, defending or preparing to defend any such action, proceeding or claim.

 

General Indemnity Provisions. No indemnifying party shall be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in Section 4.3 or 4.4 hereof with respect to any claim made against such indemnifying party unless the indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the indemnified party (or after the indemnified party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may otherwise have to the indemnified party. The indemnifying party will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, and if the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. In the event the indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by the indemnified party.

 

(d) Sections 11.3 through 11.5 of the Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC provide that:

 

Each party (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify, defend, and protect the other party, including its trustees or directors, officers, employees, and other agents (collectively, the “Indemnitees”), and shall hold the Indemnitees harmless from and against any actions, suits, claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and reasonable costs, charges, expenses (including attorney fees and investigation expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) arising directly or indirectly out of (1) the Indemnifying Party’s failure to exercise the standard of care set forth above unless such Losses were caused in part by the Indemnitees own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence; (2) any violation of Applicable Law by the Indemnifying Party or its affiliated persons or agents relating to this Agreement and the activities thereunder; and (3) any material breach by the Indemnifying Party or its affiliated persons or agents of this Agreement.

 

 
 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Trust, a Fund, or the Advisor shall indemnify Distributor for Distributor’s Losses arising from circumstances under Section 11.2.A.

Upon the assertion of a claim for which either party may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The party who may be required to indemnify shall have the option to participate with the party seeking indemnification in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or in the name of the other party. The party seeking indemnification shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the other party may be required to indemnify it except with the other party’s prior written consent.

 

Dealer Agreement Indemnification. Distributor acknowledges and agrees that certain dealers require that Distributor enter into dealer agreements (the “Non-Standard Dealer Agreements”) that contain certain representations, undertakings, and indemnification that are not included in the Distributor’s standard dealer agreement (the “Standard Dealer Agreement”).

 

To the extent that Distributor is requested or required by the Trust to enter into any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement, the Trust shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor Indemnitees free and harmless from and against any and all Losses that any Distributor Indemnitee may incur arising out of or relating to (a) the Distributor’s actions or failures to act pursuant to any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement; (b) any representations made by the Distributor in any Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that the Distributor is not required to make such representations in the Standard Dealer Agreement; or (c) any indemnification provided by the Distributor under a Non-Standard Dealer Agreement to the extent that such indemnification is beyond the indemnification the Distributor provides to intermediaries in the Standard Dealer Agreement. In no event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect the Distributor Indemnitees against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders to which the Distributor Indemnitees would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of Distributor’s obligations or duties under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement or by reason of Distributor’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under the Non-Standard Dealer Agreement.

 The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

Sections 6 and 7 of the ETF Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and Northern Lights Distributors, LLC provide that:

 

Indemnification of Distributor

 

(a)    The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Distributor and each of its managers and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Distributor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any loss, liability, claim, damages or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, claim, damages, or expense and reasonable counsel fees and disbursements incurred in connection therewith), arising by reason of any person acquiring any Shares or Creation Units, based upon (i) the ground that the registration statement, prospectus, shareholder reports or other information filed or made public by the Trust (as from time to time amended) included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary in order to make the statements made not misleading, (ii) the Trust’s failure to maintain an effective registration statement and prospectus with respect to Shares of the Fund that are the subject of the claim or demand, (iii) the Trust’s failure to properly register Fund Shares under applicable state laws, (iv) instructions given by the Trust, the Trust’s failure to perform its duties hereunder or any inaccuracy of its representations, (v) any claim brought under Section 11 of the 1933 Act, or (vi) all actions taken by Distributor hereunder resulting from Distributor’s reliance on instructions received from an officer, agent or approved service provider of the Trust.

 

 
 

(b)    In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Trust to be deemed to protect the Distributor or any other person against any liability to which the Distributor or such person otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement (“Disqualifying Conduct”) by such party, or (ii) is the Trust to be liable to the Distributor under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6 with respect to any claim made against the Distributor or any person indemnified unless the Distributor or other person shall have notified the Trust in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Distributor or such other person (or after the Distributor or the person shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure to notify the Trust of any claim shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which it may have to the Distributor or any person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph.

 

(c)    The Trust shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any claims subject to this indemnity provision. If the Trust elects to assume the defense of any such claim, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Trust and satisfactory to the indemnified defendants in the suit whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Trust elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the indemnified defendants shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Trust does not elect to assume the defense of a suit, it will reimburse the indemnified defendants for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified defendants.

 

(d)    The Trust agrees to notify the Distributor promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or Trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of Shares or Creation Units.

 

Indemnification of Trust

 

(a)    The Distributor covenants and agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, against any loss, liability, damages, claim or expense (including the reasonable cost of investigating or defending any alleged loss, liability, damages, claim or expense and reasonable counsel fees and disbursements incurred in connection therewith) arising out of or based upon any Disqualifying Conduct by Distributor in connection with the offering and sale of any Shares.

 

(b)    In no case (i) is the indemnity of the Distributor in favor of the Trust or any other person indemnified to be deemed to protect the Trust or any other person against any liability to which the Trust or such other person would otherwise be subject by reason of Disqualifying Conduct by such party, or (ii) is the Distributor to be liable under its indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 with respect to any claim made against the Trust or any person indemnified unless the Trust or person, as the case may be, shall have notified the Distributor in writing of the claim within a reasonable time after the summons or other first written notification giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon the Trust or upon any person (or after the Trust or such person shall have received notice of service on any designated agent). However, failure to notify the Distributor of any claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability which it may have to the Trust or any person against whom the action is brought otherwise than on account of its indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph.

 

(c)    The Distributor shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce the claim subject to this indemnity provision,

 
 

but if the Distributor elects to assume the defense, the defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by the Distributor and satisfactory to the indemnified defendants whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event that the Distributor elects to assume the defense of any suit and retain counsel, the defendants in the suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them. If the Distributor does not elect to assume the defense of any suit, it will reimburse the indemnified defendants in the suit for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them.

 

(d)    The Distributor agrees to notify the Trust promptly of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers in connection with the sale of Shares or Creation Units.

 

Item 31. Business and other Connections of the Investment Advisers

 

Each Adviser to the Registrant is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The current Uniform Application for Investment Adviser Registration (“Form ADV”) filed with the SEC by each Adviser is incorporated by reference in response to this item. A list of each Adviser’s File No. and CRD No. is below. The current Form ADV may be accessed through the SEC’s website at https://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/.

 

Adviser File No. CRD No.
Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. 801-39348 107177
Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. 801-43915 107033
Preserver Partners, LLC 801-106636 152356
Canterbury Investment Management, LLC 801-61876 125680
Hedeker Wealth LLC 801-61654 124341
Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC 801-64812 137342
Alta Capital Management, LLC 801-50778 106786
Guardian Capital LP 801-56081 105078
GuardCap Asset Management Limited 801-113537 297056
Cornerstone Capital Inc. 801-80216 169232
ARK Investment Management, LLC 801-79081 169525

 

Green Alpha Advisors, LLC 801-77535 144413
KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd 801-60358 113606
RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc. 801-20303 107173
Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. 801-15834 105820
Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd 801-37163 106585
Clockwise Capital LLC 801-123024 175233
Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC 801-110994 289178
Fairlead Strategies, LLC 801-122857 297384
HTAA, LLC 801-79752 171391

 

 
 

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriter

 

(a) Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC and Northern Lights Distributor, LLC each serve as a principal underwriter of the Registrant.

 

Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC, 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246 acts as the principal underwriter for the following other open-end investment companies:

 

Williamsburg Investment Trust Schwartz Investment Trust
Papp Investment Trust CM Advisors Family of Funds
AlphaMark Investment Trust Ultimus Managers Trust
Chesapeake Investment Trust The Cutler Trust
Connors Funds Eubel Brady & Suttman Mutual Fund Trust
The Investment House Funds Centaur Mutual Funds Trust
Hussman Investment Trust Peachtree Alternative Strategies Fund
Oak Associates Funds Conestoga Funds
Unified Series Trust Caldwell & Orkin Funds, Inc.
Valued Advisers Trust James Alpha Funds Trust
Segall Bryant & Hamill Trust Red Cedar Fund Trust
Yorktown Funds Bruce Fund, Inc.
HC Capital Trust Commonwealth International Series Trust
Cross Shore Discovery Fund Index Funds
VELA Funds Waycross Independent Trust
Lind Capital Partners Municipal Credit Income Fund Hamilton Capital Management Dynamic Alternatives Fund
Cantor Fitzgerald Sustainable Infrastructure Fund Fairway Private Equity & Venture Capital Opportunities Fund
Cantor Select Portfolios Trust Flat Rock Global LLC
Dynamic Alternatives Fund F/m Funds Trust
Volumetric Fund MSS Series Trust

 

Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, Nebraska 68022, also acts as the principal underwriter for the following other open-end investment companies: Arrow ETF Trust, Arrow Investments Trust (ETF), Boyar Value Fund Inc., Copeland Trust, Humankind Benefit Corporation, Miller Investment Trust, Mutual Fund and Variable Insurance Trust, Mutual Fund Series Trust, North Country Funds, Northern Lights Fund Trust, Northern Lights Fund Trust II, Northern Lights Fund Trust III, Northern Lights Fund Trust IV, Northern Lights Variable Trust, OCM Mutual Fund, PREDEX, Princeton Private Investment Access Fund, The Saratoga Advantage Trust, THOR Financial Technologies Trust, Tributary Funds, Inc., Two Roads Shared Trust, Ultimus Managers Trust (ETF), Valued Advisers Trust (ETF), and Unified Series Trust (ETF).

 

 
 

 

(b) The following list sets forth the directors and executive officers of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC.

 

Name Position with Distributor Position with Registrant
Kevin Guerette President None
Stephen L. Preston Vice President, Financial Operations Principal, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Anti-Money Laundering Officer
Douglas K. Jones Vice President None
Melvin Van Cleave Chief Information Security Officer None

The address of all of the above-named persons is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.

 

The following list sets forth the directors and executive officers of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC.

 

Name Position with Distributor Position with Registrant
Kevin Guerette President None
Stephen L. Preston Treasurer, FINOP, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer Anti-Money Laundering Officer
David James Manager Interested Trustee
Melvin Van Cleave Chief Information Security Officer None
Bill Strait Secretary, General Counsel and Manager None

 

(c) Not applicable

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

 

(1) Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC), maintain all records required to be maintained by the Registrant under Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules (“Records”) which relate to the administration, fund accounting, and transfer agency services it provides to the Registrant. Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC and Ultimus Asset Services, LLC are located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

 

(2) The Huntington National Bank maintains all Records relating to the custodial services it provides to the Registrant. The Huntington National Bank is located at 41 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

 

(3) Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Meritage Portfolio Management, Inc. is located at 7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1212, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210.

 

(4) Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management, Inc. is located at 411 Borel Avenue, Suite 300, San Mateo, CA 94402.
 
 

 

(5) Preserver Partners, LLC maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. PreserverPartners, LLC is located at 425 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

 

(6) Canterbury Investment Management, LLC, maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Canterbury Investment Management, LLC is located at 23 East Cedar Street, Zionsville, Indiana 46077.

 

(7) Hedeker Wealth LLC, maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Hedeker Wealth LLC is located at One Overlook Point, Suite 610, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069.

 

(8) Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC, maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC is located at 121 High Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

 

(9) Alta Capital Management, LLC maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Alta Capital Management, LLC is located at 6440 South Wasatch Boulevard, Suite 260, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.

 

(10) Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC maintains all Records relating to the distribution services it provides to the Registrant. Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC is located at 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246.

 

(11) Guardian Capital LP maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Guardian Capital LP is located at Commerce Court West, 199 Bay Street, Suite 3100, P.O. Box 201, Toronto, Ontario M5L 1E8.

 

   
(12) GuardCap Asset Management Limited maintains all records relating to the subadvisory services it provides to the Registrant.  GuardCap Asset Management Limited is located at 6th Floor, 11 Charles II Street, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4NS.
   
(13) Cornerstone Capital Inc. maintains all Records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Cornerstone Capital Inc. is located at 550 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

 

(14) ARK Investment Management, LLC maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. ARK Investment Management, LLC is located at 3 E. 28th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY 10016.

 

(15) Green Alpha Advisors, LLC maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Green Alpha Advisors, LLC is located at 263 2nd Ave, Suite 106B, Niwot, CO 80544.

 

(16) KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. KBI Global Investors (North America) Ltd is located at 3rd Floor, 2 Harbourmaster Place, IFSC, Dublin 1.

 

 
 

 

(17) RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc. maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc. is located at 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 2350, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

 

(18) Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. is located at 7 Bryant Park, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

 

(19) Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd. maintains all Records relating to the sub-advisory services it provides to the Registrant. Schroder Investment Management North America Ltd is located at 1 London Wall Place, London, EC2Y 5AU.

 

(20) Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 50 Post Office Square, Boston, MA  02110, maintains records relating to the custodial and transfer agents services it provides to the Registrant.
   
(21) Northern Lights Distributors, LLC, 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, NE  68022, maintains records relating to the distribution services it provides to the Registrant.

 

(22) Clockwise Capital LLC, 1395 Brickell Avenue, Unit 800, Miami, Florida 33131, maintains all records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant.
   
(23) Northern Lights Compliance Services, LLC, 4221 North 203rd Street, Suite 100, Elkhorn, NE  68022, maintains records relating to the compliance services it provides to the Registrant.
   
(24) Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC, 901 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219, maintains records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant.
   
(25) Fairlead Strategies LLC, 110 Davenport Drive, Stamford, CT 06902, maintains records relating to the subadvisory services it provides to the Registrant.
   
(26) HTAA, LLC 141 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1650, Chicago, IL  60604, maintains records relating to the advisory services it provides to the Registrant.
   

 

Item 34. Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 35. Undertakings

 

Not applicable.

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (File No. 333-191495) and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (File No. 811-22895), the Registrant, Capitol Series Trust, has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Cincinnati and State of Ohio, on the 3rd day of March, 2023.

 

  Capitol Series Trust  
  (Registrant)  
     
  /s/ Paul Leone  
  Paul Leone  
  Secretary  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 133 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the 3rd day of March, 2023:

 

Signature   Title  
       
*   Trustee and Chair  
Walter B. Grimm      
       
*   Trustee  
Mary Madick      
       
*   Trustee  
David James      
       
*   Trustee  
Lori Kaiser      
       
*   Trustee  
Janet S. Meeks      
       
       
/s/ Matthew J. Miller   President and Chief Executive Officer  
Matthew J. Miller      
       
/s/ Zachary P. Richmond   Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer  
Zachary P. Richmond      
       
/s/ Tiffany R. Franklin      
* By: Tiffany R. Franklin      
Power of Attorney      

 

 
 

Exhibits

     
(j)(1)   Consent of independent registered public accounting firm
     
(p)(24)   Code of Ethics of HTAA, LLC
     
(q)(21)   Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures of HTAA, LLC