N-1A 1 d641650dn1a.htm N-1A N-1A
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As Filed With the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2013

Securities Act Registration No. 333-            

Investment Company Act Reg. No. 811-22917

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x

Pre-Effective Amendment ¨

Post-Effective Amendment No.          ¨

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 x

Amendment No.          ¨

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

 

 

ABSOLUTE SHARES TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

732-842-4920

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Don Schreiber, Jr.

Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue

Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

 

Kathleen Moriarty, Esq.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Phone: (212) 940-6304
Fax: (212) 894-5504

 

Gregory Xethalis, Esq.
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

575 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Phone: (212) 940- 8587
Fax: (212) 894- 5578

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

Title of Securities being Registered: Shares of Beneficial Interest, no par value.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


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THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

Preliminary Prospectus Subject to Change Dated December 9, 2013

ABSOLUTE SHARES TRUST

[LOGO]

 

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF (WBIA)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF (WBIB)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF (WBIC)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF (WBID)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF (WBIE)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF (WBIF)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF (WBIG)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF (WBIL)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF (WBII)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF (WBIH)

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”) NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

 

Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee

 

 


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Absolute Shares Trust (the “Trust”) is a registered investment company that consists of separate investment portfolios called “Funds.” This Prospectus relates to the following Funds:

 

Name                                                       

   CUSIP    Symbol  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF

        WBIA   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF

        WBIB   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF

        WBIC   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF

        WBID   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF

        WBIE   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF

        WBIF   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF

        WBIG   

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF

       
 
WBIL
WBII
  
  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF

        WBIH   

Each Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). This means that shares of the Funds are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca” or “Exchange”) and trade at market prices. The market price for each Fund’s shares may be different from its net asset value per share (the “NAV”). Each Fund has its own CUSIP number and exchange trading symbol.


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Page

 

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID GROWTH ETF

    1   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID VALUE ETF

    8   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID YIELD ETF

    15   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID SELECT ETF

    22   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE GROWTH ETF

    29   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE VALUE ETF

    36   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE YIELD

    43   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE SELECT ETF

    50   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES TACTICAL BOND ETF

    57   

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES TACTICAL HIGH INCOME ETF

    64   

OVERVIEW

    71   

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

    71   

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUNDS

    75   

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

    79   

ADDITIONAL RISKS

    80   

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

    81   

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

    81   

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES IN THE SECONDARY MARKET

    83   

MANAGEMENT

    83   

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

    85   

FREQUENT TRADING

    86   

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN

    86   

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE (NAV)

    87   

INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE

    88   

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

    88   

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

    88   

CODE OF ETHICS

    92   

FUND WEBSITE AND DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

    92   

OTHER INFORMATION

    92   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    93   

PRIVACY POLICY

    93   

FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

    94   

 

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SUMMARY INFORMATION

WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID GROWTH ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF’s (“WBI Global SMID Growth ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign mid-capitalization and small-capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES   

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

  

Management Fee

     [        ]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [        ]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [        ]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [      ]% of average daily net assets for Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

   3 Years

$[    ]

   $[        ]

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to attractive prospects for growth in a company’s intrinsic value, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign large-capitalization securities, small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies are those that are not in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign small-capitalization stocks and mid-capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to attractive prospects for growth in a company’s intrinsic value. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their prospects for growth that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in large-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities are considered small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive growth characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global SMID Growth ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying common stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

 

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ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in another ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of such ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in the underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating and economic, legal, political or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk – In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities as described, the structure of certain mortgage-backed securities may make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, which may cause their prices to be very volatile. In particular, the recent events related to the U.S. housing market has had a severe negative impact on the value of some mortgage-backed securities and resulted in an increased risk associated with investments in these securities.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                        ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management. Because the portfolio managers manage multiple portfolios for multiple clients, the potential for conflicts of interest exists.

For example, some of these portfolios may have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID VALUE ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF’s (“WBI Global SMID Value ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign mid-capitalization and small-capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES   

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

  

Management Fee

     [        ]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [        ]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [        ]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [      ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

   3 Years

$[    ]

   $[        ]

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to an attractive discount in a company’s intrinsic value relative to its market price, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign large-capitalization securities, small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies are those that are not in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign small-capitalization stocks and mid-capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to an attractive discount in a company’s intrinsic value relative to its market price. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their currently discounted value that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in large-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities are considered small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive value characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Growth SMID Value ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

 

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Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                        ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID YIELD ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF’s (“WBI Global SMID Yield ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in dividend-paying equity securities of domestic and foreign mid-capitalization and small-capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [        ]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [        ]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [        ]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed 2.00% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                ] and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[    ]

     $[        ]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the dividend-paying equity securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to attractive dividend payment prospects, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign large-capitalization securities, small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies are those that are not in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign dividend-paying small-capitalization stocks and mid-capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to attractive dividend payment prospects. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their dividend payment prospects that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in large-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities are considered small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive yield characteristics worldwide. The security of dividend payments is generally a part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% dividend-paying small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global SMID Yield ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

 

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Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                            ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

 

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Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL SMID SELECT ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF’s (“WBI Global SMID Select ETF” or, the “Fund”) investment objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign mid-capitalization and small-capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [         ]% 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00

Other Expenses(a)

     [         ]% 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [         ]% 

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [      ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.    This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[    ]

     $[        ]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to a company having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign large-capitalization securities, small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies are those that are not in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign small-capitalization stocks and mid-capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to a company having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and

 

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opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in large-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of small-capitalization and mid-capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities are considered small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive financial stability characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect

 

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changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global SMID Select ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

 

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Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                            ].

Management

Investment Advisor.    Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.    The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

 

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Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE GROWTH ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF’s (“WBI Global Large Growth ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign large capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [         ]% 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00

Other Expenses(a)

     [         ]% 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [         ]% 

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [        ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[    ]

     $[        ]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of large capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to attractive prospects for growth in a company’s intrinsic value, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization securities, large capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Large capitalization companies are those that are in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign large capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to attractive prospects for growth in a company’s intrinsic value. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their prospects for growth that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of large capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly large capitalization equity securities are considered large capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign large capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive growth characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% large capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global Large Growth ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

 

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Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                            ].

Management

Investment Advisor.    Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.    The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind,

 

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for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE VALUE ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF’s (“WBI Global Large Value ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign large capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [____ ]% 

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00

Other Expenses(a)

     [____ ]% 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [____ ]% 

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [__]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                        ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[__]

     $[___]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of large capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to an attractive discount in a company’s intrinsic value relative to its market price, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization securities, large capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Large capitalization companies are those that are in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign large capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to an attractive discount in a company’s intrinsic value relative to its market price. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their currently discounted value that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of large capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly large capitalization equity securities are considered large capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign large capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive value characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% large capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global Large Value ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

 

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Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year, performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                        ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

 

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Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE YIELD ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF’s (“WBI Global Large Yield ETF” or, the “Fund”) objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in dividend-paying equity securities of domestic and foreign large capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [____]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [____]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [____]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [        ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                        ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[__]

     $[___]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the dividend-paying equity securities of large capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to attractive dividend payment prospects, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization securities, large capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Large capitalization companies are those that are in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign dividend-paying large capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to attractive dividend payment prospects. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their dividend payment prospects that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of large capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly large capitalization equity securities are considered large capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign large capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive yield characteristics worldwide. The security of dividend payments is generally considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% dividend-paying large capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global Large Yield ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

 

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Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year, performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                        ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

 

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Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES GLOBAL LARGE SELECT ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF’s (“WBI Global Large Select ETF” or, the “Fund”) investment objectives are to seek long-term capital appreciation and the potential for current income, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of domestic and foreign large capitalization issuers. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [____]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [____]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [____]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [      ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[__]

     $[___]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowing for investment purposes) in the equity securities of large capitalization domestic and foreign companies which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to a company having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability, and up to 20% of its net assets in domestic and foreign small-capitalization and mid-capitalization securities, large capitalization companies with other characteristics the Sub-Advisor believes are attractive, and securities that offer exposure to other asset classes and tactical investment opportunities. Large capitalization companies are those that are in the top ten percent of the securities in their primary market when ranked in order of market capital.

The Fund will seek to invest in domestic and foreign large capitalization stocks which in the Sub-Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to a company having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability. These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include fixed, floating and variable corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs and exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”). The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

 

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Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization equities, domestic and foreign debt securities, ETFs, ETNs, and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of large capitalization foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that include predominantly large capitalization equity securities are considered large capitalization equity securities for purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Sub-Advisor uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign large capitalization equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive financial stability characteristics worldwide. Dividend payments may be considered as part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Sub-Advisor then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of any exposure to debt securities. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying

 

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segments of the debt market. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% large capitalization equity securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies and the Selection Process, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

 

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Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI Global Large Select ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

 

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Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year , performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                            ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio

 

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manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES TACTICAL BOND ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF’s (“WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF” or, the “Fund”) investment objectives are to seek current income with the potential for long-term capital appreciation, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in fixed, floating and variable rate debt securities of both U.S. issuers, including the U.S. Government and its agencies, and foreign issuers, including sovereign investments. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

  

(fees paid directly from your investment):

  

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

  

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

  

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

  

Management Fee

     [____]%   

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

     0.00%   

Other Expenses(a)

     [____]%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     [____]%   

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [        ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

 

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The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

     3 Years   

$[__]

     $[___]   

Portfolio Turnover.  The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purpose) in debt securities of foreign and domestic issuers, including the debt of foreign and domestic corporate and governmental entities which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to an issuer having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability.

Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign and domestic equities, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs, ETNs, and variable and floating rate securities. The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The Fund may invest in companies of any size market capitalization.

 

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Debt securities will be selected on the basis of the Advisor’s assessment of the risks and opportunities available in the fixed income market using its proprietary portfolio selection process described briefly below.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of foreign issuers, and up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that invest predominantly in debt securities are considered debt securities for the purposes of the Fund’s debt target allocation.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund by the Sub-Advisor attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of its debt securities exposure. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying segments of the global debt securities market.

The Fund uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign equity securities in an attempt to find the best value and dividend opportunities worldwide. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Fund then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is

 

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the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% domestic and foreign debt securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

 

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Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies

 

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because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Equity Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

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

Trading Price Risk – Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year, performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                            ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

Portfolio Managers.  The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

 

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Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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WBI ABSOLUTECORE SHARES TACTICAL HIGH INCOME ETF

Investment Objective

The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF’s (“WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF” or, the “Fund”) investment objectives are to seek high current income with the potential for long-term capital appreciation, while also seeking to protect principal during unfavorable market conditions, through investment, under normal circumstances, of at least 80% of its net assets in income producing debt and equity investments. Debt securities may include fixed, floating and variable rate debt securities of domestic and foreign issuers with maturities ranging from less than one year up to thirty years. Equity securities may include domestic and foreign stocks of all capitalization sizes which in the Advisor’s opinion display characteristics that correspond to attractive dividend payment prospects. It is an actively managed ETF that does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund (“Shares”). Investors purchasing Shares on a national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time (each, a “Secondary Market”) may be subject to customary brokerage commissions charged by their broker that are not reflected in the table set forth below.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

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

 

SHAREHOLDER FEES

(fees paid directly from your investment):

 

No shareholder fees are levied by the Fund for purchases and sales made on the Secondary Market.

 

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

 

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

 

Management Fee

  [        ]%

Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees

  0.00%

Other Expenses(a)

  [        ]%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

  [        ]%

 

(a)

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

(b)

Millington Securities, Inc., (the “Advisor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive a portion or all of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses) do not exceed [      ]% of average daily net assets Shares (the “Expense Cap”). The Expense Cap will remain in effect through at least [                    ], and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The Advisor may request recoupment of previously waived fees and paid expenses from the Fund for three years from the date they were paid, subject to the Expense Cap.

 

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Example.  This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. This example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your Shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. The return of 5% and estimated expenses are for illustration purposes only, and should not be considered indicators of expected Fund expenses or performance, which may be greater or less than the estimates. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

    3 Years   

$[    ]

    $[        ]   

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when 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. This rate excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of any in-kind creations or redemptions of the Fund’s Shares. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund had not yet commenced operations.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purpose) in income producing debt and equity securities of foreign and domestic issuers, including the securities of foreign and domestic corporate and governmental entities which WBI Investments, Inc., the sub-advisor (“Sub-Advisor”) to the Fund and an affiliate of the Sub-Advisor, believes display characteristics that correspond to an issuer having an attractive financial condition and prospects for ongoing financial stability.

These securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s proprietary selection process as described briefly below, and may exhibit other investment characteristics in addition to their income producing properties that would make them suitable candidates for inclusion in other WBI AbsoluteCore Shares ETFs as well.

Up to 20% of the Fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign and domestic equities, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”), and/or in option strategies to enhance the Fund’s returns or to mitigate risk and volatility, and be selected without regard to their ability to produce income. Equity option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls, buying puts, using combinations of calls and puts, and using combinations of calls and combinations of puts. The Fund may also use options on indices. The Fund may also invest in cash or cash equivalents as part of the normal operation of its investment process.

The types of debt securities in which the Fund will generally invest include corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, debt securities of foreign issuers, sovereign debt securities, U.S. government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs, ETNs, and variable and floating rate securities. The Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years, depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and

 

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opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

The types of equity securities in which the Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The Fund may invest in companies of any size market capitalization.

Debt securities will be selected on the basis of the Sub-Advisor’s assessment of the risks and opportunities available in the fixed income market using its proprietary portfolio selection process described briefly below.

The Fund may invest without limitation in securities of foreign issuers, and up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers located in emerging markets. The Fund may invest up to 80% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that invest predominantly in debt securities are considered debt securities and investments in other investment companies that invest predominantly in dividend-paying equity securities are considered dividend-paying equity securities for the purposes of the Fund’s income producing securities target allocation.

Option strategies used by the Fund for individual securities include writing (selling) covered calls to generate additional income from, and mitigate the risk of owning, a security held by the Fund; buying puts to limit the risk of a decline in the price of a security held by the Fund; using combinations of calls and puts to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”); and combinations of calls and combinations of puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices (the price at which an option can be exercised). These combinations can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of the Fund. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of the Fund’s share price due to market movements. A detailed description of the option strategies available to the Fund can be found in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

The Sub-Advisor’s proprietary portfolio selection process (“Selection Process”) used for the Fund by the Sub-Advisor attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Fund’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. The selection process includes a buy discipline and a sell discipline.

The Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of its debt securities exposure. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of the Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying segments of the global debt securities market.

The Fund uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign equity securities in an attempt to find companies with attractive yield

 

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characteristics worldwide. The security of dividend payments is generally a part of the evaluation process. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. The Fund then adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of the Fund’s target allocations. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for the Fund.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a strict sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on the Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by the Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of the Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in the Fund. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts the Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. During periods of high market volatility a significant amount of Fund holdings may be sold, resulting in a large allocation to cash in the Fund. The selection process is run daily and cash will remain in the portfolio until a cash equivalent or a new security is purchased.

The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of the Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

The Sub-Advisor expects that the Fund’s investment strategy will result in a portfolio turnover rate in excess of 100% on an annual basis.

The Fund’s target allocation is 80% domestic and foreign income producing equity and debt securities.

For additional information about the Fund’s principal investment strategies, see “Additional Description of the Principal Strategies of the Funds.”

Principal Risks

Investors in the Fund should be willing to accept a high degree of volatility in the price of the Fund’s Shares and the possibility of significant losses. An investment in the Fund involves a substantial degree of risk and the Fund does not represent a complete investment program. Therefore, you should consider carefully the following risks before investing in the Fund. A more complete discussion of Principal Risks is included under “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds.”

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

 

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Market Risk – Either the stock market as a whole, or the value of an individual company, goes down resulting in a decrease in the value of the Fund.

Management Risk – Your investment in the Fund varies with the success and failure of the Advisor’s investment strategies and the Advisor’s research, analysis, and determination of portfolio securities. If the Advisor’s investment strategies, including its stop loss and goal setting process, do not produce the expected results, the value of the Fund would decrease.

Debt Securities Risk – Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Fund. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk – The debt securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e., “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The value of an ETN may be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities’ markets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. In addition, the notes issued by ETNs and held by a fund are unsecured debt of the issuer.

Equity Market Risk – Common stocks are susceptible to general stock market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value as market confidence in and perceptions of their issuers change. If you held common stock, or common stock equivalents, of any given issuer, you would generally be exposed to greater risk than if you held preferred stocks and debt obligations of the issuer.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk – Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments. Foreign securities can be more volatile than domestic (U.S.) securities. Securities markets of other countries are generally smaller than U.S. securities markets. Many foreign securities may also be less liquid than U.S. securities, which could affect the WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF’s investments. Investments in emerging markets may have more risk because the markets are less developed and less liquid as well as being subject to increased economic, political, regulatory or other uncertainties. Also, as foreign and emerging markets decline, investors tend to exit these markets in unison.

Investment Style Risk – The Fund’s investments in dividend-paying common stocks may cause the Fund to underperform funds that do not limit their investments to dividend-paying common stocks during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by the Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected.

Model Risk – The Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however

 

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inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on the Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for the Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

Small and Medium Companies Risk – Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk – When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Additionally, the Fund will be indirectly exposed to the risks of the portfolio assets held by an ETF or mutual fund, including but not limited to those of exchange-traded notes and equity options.

Master Limited Partnership Risk – Investing in Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”) entails risk including fluctuations in energy prices, decreases in supply of or demand for energy commodities and various other risks.

Options Risk – Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks.

Portfolio Turnover Risk – A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability.

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

Trading Price RiskAlthough it is expected that generally the exchange price of the Shares will approximate the Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the market price in the Secondary Market and the NAV vary significantly.

Performance Information

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations and therefore does not report its performance information. When the Fund has been in operation for one full calendar year, performance information will be shown here. Updated performance information will be available on [www….], the Funds’ “Website,” or by calling the Fund toll-free at [                        ].

Management

Investment Advisor.  Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc., is the Fund’s investment advisor. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund.

 

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Portfolio Managers. The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

Purchase And Sale of Fund Shares

Unlike conventional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems Shares on a continuous basis, at net asset value (“NAV”), only in blocks of 50,000 Shares or whole multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). The Fund’s Creation Units are issued and redeemed principally in cash, but may be in-kind, for securities included in the Fund. Retail investors may acquire Shares on the NYSE Arca through a broker-dealer. Shares of the Fund will trade at market price rather than NAV. As such, Shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains.

Financial Intermediary Compensation

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Sub-Advisor 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.

Material Conflicts Of Interest

WBI Investments provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Fund. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

For example, some of these portfolios have fee structures that are or have the potential to be higher than the advisory fees paid by the Fund, which can cause potential conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities between the Fund and the other accounts. However, the compensation structure for portfolio managers does not generally provide incentive to favor one account over another because that part of a manager’s bonus based on performance is not based on the performance of one account to the exclusion of others. There are many other factors considered in determining the portfolio managers’ bonus and there is no formula that is applied to weight the factors listed (see “Compensation”). In addition, current trading practices do not allow the Sub-Advisor to intentionally favor one portfolio over another as trades are executed as trade orders are received. Portfolio’s rebalancing dates also generally vary between fund families. Program trades created from the portfolio rebalance are executed at market on close.

 

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OVERVIEW

The Trust is an investment company consisting of separate investment portfolios (each, a “Fund”) that are exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). ETFs are funds whose shares are listed on a stock exchange and trade like equity securities at market prices. ETFs, such as the Funds, allow you to buy or sell shares that represent the collective performance of a selected group of securities. ETFs are designed to add the flexibility, ease and liquidity of stock-trading to the benefits of traditional investing in actively-managed mutual funds.

This Prospectus provides the information you need to make an informed decision about investing in the Funds. It contains important facts about the Trust as a whole and each Fund in particular.

Millington Securities, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc. is the investment advisor to each Fund. WBI Investments, Inc., an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, is the sub-advisor to each Fund.

As of the date of this Prospectus, none of the Funds have yet commenced operations and therefore have not accumulated information to report regarding the extent and frequency with which market prices of Shares have tracked such Funds’ NAV.

Information regarding the extent and frequency with which market prices of Shares have tracked the relevant Fund’s NAV for the most recently completed calendar year and the quarters since that year will be available without charge on the Funds’ website at www.[            ].com.

ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL STRATEGIES OF THE FUNDS

Principal Investment Strategies For:

 

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF

Unless otherwise noted, the following Principal Investment Strategies are used by each of the Funds listed above.

The types of equity securities in which each Fund will generally invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants, convertibles, ETFs and master limited partnerships (businesses organized as partnerships which trade on public exchanges). The types of debt securities in which each Fund will generally invest include corporate debt securities, U.S. Government securities, foreign sovereign debt securities, U.S. Government agency securities, high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”), ETFs ETNs, mortgage-backed securities and variable and floating rate securities. Each Fund expects to invest in debt securities of all maturities, from less than one year up to thirty years,

 

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depending on the portfolio manager’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. (The yield curve refers to differences in yield among debt assets of varying maturities.)

Each Fund may invest without limitation in securities of foreign issuers, and may invest up to 50% of its net assets in the securities of issuers located in emerging markets. Each Fund that invests primarily in equities may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF may invest up to 40% of its net assets in high-yield bonds, and the WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF may invest up to 80% of their net assets in high-yield bonds. Each Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. Investments in other investment companies that invest predominantly in equity securities are considered equity securities for the purposes of the Fund’s equity allocation target, and investments in other investment companies that invest predominantly in debt securities are considered debt securities for purposes of the Fund’s debt allocation target.

While many investment managers attempt to perform well relative to a fluctuating market index or benchmark, the risk-managed investment approach used for each Fund by the Sub-Advisor attempts to provide consistent, attractive returns net of expenses with potentially less volatility and risk to capital than traditional approaches, whatever market conditions may be. This is the Sub-Advisor’s definition of an absolute return approach to investment management. Each Fund uses quantitative computer screening of fundamental stock information to evaluate domestic and foreign securities in an attempt to find the most attractive opportunities worldwide. Once securities are identified, an overlay of technical analysis confirms timeliness of security purchases using a combination of price regression and momentum factors. Each Fund adds qualifying securities using available cash within the parameters of such Fund’s target allocations. This systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and purchasing securities constitutes the Sub-Advisor’s buy discipline for each Fund. Regression refers to the Advisor’s process of using the historical price movements of each security that passes the fundamental screens to analyze its volatility characteristics, calculate a range of expected prices for the security, and assess its current price relative to that range of expected prices. Momentum refers to a technical analysis of current price trend using moving average convergence-divergence (“MACD”). The Sub-Advisor will only buy a security if the price trend is positive (for example, when there has been recent confirmation that a stock’s price is moving in the right direction). If a security’s price is falling, the Sub-Advisor would not purchase it.

Each Fund uses a proprietary bond model created by the Sub-Advisor to assess the appropriate duration of its debt securities exposure. Debt positions may be periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the bond model’s assessment of the risks and opportunities along the yield curve. A portion of each Fund’s bond exposure may also be invested to pursue perceived opportunities in varying segments of the debt securities market.

ETFs may be used to provide access to various debt markets, commodities, and hedging or other strategies. ETFs may also be used for exposure to domestic and international equities classified by company size, growth or value characteristics, country or region, and industry groups.

Each Fund may use a variety of equity option strategies in an attempt to enhance return or to mitigate risk and volatility. Each Fund may write covered calls, which is the sale of call options on securities held by the Fund to generate current income in exchange for the right of the option buyer to purchase the security on or before a specified date at a predetermined price, irrespective of the market price. If the security’s market price moves above the option’s exercise, or “strike” price while the option is in effect, a Fund risks receiving less than the market price for the security if the option is

 

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exercised. The difference between the market price and exercise price is offset by the amount of the option premium a Fund received when the option was written. The premium received by each Fund for the sale of the option offsets declines in the security’s price up to the amount of the premium, thereby mitigating the risk of owing the security, and the effects of a price decline in the security on the value and volatility of Fund shares. Each Fund may also buy put options, which give such Fund the right to receive a predetermined price for the delivery of a security on or before a specified date irrespective of the market price of the security. This limits the potential loss from a decline in the price of a security to the option’s strike price plus the cost of the option. Combinations of writing calls and using the proceeds to buy puts can be used by a Fund to limit or “collar” the risk of price declines in a held security, while reducing or eliminating the cost of implementing the option pair strategy (“zero cost collar”). While the premium received for the call may offset some or all of the cost of the put, gains in the security’s price above the call’s exercise price are given up in exchange for protection from losses below the exercise price of the put purchased. Buying and selling other combinations of calls and puts with differing expiration dates and/or strike prices can be varied and used with similar objectives as single option strategies, such as to generate income and/or mitigate the risk of owing a security, but at particular price ranges, time frames, total risk exposures, or implementation costs. Options may also be used to facilitate entering into or exiting from a security with limited trading volume relative to the size of the position held or intended to be held, and may be purchased or sold to close out an existing option position of each Fund. An option on a security that is not exercised prior to its expiration becomes worthless, resulting in a gain to the option seller equal to the amount of the option premium received, and a loss to the option buyer equal to the amount of the option premium paid. Options on indices may be used to enhance return and/or mitigate the risk to the value of a Fund’s share price due to market movements. Option strategies incur transaction costs, which affect their after-cost effectiveness.

Once securities are purchased, the Sub-Advisor maintains a sell discipline that attempts to control the effects of the volatility of each invested position on each Fund’s value. This discipline is the end result of a process that determines the conditions under which a security held by a Fund will be sold. The Sub-Advisor uses its proprietary “Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System” to implement this process. At the time a security is purchased, and on an ongoing basis after it has been bought, the Sub-Advisor examines the characteristics of the security, including its historical price movements, to determine a range of acceptable prices for the security given its volatility, its performance prospects, and the risk profile of each Fund. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System uses the Sub-Advisor’s ongoing analysis of the security’s characteristics and actual performance to adjust the limits of this acceptable price range for the security. If the security’s price stays within this range of acceptable prices, the security will remain in a Fund’s portfolio. If the security’s price falls below the bottom of this acceptable price range, the security will be sold. This results in a responsive process that actively adjusts each Fund’s allocation by causing it to become more fully invested or by raising cash to protect capital. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is not a stop loss order or stop limit order placed with a brokerage firm, but an internal process used by the Sub-Advisor to monitor the price movements of each Fund’s holdings. The Dynamic Trailing Stop/Loss System is used by the Sub-Advisor as a signal to initiate the process of selling a security, but it does not assure that a particular execution price will be received.

Temporary or Cash Investments.  Under normal market conditions, each Fund will invest according to its principal investment strategies as noted above. A Fund, however, may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies by making short-term investments in cash, cash equivalents, and high-quality, short-term debt securities and money market instruments for temporary defensive purposes in response to adverse market, economic or political conditions. This may result in the Fund not achieving its investment objectives during that period.

 

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For longer periods of time, each Fund may hold a substantial cash position. If the equity or debt markets advance during periods when a Fund is holding a large cash position, such Fund may not participate to the extent it would have if such Fund had been more fully invested in equities or debt securities. To the extent that any Fund uses a money market fund for its cash position, there will be some duplication of expenses because such Fund would bear its pro rata portion of such money market fund’s management fees and operational expenses.

 

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ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUNDS

Investors in the Funds should carefully consider the risks of investing in the Funds as set forth in each Fund’s Summary Information section under “Principal Risks.” To the extent such risks apply, they are discussed hereunder in greater detail. Unless otherwise noted, the following risks apply to all of the Funds.

Principal Risks

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

Risks Applicable to All Funds

Market Risk. The Funds are designed for long-term investors who can accept the risks of investing in a portfolio with significant common stock holdings. Common stocks tend to be more volatile than other investment choices such as bonds and money market instruments. The value of each Fund’s shares will fluctuate as a result of the movement of the overall stock market or of the value of the individual securities held by a Fund, and you could lose money.

Management Risk. The skill of the Sub-Advisor will play a significant role in each Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. A Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives depends on the ability of the Sub-Advisor to correctly identify economic trends, especially with regard to accurately forecasting projected dividend and growth rates and inflationary and deflationary periods. In addition, each Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends on the Advisor’s ability to select stocks, particularly in volatile stock markets. The Sub-Advisor could be incorrect in its analysis of industries, companies’ projected dividends and growth rates and the relative attractiveness of value stocks and other matters. In addition, the Advisor’s stop loss and goal setting process may not perform as expected, which may negatively impact the Fund.

Equity Market Risk. The Funds are designed for long-term investors who can accept the risks of investing in a portfolio with significant equity holdings. Equity holdings tend to be more volatile than other investment choices such as bonds and money market instruments because common stockholders, or holders of equivalent interests, generally have inferior rights to receive payments from issuers in comparison with the rights of preferred stockholders, bondholders and other creditors of such issuers. The value of each Fund’s shares will fluctuate as a result of the movement of the overall stock market or of the value of the individual securities held by the Fund, and you could lose money.

Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk. Foreign investments may carry risks associated with investing outside the United States, such as currency fluctuation, economic or financial instability, lack of timely or reliable financial information or unfavorable political or legal developments.

Foreign securities include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and similar investments, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), dollar denominated foreign securities and securities purchased directly on foreign exchanges. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs are depositary receipts for foreign company stocks which are not themselves listed on a U.S. exchange, and are issued by a bank and held in trust at that bank, and which entitle the owner of such depositary receipts to any capital gains or dividends from the foreign company stocks underlying

 

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the depositary receipts. ADRs are U.S. dollar denominated. EDRs and GDRs are typically U.S. dollar denominated but may be denominated in a foreign currency. Foreign securities, including ADRs, EDRs and GDRs, may be subject to more risks than U.S. domestic investments. These additional risks may potentially include lower liquidity, greater price volatility and risks related to adverse political, regulatory, market or economic developments. Foreign companies also may be subject to significantly higher levels of taxation than U.S. companies, including potentially confiscatory levels of taxation, thereby reducing the earnings potential of such foreign companies. In addition, amounts realized on sales of foreign securities may be subject to high and potentially confiscatory levels of foreign taxation and withholding when compared to comparable transactions in U.S. securities. A Fund will generally not be eligible to pass through to shareholders any U.S. federal income tax credits or deductions with respect to foreign taxes paid unless it meets certain requirements regarding the percentage of its total assets invested in foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities involve exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Such fluctuations may reduce the value of the investment. Foreign investments are also subject to risks including potentially higher withholding and other taxes, trade settlement, custodial, and other operational risks and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards in certain foreign markets. In addition, foreign markets can and often do perform differently from U.S. markets.

In addition, each Fund may invest in emerging markets. Emerging markets are those of countries with immature economic and political structures. Investments in securities of companies in emerging markets involve special risks. Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks in domestic securities or in foreign, developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible repatriation of investment income and capital. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by a Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities of certain emerging market countries.

Investment Style Risk. Each Fund may invest in dividend-paying common stocks. This may cause the Funds to underperform mutual funds that do not include dividend-paying common stocks among their investments during periods when dividend-paying stocks underperform other types of stocks. In addition, if stocks held by a Fund reduce or stop paying dividends, the Fund’s ability to generate income may be affected. Dividend-paying common stocks tend to go through cycles of doing better (or worse) than the stock market in general. These periods have, in the past, lasted for as long as several years. The prices of stocks and bonds in a Fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including both general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. These risks are generally greater for small and medium-sized companies. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments. The market may not favor growth-style investing.

Model Risk. Each Fund’s investment process includes the use of proprietary models and analysis methods developed by the Sub-Advisor, and data provided by third parties. Third party data and information used in models and analysis is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however inaccurate data could adversely affect the effectiveness of the resulting investment implementation on a Fund’s performance. There can be no assurance that any particular model or investment strategy, including those devised by the Sub-Advisor, will be profitable for either Fund, and may result in a loss of principal.

 

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Small and Medium Companies Risk. Investing in securities of small and medium capitalization companies may involve greater volatility than investing in larger and more established companies because small and medium capitalization companies can be subject to more abrupt or erratic share price changes than larger, more established companies. Small and medium capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and their management may be dependent on a limited number of key individuals. Securities of those companies may have limited market liquidity and their prices may be more volatile.

ETF and Mutual Fund Risk. ETFs are typically open-end investment companies that are bought and sold on a national securities exchange. When a Fund invests in an ETF, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities and other portfolio assets that it holds. Many ETFs seek to replicate a specific benchmark index. However, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index for many reasons, including because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or the number of stocks held. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in an ETF being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities it holds. In addition, because of ETF expenses, compared to owning the underlying securities directly, it may be more costly to own an ETF.

If a Fund invests in shares of another mutual fund, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying mutual funds in which the Fund invests in addition to the Fund’s direct fees and expenses. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs. Furthermore, investments in other mutual funds could affect the timing, amount and character of distributions to shareholders and therefore may increase the amount of taxes payable by investors in the Fund.

Equity Options Risk. Options on securities may be subject to greater fluctuations in value than an investment in the underlying securities. Purchasing and writing put and call options are highly specialized activities and entail greater than ordinary investment risks. The successful use of options depends in part on the ability of the Sub-Advisor to manage future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities (or currency) markets. By writing put options on equity securities, a Fund gives up the opportunity to benefit from potential increases in the value of the common stocks above the strike prices of the written put options, but continues to bear the risk of declines in the value of its common stock portfolio. A Fund will receive a premium from writing a covered call option that it retains whether or not the option is exercised. The premium received from the written options may not be sufficient to offset any losses sustained from the volatility of the underlying equity securities over time.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) has the potential to result in the realization and distribution to shareholders of higher capital gains, which may subject you to a higher tax liability. A high portfolio turnover rate also leads to higher transactions costs, which could negatively affect a Fund’s performance. Distributions to shareholders of short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income under federal tax laws.

Master Limited Partnership Risk. Investments in securities (units) of master limited partnerships involve risks that differ from an investment in common stock. Holders of the units of master limited partnerships have more limited control and limited rights to vote on matters affecting the partnership. There are also certain tax risks associated with an investment in units of master limited

 

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partnerships. In addition, conflicts of interest may exist between common unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of a master limited partnership, including a conflict arising as a result of incentive distribution payments.

Debt Securities Risk. Interest rates may go up resulting in a decrease in the value of the debt securities held by the Funds. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer will not make timely payments of principal and interest. There is also the risk that an issuer may “call,” or repay, its high yielding bonds before their maturity dates. Debt securities subject to prepayment can offer less potential for gains during a declining interest rate environment and similar or greater potential for loss in a rising interest rate environment. Limited trading opportunities for certain debt securities may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time.

High-Yield Securities Risk. Debt securities receiving below investment grade ratings (i.e., “junk bonds”) may have speculative characteristics, and, compared to higher-grade securities, may have a weakened capacity to make principal and interest payments in economic conditions or other circumstances. High-yield, high risk, and lower-rated securities are subject to additional risk factors, such as increased possibility of default, decreased liquidity, and fluctuations in value due to public perception of the issuer of such securities. These bonds are almost always uncollateralized and subordinate to other debt that an issuer may have outstanding. In addition, both individual high-yield securities and the entire high-yield bond market can experience sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, or, a higher profile default.

Exchange-Traded Note Risk. ETNs are subject to the credit risk of the issuer. The value of an ETN will vary and will be influenced by its time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying securities, currency and commodities markets as well as changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced index. There may be restrictions on a Fund’s right to redeem its investment in an ETN, which is meant to be held until maturity. Each Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market.

New Fund Risk. The Funds are new with no operating history and there can be no assurance that the Funds will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Board may determine to liquidate one, some or all of the Funds. The Board can liquidate one or more Funds without shareholder vote and, while shareholder interests will be the paramount consideration, the timing of any liquidation may not be favorable to certain individual shareholders.

Trading Price Risk – The Shares of the Funds are, or are expected to be, listed for trading on the NYSE Arca and will be bought and sold in the Secondary Market at market prices. Although it is expected that generally the exchange price of each Fund’s Shares will approximate such Fund’s NAV, there may be times when the exchange price and the NAV vary significantly. Thus, you may pay more than NAV when you buy Shares in the Secondary Market, and you may receive less than NAV when you sell those Shares in the Secondary Market.

The market price of Shares during the trading day, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid/ask” spread charged by the exchange specialist, market makers or other participants that trade the Shares. In times of severe market disruption, the bid/ask spread can increase significantly. At those times, Shares are most likely to be traded at a discount to NAV, and the discount is likely to be greatest when the price of Shares is falling fastest, which may be the time that you most

 

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want to sell your Shares. The Sub-Advisor believes that, under normal market conditions, large market price discounts or premiums to NAV will not be sustained because of arbitrage opportunities.

Commodities Risk – Certain other ETFs held in a Fund’s portfolios may have investment exposure to the commodities markets which may subject them to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. The commodities markets may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors. These include changes in overall market movements, domestic and foreign political and economic events and policies, war, acts of terrorism, changes in domestic or foreign interest rates and/or investor expectations concerning interest rates, domestic and foreign inflation rates and/or investor expectations concerning inflation rates and investment and trading activities of mutual funds, hedge funds and commodities funds. Prices of various commodities may also be affected by factors such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and other regulatory developments. Many of these factors are very unpredictable. The prices of commodities can also fluctuate widely due to supply and demand disruptions in major producing or consuming regions. Certain commodities may be produced in a limited number of countries and may be controlled by a small number of producers. As a result, political, economic and supply related events in such countries could have a disproportionate impact on the prices of such commodities. Because the performance of certain other ETFs may be linked to the performance of highly volatile commodities, investors should be willing to assume the risks of potentially significant fluctuations in the value of shares of such ETFs.

Counterparty Risk – Many of the protections afforded to participants on some organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee of an exchange clearing house, are not available in connection with the over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives transactions. In those instances, another ETF holding such derivatives will be subject to the risk that its direct counterparty will not perform its obligations under the transactions and that such ETF will sustain losses.

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. In addition to the general risks associated with debt securities as described, the structure of certain mortgage-backed securities may make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, which may cause their prices to be very volatile. In particular, the recent events related to the U.S. housing market have had a severe negative impact on the value of some mortgage-backed securities and resulted in an increased risk associated with investments in these securities.

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Each Fund may invest in one or more financial instruments, including but not limited to futures contracts, swap agreements and forward contracts, reverse repurchase agreements, and options on securities, indices and futures contracts (“Financial Instruments”).

Each of the policies described herein, including the investment objective of each Fund, constitutes a non-fundamental policy that may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust without shareholder approval. Certain fundamental policies of the Funds are set forth in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) under “Investment Restrictions.”

Securities Lending

The Funds may lend their portfolio securities. In connection with such loans, the Funds receive liquid collateral equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities being lent. This collateral is marked to market on a daily basis.

 

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ADDITIONAL RISKS

 

   

Trading Issues – Trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the NYSE Arca, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the NYSE Arca “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the NYSE Arca necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

   

Fluctuation of Net Asset Value – The NAV of a Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the NYSE Arca. The Sub-Advisor cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of a Fund’s Underlying Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time. If an investor purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the NAV of the Shares or sells at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV of the Shares, then the investor may sustain losses. However, given that the Shares can be purchased and redeemed in Creation Units (unlike shares of closed-end funds, which frequently trade at appreciable discounts from, and sometimes at premiums to, their NAV), the Sub-Advisor believes that large discounts or premiums to the NAV of the Shares should not be sustained.

 

   

Tax Risk – The tax treatment of derivatives is unclear for purposes of determining a Fund’s tax status. In addition, a Fund’s transactions in derivatives may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gains and ordinary income that are subject to higher ordinary income tax rates than if it did not engage in such transactions.

 

   

Securities Lending – Although each Fund will receive collateral in connection with all loans of its securities holdings, a Fund would be exposed to a risk of loss should a borrower default on its obligation to return the borrowed securities (e.g., the loaned securities may have appreciated beyond the value of the collateral held by the Fund). In addition, a Fund will bear the risk of loss of any cash collateral that it invests.

 

   

Shares are not Individually Redeemable – Shares may be redeemed by the Funds only in large blocks known as “Creation Units” which are expected to be worth in excess of one million dollars each. The Funds may not redeem Shares in fractional Creation Units. Only certain large institutions that enter into agreements with the Distributor are authorized to transact in Creation Units with the Funds. These entities are referred to as “Authorized Participants.” All other persons or entities transacting in Shares must do so in the Secondary Market.

 

   

Absence of Prior Active Market – Although the Shares are approved for listing on the NYSE Arca, there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop and be maintained for the Shares. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that a Fund will grow to or maintain an economically viable size, in which case the Fund may ultimately liquidate.

Please refer to the SAI for a more complete discussion of the risks of investing in Shares.

 

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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 Funds on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in 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 Distributor, breaks them down into individual Shares, 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. 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, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the 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 that are part of an over-allotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(a) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares of a Fund are reminded that under Rule 153 of 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 NYSE Arca is satisfied by the fact that such Fund’s prospectus is available at the NYSE Arca upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

Each Fund issues and redeems Shares only in bundles of a specified number of Shares. These bundles are known as “Creation Units.” For each Fund, a Creation Unit is comprised of [50,000] Shares. The number of Shares in a Creation Unit will not change, except in the event of a share split, reverse split or similar revaluation. The Funds may not issue fractional Creation Units. To purchase or redeem a Creation Unit, you must be an Authorized Participant or you must do so through a broker, dealer, bank or other entity that is an Authorized Participant. An Authorized Participant is either (1) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process of the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), or (2) a participant of DTC (a “DTC Participant”), and, in each case, must have executed an agreement with the Distributor with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units (a “Participation Agreement”). Because Creation Units cost over one million dollars each, it is expected that only large institutional investors will purchase and redeem Shares directly from the Funds in the form of Creation Units. In turn, it is expected that institutional investors who purchase Creation Units will break up their Creation Units and offer and sell individual Shares in the Secondary Market.

 

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Retail investors may acquire Shares in the Secondary Market (not from the Funds) through a broker or dealer. Shares are listed on the NYSE Arca and are publicly traded. For information about acquiring Shares in the Secondary Market, please contact your broker or dealer. If you want to sell Shares in the Secondary Market, you must do so through your broker or dealer.

When you buy or sell Shares in the Secondary Market, your broker or dealer may charge you a commission, market premium or discount or other transaction charge, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price for each purchase or sale transaction. Unless imposed by your broker or dealer, there is no minimum dollar amount you must invest and no minimum number of Shares you must buy in the Secondary Market. In addition, because transactions in the Secondary Market occur at market prices, you may pay more than NAV when you buy Shares and receive less than NAV when you sell those Shares.

The creation and redemption processes discussed above are summarized, and such summary only applies to shareholders who purchase or redeem Creation Units (that is, they do not relate to shareholders who purchase or sell Shares in the Secondary Market). Authorized Participants should refer to their Participant Agreements for the precise instructions that must be followed in order to create or redeem Creation Units.

 

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BUYING AND SELLING SHARES IN THE SECONDARY MARKET

Most investors will buy and sell Shares of each Fund in Secondary Market transactions through brokers. Shares of each Fund will be listed for trading on the Secondary Market on the NYSE Arca. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly-traded shares. There is no minimum investment. Although Shares are generally purchased and sold in “round lots” of 100 Shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell Shares in smaller “odd lots” at no per-Share price differential. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you 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.

Share prices are reported in dollars and cents per Share. For information about buying and selling Shares in the Secondary Market, please contact your broker or dealer.

Book Entry

Shares of each Fund are held in book-entry form and no stock certificates are issued. DTC, through its nominee Cede & Co., is the record owner of all outstanding Shares.

Investors owning Shares are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for all Shares. Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of Shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have Shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of Shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of Shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants.

These procedures are the same as those that apply to any securities that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form for any publicly-traded company. Specifically, in the case of a shareholder meeting of a Fund, DTC assigns applicable Cede & Co. voting rights to its participants that have Shares credited to their accounts on the record date, issues an omnibus proxy and forwards the omnibus proxy to the Fund. The omnibus proxy transfers the voting authority from Cede & Co. to the DTC participant. This gives the DTC participant through whom you own Shares (namely, your broker, dealer, bank, trust company or other nominee) authority to vote the shares, and, in turn, the DTC participant is obligated to follow the voting instructions you provide.

MANAGEMENT

The Board of Trustees of the Trust is responsible for the general supervision of the Funds. The Board of Trustees appoints officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Funds.

Investment Advisor

Millington Securities, Inc. is the Funds’ investment advisor and is located at 34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1-E, Little Silver, New Jersey 07739. The Advisor is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm that is wholly owned by WBI Trading Company, Inc. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Funds. WBI is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm formed in 1984 and registered with the SEC in 1985, providing investment management services to mutual funds, individuals, high net worth individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, pension and profit sharing plans, family limited partnerships, and fraternities.

 

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As sub-advisor, WBI is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds in accordance with each Fund’s investment objectives and policies. WBI also furnishes the Funds with office space and certain administrative services and provides most of the personnel needed to fulfill the obligations of the investment advisory agreement.

As compensation for its services and its assumption of certain expenses, each Fund pays the Sub-Advisor a management fee equal to a percentage of a Fund’s average daily net assets that is calculated daily and paid monthly, as follows:

 

Fund Name

  

Management

 Fee

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF

  

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF

  

The Advisor may voluntarily waive any portion of its advisory fee from time to time, and may discontinue or modify any such voluntary limitations in the future at its discretion.

The Advisor serves as advisor to each Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). The Advisory Agreement was approved by the Independent Trustees of the Trust at an in-person meeting of the Board of Trustees. The basis for the Trustees’ approval of the Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds’ first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor agrees to pay all expenses of the Trust, except brokerage and other transaction expenses including taxes; extraordinary legal fees or expenses, such as those for litigation or arbitration; compensation and expenses of the Independent Trustees, counsel to the Independent Trustees, and the Trust’s chief compliance officer; extraordinary expenses; distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and the advisory fee payable to the Advisor hereunder.

The Advisor and the Sub-Advisor and their affiliates deal, trade and invest for their own accounts in the types of securities in which the Funds also may invest. The Advisor and the Sub-Advisor do not use inside information in making investment decisions on behalf of the Funds.

WBI Investments is the sub-advisor to the Funds, and provides investment management services to other accounts, including Separately Managed Accounts and mutual funds, using analysis, research, processes and systems similar to those used in the management of the Funds. As a result, securities selected for the Fund may also be appropriate for, and owned in, other accounts under WBI’s management.

 

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Portfolio Management

Lead Portfolio Manager: Gary E. Stroik, Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, WBI Investments, Inc.

Mr. Stroik joined WBI Investments in February 1990, and serves as Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. He has also served as Vice President of Hartshorne Group, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, since June 2009. He received a B.A. degree in Honors English and Fine Arts from Georgetown University in 1976.

Co-Portfolio Manager: Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Chief Executive Officer , WBI Investments, Inc.

Mr. Schreiber founded WBI Investments in August 1984, and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. He is also CEO of Millington Securities, Inc. and WBI Trading Company. He has served as President of Hartshorne Group, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisory firm, since April 2008 and as President of Advisor Toolbox, Inc., a financial services technology and business consulting firm, since July 2005. He received a B.S. degree in Business from Susquehanna University in 1977.

Co-Portfolio Manager: Craig French, Portfolio Manager, WBI Investments, Inc.

Mr. French joined WBI Investments in August 2013 in his capacity of Portfolio Manager. He received a B.B.A. with concentrations in Management and Individualized Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1996.

The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager and their ownership of securities in the Funds.

For more information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the Funds, see the SAI.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Fund Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent and Securities Lending Agent

U.S. Bank, National Association, located at 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212, serves as the Funds’ Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent and Securities Lending Agent.

Distributor

Foreside Fund Services, LLC serves as the Distributor of Creation Units for the Funds on an agency basis. The Distributor does not maintain a Secondary Market in Shares.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

[                         ] serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust.

Legal Counsel

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, serves as counsel to the Trust and the Funds.

 

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FREQUENT TRADING

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has not adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares by Fund shareholders (“market timing”). In determining not to adopt market timing policies and procedures, the Board noted that the Funds are expected to be attractive to active institutional and retail investors interested in buying and selling Fund Shares on a short-term basis. In addition, the Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, a Fund’s Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by Authorized Participants, and that the vast majority of trading in a Fund’s Shares occurs on the Secondary Market. Because Secondary Market trades do not involve a Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in a Fund’s trading costs and the realization of capital gains. With respect to trades directly with the Funds, to the extent effected in-kind (namely, for securities), those trades do not cause any of the harmful effects that may result from frequent cash trades. To the extent trades are effected in whole or in part in cash, the Board noted that those trades could result in dilution to a Fund and increased transaction costs (a Fund may impose higher transaction fees to offset these increased costs), which could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading on a short-term basis by Authorized Participants is critical to ensuring that a Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is not necessary to adopt market timing policies and procedures. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order at any time and reserves the right to impose restrictions on disruptive or excessive trading in Creation Units.

The Board of Trustees has instructed the officers of the Trust to review reports of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units on a regular basis to determine if there is any unusual trading in the Funds. The officers of the Trust will report to the Board any such unusual trading in Creation Units that is disruptive to the Funds. In such event, the Board may reconsider its decision not to adopt market timing policies and procedures.

Fund Expenses

Each Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. However, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and pay Fund expenses (excluding AFFE, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses), through at least [            ], to limit Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses of each Fund to [      ]% of average daily net assets of the Shares. The term of the Funds’ operating expenses limitation agreement is indefinite, and it can only be terminated by the Board. Any waiver in management fees or payment of Fund expenses made by the Advisor may be recouped by the Advisor in subsequent fiscal years if the Advisor so requests. This recoupment may be requested if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the recoupment) does not exceed the Expense Caps. The Advisor may request recoupment for management fee waivers and Fund expense payments made in the prior three fiscal years from the date the fees were waived and expenses were paid. Any such recoupment is contingent upon the subsequent review and approval of the recouped amounts by the Board.

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with its Rule 12b-1 plan, each Fund is authorized to pay

 

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an amount up to [---]% [    ] of its average daily net assets each year to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or the provision of investor services. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, they will be paid out of the respective Fund’s assets, and over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and they may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

The Advisor, the Sub-Advisor and their affiliates may, out of their own resources, pay amounts to third parties for distribution or marketing services on behalf of the Funds. The making of these payments could create a conflict of interest for a financial intermediary receiving such payments.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE (NAV)

The NAV of the Shares for a Fund is equal to the Fund’s total assets minus the Fund’s total liabilities divided by the total number of Shares outstanding. Interest and investment income on the Trust’s assets accrue daily and are included in the Fund’s total assets. Expenses and fees (including investment advisory, management, administration and distribution fees, if any) accrue daily and are included in the Fund’s total liabilities. The NAV that is published is rounded to the nearest cent; however, for purposes of determining the price of Creation Units, the NAV is calculated to five decimal places.

In calculating NAV, each Fund’s investments are valued using market quotations when available. When market quotations are not readily available, are deemed unreliable or do not reflect material events occurring between the close of local markets and the time of valuation, investments are valued using fair value pricing as determined in good faith by the Sub-Advisor under procedures established by and under the general supervision and responsibility of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Investments that may be valued using fair value pricing include, but are not limited to: (1) securities that are not actively traded, including “restricted” securities and securities received in private placements for which there is no public market; (2) securities of an issuer that becomes bankrupt or enters into a restructuring; (3) securities whose trading has been halted or suspended; and (4) foreign securities traded on exchanges that close before a Fund’s NAV is calculated.

The frequency with which each Fund’s investments are valued using fair value pricing is primarily a function of the types of securities and other assets in which the respective Fund invests pursuant to its investment objective, strategies and limitations. If the Funds invest in other open-end management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, they may rely on the net asset values of those companies to value the shares they hold of them. Those companies may also use fair value pricing under some circumstances.

Valuing the Funds’ investments using fair value pricing results in using prices for those investments that may differ from current market valuations. Accordingly, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate NAV and the prices used to determine a Fund’s Indicative Intra-Day Value (“IIV”), which could result in the market prices for Shares deviating from NAV.

The NAV is calculated by the Administrator and Custodian and determined each Business Day as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE Arca (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. New York time).

 

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INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE

The approximate value of each Fund’s investments on a per-Share basis, the Indicative Intra-Day Value, or IIV, is disseminated by the NYSE Arca every 15 seconds during hours of trading on the NYSE Arca. The IIV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of NAV because the IIV may not be calculated in the same manner as NAV, which is computed once per day.

An [independent third party calculator][US Bank] calculates the IIV for each Fund during hours of trading on the NYSE Arca by dividing the “Estimated Fund Value” as of the time of the calculation by the total number of outstanding Shares of that Fund. “Estimated Fund Value” is the sum of the estimated amount of cash held in a Fund’s portfolio, the estimated amount of accrued interest owed to the Fund and the estimated value of the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio, minus the estimated amount of the Fund’s liabilities. The IIV will be calculated based on the same portfolio holdings disclosed on the Trust’s website.

The Funds provide the independent third party calculator with information to calculate the IIV, but the Funds are not involved in the actual calculation of the IIV and are not responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the IIV. The Funds make no warranty as to the accuracy of the IIV.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Information regarding the extent and frequency with which market prices of Shares have tracked the relevant Fund’s NAV for the most recently completed calendar year and the quarters since that year will be available without charge on the Funds’ website at www.[            ].com.

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Net Investment Income and Capital Gains

As a Fund shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the Fund’s distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains on its investments. The Funds pay out substantially all of their net earnings to their shareholders as “distributions.”

The Funds typically earn income dividends from stocks and interest from debt securities. These amounts, net of expenses, are typically passed along to Fund shareholders as dividends from net investment income. The Funds realize capital gains or losses whenever they sell securities. Net capital gains are distributed to shareholders as “capital gain distributions.”

Net investment income and net capital gains are typically distributed to shareholders at least annually. Dividends may be declared and paid more frequently to improve index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). In addition, the Funds may determine to distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield net of expenses on the underlying investment securities, as if the Funds owned the underlying investment securities for the entire dividend period in which case some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital. You will be notified regarding the portion of the distribution that represents a return of capital.

Distributions in cash may be reinvested automatically in additional Shares of a Fund only if the broker through which you purchased Shares makes such option available.

 

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Federal Income Taxes

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in Shares of a Fund. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this Prospectus and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. In addition, this summary assumes that a Fund shareholder holds Shares as capital assets within the meaning of the Code and does not hold Shares in connection with a trade or business. This summary does not address all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations possibly applicable to an investment in Shares of a Fund, to Fund shareholders holding Shares through a partnership (or other pass-through entity) or to Fund shareholders subject to special tax rules. Prospective Fund shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in Fund shares.

The Funds have not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of Shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing jurisdiction.

Tax Treatment of a Fund

Each Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a separate “regulated investment company” under the Code. To qualify and maintain its tax status as a regulated investment company, each Fund must meet annually certain income and asset diversification requirements and must distribute annually at least 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains).

As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally will not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company for any year, (subject to certain curative measures allowed by the Code) the Fund will be subject to regular corporate-level income tax in that year on all of its taxable income, regardless of whether the Fund makes any distributions to its shareholders. In addition, distributions will be taxable to a Fund’s shareholders generally as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

A Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in advance of receiving the related cash payment. For example, if a Fund invests in original issue discount obligations (such as zero coupon debt instruments or debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest), the Fund will be required to include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the term of the obligation, even if the related cash payment is not received by the Fund until a later year. Under the “wash sale” rules, a Fund may not be able to deduct a loss on a disposition of a portfolio security. As a result, the Fund may be required to make an annual income distribution greater than the total cash actually received during the year. Such distribution may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by selling portfolio securities. The Fund may realize gains or losses from such sales, in which event its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions.

 

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A Fund will be subject to a 4% excise tax on certain undistributed income if the Fund does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year. Each Fund intends to make distributions necessary to avoid the 4% excise tax.

Tax Treatment of Fund Shareholders

Fund Distributions. In general, Fund distributions are subject to federal income tax when paid, regardless of whether they consist of cash or property or are re-invested in Shares. However, any Fund distribution declared in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date during such month will be deemed to have been received by each Fund shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year, provided such dividend is actually paid during January of the following calendar year.

Distributions of a Fund’s net investment income (except, as discussed below, qualifying dividend income) and net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions of a Fund’s net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses are taxable as long-term capital gain to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, regardless of a Fund shareholder’s holding period in the Fund’s Shares. Distributions of qualifying dividend income are taxable as long-term capital gain to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, provided that the Fund shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the distributing Fund’s Shares and the distributing Fund meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its dividend-paying stocks.

Each Fund intends to distribute its long-term capital gains at least annually. However, by providing written notice to its shareholders no later than 60 days after its year-end, a Fund may elect to retain some or all of its long-term capital gains and designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that event, the Fund pays income tax on the retained long-term capital gain, and each Fund shareholder recognizes a proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed long-term capital gain. In addition, each Fund shareholder can claim a refundable tax credit for the shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s income taxes paid on the undistributed long-term capital gain and increase the tax basis of the Shares by an amount equal to shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed long-term capital gains, reduced by the amount of the shareholder’s tax credit.

Long-term capital gains of non-corporate Fund shareholders (i.e., individuals, trusts and estates) are taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. In addition, Fund distributions of qualifying dividend income to non-corporate Fund shareholders qualify for taxation at long-term capital gain rates.

In addition, if applicable to a Fund Shareholder, recent legislation imposes a new 3.8 percent Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. Please consult your tax advisor regarding this tax.

Investors considering buying Shares just prior to a distribution should be aware that, although the price of the Shares purchased at such time may reflect the forthcoming distribution, such distribution nevertheless may be taxable (as opposed to a non-taxable return of capital).

Sales of Shares.  Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is treated generally as a long-term gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss

 

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realized upon a sale of Shares held for one year or less is generally treated as a short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on the sale of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to the Shares.

Creation Unit Issues and Redemptions. On an issue of Shares of a Fund as part of a Creation Unit where the creation is conducted in-kind, an Authorized Participant recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at issue) of the issued Shares (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the exchanged securities (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue). On a redemption of Shares as part of a Creation Unit where the redemption is conducted in-kind, an Authorized Participant recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at redemption) of the securities received (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s basis in the redeemed Shares (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption). However, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) may assert, under the “wash sale” rules or on the basis that there has been no significant change in the Authorized Participant’s economic position, that any loss on creation or redemption of Creation Units cannot be deducted currently.

In general, any capital gain or loss recognized upon the issue or redemption of Shares (as components of a Creation Unit) is treated either as long-term capital gain or loss, if the deposited securities (in the case of an issue) or the Shares (in the case of a redemption) have been held for more than one year, or otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss on a redemption of Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Shares.

Back-Up Withholding.  A Fund may be required to report certain information on a Fund shareholder to the IRS and withhold federal income tax (“backup withholding”) at a 28% rate from all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to the Fund shareholder if the Fund shareholder fails to provide the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (or, in the case of a U.S. individual, a social security number) or a completed exemption certificate (e.g., an IRS Form W-8BEN in the case of a foreign Fund shareholder) or if the IRS notifies the Fund that the Fund shareholder is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a Fund shareholder’s federal income tax liability.

Special Issues for Foreign Shareholders.  If a Fund shareholder is not a U.S. citizen or resident or if a Fund shareholder is a foreign entity, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends (including distributions of net short-term capital gains and other amounts that would not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if paid directly to foreign Fund shareholders) will be subject, in general, to withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate established under an applicable tax treaty). However, for Fund tax years that begin on or before December 31, 2013, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally will not be subject to withholding tax; provided that the foreign shareholder furnishes the Fund with a completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or acceptable substitute documentation) establishing the Fund shareholder’s status as foreign and that the Fund does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the foreign Fund shareholder would be subject to withholding tax if the foreign shareholder were to receive the related amounts directly rather than as dividends from the Fund.

Recently enacted legislation, will subject foreign shareholders to U.S. withholding tax of 30% on all U.S. source income (including all dividends from the Fund) beginning in 2014, and gross

 

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proceeds from the sale of U.S. stocks and securities (including the sale of Fund shares) beginning in 2017, unless they comply with certainly newly-enacted reporting requirements. Complying with such requirements will require the shareholder, to provide and certify certain information about itself and (where applicable) its beneficial owners, and foreign financial institutions generally will be required to enter in an agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to provide it with certain information regarding such shareholder’s account holders. Please consult your tax advisor regarding this tax.

To claim a credit or refund for any Fund-level taxes on any undistributed long-term capital gains (as discussed above) or any taxes collected through back-up withholding, a foreign shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the foreign shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. income tax return.

For a more detailed tax discussion regarding an investment in the Funds, and for special tax treatment on the sale and distribution by certain funds, please see the section of the SAI entitled “Taxation.”

CODE OF ETHICS

The Trust, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Trust, the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor and the Distributor from engaging in deceptive, manipulative or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Funds (which may also be held by persons subject to a code). There can be no assurance that the codes will be effective in preventing such activities. The codes permit personnel subject to them to invest in securities, including securities that may be held or purchased by the Funds. The codes are on file with the SEC and are available to the public.

FUND WEBSITE AND DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Sub-Advisor maintains a website for the Funds at [            ]. The website for the Funds contains the following information, on a per-Share basis, for each Fund: (1) the prior Business Day’s NAV; (2) the reported mid-point of the bid-ask spread at the time of NAV calculation (the “Bid-Ask Price”); (3) a calculation of the premium or discount of the Bid-Ask Price against such NAV; and (4) data in chart format displaying the frequency distribution of discounts and premiums of the Bid-Ask Price against the NAV, within appropriate ranges, for each of the four previous calendar quarters (or for the life of a Fund if, shorter). In addition, on each Business Day, before the commencement of trading in Shares on the NYSE Arca, each Fund will disclose on its website ([            ]) the identities and quantities of the portfolio securities and other assets held by each Fund that will form the basis for the calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day.

A description of each Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

OTHER INFORMATION

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Funds are registered investment companies, and the acquisition of Shares by other registered investment companies and companies relying on exemption from registration as investment companies under Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as may be permitted by an exemptive order granted by the SEC that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond those limitations.

 

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The Advisor has applied to the SEC for exemptive relief under Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the 1940 Act permitting each Fund to operate as a “fund of funds” and invest in other investment companies without complying with the limitations set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, subject to certain terms and limitations that will be contained in the SEC’s exemptive order, if granted.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Trust, c/o Millington Securities, Inc., 34  Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E, Little Silver, New Jersey 07739.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Funds have not yet commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus and therefore do not have a financial history.

PRIVACY POLICY

Absolute Shares Trust is committed to respecting the privacy of personal information you entrust to us in the course of doing business with us.

The Funds collect non-public information about you from the following sources:

             Information we receive about you on applications or other forms;

             Information you give us orally; and/or

             Information about your transactions with us or others.

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

In the event that you hold shares of the Funds through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared by those entities with unaffiliated third parties.

 

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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

 

Trust

   Absolute Shares Trust, a registered open-end investment company

Funds

   The investment portfolios of the Trust

Shares

   Shares of the Funds offered to investors

Advisor

  

Millington Securities, Inc.

Custodian

   U.S. Bank, National Association, the custodian of the Funds’ assets

Distributor

   Foreside Funds Services, Inc., the distributor to the Funds

AP or Authorized

Participant

   Certain large institutional investors such as brokers, dealers, banks or other entities that have entered into authorized participant agreements with the Distributor.

NYSE Arca

   NYSE Arca, Inc., the primary market on which Shares are listed for trading

IIV

   The Indicative Intra-Day Value, an appropriate per-Share value based on a Fund’s portfolio

1940 Act

   Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended

NAV

   Net asset value

SAI

   Statement of Additional Information

SEC

   Securities and Exchange Commission

Secondary Market

   A national securities exchange, national securities association or over-the-counter trading system where Shares may trade from time to time

Securities Act

   Securities Act of 1933, as amended

Sub-Advisor

   WBI Investments, Inc.

 

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[INSERT LOGO]

Absolute Shares Trust

Mailing Address

c/o Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

Tel: 732-842-4920            

Website: [    ]                    

 

 

PROSPECTUS | [                        ] 2013

ABSOLUTE SHARES TRUST

[INSERT LOGO]

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you would like more information about the Trust, the Funds and the Shares, the following documents are available free upon request:

Statement of Additional Information

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

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports

The Funds’ Annual and Semi-Annual Reports (collectively, the “Shareholder Reports”) will provide the most recent financial reports and portfolio listings. The Annual Report will contain a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that affected the Funds’ performance during the Funds’ previous fiscal year.

The SAI and Shareholder Reports will be available free of charge on the Funds’ website at www.[            ].

    You can obtain a free copy of the SAI and Shareholder Reports, request other information, or make general inquiries about the Funds by calling the Funds (toll-free) at 1-855-WBI-FUND (1-855-924-3863) or by writing to:

Absolute Shares Trust

c/o Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

Tel: 732-842-4920            

Website: [    ]                    

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

 

 

Free of charge from the SEC’s EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov;

 

 

For a fee, by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520; or

 

 

For a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov

No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations about the Funds and their Shares not contained in this Prospectus and you should not rely on any other information. Read and keep the Prospectus for future reference.

Dealers effecting transactions in the Funds’ Shares, whether or not participating in this distribution, may be generally required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition to any obligation dealers have to deliver a Prospectus when acting as underwriters.

WBI is a registered service mark of [                        ].

The Funds’ investment company registration number is [811-                        ]


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STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ABSOLUTE SHARES TRUST

Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

Tel: 732-842-4920

Website: [    ]

[                    ], 2013

This Statement of Additional Information (this “SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with and is incorporated by reference into the prospectus dated [                    ] (the “Prospectus”) for the Absolute Shares Trust (“Trust”), relating to the funds (each, a “Fund” and, collectively, the “Funds”) set forth in the table below, as it may be revised from time to time. A copy of the Prospectus for the Trust, relating to the Funds, may be obtained without charge by writing to the Trust, [                    ], [                    ], or by visiting the Trust’s website at [                    ].

Fund Name

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF (WBIA)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF (WBIB)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF (WBIC)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF (WBID)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF (WBIE)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF (WBIF)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF (WBIG)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF (WBIL)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF (WBII)

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF (WBIH)

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, unless otherwise noted.

No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this SAI and the Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations may not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust.

The SAI does not constitute an offer to sell securities.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS

    1   

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

    2   

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

    2   

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

    3   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

    18   

MANAGEMENT

    19   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

    23   

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

    24   

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

    24   

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

    26   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

    27   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

    30   

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN

    31   

INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE

    31   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING SHARES

    32   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

    34   

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

    44   

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

    44   

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

    45   

TAXATION

    46   

OTHER INFORMATION

    52   

APPENDIX A SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

    A-1   

APPENDIX B

    B-1   

APPENDIX C

    C-1   

 

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on [                ] and is authorized to have multiple segregated series or portfolios. The Trust is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). The Trust currently consists of two separate investment portfolios. This SAI addresses the following investment portfolios of the Trust, each of which is deemed to be diversified for the purposes of the 1940 Act:

 

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF

WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF

(each, a “Fund” or, the “Global SMID Growth ETF”, “Global SMID Value ETF”, “Global SMID Yield ETF,” “Global SMID Select ETF”, “Large Growth ETF”, “Large Growth ETF”, “Large Value ETF”, “Large Yield ETF”, “Tactical Bond ETF” and “Tactical High Income ETF”,” individually and, together, the “Funds”). Other portfolios may be added to the Trust in the future. The shares of the Funds are referred to herein as “Fund Shares” or “Shares.” The offering of Shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

The Funds are managed by Millington Securities, Inc. (the “Advisor”) and are sub-advised by WBI Investments, Inc., an affiliate of the Advisor. The Advisor has been registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is wholly owned by WBI Trading Company, Inc. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to each of the Funds.

The Funds offer and issue Shares at net asset value (the “NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each, a “Creation Unit” or a “Creation Unit Aggregation”), generally in exchange for cash, but from time to time may be created in exchange for a basket of equity securities specified by the Sub-Advisor (the “Deposit Securities”), together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). The Shares of each Fund trade or are expected to trade on the NYSE Arca (the “Exchange”). Fund Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at, or above NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit Aggregations and, generally, in exchange for cash. Creation Units are aggregations of 50,000 Shares of a Fund. In the event of the liquidation of a Fund, the Trust may lower the number of Shares in a Creation Unit.

If a Fund presently creates and redeems Fund Shares in kind, the Trust reserves the right to offer a “cash” option for creations and redemptions of Fund Shares. Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of Deposit Securities subject to various conditions, including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least equal to 115% of the market value of the missing Deposit Securities. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

 


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EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary for each Fund to maintain the listing of its Shares will continue to be met. The Exchange will consider the suspension of trading and delisting of the Shares of a Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning at the commencement of trading of a Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the Shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days; or (ii) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further trading on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of such Fund.

The Funds’ continued listing on the Exchange or another stock exchange or market system is a condition of the exemptive relief the Funds obtained from the SEC to operate as exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Any Fund’s failure to be so listed would result in the termination of the Fund.

As in the case of other stocks traded on the Exchange, brokers’ commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the price levels of the Shares in the future to 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 each Fund.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Investment Objectives

Each Fund has distinct investment objectives and policies. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be achieved.

All investment objectives and investment policies not specifically designated as fundamental may be changed without shareholder approval. Additional information about the Funds, their policies, and the investment instruments they may hold, is provided below.

The Funds’ share prices will fluctuate with market, economic and, to the extent applicable, foreign exchange conditions. The Funds should not be relied upon as a complete investment program.

Investment Restrictions

The investment restrictions set forth below have been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) as fundamental policies that cannot be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The investment objective of each Fund and all other investment policies or practices of the Fund are considered by the Trust not to be fundamental and accordingly may be changed without shareholder approval. For purposes of the 1940 Act, a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the 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 by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Shares of the Fund.

For purposes of the following limitations, any limitation which involves a maximum percentage shall not be considered violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately

 

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after, and is caused by, an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund. With respect to the Funds’ fundamental investment restriction B, asset coverage of at least 300% (as defined in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, must be maintained at all times.

As a matter of fundamental policy, a Fund (except as to any specific Fund otherwise noted below) may not:

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

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

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

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

5.            Invest 25% or more of the market value of its total assets in the securities of companies engaged in any one industry. (This does not apply to investments in the securities of other investment companies or securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities.)

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

7.            Purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities.

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

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

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

10.          Invest in securities of other investment companies, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules promulgated thereunder or pursuant to any applicable exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

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

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

A discussion of the risks associated with an investment in each Fund is contained in the Funds’ Prospectus under the headings “Principal Risk Factors,” “Additional Description of the Principal Risks of the Funds” and “Additional Risks.” The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, such sections of the Funds’ Prospectus.

 

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General

Investment in each Fund should be made with an understanding that the value of the portfolio of securities held by such Fund may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of the issuers of the portfolio securities, the value of common stocks generally and other factors.

Diversification

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

Percentage Limitations

Whenever an investment policy or limitation states a maximum percentage of each Fund’s assets that may be invested in any security or other asset, or sets forth a policy regarding quality standards, such standard or percentage limitation will be determined immediately after and as a result of the Fund’s acquisition or sale of such security or other asset. Accordingly, except with respect to borrowing and illiquid securities, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances will not be considered in determining whether an investment complies with each Fund’s investment policies and limitations. In addition, if a bankruptcy or other extraordinary event occurs concerning a particular investment by a Fund, the Fund may receive stock, real estate or other investments that the Fund would not, or could not buy. If this happens a Fund would sell such investments as soon as practicable while trying to maximize the return to its shareholders.

Recent Regulatory Events

Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur that may adversely affect the Funds and their ability to pursue their investment strategies and/or increase the costs of implementing such strategies. The U.S. Government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other governmental and regulatory bodies have recently taken or are considering taking actions in light of the recent financial crisis. These actions include, but are not limited to, the enactment by the United States Congress of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,” which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, and imposes a new regulatory framework over the U.S. financial services industry and the consumer credit markets in general, and proposed regulations by the SEC. Given the broad scope, sweeping nature, and relatively recent enactment of some of these regulatory measures, the potential impact they could have on securities held by the Funds is unknown. There can be no assurance that these measures will not have an adverse effect on the value or marketability of securities held by the Funds. Furthermore, no assurance can be made that the U.S. Government or any U.S. regulatory body (or other authority or regulatory body) will not continue to take further legislative or regulatory action in response to the continuing economic turmoil or otherwise, and the effect of such actions, if taken, cannot be known.

 

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Recent Economic Events

Although the U.S. economy has seen gradual improvement since 2008, the effects of the global financial crisis that began to unfold in 2007 continue to exist and economic growth has been slow and uneven. In addition, the negative impacts and continued uncertainty stemming from the sovereign debt crisis and economic difficulties in Europe and U.S. fiscal and political matters, including deficit reduction and U.S. debt ratings, have impacted and may continue to impact the global economic recovery. These events and possible continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Funds. In response to the global financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks took steps to support financial markets. However, risks to a robust resumption of growth persist: a weak consumer weighed down by too much debt and high levels of unemployment, the growing size of the federal budget deficit and national debt, and the threat of inflation. A number of countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. There is continued concern about national-level support for the euro and the accompanying coordination of fiscal and wage policy among European Economic and Monetary Union (“EMU”) member countries. Member countries are required to maintain tight control over inflation, public debt, and budget deficit to qualify for membership in the European EMU. These requirements can severely limit European EMU member countries’ ability to implement monetary policy to address regional economic conditions. A return to unfavorable economic conditions could impair the Funds’ ability to execute their investment strategies.

Each Fund may invest in the following types of investments, each of which is subject to certain risks, as discussed below:

Equity Securities

Common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights, warrants and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are examples of equity securities in which the Funds may invest.

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

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

Preferred Stocks.  Preferred stocks are equity securities that often pay dividends at a specific rate and have a preference over common stocks in dividend payments and liquidation of assets. A

 

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preferred stock has a blend of the characteristics of a bond and common stock. It can offer the higher yield of a bond and has priority over common stock in equity ownership, but does not have the seniority of a bond and, unlike common stock, its participation in the issuer’s growth may be limited. Although the dividend is set at a fixed annual rate, in some circumstances it can be changed or omitted by the issuer.

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

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

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

Foreign Investments

Each Fund may make investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers (“foreign securities”). Each Fund reserves the right to invest without limitation in Depositary Receipts (“DRs”), U.S. dollar-denominated securities, foreign securities and securities of companies incorporated outside the U.S.

Depositary Receipts.  Depositary Receipts include ADRs, European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) or other forms of DRs. DRs are receipts typically

 

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issued in connection with a U.S. or foreign bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. company.

ADRs are depositary receipts for foreign securities denominated in U.S. dollars and traded on U.S. securities markets. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities for which they may be exchanged. These are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign-based issuer held in trust by a bank or similar financial institutions. Designed for use in U.S. securities markets, ADRs are alternatives to the purchase of the underlying securities in their national market and currencies. ADRs may be purchased through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. A sponsored facility is established jointly by the issuer of the underlying security and a depositary, whereas a depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by the issuer of the depositary security. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of such receipts of the deposited securities.

Risks of Investing in Foreign Securities.

Investments in foreign securities involve certain inherent risks, including the following:

Political and Economic Factors. Individual economies of certain countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States’ economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, diversification and balance of payments position. The internal politics of certain foreign countries may not be as stable as those of the United States. Governments in certain foreign countries also continue to participate to a significant degree, through ownership interest or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could include restrictions on foreign investment, nationalization, expropriation of goods or imposition of taxes, and could have a significant effect on market prices of securities and payment of interest. The economies of many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon international trade and are accordingly affected by the trade policies and economic conditions of their trading partners. Enactment by these trading partners of protectionist trade legislation could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of such countries.

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

Currency Fluctuations. A change in the value of any foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in the U.S. dollar value of an ADR’s underlying portfolio securities denominated in that currency. Such changes will affect a Fund to the extent that the Fund is invested in ADRs comprised of foreign securities.

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

In considering whether to invest in the securities of a non-U.S. company, the Sub-Advisor considers such factors as the characteristics of the particular company, differences between economic

 

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trends and the performance of securities markets within the U.S. and those within other countries, and also factors relating to the general economic, governmental and social conditions of the country or countries where the company is located. The extent to which a Fund will be invested in non-U.S. companies, foreign countries and depositary receipts will fluctuate from time to time within any limitations described in the Prospectus, depending on the Advisor’s assessment of prevailing market, economic and other conditions.

Emerging Markets. Each Fund may invest up to 50% of its net assets in foreign securities that may include securities of companies located in developing or emerging markets, which entail additional risks, including: less social, political and economic stability; smaller securities markets and lower trading volume, which may result in less liquidity and greater price volatility; national policies that may restrict an underlying fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investments in issuers or industries, or expropriation or confiscation of assets or property; and less developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment.

Small and Medium-Sized Companies

To the extent a Fund invests in the equity securities of small and medium-sized companies, it will be exposed to the risks of smaller sized companies. Small and medium-sized companies may have narrower markets for their goods and/or services and may have more limited managerial and financial resources than larger, more established companies. Furthermore, such companies may have limited product lines, services, markets, or financial resources or may be dependent on a small management group. In addition, because these stocks may not be well-known to the investing public, do not have significant institutional ownership or are typically followed by fewer security analysts, there will normally be less publicly available information concerning these securities compared to what is available for the securities of larger companies. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, can decrease the value and liquidity of securities held by a Fund. As a result, their performance can be more volatile and they face greater risk of business failure, which could increase the volatility of a Fund’s portfolio.

Investment Companies

Each Fund may invest in shares of other registered investment companies, including other exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), money market mutual funds and other mutual funds in pursuit of its investment objective, in accordance with the limitations established under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This may include investments in money market mutual funds in connection with a Fund’s management of daily cash positions. Investments in the securities of other investment companies may involve duplication of advisory fees and certain other expenses. By investing in another investment company, a Fund becomes a shareholder of that investment company. As a result, Fund shareholders indirectly will bear a Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses paid by shareholders of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with a Fund’s own operations.

Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits a fund from purchasing (1) more than 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of another fund; (2) securities of another fund having an aggregate value in excess of 5% of the value of the acquiring fund; and (3) securities of the other fund and all other funds having an aggregate value in excess of 10% of the value of the total assets of the acquiring fund. There are some exceptions, however, to these limitations pursuant to various rules promulgated by the SEC. However, the Funds may rely on exemptive orders granted by the SEC

 

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obtained by other registered investment companies that permit the Funds to invest in such other investment companies beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) and the rules thereunder, subject to certain terms and conditions, including that the Funds enter into an agreement with such other registered investment companies regarding the terms of the investment.

The Advisor has applied to the SEC for exemptive relief under Section 12(d)(1)(J) of the 1940 Act permitting each Fund to operate as a “fund of funds” and invest in other investment companies without complying with the limitations set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, subject to certain terms and limitations that will be contained in the SEC’s exemptive order, if granted.

The Funds may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) and Rule 12d1-3 of the 1940 Act, which provide an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows a Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions: (a) the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than three percent of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund, and (b) the sales load charged on the Fund’s shares is no greater than the limits set forth in Rule 2830 of the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

Exchange-Traded Funds. ETFs are open-end investment companies whose shares are listed on a national securities exchange. An ETF is similar to a traditional mutual fund, but trades at different prices during the day on a security exchange like a stock. Similar to investments in other investment companies discussed above, a Fund’s investments in ETFs will involve duplication of advisory fees and other expenses since the Fund will be investing in another investment company. In addition, a Fund’s investment in ETFs is also subject to its limitations on investments in investment companies, as well as any exemptions from such limitations granted by the SEC, discussed above,. To the extent a Fund invests in ETFs which focus on a particular market segment or industry, the Fund will also be subject to the risks associated with investing in those sectors or industries. The shares of the ETFs in which each Fund will invest will be listed on a national securities exchange and a Fund will purchase or sell these shares on the secondary market at its current market price, which may be more or less than its net asset value (“NAV”) per share.

As a purchaser of ETF shares on the secondary market, each Fund will be subject to the market risk associated with owning any security whose value is based on market price. ETF shares historically have tended to trade at or near their NAV, but there is no guarantee that they will continue to do so. Unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of an ETF may be purchased and redeemed directly from the ETFs only in large blocks (typically 50,000 shares or more) and only through participating organizations that have entered into contractual agreements with the ETF. The Funds do not expect to enter into such agreements and therefore will not be able to purchase and redeem their ETF shares directly from the ETF.

Equity Options

Each Fund may write call options on stocks and stock indices if the calls are “covered” throughout the life of the option. A call is “covered” if a Fund owns the optioned securities. See below for additional ways a call can be covered. When a Fund writes a call, they receive a premium and give the purchaser the right to buy the underlying security at any time during the call period at a fixed exercise price regardless of market price changes during the call period. If the call is exercised, a Fund will forgo any gain from an increase in the market price of the underlying security over the exercise price.

 

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Each Fund may purchase a call on securities to effect a “closing purchase transaction,” which is the purchase of a call covering the same underlying security and having the same exercise price and expiration date as a call previously written by a Fund on which it wishes to terminate its obligation. If a Fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to sell the underlying security until the call previously written by the Fund expires (or until the call is exercised and the Fund delivers the underlying security).

Each Fund may also write and purchase put options (“puts”). When a Fund writes a put, it receives a premium and gives the purchaser of the put the right to sell the underlying security to the Fund at the exercise price at any time during the option period. When a Fund purchases a put, it pays a premium in return for the right to sell the underlying security at the exercise price at any time during the option period. If any put is not exercised or sold, it will become worthless on its expiration date.

Purchasing Put and Call Options - When a Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, a Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). A Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

Call options are similar to put options, except that a Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. A Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

             Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

             Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

             Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options - When a Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when a Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. A Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, it may cancel an over-the-counter option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counter-party to the option.

A Fund may try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, a Fund would expect the put option to

 

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expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, a Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, a Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive a Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. A Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, a Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, a Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

Each Fund is permitted only to write covered options. A Fund can cover a call option by owning:

             The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

            A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

            A call option on the same security or index with a greater exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices;

             Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

             In the case of an index, securities whose price movements correlate to the movements of the index.

A Fund can cover a put option by:

             Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

             Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;

             Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with a lesser exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices; or

             Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

Options on Securities Indices - Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market, rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

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Options on Futures - An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

A Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. A Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reason it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such put options in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. Each Fund may buy call options on futures contracts for the same purpose as the actual purchase of the futures contracts, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

A Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, a Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its assets.

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, a Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to a Fund.

Combined Positions - A Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, a Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, a Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price 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.

Caps and Floors - Each Fund may enter cap and floor agreements. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

Risks of Derivatives - While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates,

 

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securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of a Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify a Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities a Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose a Fund to greater risks.

Derivative Management Risk - If the Sub-Advisor incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, a Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if a Fund were to write a call option based on its Advisor’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, a Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price.

Short Selling

All of the Funds may invest, in part, in short positions in equity securities. As opposed to taking long positions in which an investor seeks to profit from increases in the price of a stock, short selling (or “selling short”) is a technique used by the Funds to try and profit from the falling price of a stock. Short selling involves selling stock that has been borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical stock back at a later date to return to that third party. The basic principle of short selling is that selling stock now at a high price, to buy later at a lower price, is profitable. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the price of the assets between the sale and the repurchase, as the seller will pay less to buy the assets than it received on selling them.

If a Fund effects a short sale of financial instruments at a time when it has an unrealized gain on the instruments, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had actually sold the instruments (as a “constructive sale”) on the date it effects the short sale. However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if the Fund closes out the short sale with instruments other than the appreciated instruments held at the time of the short sale and if certain other conditions are satisfied. Uncertainty regarding the tax consequences of effecting short sales may limit the extent to which a Fund may effect short sales.

A Fund may be required to close short portfolio security positions in order to facilitate the redemption process. If a Fund recognizes gain on such transactions, this generally will cause the Fund to recognize gain it might not otherwise have recognized, or to recognize such gain sooner than would otherwise be required if it were to distribute portfolio securities in-kind. The Funds generally intend to distribute these gains to shareholders to avoid being taxed on this gain at the Fund level and otherwise comply with the special tax rules that apply to it. This strategy may cause shareholders to be subject to tax on gains they would not otherwise be subject to, or at an earlier date than, if they had made an investment in a different ETF.

Debt and High-Yield Securities

Debt securities include traditional debt securities issued by corporations, such as bonds and debentures and debt securities that are convertible into common stock and interests. Debt securities that will be eligible for purchase by the Funds include investment grade and high-yield corporate debt securities. Investment grade securities are those rated BBB or better by Standard & Poor’s® Ratings Group (“S&P®”) and those rated Baa or better by Moody’s Investors Service©, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or their equivalent. Securities rated BBB by S&P® are considered investment grade, but Moody’s

 

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considers securities rated Baa to have speculative characteristics. High-yield securities, or “junk bonds,” are rated less than investment grade.

Each Fund that invests primarily in equities may invest up to 20% of its net assets in high-yield bonds (also known as “junk bonds”). The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical Bond ETF may invest up to 50% of its net assets in high-yield bonds, and the WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF may invest up to 80% of their net assets in high-yield bonds. Each Fund may also invest without limitation in other investment companies, including other ETFs. The WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Tactical High Income ETF reserves the right to invest up to 80% of its net assets in securities rated lower than BBB by S&P® or lower than Baa by Moody’s, the WBI AbsoluteCore Tactical Bond ETF reserves the right to invest up to 40% of its assets in securities rated lower than BBB by S&P® or lower than Baa by Moody’s, and the WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Growth ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Value ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Yield ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global SMID Select ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Growth ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Value ETF, WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Yield ETF, and WBI AbsoluteCore Shares Global Large Select ETF each reserves the right to invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities rated lower than BBB by S&P® or lower than Baa by Moody’s. High-yield debt securities generally offer a higher current yield than that available for higher-grade issues. However, lower-rated securities involve higher risks in that they are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions and in the industries in which the issuers are engaged, to changes in the financial condition of the issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. During periods of economic downturn or rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers may experience financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to make payments of interest and principal and increase the possibility of default.

The market for high-yield debt securities is generally thinner and less active than that for higher quality securities, which may limit a Fund’s ability to sell such securities at fair value in response to changes in the economy or financial markets. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether based on fundamental analysis, may also decrease the values and liquidity of lower-rated securities, especially in a thinly traded market.

Ratings of debt securities represent the rating agencies’ opinions regarding their quality, but are not a guarantee of quality and may be reduced after a Fund has acquired the security. If a security’s rating is reduced while it is held by a Fund, the Sub-Advisor will consider whether the Fund should continue to hold the security but is not required to dispose of it. Credit ratings attempt to evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments and do not evaluate the risks of fluctuations in market value. Also, rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings in response to subsequent events, so that an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than the rating indicates. The ratings for debt securities are described in Appendix A.

Debt securities with longer maturities generally entail greater risk than those with shorter maturities.

Short-Term, Temporary, and Cash Investments

Each Fund may invest in any of the following securities and instruments:

Bank Certificates of Deposit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Time Deposits. Each Fund may acquire certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits. Certificates of deposit are

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commercial paper and short term notes will consist of issues rated at the time of purchase “A-2” or higher by S&P, “Prime-1” by Moody’s, or similarly rated by another nationally recognized

 

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statistical rating organization or, if unrated, will be determined by the Sub-Advisor to be of comparable quality. These rating symbols are described in Appendix B.

Government Obligations

Each Fund may make short term investments in U.S. Government obligations. Such obligations include Treasury bills, certificates of indebtedness, notes and bonds, and issues of such entities as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Export Import Bank of the United States, Tennessee Valley Authority, Resolution Funding Corporation, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Federal Farm Credit Banks, Federal Land Banks, Federal Housing Administration, Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), and the Student Loan Marketing Association.

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

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

When-Issued Securities

Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued basis, for payment and delivery at a later date, generally within one month. The price and yield are generally fixed on the date of commitment to purchase, and the value of the security is thereafter reflected in the Fund’s NAV. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund and no interest accrues to the Fund. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. When the Fund purchases securities on a when-issued basis, it maintains liquid assets in a segregated account with its custodian in an amount equal to the purchase price as long as the obligation to purchase continues.

 

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Illiquid Securities

As a non-principal strategy, each Fund may hold up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are illiquid, which means that there may be legal or contractual restrictions on their disposition, or that there are no readily available market for such a security. Illiquid securities present the risks that a Fund may have difficulty valuing these holdings and/or may be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price desired. There are generally no restrictions on a Fund’s ability to invest in restricted securities (that is, securities that are not registered pursuant to the Securities Act), except to the extent such securities may be considered illiquid. Securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act (“Rule 144A securities”) will be considered liquid if determined to be so under procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Sub-Advisor is responsible for making the determination as to the liquidity of restricted securities (pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees). A Fund will determine a security to be illiquid if it cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at the value at which the Fund has valued the security. Factors considered in determining whether a security is illiquid may include, but are not limited to: the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; the number of dealers willing to purchase and sell the security and the number of potential purchasers; the number of dealers who undertake to make a market in the security; the nature of the security, including whether it is registered or unregistered, and the market place; whether the security has been rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”); the period of time remaining until the maturity of a debt instrument or until the principal amount of a demand instrument can be recovered through demand; the nature of any restrictions on resale; and with respect to municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation, there is reasonable assurance that the obligation will remain liquid throughout the time the obligation is held and, if unrated, an analysis similar to that which would be performed by an NRSRO is performed. If a restricted security is determined to be liquid, it will not be included within the category of illiquid securities. Investing in Rule 144A securities could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that a Fund, at a particular point in time may be unable to find qualified institutional buyers interested in purchasing the securities. Each Fund is permitted to sell restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers.

Lending Portfolio Securities

Each Fund may lend its portfolio securities in an amount not exceeding one-third of its total assets to financial institutions such as banks and brokers if the loan is collateralized in accordance with applicable regulations. Under the present regulatory requirements which govern loans of portfolio securities, the loan collateral must, on each business day, at least equal the value of the loaned securities and must consist of cash, letters of credit of domestic banks or domestic branches of foreign banks, or securities of the U.S. Government or its agencies. To be acceptable as collateral, letters of credit must obligate a bank to pay amounts demanded by the Funds if the demand meets the terms of the letter. Such terms and the issuing bank would have to be satisfactory to the Funds. Any loan might be secured by any one or more of the three types of collateral. The terms of the Funds’ loans must permit a Fund to reacquire loaned securities on five days’ notice or in time to vote on any serious matter and must meet certain tests under the Code.

The primary risk in securities lending is a default by the borrower during a sharp rise in price of the borrowed security resulting in a deficiency in the collateral posted by the borrower. The Funds will seek to minimize this risk by requiring that the value of the securities loaned be computed each day and additional collateral be furnished each day if required. In addition, the Funds are exposed to

 

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the risk of delay in recovery of the loaned securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower become insolvent. As well, all investments made with the collateral received are subject to the risks associated with such investments. If such investments lose value, the Funds will have to cover the loss when repaying the collateral.

Borrowing

Though the Funds do not currently intend to borrow money, each Fund is authorized to borrow money from time to time for temporary, extraordinary or emergency purposes or for clearance of transactions, and not for the purpose of leveraging its investments, in amounts not to exceed at any time 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets at the time of such borrowings, as allowed under the 1940 Act. The use of borrowing by a Fund involves special risk considerations that may not be associated with other funds having similar objectives and policies. Since substantially all of a Fund’s assets fluctuate in value, while the interest obligation resulting from a borrowing will be fixed by the terms of a Fund’s agreement with its lender, the NAV per share of a Fund will tend to increase more when its portfolio securities increase in value and to decrease more when its portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case if a Fund did not borrow. In addition, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the return earned on borrowed funds. Under adverse market conditions, a Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

Cash Transactions Risk

Unlike most ETFs, the Funds currently intend to effect all creations and redemptions principally for cash, rather than “in-kind” securities. As a result, an investment in the Funds may be less tax-efficient than an investment in a more conventional ETF which does not intend to effect all creations and redemptions principally for cash. ETFs generally are able to make in-kind redemptions and avoid being taxed on gain on the distributed portfolio securities at the fund level.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

Although the Funds generally will not invest for short-term trading purposes, portfolio securities may be sold without regard to the length of time they have been held when, in the opinion of the Advisor, investment considerations warrant such action. Portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing (1) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by (2) the monthly average of the value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. A 100% turnover rate would occur if all the securities in a Fund’s portfolio, with the exception of securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less, were sold and either repurchased or replaced within one year. A high rate of portfolio turnover (100% or more) generally leads to higher transaction costs and may result in a greater number of taxable transactions. High portfolio turnover generally results in the distribution of short-term capital gains which are taxed at the higher ordinary income tax rates.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The Role of the Board

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), which provides oversight of the management and operations of the Trust. The Board approves all significant agreements between the Trust and its service providers, including the agreements with the advisors, distributor, administrator, custodian and transfer agent, each of whom are discussed in greater detail in this SAI. Like all mutual funds and ETFs, the day-to-day responsibility for the management and operation of the Trust, including the day-to-day management of risk, is the responsibility of such service providers to the Trust. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, has oversight responsibility with respect to the risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and eliminate or mitigate the potential effects of risks such as events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Trust or the Funds. The Board’s role in risk management oversight begins before the inception of an investment portfolio, at which time the Advisor presents the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the investment portfolio. Additionally, the Advisor provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, the respective firm’s investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board oversees the risk management of the investment portfolio’s operations, in part, by requesting periodic reports from and otherwise communicating with various personnel of the service providers, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust. The Board and, with respect to identified risks that relate to its scope of expertise, the Audit Committee of the Board, oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed. . In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Trust and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Trust’s investments, operations or activities.

Under the overall supervision of the Board and the Audit Committee (discussed in more detail below), the service providers to the Trust employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify risks relevant to the operations of the Trust and the Funds to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that activity.

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Advisor and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on at least an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Advisory Agreement with the Advisor, the Board receives detailed information from the Advisor. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Advisor’s adherence to each Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various policies and procedures of the Trust and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about each Fund’s performance and investments.

The Trust’s CCO meets regularly with the Board to review and discuss compliance and other issues. At least annually, the Trust’s CCO provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including

 

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the Advisor. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

The Board receives reports from the Trust’s service providers regarding operational risks, portfolio valuation and other matters. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the financial statements of the Funds, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Trust and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Trust’s internal controls.

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve each Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, despite the periodic reports the Board receives and the Board’s discussions with the service providers to the Trust, it may not be made aware of all of the relevant information of a particular risk. Most of the Trust’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Advisor and other service providers each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Trust’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s risk management oversight is subject to substantial limitations.

There is an Audit Committee and Nominating Committee of the Board, each of which is chaired by an Independent Trustee and comprised solely of Independent Trustees. The Committee chair for each is responsible for running the Committee meeting, formulating agendas for those meetings, and coordinating with management to serve as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and management on matters within the scope of the responsibilities of such Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter. There is a Valuation Committee, which is comprised of the Independent Trustees and representatives of the Advisor to take action in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities held by a Fund in accordance with the Board-approved Valuation Procedures. The Funds have determined that this leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Funds. The Funds made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the Independent Trustees of the Funds constitute a majority of the Board, the assets under management of the Funds, the number of portfolios overseen by the Board and the total number of trustees on the Board

Trustee Ownership of Fund Shares and Other Interests

As of [                                         ], no Trustee beneficially owned shares of the Funds.

As of [                                         ], neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, own securities beneficially or of record in the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor, the Distributor, as defined below, or an affiliate of the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor or Distributor. Accordingly, neither the Independent Trustees nor members of their immediate family, have direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the Advisor, the Distributor or any of their affiliates.

 

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Control Persons, Principal Shareholders, and Management Ownership

A principal shareholder is any person who owns 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. Shareholders with a controlling interest could affect the outcome of voting or the direction of management of the Funds.

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

Members of the Board and Officers of the Trust.  Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust, term of office, portfolios supervised and the principal occupations and other directorships for a minimum of the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as members of the Board and as Executive Officers of the Trust. Also included below is the term of office for each of the Executive Officers of the Trust. The members of the Board serve as Trustees for the life of the Trust or until retirement, removal, or their office is terminated pursuant to the Trust’s Declaration of Trust.

The Chairman of the Board, [                                    ], is an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act (the “Interested Trustee”) because of his affiliation with the Advisor. [                                        ] of the Trustees, [                                         ], and their immediate family members have no affiliation or business connection with the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor or the Funds’ principal underwriter or any of their affiliated persons and do not own any stock or other securities issued by the Advisor, the Sub-Advisor or the Funds’ principal underwriter. These Trustees are not Interested Persons of the Trust and are referred to herein as “Independent Trustees.”

Independent Trustees

Interested Trustee

Officers of the Trust

 

 

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Description of Standing Board Committees

Audit Committee. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee are the appointment, compensation and oversight of the Trust’s independent auditors, including the resolution of disagreements regarding financial reporting between Trust management and such independent auditors. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, without limitation, to (i) oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Trust and its internal control over financial reporting and, as the Committee deems appropriate, to inquire into the internal control over financial reporting of certain third-party service providers; (ii) oversee the quality and integrity of the Funds’ financial statements and the independent audits thereof; (iii) oversee, or, as appropriate, assist Board oversight of, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and independent audits; (iv) approve prior to appointment the engagement of the Trust’s independent auditors and, in connection therewith, to review and evaluate the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust’s independent auditors; and (vi) act as a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board. The Board of the Trust has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Trust’s Audit Committee.

Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee has been established to: (i) assist the Board of Trustees in matters involving mutual fund governance and industry practices; (ii) select and nominate candidates for appointment or election to serve as Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust or its Advisor or distributor (as defined by the 1940 Act); and (iii) advise the Board of Trustees on ways to improve its effectiveness. All of the Independent Trustees serve on the Nominating Committee. As stated above, each Trustee holds office for an indefinite term until the occurrence of certain events. In filling Board vacancies, the Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. Nominee recommendations should be submitted to the Trust at its mailing address stated in the Fund’s Prospectus and should be directed to the attention of the Trust’s Nominating Committee.

Valuation Committee. The Valuation Committee is authorized to act for the Board in connection with the valuation of portfolio securities held by each of the Funds in accordance with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures. [    ] serve on the Valuation Committee, which meets on an ad hoc basis.

Individual Trustee Qualifications

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Trust and the Funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

The Trust has concluded that [    ] should serve as trustee of the Funds because of the experience he has gained as [    ].

The Trust has concluded that [    ] should serve as trustee of the Funds and as the audit committee financial expert because of the experience he has gained as [    ].

 

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The Trust has concluded that [    ] should serve as trustee of the Funds and as the audit committee financial expert because of the experience he has gained as [     ].

Board Compensation

For each in-person quarterly Board Meeting, each Independent Trustee receives [                                         ]. For each additional in-person meeting, each Independent Trustee receives [                                         ]and for any phone meeting, each Independent Trustee receives [                                         ]. As Audit Committee chair, [                                        ] receives an annual stipend of [                                         ]. In addition, the Independent Trustees are reimbursed for all reasonable travel expenses relating to their attendance at the Board Meetings.

Code of Ethics

The Trust, its Advisor, its subadvisor and principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permit personnel subject to their particular codes of ethics to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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

The Advisor has adopted Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policies”) which provided that proxies on securities will be voted for the exclusive benefit, and in the best economic interest of, the Fund’s shareholders, as determined by the Advisor in good faith, subject to any restrictions or directions of the Fund. Such voting responsibilities will be exercised in a manner that is consistent with the general anti-fraud provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, as well as the Advisor’s fiduciary duties under federal and state law to act in the best interest of its clients.

On certain routine proposals (for example, those which do not change the structures, bylaws or operations of a company), the Advisor will generally vote in the manner recommended by management. Non-routine proposals, (such as those affecting corporate governance, compensation and other corporate events) and shareholder proposals, will generally be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The Advisor has engaged an unbiased third party proxy voting service to make proxy voting recommendations to the Advisor. The Advisor will generally vote proxies in accordance with these recommendations, but reserves the right to exercise its own judgment on a case-by-case basis. If the Advisor determines that voting a particular proxy would create a material conflict of interest between its interest or the interests of any of its affiliated parties and the interests of the Fund, the Advisor will vote such proxy based upon the recommendations of the independent third party proxy voting service.

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

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund or acknowledges the existence of control. As of the date of this SAI, the Funds are newly formed and do not have any shares outstanding.

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Management.”

Advisor

Millington Securities, Inc. acts as investment advisor to the Funds pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with the Trust. Millington Securities, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBI Trading Company, Inc. WBI Investments, Inc. (“WBI”) is an affiliate of WBI Trading Company, and is the sub-advisor to the Fund. Mr. Donald Schreiber, Jr., a co-portfolio manager of the Funds, owns [                    ]% of the Advisor and is therefore a control person of the Advisor.

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

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

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

 

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expenses (including legal fees) of registering and maintaining registration of its shares for sale under federal and applicable state and foreign securities laws; all expenses of maintaining shareholder accounts, including all charges for transfer, shareholder recordkeeping, dividend disbursing, redemption, and other agents for the benefit of each Fund, if any; and all other charges and costs of its operation plus any extraordinary and non-recurring expenses, except as otherwise prescribed in the Advisory Agreement.

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

Portfolio Managers

The portfolio managers responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are Mr. Gary E. Stroik, Chief Investment Officer of WBI, who serves as lead portfolio manager, and co-portfolio managers Mr. Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WBI, and Mr. Craig French, Portfolio Manager at WBI.

The following table shows the number of other accounts managed by WBI and the total assets in the accounts managed within various categories as of 11/30/2013.

 

 Type of Accounts 

   Number of
Accounts
   Total Assets    Number of
Accounts with
Advisory Fee
based on
Performance
   Total Assets
Registered Investment Companies    4    $156,850,802    0    $0
Other Pooled Investments    0    $0    0    $0

Other Accounts

   9531    $2,289,232,854    0    $0

Material Conflicts of Interest.  Donald R. Schreiber, Jr., Gary E. Stroik, and Craig French also manage all investment accounts including all separate accounts, for WBI Investments, Inc. an SEC-registered investment adviser, and affiliate of WBI Trading Company, Inc., the parent company of the Advisor. There is a potential conflict should one of these funds/accounts be favored over another, but the intention of the Advisor and Sub-Advisor is to treat the various funds equally. The various funds are expected to hold generally the same securities in the same proportions. Buy and/or sell orders will

 

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normally be placed concurrently for each fund. Any differences between the funds/accounts would be expected to arise from differential cash flows. The Sub-Advisor manages separate accounts with investment objectives and security selection processes similar to those of the Funds. The Advisor and Sub-Advisor intend to treat the Funds and separate accounts fairly with respect to the allocation of opportunities.

Compensation.  Donald R. Schrieber, Jr. and Gary E. Stroik each receive a fixed base salary and a fixed bonus as well as a share of the profits of the Advisor and Sub-Advisor equal in proportion to his ownership of the firm. Craig French receives a fixed base salary and a fixed bonus.

Securities Owned in the Funds by Portfolio Manager. As of the date of this SAI, neither Mr. Schreiber, Mr. Stroik, nor Mr.  French beneficially owned any shares of the Funds as they had not commenced operations.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

Fund Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent and Securities Lending Agent

U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) serves as the Funds’ administrator, custodian, transfer agent and securities lending agent. U.S. Bank’s principal address is 1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212. Under the Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement with the Trust, U.S. Bank provides necessary administrative, legal, tax, accounting services, and financial reporting for the maintenance and operations of the Trust and each Fund. U.S. Bank is responsible for maintaining the books and records and [calculating the daily net asset value of each Fund]. In addition, U.S. Bank makes available the office space, equipment, personnel and facilities required to provide such services. U.S. Bank also provides persons satisfactory to the Board to serve as officers of the Trust.

Under the Custody Agreement with the Trust, U.S. Bank maintains in separate accounts cash, securities and other assets of the Trust and the Funds, keeps all necessary accounts and records, and provides other services. U.S. Bank is required, upon order of the Trust, to deliver securities held by U.S. Bank and to make payments for securities purchased by the Trust for the Funds. Under the Custody Agreement, U.S. Bank is also authorized to appoint certain foreign custodians or foreign custody managers for Fund investments outside the United States.

Pursuant to a Transfer Agency Services Agreement with the Trust, U.S. Bank acts as transfer agent to the Funds, dividend disbursing agent and shareholder servicing agent to the Funds.

The Advisor compensates U.S. Bank for the foregoing services out of the Advisor’s unified management fee.

U.S. Bank also serves as the Trust’s securities lending agent pursuant to a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement. As compensation for providing securities lending services, U.S. Bank receives a portion of the income earned by the Funds on collateral investments in connection with the lending program.

The Funds are newly formed and have not paid any fees for administration services as of the date of this SAI.

 

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Distributor

Foreside Fund services, Inc. (“Foreside”) the Distributor, is located at Three Canal Plaza, Portland, ME 04101. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

Shares will be continuously offered for sale by the Trust through the Distributor only in whole Creation Units, as described in the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units.” The Distributor also acts as an agent for the Trust. The Distributor will deliver a prospectus to persons purchasing Shares in Creation Units and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Funds or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Funds.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with its Rule 12b-1 plan, each Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to 0.10% of its average daily net assets each year to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or the provision of investor services. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, they will be paid out of the respective Fund’s assets, and over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and they may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

Under the Service and Distribution Plan, and as required by Rule 12b-1, the Trustees will receive and review after the end of each calendar quarter a written report provided by the Distributor of the amounts expended under the Plan and the purpose for which such expenditures were made.

The Advisor and its affiliates may, out of their own resources, pay amounts to third parties for distribution or marketing services on behalf of the Funds. The making of these payments could create a conflict of interest for a financial intermediary receiving such payments.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Trustees have selected the firm of [                ], to serve as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds for the current fiscal year and to audit the annual financial statements of the Funds, prepare the Funds’ federal, state and excise tax returns, and consult with the Funds on matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation. The independent registered public accounting firm will audit the financial statements of the Funds at least once each year. Shareholders will receive annual audited and semi-annual (unaudited) reports when published and written confirmation of all transactions in their account. A copy of the most recent Annual Report will accompany the SAI whenever a shareholder or a prospective investor requests it.

Legal Counsel

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Advisor determines which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Funds and which broker-dealers are eligible to execute the Funds’ portfolio

 

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transactions. Purchases and sales of securities in the over-the-counter market will generally be executed directly with a “market-maker” unless, in the opinion of the Advisor, a better price and execution can otherwise be obtained by using a broker for the transaction.

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

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

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

The practice of using a portion of a Fund’s commission dollars to pay for brokerage and research services provided to the Advisor is sometimes referred to as “soft dollars.” Section 28(e) is sometimes referred to as a “safe harbor,” because it permits this practice, subject to a number of restrictions, including the Advisor’s compliance with certain procedural requirements and limitations on the type of brokerage and research services that qualify for the safe harbor.

Research products and services may include, but are not limited to, general economic, political, business and market information and reviews, industry and company information and reviews, evaluations of securities and recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities, financial data on a company or companies, performance and risk measuring services and analysis, stock price quotation services, computerized historical financial databases and related software, credit

 

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rating services, analysis of corporate responsibility issues, brokerage analysts’ earnings estimates, computerized links to current market data, software dedicated to research, and portfolio modeling. Research services may be provided in the form of reports, computer-generated data feeds and other services, telephone contacts, and personal meetings with securities analysts, as well as in the form of meetings arranged with corporate officers and industry spokespersons, economists, academics and governmental representatives. Brokerage products and services assist in the execution, clearance and settlement of securities transactions, as well as functions incidental thereto, including but not limited to related communication and connectivity services and equipment, software related to order routing, market access, algorithmic trading, and other trading activities. On occasion, a broker-dealer may furnish the Advisor with a service that has a mixed use (that is, the service is used both for brokerage and research activities that are within the safe harbor and for other activities). In this case, the Advisor is required to reasonably allocate the cost of the service, so that any portion of the service that does not qualify for the safe harbor is paid for by the Advisor from its own funds, and not by portfolio commissions paid by the Fund.

Research products and services provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers that effect securities transactions for the Funds may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts. Accordingly, not all of these services may be used by the Advisor in connection with the Funds. Some of these products and services are also available to the Advisor for cash, and some do not have an explicit cost or determinable value. The research received does not reduce the advisory fees paid to the Advisor for services provided to the Funds. The Advisor’s expenses would likely increase if the Advisor had to generate these research products and services through its own efforts, or if it paid for these products or services itself.

Investment decisions for the Funds are made independently from those of other client accounts or mutual funds managed or advised by the Advisor. Nevertheless, it is possible that at times identical securities will be acceptable for both the Funds and one or more of such client accounts or mutual funds. In such event, the position of the Funds and such client account(s) or mutual funds in the same issuer may vary and the length of time that each may choose to hold its investment in the same issuer may likewise vary. However, to the extent any of these client accounts or mutual funds seek to acquire the same security as the Funds at the same time, each Fund may not be able to acquire as large a portion of such security as it desires, or it may have to pay a higher price or obtain a lower yield for such security. Similarly, the Funds may not be able to obtain as high a price for, or as large an execution of, an order to sell any particular security at the same time. If one or more of such client accounts or mutual funds simultaneously purchases or sells the same security that a Fund is purchasing or selling, each day’s transactions in such security will be allocated between the Fund and all such client accounts or mutual funds in a manner deemed equitable by the Advisor, taking into account the respective sizes of the accounts and the amount of cash available for investment, the investment objective of the account, and the ease with which a client’s appropriate amount can be bought, as well as the liquidity and volatility of the account and the urgency involved in making an investment decision for the client. It is recognized that in some cases this system could have a detrimental effect on the price or value of the security insofar as the Funds are concerned. In other cases, however, it is believed that the ability of a Fund to participate in volume transactions may produce better executions for the Fund.

As of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not commenced operations and, therefore, not entered into securities transactions.

 

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Frequent Trading

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has not adopted policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund Shares by Fund shareholders (“market timing”). In determining not to adopt market timing policies and procedures, the Board noted that the Funds are expected to be attractive to active institutional and retail investors interested in buying and selling Fund Shares on a short-term basis. In addition, the Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, a Fund’s Shares can only be purchased and redeemed directly from the Fund in Creation Units by Authorized Participants, and that the vast majority of trading in a Fund’s Shares occurs on the Secondary Market. Because Secondary Market trades do not involve a Fund directly, it is unlikely those trades would cause many of the harmful effects of market timing, including dilution, disruption of portfolio management, increases in a Fund’s trading cots and the realization of capital gains. With respect to trades directly with the Funds, to the extent effected in-kind (namely, for securities), those trades do not cause any of the harmful effects that may result from frequent cash trades. To the extent trades are effected in whole or in part in cash, the Board noted that those trades could result in dilution to a Fund and increased transaction costs (a Fund may impose higher transaction fees to offset these increased costs), which could negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. However, the Board noted that direct trading on a short-term basis by Authorized Participants is critical to ensuring that a Fund’s Shares trade at or close to NAV. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is not necessary to adopt market timing policies and procedures. Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase order at any time and reserves the right to impose restrictions on disruptive or excessive trading in Creation Units.

The Board of Trustees has instructed the officers of the Trust to review reports of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units on a regular basis to determine if there is any unusual trading in the Funds. The officers of the Trust will report to the Board any such unusual trading in Creation Units that is disruptive to the Funds. In such event, the Board may reconsider its decision not to adopt market timing policies and procedures.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

Portfolio Disclosure Policy

The Trust has adopted a Portfolio Holdings Policy (the “Policy”) designed to govern the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings and the use of material non-public information about Fund holdings. The Policy applies to all officers, employees and agents of the Funds, including the Advisor. The Policy is designed to ensure that the disclosure of information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is consistent with applicable legal requirements and otherwise in the best interest of each Fund.

As ETFs, information about each Fund’s portfolio holdings is made available on a daily basis in accordance with the provisions of any Order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to the Funds, regulations of the Funds’ listing Exchange and other applicable SEC regulations, orders and no-action relief. Such information typically reflects all or a portion of a Fund’s anticipated portfolio holdings as of the next Business Day (as defined below). This information is used in connection with the creation and redemption process and is disseminated on a daily basis through the facilities of the Exchange, the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “NSCC”) and/or third party service providers.

 

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Each Fund will disclose on the Funds’ website [                ] at the start of each Business Day the identities and quantities of the securities and other assets held by each Fund that will form the basis of the Fund’s calculation of its net asset value (the “NAV”) on that Business Day. The portfolio holdings so disclosed will be based on information as of the close of business on the prior Business Day and/or trades that have been completed prior to the opening of business on that Business Day and that are expected to settle on the Business Day. Online disclosure of such holdings is publicly available at no charge.

Daily access to each Fund’s portfolio holdings is permitted to personnel of the Advisor, the Distributor and the Funds’ administrator, custodian and accountant and other agents or service providers of the trust who have need of such information in connection with the ordinary course of their respective duties to the Funds. The Funds Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings.

Each Fund will disclose its complete portfolio holdings schedule in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Fund’s fiscal year, within sixty (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 person is authorized to disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions except in accordance with the Policy. The Trust’s Board reviews the implementation of the Policy on a periodic basis.

DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE PLAN

The Board of Trustees of the Trust has adopted a Distribution and Service Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In accordance with its Rule 12b-1 plan, each Fund is authorized to pay an amount up to [0.25%] of its average daily net assets each year to finance activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Creation Units of each Fund or the provision of investor services. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, they will be paid out of the respective Fund’s assets, and over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and they may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

The Advisor and its affiliates may, out of their own resources, pay amounts to third parties for the distribution or marketing services on behalf of the Funds. The making of these payments could create a conflict of interest for a financial intermediary receiving such payments.

INDICATIVE INTRA-DAY VALUE

The approximate value of the Funds’ investments on a per-Share basis, the Indicative Intra-Day Value or IIV, is disseminated by the Exchange every 15 seconds during hours of trading on the Exchange. The IIV should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of NAV because the IIV will be calculated by an independent third party calculator and may not be calculated in the exact same manner as NAV, which is computed daily.

The Exchange calculates the IIV for each Fund during hours of trading on the Exchange by dividing the “Estimated Fund Value” as of the time of the calculation by the total number of outstanding Shares of such Fund. “Estimated Fund Value” is the sum of the estimated amount of cash

 

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held in a Fund’s portfolio, the estimated amount of accrued interest owing to a Fund and the estimated value of the securities held in a Fund’s portfolio, minus the estimated amount of liabilities. The IIV will be calculated based on the same portfolio holdings disclosed on the Funds’ website. In determining the estimated value for each of the component securities, the IIV will use last sale, market prices or other methods that would be considered appropriate for pricing equity securities held by registered investment companies.

Although [Funds] provide the independent third party calculator with information to calculate the IIV, the Funds are not involved in the actual calculation of the IIV and are not responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the IIV. The Funds make no warranty as to the accuracy of the IIV.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING SHARES

Organization and Description of Shares of Beneficial Interest

The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust and registered investment company. The Trust was organized on [                ], and has authorized capital of an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of no par value that may be issued in more than one class or series.

Under Delaware law, the Trust is not required to hold an annual shareholders meeting if the 1940 Act does not require such a meeting. Generally, there will not be annual meetings of Trust shareholders. If requested by shareholders of at least 10% of the outstanding Shares of the Trust, the Trust will call a meeting of the Trust’s shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of a Trustee and will assist in communications with other Trust shareholders. Shareholders holding two-thirds of Shares outstanding may remove Trustees from office by votes cast at a meeting of Trust shareholders or by written consent.

All Shares will be freely transferable; provided, however, that Shares may not be redeemed individually, but only in Creation Units. The Shares will not have preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights, and none of the Shares will have any preference to conversion, exchange, dividends, retirements, liquidation, redemption or any other feature. Shares have equal voting rights, except that, if the Trust creates additional funds, only Shares of that fund may be entitled to vote on a matter affecting that particular fund. Trust shareholders are entitled to require the Trust to redeem Creation Units if such shareholders are Authorized Participants. The Declaration of Trust confers upon the Board the power, by resolution, to alter the number of Shares constituting a Creation Unit or to specify that Shares of the Trust may be individually redeemable. The Trust reserves the right to adjust the stock prices of Shares to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any such adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits which would have no effect on the net assets of the Funds.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust disclaims liability of the shareholders or the officers of the Trust for acts or obligations of the Trust which are binding only on the assets and property of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification by the Trust for all loss and expense of the Funds’ shareholders held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The risk of a Trust’s shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Funds themselves would not be able to meet the Trust’s obligations and this risk should be considered remote. If a Fund does not grow to a size to permit it to be economically viable, the Fund may cease operations. In such an event, shareholders may be required to liquidate or transfer their Shares at an inopportune time and shareholders may lose money on their investment.

 

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Book Entry Only System

DTC will act as securities depositary for the Shares. The Shares of the Fund are represented by global securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except as provided below, certificates will not be issued for Shares.

DTC has advised the Trust as follows: DTC, the world’s largest securities depository, is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments (from over 100 countries). DTC was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges in accounts of DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, the NSCC and Debt Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. More specifically, DTCC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE Arca and FINRA.

Access to DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). DTC agrees with and represents to DTC Participants that it will administer its book-entry system in accordance with its rules and bylaws and requirements of law. Beneficial ownership of Shares will be limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership will be 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 DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Shares. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability of certain investors to acquire beneficial interests in Shares.

Beneficial Owners of Shares will not be entitled to have Shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and are not considered the registered holders of the Shares. Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC, DTC Participants and any Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests in order to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares. The Trust understands that under existing industry practice, in the event the Trust requests any action of holders of Shares, or a Beneficial Owner desires to take any action that DTC, as the record owner of all outstanding Shares, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the DTC Participants to take such action and that the DTC Participants would authorize the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners acting through such DTC

 

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Participants to take such action and would otherwise act upon the instructions of Beneficial Owners owning through them. DTC, through its nominee Cede & Co., is the record owner of all outstanding Shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners will be effected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of Shares holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust will 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. Beneficial Owners may wish to take certain steps to augment the transmission to them of notices of significant events with respect to Shares by providing their names and addresses to the DTC registrar and request that copies of notices be provided directly to them.

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

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

DTC rules applicable to DTC Participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

Creation

The Trust issues and sells Shares of each Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis on any Business Day through the Distributor at the Shares’ NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. The Distributor processes purchase orders only on a day that the Exchange is open for

 

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trading (a “Business Day”). The Exchange is open for trading Monday through Friday except for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Cash Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

Unlike Creation Units of many ETFs, Creation Units of the Funds generally will be sold and redeemed only for cash (“All-Cash Amount”). The Funds’ Creation Units are sold at NAV per Share next computed, plus a transaction fee, as described below.

The Sponsor reserves the right to ask for Creation Units comprised in whole or in part of a portfolio deposit of portfolio securities, and a cash payment as described below in connection with the purchase and redemption, as discussed below.

“In-Kind” Purchases and Redemptions of Creation Units

As discussed above, the Sponsor may elect at any time, and from time to time, that the consideration for the purchase and redemption of Creation Units will be made “in-kind” by the deposit or payment of a portfolio of all or some securities held in the relevant Fund’s portfolio (“In-Kind Purchase” and “In-Kind Redemption”).

The consideration for purchase of Creation Units of a Fund generally consists of the Deposit Securities for each Creation Unit constituting a substantial replication, or representation, of the securities included in the relevant Fund’s portfolio as selected by the Advisor (“Fund Securities”) and the Cash Component computed as described below. Together, the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum investment amount for a Creation Unit of a Fund. The Cash Component serves to compensate the Trust or the Authorized Participant, as applicable, for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Component is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” an amount equal to the market value of the Deposit Securities. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Component.

In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash (that is 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 that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (discussed below) or for other similar reasons. The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require a “cash in lieu” amount where the delivery of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where delivery of Deposit Securities to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, and in certain other situations.

The Custodian through the NSCC (see the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Procedures for Creation of Creation Units”), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. New York time), the list of the name and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security to be

 

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included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day) for each Fund. This Fund Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, to orders to effect creations of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities is made available, or unless the Advisor elects to receive an All-Cash Amount in connection with the creation of Creation Units.

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit for each Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected within the Fund from time to time by the Advisor, with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. In addition, the Trust reserves the right to permit 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 that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (discussed below), or which might not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting or other relevant reason. In addition to the list of names and number of securities constituting the current Deposit Securities of a Fund Deposit, the Custodian, 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 Creation of Creation Units

All orders to create Creation Units must be placed with the Distributor either (1) through Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC, by a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the Clearing Process; or (2) outside the Clearing Process by a DTC Participant (see the section of this SAI entitled “Additional Information Concerning Shares — Book Entry Only System”). In each case, the Participating Party or the DTC Participant must have executed an agreement with the Distributor with respect to creations and redemptions of Creation Units (a “Participant Agreement”); such parties are collectively referred to as “APs” or “Authorized Participants.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants. All Fund Shares, whether created through or outside the Clearing Process, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.

The Distributor will process orders to purchase Creation Units received by U.S. mail, telephone, facsimile and other electronic means of communication by the closing time of the regular trading session on the Exchange (the “Closing Time”) (normally 4:00 p.m. New York time), as long as they are in proper form. Mail is received periodically throughout the day. An order sent by U.S. mail will be opened and time stamped when it is received. If an order to purchase Creation Units is received in proper form by Closing Time, then it will be processed that day. Purchase orders received in proper form after Closing Time will be processed on the following Business Day and will be priced at the NAV determined on that day. Custom orders must be received by the Distributor no later than 3:00 p.m. New York time on the trade date. In the case of an In-Kind Creation, a custom order may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Trust permits the substitution of an amount of cash 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 trading by such Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting or other relevant reason. 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

 

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Agreement, as described below in the sections of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Placement of Creation Orders Using the Clearing Process” and “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process.”

All orders to create Creation Units from investors who are not Authorized Participants shall be placed with an Authorized Participant 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, e.g., 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 a Fund have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. 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 the Closing Time on the Transmittal Date. Orders for Creation Units 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 effectuating such transfer of the Fund Deposit. For more information about Clearing Process and DTC, see the sections of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Placement of Creation Orders Using the Clearing Process” and “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process.”

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. All-Cash Amount deposits, or Fund Deposits, as applicable, 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 Custodian 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 All-Cash Amount Deposit, or Fund Deposit, as applicable, 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 (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

Placement of Creation Orders Outside the Clearing Process

All-Cash Amount deposits, or Fund Deposits, as applicable, made outside the Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Units to be effected outside the Clearing Process does not need to 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

 

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transfer of cash and securities directly through DTC. The 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 Fund by no later than 11:00 a.m. New York time on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”).

All questions as to the amount of an All-Cash Amount, the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, or the amount of a Cash Component, 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 amount of cash equal to the All-Cash Amount, or Cash Component, as applicable, must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Custodian does not receive both the requisite Deposit Securities and the Cash Component or the All-Cash Amount, as applicable, by 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively, on the next Business Day following the Transmittal Date, such order will be canceled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using an All-Cash Amount or a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then-current Deposit Securities and Cash Component, or the All-Cash Amount, as applicable. The delivery of Creation Units 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.

Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected through a DTC participant outside the Clearing Process and in the limited circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Securities to create Creation Units. See the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Sale of Creation Units—Creation—Creation Transaction Fee.”

Creation Units of an In-Kind Creation may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the Fund 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 (1) the Cash Component plus (2) 125% of the then-current 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 Closing Time and funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Custodian by 11:00 a.m. New York time the following Business Day. If the order is not placed in proper form by Closing Time or 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 canceled and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending receipt of the undelivered Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 125% of the daily marked-to-market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities. To the extent that undelivered Deposit Securities are not received by 1:00 p.m. New York 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 marked-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 undelivered Deposit Securities.

 

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Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust and the Fund 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 undelivered Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee will be charged in all cases. See the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Creation—Creation Transaction Fee.” The delivery of Creation Units 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 absolute right to reject a creation order transmitted to it by the Distributor if: (1) the order is not in proper form; (2) if the All-Cash Amount paid is incorrect; (3) the investor(s), upon obtaining the Fund Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding Shares of any Fund; (4) the Deposit Securities delivered are not as disseminated for that date by the Custodian, as described above; (5) acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund; (6) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (7) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or the Advisor, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners; or (8) there exist circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Distributor, the Sub-Advisor and the Advisor that make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; 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 Advisor, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC, the Custodian or sub-custodian or any other participant in the creation process and similar extraordinary events. The Distributor shall notify a prospective creator of a Creation Unit and/or the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such prospective creator of its rejection of the order. The Trust, 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 any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. 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 Units typically are issued on a “T+3 basis” (that is, three Business Days after trade date).

To the extent contemplated by an Authorized Participant’s agreement with the Distributor, the Trust will issue Creation Units of an In-Kind Creation to such Authorized Participant notwithstanding the fact that the corresponding Portfolio Deposits have not been received in part or in whole, in reliance on the undertaking of the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing Deposit Securities as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by such Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral having a value equal to 110%, which the Adviser may change from time to time, of the value of the missing Deposit Securities in accordance with the Trust’s then-effective procedures. Such collateral must be delivered no later than 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the contractual

 

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settlement date. The only collateral that is acceptable to the Trust is cash in U.S. Dollars or an irrevocable letter of credit in form, and drawn on a bank, that is satisfactory to the Trust. The cash collateral posted by the Authorized Participant may be invested at the risk of the Authorized Participant, and income, if any, on invested cash collateral will be paid to that Authorized Participant. Information concerning the Trust’s current procedures for collateralization of missing Deposit Securities is available from the Distributor. The Authorized Participant Agreement will permit the Trust to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such securities and the cash collateral or the amount that may be drawn under any letter of credit.

In certain cases, Authorized Participants will create and redeem Creation Units either made in an All-Cash Amount or by an In-Kind Creation on the same trade date. In these instances, the Trust reserves the right to settle these transactions on a net basis. All questions as to the amount of cash required to be delivered, 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, as applicable, shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

Creation Transaction Fee

Authorized Participants will be required to pay to the Custodian a fixed transaction fee (the “Creation Transaction Fee”) in connection with In-Kind creations or redemptions or to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. The standard creation transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased by an investor on the applicable Business Day. The Creation Transaction Fee charged by each Fund for each creation order is [                ].

An additional variable fee of up to [                ] times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage of the value of the Deposit Securities) may be imposed for (1) creations effected outside the Clearing Process and (2) creations made in an All-Cash Amount (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with using cash to purchase the requisite Deposit Securities). Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust.

The Advisor may, in its sole discretion, waive all or a portion of the Creation Transaction Fee that would otherwise be payable to one or more Funds by an Authorized Participant. There is no assurance that any full or partial waiver of the Creation Transaction Fee will occur, or, if commenced, continue in the future.

In order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process for creation orders executed in whole or in part with cash, the Trust expects to purchase, in the secondary market or otherwise gain exposure to, the portfolio securities that could have been delivered as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Creation Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Creation Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Trust and the cash-in-lieu amount, applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes.

 

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Redemption

The process to redeem Creation Units is essentially the reverse of the process by which Creation Units are created, as described above. To redeem Shares directly from the Funds, an investor must be an Authorized Participant or must redeem through an Authorized Participant. The Trust redeems Creation Units on a continuous basis on any Business Day through the Distributor at the Shares’ NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. A Fund will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Authorized Participants 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.

Generally, Creation Units of the Funds will also be redeemed only for cash in an All-Cash Amount, at NAV per Share next computed, plus a transaction fee as described below. With respect to a Fund making In-Kind Redemptions, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. New York time) on each Business Day, the identity of the Fund Securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units. The redemption proceeds for an In-Kind Redemption of a Creation Unit consists of Fund Securities — as announced on the Business Day the request for redemption is received in proper form — plus or minus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Fund Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a redemption request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a redemption transaction fee (see the section of this SAI entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units—Redemption—Redemption Transaction Fee”).

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

Deliveries of redemption proceeds by the Fund generally will be made within three Business Days (that is “T+3”). [However, as discussed in Appendix B, the Fund reserves the right to settle redemption transactions and deliver redemption proceeds on a basis other than T+3 to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (that is the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold), and in certain other circumstances.]

Proceeds of redemptions of Creation Units payable in an All-Cash Amount will be paid to the Authorized Participant redeeming Shares on behalf of the redeeming investor as soon as practicable after the date of redemption (within seven calendar days thereafter).

Placement of Redemption Orders Using the Clearing Process

Orders to redeem Creation Units through the Clearing Process must be delivered through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. Investors other than Authorized Participants are responsible for making arrangements with an Authorized Participant for an order to

 

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redeem. An order to redeem Creation Units is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if: (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Such order will be effected based on the NAV of the relevant Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units using the Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Distributor after Closing Time will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date and will be effected at the NAV determined on such next Business Day. The requisite All-Cash Amount, or the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount, as applicable, will be transferred by the third NSCC business day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.

Placement of Redemption Orders Outside the 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 does not need to 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 Fund Shares directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Units outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Distributor not later than Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; (2) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of Fund Shares, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than the DTC Cut-Off-Time, and the Cash Redemption Amount, if owed to the Fund, which delivery must be made by 2:00 p.m. New York Time; and (3) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. After the Distributor receives an order for redemption outside the Clearing Process, the Distributor will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered and the Cash Redemption Amount, if any, by the third Business Day following the Transmittal Date.

The calculation of the value of the All-Cash Amount, or the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount, as applicable, to be delivered or received upon redemption (by the Authorized Participant or the Trust, as applicable) will be made by the Custodian according to the procedures set forth the section of this SAI entitled “Determination of Net Asset Value” computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Distributor. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Distributor by a DTC Participant not later than Closing 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 All-Cash Amount, or the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount, as applicable, to be delivered or received (by the Authorized Participant or the Trust, as applicable) will be determined by the Custodian on such Transmittal Date. If, however, either (1) the requisite number of Shares of the relevant Fund are not delivered by the DTC Cut-Off-Time, as described above, 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 All-Cash Amount, or the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount, as applicable, to be delivered or received will be computed on the Business Day following the Transmittal Date provided that the Fund Shares of the relevant Fund are delivered through DTC to the Custodian by 11:00 a.m. New York time the following Business Day pursuant to a properly submitted redemption order.

The Trust may in its discretion at any time, or from time to time, exercise its option to redeem Fund Shares by providing the required All-Cash Amount, and the redeeming Authorized Participant

 

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will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Trust may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive an All-Cash Amount payment equal to the NAV of its Fund Shares based on the NAV of Shares of the relevant Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a transaction fee which will include an additional charge for cash redemptions to offset the Fund’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). A Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities, or cash in lieu of some securities added to the Cash Redemption Amount, but in no event will the total value of the securities delivered and the cash transmitted differ from the NAV. Redemptions of Fund 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 Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting that is subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming Beneficial Owner of the Fund 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.

Redemption Transaction Fee

Investors will be required to pay to the Custodian a fixed transaction fee (the “Redemption Transaction Fee”) to offset the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the In-Kind redemption of Creation Units. The standard redemption transaction fee will be the same regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed by an investor on the applicable Business Day. The Redemption Transaction Fee charged by each Fund for each redemption order [                ].

An additional variable fee of up to [        ] times the fixed transaction fee (expressed as a percentage value of the Fund Securities) may be imposed for (1) redemptions effected outside the Clearing Process and (2) redemptions made in an All-Cash Amount (to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associate with the sale of Fund Securities). Investors will also bear the costs of transferring the Fund Securities from the Trust to their account or on their order.

In order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process for creation orders executed in whole or in part with cash, the Trust expects to sell, in the secondary market, the portfolio securities or settle any financial instruments that may not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Participating Party as a result of an in-kind redemption order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Sales”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were sold or settled by the Trust and the cash-in-lieu amount, applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes.

Cash Creations and Redemptions

The Trust intends that each Fund’s Shares generally will be redeemed for an All-Cash Amount payment. In each instance of such All-Cash Amounts creations and redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations and

 

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redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

CONTINUOUS OFFERING

The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Trust on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in 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 Distributor, breaks them down into constituent Shares, 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. 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 a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted to ordinary secondary trading transactions), and thus dealing with Shares that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus-delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act is not available in respect of 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 the Shares that are part of an over-allotment within the meaning of Section 4(3)(A) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares are reminded that, under Rule 153 of 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 prospectus is available at the Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Determination of Net Asset Value (NAV).”

The NAV per Share for each 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 outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. Expenses and fees, including the management fee, are accrued daily and taken into account for purposes of determining NAV. The NAV of each Fund is determined as of the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day

 

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that such exchange is open. 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.

In computing each Fund’s NAV, the Fund’s portfolio securities are valued based on market quotations. When market quotations are not readily available for a portfolio security a Fund must use such security’s fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with the Fund’s Fair Value Pricing Procedures which are approved by the Board of Trustees.

The value of each Fund’s portfolio securities is based on such securities’ closing price on local markets when available. If a portfolio security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of such security, the portfolio security will be valued by another method that the Advisor believes will better reflect fair value in accordance with the Trust’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Each Fund may use fair value pricing in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to, situations when the value of a Fund’s portfolio security has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which such security is principally traded (such as a corporate action or other news that may materially affect the price of such security) or trading in such security has been suspended or halted. In addition, each Fund may fair value foreign equity portfolio securities each day the Fund calculates its NAV. Accordingly, a 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 portfolio security is materially different than the value that could be realized upon the sale of such security. In addition, fair value pricing could result in a difference between the prices used to calculate a Fund’s NAV and the prices used by the Fund’s Underlying Index. With respect to securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges, the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or sell your Shares.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

General Policies

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

Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid at least annually by each Fund. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Trust may make distributions on a more frequent basis for each Fund to improve its Underlying Index tracking or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Trust may distribute at least annually amounts representing the full dividend yield on the underlying Portfolio Securities of the Funds, net of expenses of the Funds, as if each Fund owned such underlying Portfolio Securities for the entire dividend period in which case some portion of each distribution may result in a return of capital for tax purposes for certain shareholders.

Dividends and other distributions on Shares 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 Trust. The Trust makes additional distributions to the minimum extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of the Trust, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid imposition of the excise tax

 

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imposed by Section 4982 of the Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the status of each Fund as a “regulated investment company” (a “RIC”) or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

Dividend Reinvestment Service

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

TAXATION

Set forth below is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations affecting the Funds and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares. It is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authorities, and administrative rulings and practices as in effect as of the date of this SAI, all of which are subject to change, including the following information which also supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in Fund Shares. The summary is based on the laws in effect on the date of this SAI and existing judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. In addition, this summary assumes that a Fund shareholder holds Fund Shares as capital assets within the meaning of the Code, and does not hold Fund Shares in connection with a trade or business. This summary does not address all potential U.S. federal income tax considerations possibly applicable to an investment in Fund Shares, to Fund shareholders holding Fund Shares through a partnership (or other pass-through entity) or to Fund shareholders subject to special tax rules. Prospective Fund shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the specific federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of investing in Fund Shares.

The Funds have not requested and will not request an advance ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to the federal income tax matters described below. The IRS could adopt positions contrary to those discussed below and such positions could be sustained. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of Shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing jurisdiction.

Tax Treatment of the Funds

In General.  Each Fund intends to qualify and elect to be treated as a separate RIC under the Code. To qualify and maintain its tax status as a RIC, each Fund must meet annually certain income and asset diversification requirements and must distribute annually at least ninety percent of its “investment company taxable income” (which includes dividends, interest and net short-term capital gains). As a RIC, a Fund generally will not have to pay corporate-level federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that it distributes to its shareholders.

 

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With respect to some or all of its investments, a Fund may be required to recognize taxable income in advance of receiving the related cash payment. For example, if a Fund invests in original issue discount obligations (such as zero coupon debt instruments or debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest), the Fund will be required to include as interest income a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the term of the obligation, even if the related cash payment is not received by the Fund until a later year. Under the “wash sale” rules, a Fund may not be able to deduct a loss on a disposition of a portfolio security. As a result, the Fund may be required to make an annual income distribution greater than the total cash actually received during the year. Such distribution may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by selling Portfolio Securities. The Fund may realize gains or losses from such sales, in which event the Fund’s shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would in the absence of such transactions.

A Fund will be subject to a four percent excise tax on certain undistributed income if the Fund does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year plus 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year. Each Fund intends to make distributions necessary to avoid the 4% excise tax.

Failure to Maintain RIC Status. If a Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any year (subject to certain curative measures allowed by the Code), the Fund will be subject to regular corporate-level income tax in that year on all of its taxable income, regardless of whether the Fund makes any distributions to its shareholders. In addition, distributions will be taxable to a Fund’s shareholders generally as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions from a non-qualifying Fund’s earnings and profits will be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as regular dividends, possibly eligible for (i) in the case of an individual Fund shareholder, treatment as a qualifying dividend (as discussed below) subject to tax at preferential capital gains rates or (ii) in the case of a corporate Fund shareholder, a dividends-received deduction.

PFIC Investments. The Fund may purchase shares in a foreign corporation treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”) for federal income tax purposes. As a result, the Fund may be subject to increased federal income tax (plus charges in the nature of interest on previously-deferred income taxes on the PFIC’s income) on “excess distributions” made on or gain from a sale (or other disposition) of the PFIC shares even if the Fund distributes the excess distributions to its shareholders.

In lieu of the increased income tax and deferred tax interest charges on excess distributions on and dispositions of a PFIC’s shares, the Fund can elect to treat the underlying PFIC as a “qualified electing fund,” provided that the PFIC agrees to provide the Fund with adequate information regarding its annual results and other aspects of its operations. With a “qualified electing fund” election in place, the Fund must include in its income each year its share (whether distributed or not) of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of a PFIC.

In the alternative, the Fund can elect, under certain conditions, to mark-to-market at the end of each taxable year its PFIC shares. The Fund would recognize as ordinary income any increase in the value of the PFIC shares and as an ordinary loss (up to any prior income resulting from the mark-to-market election) any decrease in the value of the PFIC shares.

With a “mark-to-market” or “qualified election fund” election in place on a PFIC, the Fund might be required to recognize in a year income in excess of its actual distributions on and proceeds from dispositions of the PFIC’s shares. Any such income would be subject to the RIC distribution requirements and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above).

 

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Futures Contracts. A Fund may be required to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts. In addition, a Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on related positions held by the Fund. Any income from futures contracts would be subject to the RIC distribution requirements and would be taken into account for purposes of the 4% excise tax (described above).

Foreign Currency Transactions. Gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time a Fund accrues income, expenses or other items denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects or pays such items are generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency forward contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.

Special or Uncertain Tax Consequences. A Fund’s investment or other activities could be subject to special and complex tax rules that may produce differing tax consequences, such as disallowing or limiting the use of losses or deductions (such as the “wash sale” rules), causing the recognition of income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, affecting the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur or altering the characterization of certain complex financial transactions. Each Fund will monitor its investment activities for any adverse effects that may result from these special tax rules.

A Fund may engage in investment or other activities the treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. In particular, the tax treatment of swaps and other derivatives and income from foreign currency transactions is unclear for purposes of determining a Fund’s status as a RIC. If a final determination on the tax treatment of a Fund’s investment or other activities differs from the Fund’s original expectations, the final determination could adversely affect the Fund’s status as a RIC or the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell assets, alter its portfolio or take other action in order to comply with the final determination.

Tax Treatment of Fund Shareholders

Fund Distributions. In general, Fund distributions are subject to federal income tax when paid, regardless of whether they consist of cash or property or are re-invested in Shares. However, any Fund distribution declared in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date during such month will be deemed to have been received by each Fund shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year, provided such dividend is actually paid during January of the following calendar year.

Distributions of a Fund’s net investment income (other than, as discussed below, qualifying dividend income) and net short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions of a Fund’s net long-term capital gains in excess of net short-term capital losses are taxable as long-term capital gain to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, regardless of a Fund shareholder’s holding period in the Fund’s Shares. Distributions of qualifying dividend income are taxable as long-term capital gain to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, provided that the Fund shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the distributing Fund’s Shares and the distributing Fund meets certain holding period and other requirements with respect to its dividend-paying stocks.

 

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Each Fund intends to distribute its long-term capital gains at least annually. However, by providing written notice to its shareholders no later than 60 days after its year-end, a Fund may elect to retain some or all of its long-term capital gains and designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that event, the Fund pays income tax on the retained long-term capital gain, and each Fund shareholder recognizes a proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed long-term capital gain. In addition, each Fund shareholder can claim a refundable tax credit for the shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s income taxes paid on the undistributed long-term capital gain and increase the tax basis of the Fund Shares by an amount equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s undistributed long-term capital gains, reduced by the amount of the shareholder’s tax credit.

Long-term capital gains of non-corporate Fund shareholders (i.e., individuals, trusts and estates) are taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. In addition, Fund distributions of qualifying dividend income to non-corporate Fund shareholders qualify for taxation at long-term capital gain rates.

To the extent that each Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

Investors considering buying Fund Shares just prior to a distribution should be aware that, although the price of the Fund Shares purchased at such time may reflect the forthcoming distribution, such distribution nevertheless may be taxable (as opposed to a non-taxable return of capital).

REIT/REMIC Investments. A Fund may invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) owning residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”). Income from a REIT to the extent attributable to a REMIC residual interest (known as “excess inclusion” income) is allocated to a Fund’s shareholders in proportion to the dividends received from the Fund, producing the same income tax consequences as if the Fund shareholders directly received the excess inclusion income. In general, excess inclusion income (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) constitutes “unrelated business taxable income” to certain entities (such as a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity), and (iii) in the case of a foreign shareholder, does not qualify for any withholding tax reduction or exemption. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year certain types of entities own Fund Shares, the Fund will be subject to a tax equal to the product of (i) the excess inclusion income allocable to such entities and (ii) the highest U.S. federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. A Fund is also subject to information reporting with respect to any excess inclusion income.

Sales of Fund Shares. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund Shares is treated generally as a long-term gain or loss if the Fund Shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund Shares held for one year or less is generally treated as a short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on the sale of Fund Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Fund Shares.

Creation Unit Issues and Redemptions. On an issue of Fund Shares as part of a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market where the creation is conducted in-kind by deposit of Deposit Securities value (at issue) of the

 

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issued Fund Shares (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the exchanged securities (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the issue). On a redemption of Fund Shares as part of a Creation Unit where the redemption is conducted in-kind by a payment of Fund Securities, an Authorized Participant recognizes capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value (at redemption) of the securities received (plus any cash received by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption) and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s basis in the redeemed Fund Shares (plus any cash paid by the Authorized Participant as part of the redemption). However, the IRS may assert, under the “wash sale” rules or on the basis that there has been no significant change in the Authorized Participant’s economic position, that any loss on an issue or redemption of Creation Units cannot be deducted currently.

In general, any capital gain or loss recognized upon the issue or redemption of Fund Shares (as components of a Creation Unit) is treated either as long-term capital gain or loss, if the deposited securities (in the case of an issue) or the Fund Shares (in the case of a redemption) have been held for more than one year, or otherwise as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss on a redemption of Fund Shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such Fund Shares.

A Fund may be subject to foreign income taxes and may be able to elect to pass-along such credit to its shareholders. If this election is available and the Fund elects such treatment, the amount of such credit will be treated as an additional distribution by the Fund and, subject to various limitations of the Code, its shareholders will be entitled to claim a foreign tax credit to offset their tax liability. Please consult your tax advisor regarding whether you will be able to use such credit against your tax liability.

In addition, if applicable to a shareholder, a 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on net investment income. Please consult your tax advisor regarding this tax.

Back-Up Withholding. A Fund may be required to report certain information on a Fund shareholder to the IRS and withhold federal income tax (“backup withholding”) at a 28% rate from all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to the Fund shareholder if the Fund shareholder fails to provide the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (or, in the case of a U.S. individual, a social security number) or a completed exemption certificate (e.g., an IRS Form W-8BEN in the case of a foreign Fund shareholder) or if the IRS notifies the Fund that the Fund shareholder is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amount withheld may be credited against a Fund shareholder’s federal income tax liability.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. If a Fund shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Fund Shares of $2 million or more (for an individual Fund shareholder) or $10 million or more (or a greater loss over a combination of years) for a corporate stockholder in any single taxable year, the Fund shareholder may be required file a disclosure statement with the IRS. Significant penalties may be imposed upon the failure to comply with these reporting rules.

Special Issues for Foreign Shareholders

In general, if a Fund shareholder is not a U.S. citizen or resident or if a Fund shareholder is a foreign entity, the Fund’s ordinary income dividends (including distributions of net short-term capital gains and other amounts that would not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if paid directly to foreign

 

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Fund shareholders) will be subject, in general, to withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or at a lower rate established under an applicable tax treaty). However, for Fund tax years that begin on or before December 31, 2013, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally will not be subject to withholding tax; provided that the foreign Fund shareholder furnishes the Fund with a completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or acceptable substitute documentation) establishing the Fund shareholder’s status as foreign and that the Fund does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the foreign Fund shareholder would be subject to withholding tax if the foreign Fund shareholder were to receive the related amounts directly rather than as dividends from the Fund.

Under current law, gain on a sale of Fund Shares or an exchange of such stockholder’s Shares of the Fund will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax (including withholding at the source) unless (i) in the case of an individual foreign Fund shareholder, the Fund shareholder is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements, or (ii) at any time during the shorter of the period during which the foreign Fund shareholder held such Shares of the Fund and the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition of those shares, the Fund was a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (as defined below) and the foreign Fund shareholder actually or constructively held more than 5% of the Fund Shares of the same class. In the case of a disposition described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, the gain would be taxed in the same manner as for a domestic Fund shareholder and in certain cases will be collected through withholding at the source in an amount equal to 10% of the sales proceeds.

Unless treated as a “domestically-controlled” RIC, a Fund will be a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests (which includes shares of U.S. real property holding corporations and certain participating debt securities) equals or exceeds 50% of the fair market value of such interests plus its interests in real property located outside the United States plus any other assets used or held for use in a business. A “domestically controlled” RIC is any RIC in which at all times during the relevant testing period 50% or more in value of the RIC’s stock was owned by U.S. persons. This provision relating to domestically controlled regulated investment companies generally will not apply after December 31, 2013.

To claim a credit or refund for any Fund-level taxes on any undistributed long-term capital gains (as discussed above) or any taxes collected through withholding, a foreign Fund shareholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the foreign Fund shareholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a U.S. income tax return.

Investments in U.S. Real Property. In general, if a Fund is a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” (determined without the exception for “domestically-controlled” RICs and publicly-traded RICs) distributions by the Fund attributable to gains from “U.S. real property interests” (including gain on the sale of shares in certain “non-domestically controlled” REITs and certain capital gain dividends from REITs) will be treated as income effectively connected to a trade or business within the United States, subject generally to tax at the same rates applicable to domestic Fund shareholders and, in the case of the foreign corporate Fund shareholder, a “branch profits” tax at a rate of 30% (or other applicable lower rate). Such distributions will be subject to U.S. withholding tax and will generally give rise to an obligation on the part of the foreign stockholder to file a U.S. federal income tax return.

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case of a foreign Fund shareholder owning (for the applicable period) 5% or less (by class) of the Fund shares. In general, these provisions generally will not apply after December 31, 2013, provided, however, that such provisions will continue to apply thereafter in respect of distributions by a regulated investment company that is a U.S. real property holding corporation or would be so treated for this purpose to the extent such distributions are attributable to certain capital gain dividends from REITs. Investors are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the application to their own circumstances of the above-described rules.

Foreign stockholders that engage in certain “wash sale” and/or substitute dividend payment transactions the effect of which is to avoid the receipt of distributions from the Fund that would be treated as gain effectively connected with a United States trade or business will be treated as having received such distributions. All shareholders of the Fund should consult their tax advisers regarding the application of these rules.

Recently enacted legislation will subject foreign shareholders to U.S. withholding tax of 30% on all U.S. source income (including all dividends from the Fund) beginning July 1, 2014, and gross proceeds from the sale of U.S. stocks and securities (including the sale of Fund shares) beginning in 2017, unless they comply with certainly newly-enacted reporting requirements. Complying with such requirements will require the shareholder, to provide and certify certain information about itself and (where applicable) its beneficial owners, and foreign financial institutions generally will be required to enter in an agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to provide it with certain information regarding such shareholder’s account holders. Please consult your tax advisor regarding this tax.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the NYSE Arca. The NYSE Arca makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Shares or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the Funds particularly or the ability of the Funds to achieve their objective. The NYSE Arca has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Funds.

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Funds are registered investment companies, and the acquisition of Shares by other registered investment companies and companies relying on exemption from registration as investment companies under Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, except as permitted by an exemptive order that permits registered investment companies to invest in the Funds beyond those limitations.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing to the Trust, c/o Millington Securities, Inc., 34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E, Little Silver, New Jersey 07739.

 

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APPENDIX A

SUMMARY OF PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The Advisor exercises its proxy voting rights with regard to the holdings in each Fund’s investment portfolio with the goals of maximizing the value of the Fund’s investments, promoting accountability of a company’s management and board of directors (collectively, the “Management”) to its shareholders, aligning the interests of management with those of shareholders, and increasing transparency of a company’s business and operations.

The Advisor seeks to avoid material conflicts of interest through its use of a third-party proxy services vendor (the “Proxy Vendor”), which applies detailed, pre-determined proxy voting guidelines (the “Voting Guidelines”) in an objective and consistent manner across client accounts, based on research and recommendations provided by a third party vendor, and without consideration of any client relationship factors. The Advisor engages a third party as an independent fiduciary to vote all proxies for the Funds.

All proxy voting proposals are reviewed, categorized, analyzed and voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. These guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect new issues and any changes in our policies on specific issues. Items that can be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be voted in accordance with any applicable guidelines. Proposals that cannot be categorized under the Voting Guidelines will be referred to the Portfolio Oversight Committee for discussion and vote. Additionally, the Portfolio Oversight Committee may review any proposal where it has identified a particular company, industry or issue for special scrutiny. With regard to voting proxies of foreign companies, the Advisor weighs the cost of voting, and potential inability to sell the securities (which may occur during the voting process) against the benefit of voting the proxies to determine whether or not to vote.

 

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APPENDIX B

Corporate Bond Ratings

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

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

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

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

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

Ba: Bonds which are 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.

B: Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.

Caa: Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.

Ca: Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C: Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospectus of ever attaining any real investment standing. Moody’s applies numerical modifiers, 1, 2 and 3 in each generic rating classification from Aa through B in its corporate bond rating system. The modified 1 indicates that the security ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower end of its generic rating category.

 

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Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group

AAA: Bonds rated AAA are highest grade debt obligations. This rating 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 more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions.

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

BB, B, CCC, CC, C: Bonds rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded on balance as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposure to adverse conditions.

BB: Bonds rated BB have less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces 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. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating.

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. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB-rating.

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, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating.

CC: The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued.

CI: The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.

D: Bonds rated D are in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments are jeopardized.

Plus (+) or Minus (-): The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing with the major categories.

 

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APPENDIX C

Commercial Paper Ratings

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Prime-1--Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated “Prime-1” have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. “Prime-1” repayment ability will often be evidenced by many of the following characteristics: leading market positions in well-established industries, high rates of return on funds employed, conservative capitalization structures with moderate reliance on debt and ample asset protection, broad margins in earnings coverage of fixed financial charges and high internal cash generation, and well-established access to a range of financial markets and assured sources of alternate liquidity.

Prime-2--Issuers (or related supporting institutions) rated “Prime-2” have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term debt obligations. This will normally be evidenced by many of the characteristics cited above but to a lesser degree. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound, will be more subject to variation. Capitalization characteristics, while still appropriate, may be more affected by external conditions. Ample alternative liquidity is maintained.

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group

A-1--This highest category indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment is strong. Those issues determined to possess extremely strong safety characteristics are denoted with a plus (+) sign designation.

A-2--Capacity for timely payment on issues with this designation is satisfactory. However, the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues designated “A-1”.

 

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PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)

Declaration of Trust (“Trust Instrument”) of Absolute Shares Trust (“Registrant”).*

 

(b)

By-Laws of Registrant.*

 

(c)

Articles [–], [–] and [–] Trust Instrument, Exhibit 28(a) above, defines the rights of holders of the securities being registered. (Certificates for shares are not issued.)*

 

(d)(1)

Form of Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Millington Securities, Inc. (“Advisor”), as adviser for the Registrant and each of its investment portfolios (the “Funds”).*

(d)(2)

Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Advisor and WBI Investments, Inc. (“Sub-Advisor”) as sub-advisor to the Registrant and the Funds.*

 

(e)(1)

Distribution Agreement between Foreside Fund Services, LLC (“Distributor”) and the Registrant.*

 

(e)(2)

Form of Authorized Participation Agreement.*

 

(f)

Not applicable.

 

(g)

Form of Custody Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association.*

 

(h)(1)

Form of Fund Administration and Accounting Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association.*

 

(h)(2)

Form of Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association.*

 

(h)(3)

Form of Authorized Participant Agreement between Foreside Funds, Services, the Registrant and Authorized Participants.*

 

(h)(4)

Securities Lending Agreement between the Trust and U.S. Bank, National Association.*

 

(i)

Opinion and Consent of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP regarding the legality of securities registered with respect to the Registrant.*

 

(j)

Consent of independent registered public accounting firm.*

 

(k)

Not applicable.

 

(l)

Not applicable.

 

(m)

Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1.*

 

(n)

Not applicable.

 

(o)

Reserved.

 

(p)(1)

Code of Ethics for the Registrant.*

 

(p)(2)

Code of Ethics for the Advisor.*

 

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(p)(3)

Code of Ethics for the Sub-Advisor.*

 

(p)(4)

Code of Ethics for the Distributor.*

 

(q)

Powers of Attorney executed by [                    ].*

 

  *

to be filed in a subsequent Pre-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

Not Applicable.

Item 30. Indemnification

Under Delaware law, Section 3817 of the Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts empowers Delaware business trusts to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee or beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever, subject to such standards and restrictions as may be set forth in the governing instrument of the business trust. The Registrant’s Trust Instrument contains the following provisions:

Section 2. Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrong-doing of any officer, agent, employee, Investment Advisor or Principal Underwriter of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee, and, as provided in Section 3 of this Article VII, the Trust out of its assets shall indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Trustee’s performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust; provided that nothing herein contained shall indemnify, hold harmless or protect any Trustee or officer from or against any liability to the Trust or any Shareholder to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Section 3. Indemnification.

 

(a)

Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in Subsection (b) below:

 

  (i)

every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or an officer, employee or agent of the Trust (including any individual who serves at its request as director, officer, partner, trustee or the like of another organization in which it has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise) (“Covered Person”) shall be indemnified by the Trust or the appropriate Series to the fullest extent permitted by law against liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Covered Person and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof; and

 

  (ii)

as used herein, the words “claim,” “action,” “suit,” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal or other, including appeals), actual or threatened, and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include, without limitation, attorneys, fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

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(b)

No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Covered Person:

 

  (i)

who shall have been adjudicated by a court or body before which the proceeding was brought (A) to be liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office, or (B) not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or

 

  (ii)

in the event the matter is not adjudicated by a court or other appropriate body, unless there has been a determination that such Covered Person did not engage in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office: by at least a majority of those Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor are parties to the matter based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry); or by written opinion of independent legal counsel based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry).

 

(c)

The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a Covered Person.

 

(d)

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, expenses incurred in defending any proceeding may be advanced by the Trust before the disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person that such amount will be paid over by him to the Trust or applicable Series if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section; provided, however, that either a majority of the Trustees who are neither Interested Persons of the Trust nor parties to the matter, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, shall have determined, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry) that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person will not be disqualified from indemnification under this Section.

 

(e)

Any repeal or modification of this Article VII by the Shareholders, or adoption or modification of any other provision of the Declaration or By-laws inconsistent with this Article, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal, or modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such repeal, modification or adoption.

In addition, the Registrant has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with its Investment Advisor and a Distribution Agreement with its Distributor. These agreements provide indemnification for those entities and their affiliates. The Investment Advisor’s and Distributor’s personnel may serve as trustees and officers of the Trust. The Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund provides that the Investment Advisor will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Investment Advisor or from reckless disregard by the Investment Advisor of its obligations or duties under the Agreement. Under the Distribution Agreement, the Registrant will indemnify Foreside Fund Services, LLC against certain liabilities.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Trust Instrument or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.

Trustees and officers liability policies purchased by the Registrant insure the Registrant and their respective trustees, partners, officers and employees, subject to the policies’ coverage limits and exclusions and varying deductibles, against loss resulting from claims by reason of any act, error, omission, misstatement, misleading statement, neglect or breach of duty.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor.

The description of the Investment Advisor is found under the caption “Service Providers—Investment Advisor” in the Prospectus and under the caption “Management Services—Investment Advisor” in the Statement of Additional Information constituting Parts A and B, respectively, of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated by reference herein. The Investment Advisor provides investment advisory services to other persons or entities other than the Registrant.

Item 32. Foreside Fund Services, LLC

 

Item 32(a)

Foreside Fund Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as principal underwriter for the following investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

 

1.   AdvisorShares Trust
2.   American Beacon Funds
3.   American Beacon Select Funds
4.   Avenue Mutual Funds Trust
5.   Bridgeway Funds, Inc.
6.   Broadmark Funds
7.   Capital Innovations Global Agri, Timber, Infrastructure Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
8.   Center Coast MLP Focus Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
9.   Direxion Shares ETF Trust
10.   Exchange Traded Concepts Trust II
11.   FlexShares Trust
12.   Forum Funds
13.   Forum Funds II
14.   FQF Trust
15.   FSI Low Beta Absolute Return Fund

 

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16.   Gottex Multi-Alternatives Fund - I
17.   Gottex Multi-Alternatives Fund - II
18.   Gottex Multi-Asset Endowment Fund - I
19.   Gottex Multi-Asset Endowment Fund - II
20.   Henderson Global Funds
21.   Ironwood Institutional Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
22.   Ironwood Multi-Strategy Fund LLC
23.   Liberty Street Horizon Fund, Series of Investment Managers Series Trust
24.   Manor Investment Funds
25.   Nomura Partners Funds, Inc.
26.   Performance Trust Mutual Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
27.   PMC Funds, Series of Trust for Professional Managers
28.   Precidian ETFs Trust
29.   Quaker Investment Trust
30.   Renaissance Capital Greenwich Funds
31.   RevenueShares ETF Trust
32.   Salient MF Trust
33.   Scotia Institutional Funds (f/k/a DundeeWealth Funds)
34.   Sound Shore Fund, Inc.
35.   The Roxbury Funds
36.   Turner Funds
37.   Wintergreen Fund, Inc.

 

Item 32(b)

The following are the Officers and Managers of the Distributor, the Registrant’s underwriter. The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name

  

Address

  

Position with Underwriter

  

Position with Registrant

Mark A. Fairbanks

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   President and Manager    None

Richard J. Berthy

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   Vice President, Treasurer and Manager    None

Jennifer E. Hoopes

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   Secretary    None

Nanette K. Chern

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    None

Lisa S. Clifford

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   Vice President and Managing Director of Compliance    None

Nishant Bhatnagar

   Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100,
Portland, ME 04101
   Assistant Secretary    None

 

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Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

All accounts, books and other documents required by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules thereunder are maintained at:

 

Advisor:

  Millington Securities, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

Sub-Advisor

  WBI Investments, Inc.

34 Sycamore Avenue, Suite 1E

Little Silver, New Jersey 07739

Custodian

  U.S. Bank, National Association

1555 North River Center Drive,

Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Administrator:

  U.S. Bank, National Association

1555 North River Center Drive,

Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

Distributor:

  Foreside Fund Services, LLC

Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, Maine 04101

Item 34. Management Services

Not applicable.

Item 35. Undertakings

Not applicable.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Little Silver, and State of New Jersey on this 9th day of December, 2013.

 

Absolute Shares Trust
By:   /s/ Don Schreiber, Jr.
 

Don Schreiber, Jr.

 

Sole Trustee

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature   

Title

 

Date

/s/ Don Schreiber, Jr.

Don Schreiber, Jr.

  

Chairman, Trustee,

President and Principal

Executive Officer

  December 9, 2013

/s/ Tracey Crespo

Tracey Crespo

  

Treasurer and Principal

Financial Officer

  December 9, 2013