485APOS 1 d212440d485apos.htm 485APOS 485APOS

Securities Act Registration No. 333-249784

Investment Company Act Registration No. 811-23615

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission On August 10, 2021

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  
   Pre-Effective Amendment No.  
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 3  

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

   THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940  
   Amendment No. 5  

 

 

JOHCM FUNDS TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

53 State Street, 13th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (617) 933-0712

 

 

Mary Lomasney

53 State Street, 13th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

With copy to:

George Raine, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

 

 

Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

 

Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)

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

On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE: 

This Post-Effective Amendment is being filed to register Institutional Shares, Advisor Shares, Investor Shares, and Class Z Shares of TSW Emerging Markets Fund, TSW High Yield Bond Fund, and TSW Large Cap Value Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of JOHCM Funds Trust (the “Trust”). Each Fund is a new series of the Trust. This Post-Effective Amendment relates only to the Funds and does not supersede or amend disclosure in the Trust’s registration statement relating to any other series or class of shares of the Trust.

 

 

 


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

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

Dated August 10, 2021

 

LOGO

 

 

TSW EMERGING MARKETS FUND

[Institutional Shares ([ ])

Advisor Shares ([ ])

Investor Shares ([ ])

Class Z Shares ([ ])]

TSW HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

[Institutional Shares ([ ])

Advisor Shares ([ ])

Investor Shares ([ ])

Class Z Shares ([ ])]

TSW LARGE CAP VALUE FUND

[Institutional Shares ([ ])

Advisor Shares ([ ])

Investor Shares ([ ])

Class Z Shares ([ ])]

PROSPECTUS DATED [    ]

 

 

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Fund Summaries

     1  

TSW Emerging Markets Fund

     1  

TSW High Yield Bond Fund

     6  

TSW Large Cap Value Fund

     11  

Additional Information about Fund Investment Objective, Strategies, and Risks

     17  

Investment Objectives

     17  

Strategies

     17  

Investment Risks

     18  

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

     24  

Prior Related Performance

     24  

Management of the Funds

     25  

Investment Adviser

     25  

Portfolio Management

     25  

Administrator, Transfer Agent, Custodian, and Distributor

     27  

Your Account

     27  

Pricing Your Shares

     27  

How to Purchase Shares

     28  

How to Redeem Shares

     34  

How to Exchange Shares

     37  

Market Timing Policy

     37  

Distribution Plans

     38  

Dividends and Distributions

     38  

Fund Policy

     38  

Taxes

     38  

Distributions

     38  

Shareholder Reports and Other Information

     40  

Financial Highlights

     40  

 


FUND SUMMARY

TSW EMERGING MARKETS FUND

Investment Objective

The investment objective of the TSW Emerging Markets Fund (the “Fund”) is to maximize long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

 

     Institutional
Shares
    Advisor
Shares
    Investor
Shares
    Class Z
Shares
 

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

        

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     None       None       None       None  

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of net asset value)

     None       None       None       None  

Redemption Fee

     None       None       None       None  

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

        

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

        

Management Fee

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Fees

     [None     [0.10 ]%      [0.25 ]%      [None

Other Expenses1

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Fee Waivers and Reimbursements2

     (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and Reimbursements

     ___     ___     ___     ___

 

1 

Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.

2 

JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) exceed ___%, ___%, ___%, and ___% for Institutional Shares, Advisor Shares, Investor Shares, and Class Z Shares, respectively, until [ ]. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) to exceed the current expense limitation or the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. The agreement to waive fees and reimburse expenses may be terminated by the Board of Trustees at any time and will terminate automatically upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and Fund operating expenses remain the same. The contractual expense limitation for the Fund is reflected only in the 1 year example. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:

 

1


     1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

Institutional Shares

           

Advisor Shares

           

Investor Shares

           

Class Z Shares

           

Portfolio Turnover

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

 

2


Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies that are domiciled in or tied economically to emerging market countries, including frontier markets. The Fund’s equity securities include direct and indirect investments in common and preferred stocks, and rights and warrants to subscribe to common stock or other equity securities. The Fund may invest in securities convertible into such securities (including Depositary Receipts). Emerging market countries are those countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and other countries with similar emerging market characteristics, which the portfolio manager expects will include frontier markets. Frontier markets are generally smaller, less liquid, and less developed than emerging markets. The Fund may invest in emerging market companies of any size, including small- and mid-capitalization companies in order to achieve its objective.

The Fund utilizes a bottom-up, business-focused approach based on careful study of individual companies and their competitive dynamics of the industries in which they participate. Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (“TSW” or the “Subadviser”) strives to identify companies that are well managed, financially sound, fast growing, and strongly competitive and whose shares are underpriced relative to their intrinsic value. The portfolio is managed with reference to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index as to country and sector allocation and the portfolio manager intends, under normal circumstances, to have approximately 40-80 equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

Pursuant to a value investing philosophy, the Fund seeks to invest in securities the Subadviser believes provide a discount or “margin of safety” between a security’s price and what the Subadviser believes to be the true value of the underlying business (which is sometimes referred to as “intrinsic value”). The portfolio manager uses quantitative tools to first narrow the Fund’s investment universe. Next, he combines fundamental research and qualitative analysis to make individual security selections. The portfolio manager seeks to invest in the best risk-reward candidates within the investment universe, defined as companies that he believes have both attractive fundamentals (for example, a company’s revenues, earnings, or management) and are undervalued. The portfolio manager also analyzes country-specific factors such as geopolitical risk and its potential impact on expected returns.

TSW may sell a security if (i) the company’s earnings are significantly below market expectations or there is a significant downward revision to the company’s estimated earnings, (ii) TSW believes that the company’s catalyst(s) to close its price to value gap are achieved or are no longer valid, is achieved or is no longer valid, (iii) there is a change in the company’s risk/return profile, or (iv) TSW identifies a more attractive investment opportunity.

The Fund may invest in participatory notes. Participatory notes (commonly known as “P-notes”) are instruments that provide exposure to, primarily, equity securities of issuers listed on a foreign exchange and are typically used when a direct investment in the underlying security is either unpermitted, restricted or uneconomical due to country-specific regulations or other restrictions. P-notes are typically issued by institutional investors that are registered with the relevant regulator in the non-U.S. country where the exchange for the underlying securities sits. The Fund may also invest a portion of its assets in real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The Fund may invest in unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds. Although the Fund does not invest in derivative instruments currently, it may do so at any time. The Fund typically does not engage in active hedging of currency but retains flexibility to do so depending on market performance.

The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in investments located in one country or a small number of countries. These countries may change from time to time. In response to adverse market conditions, the Fund may deviate from its principal strategies by making temporary investments of some of its assets in cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may be less likely to achieve its investment objective when it does so.

Principal Investment Risks

All investments carry a certain amount of risk, and the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. The value of the Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and the value of your investment in the Fund also will vary. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, or the Fund could perform worse than other investments. Investments in the Fund are not deposits of a bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. The Fund should only be purchased by investors seeking long-term growth of capital who can withstand the share price volatility of equity investing with a focus on emerging market stocks. Below are the principal risks of investing in the Fund. All of the risks listed below are material to the Fund, regardless of the order in which they appear.

 

3


Foreign & Emerging Markets Risk. Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. In addition, issuers of non-U.S. securities (particularly those tied economically to emerging countries) often are not subject to as much regulation as U.S. issuers, and the reporting, accounting, custody, and auditing standards to which those issuers are subject often are not as rigorous as U.S. standards. Investing in emerging market securities magnifies the risks inherent in foreign investments. Frontier countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries.

Currency Risk. Investments in foreign countries are also subject to currency risk. As the Fund’s investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currencies, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Some of the currencies in emerging markets have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major adjustments have been made periodically in certain such currencies. Certain developing countries face serious exchange constraints.

Equity Securities Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the Fund invests will impact the value of the stocks held by the Fund and thus, the value of the Fund’s shares over short or extended periods. Price volatility is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. Investments in small-capitalization or in mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in larger companies.

Management Risk. The Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, and potential appreciation of a particular asset class or individual security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect, and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated.

Geographic Focus Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting the fiscal stability of a particular country or region in which the Fund focuses its investments will cause the value of the Fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly. To the extent the Fund focuses its assets in a particular country or region, the Fund is more vulnerable to financial, economic, or other political developments in that country or region as compared to a fund that does not focus on holdings in a particular country or region. As a result, the Fund may be more volatile than a fund which is broadly diversified geographically.

Growth Stock Risk. The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over a short or long period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. GARP investing involves buying stocks that have a reasonable price/earnings ratio in relationship to the relevant company’s earnings growth rate. To the extent the Fund uses a GARP investing strategy, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected when stocks preferred by a GARP investing strategy underperform or are not favored by investors in prevailing market and economic conditions.

Investment Company Risk. lf a Fund invests in shares of another investment company, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying investment companies 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 and closed-end funds. Furthermore, investments in other 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.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small- and mid-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets, and financial resources, and may depend upon relatively small management groups. Therefore, small- and mid-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies.

Participatory Notes Risk. P-notes, which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets where direct investment is either impossible or difficult due to local restrictions, represent interest in securities listed on certain foreign exchanges, and thus present similar risks to investing directly in such securities. P-notes also expose investors to counterparty risk, which is risk that the entity issuing the note may not be able to honor its financial commitments. The liquidity of a P-note reflects the liquidity in the underlying security. At times, it may be more illiquid than trading the underlying security as broker selection is restricted to the underwriter of the P-note.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.

 

4


Performance Information

Performance information for the Fund will be available after the Fund completes a full calendar year of operation.

Portfolio Management

Investment Adviser

The Fund’s investment adviser is JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”).

Subadviser

The Fund’s subadviser is Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC.

Portfolio Managers

The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

 

Elliott W. Jones, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Length of Service: Since 2021 (inception)

  

C. William Halladay

Research Analyst

Length of Service: Since 2021 (inception)

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment

 

[Institutional    Advisor    Investor    Class Z

$1,000,000

   No minimum    No minimum    $10,000,000]

There is no minimum for additional investments. If you hold shares through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may impose its own, different, investment minimums.

To Buy or Sell Shares:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, IL 60680-4766

Telephone: 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913

You can buy or sell shares of the Fund on any Business Day that the Fund is open through your broker or financial intermediary, or by mail or telephone. You can pay for shares by wire. The Adviser and Foreside Fund Partners, LLC (to be renamed JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC), the Fund’s distributor, reserve the right to waive any minimum in their sole discretion, and to reject any purchase order for any reason.

Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes

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

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

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

 

5


FUND SUMMARY

TSW HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Investment Objective

The primary investment objective of the TSW High Yield Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek high current income with a secondary focus on capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

 

     Institutional
Shares
    Advisor
Shares
    Investor
Shares
    Class Z
Shares
 

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

        

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     None       None       None       None  

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of net asset value)

     None       None       None       None  

Redemption Fee

     None       None       None       None  

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

        

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

        

Management Fee

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Fees

     [None     [0.10 ]%      [0.25 ]%      [None

Other Expenses1

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Fee Waivers and Reimbursements2

     (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and Reimbursements

     ___     ___     ___     ___

 

1

Other Expenses are based on estimates for the current fiscal year.

2

JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) exceed ___%, ___%, ___%, and ___% for Institutional Shares, Advisor Shares, Investor Shares, and Class Z Shares, respectively, until [ ], 2022. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) to exceed the current expense limitation or the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. The agreement to waive fees and reimburse expenses may be terminated by the Board of Trustees at any time and will terminate automatically upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and Fund operating expenses remain the same. The contractual expense limitation for the Fund is reflected only in the 1 year example. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:

 

6


     1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

Institutional Shares

           

Advisor Shares

           

Investor Shares

           

Class Z Shares

           

Portfolio Turnover

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

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high yield fixed income securities, also known as “junk bonds” (higher risk, lower rated fixed income securities rated BB or below by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or determined to be of a similar quality by TSW). The Fund’s fixed income securities include primarily corporate debt, but may also include convertible bonds, preferred securities, loans and loan participations. The Fund may also seek to obtain exposure to fixed income investments through investments in affiliated or unaffiliated investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). The Fund expects to invest primarily in securities denominated in U.S. dollars and may invest in companies of any size, including small- and mid-capitalization companies.

The Fund will invest less than 20% of its net assets in debt instruments that, at the time of purchase, are rated CCC or below by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or determined to be of a similar quality by the Subadviser.

The portfolio manager follows a disciplined, bottom-up research process in order to identify securities showing stable or improving credit metrics and offering strong relative value in relation to the high yield market. They evaluate both qualitative (industry attractiveness, competitive positioning, management’s transparency and philosophy toward bondholders) and quantitative (asset/interest coverage, leverage, financial flexibility, and cash-flow) factors in their fundamental analysis and attempt to reduce risk through diversification and credit analysis. The portfolio manager may sell a security in order to (i) manage overall portfolio risk, (ii) achieve an attractive total return, (iii) respond to a negative change in a company’s risk/return profile or (iv) take advantage of more favorable risk-adjusted opportunities.

The Fund may invest in securities that are issued through private offerings without registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act. The Fund may also invest in securities that may be offered and sold only to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

In response to adverse market conditions, the Fund may deviate from its principal strategies by making temporary investments of some of its assets in cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may be less likely to achieve its investment objective when it does so.

Principal Investment Risks

All investments carry a certain amount of risk, and the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. The value of the Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and the value of your investment in the Fund also will vary. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, or the Fund could perform worse than other investments. Investments in the Fund are not deposits of a bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. Below are the principal risks of investing in the Fund. All of the risks listed below are material to the Fund, regardless of the order in which they appear.

Credit Risk. An issuer of debt securities may fail to make interest payments or repay principal when due, in whole or in part. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength or in a security’s credit rating may affect a security’s value.

 

7


Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments held by the Fund will generally decline in value. When interest rates fall, the value of fixed income securities generally increase. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short term fixed income securities or instruments. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund. Your investment will decline in value if the value of the Fund’s investments decreases.

Sector Risk. The Fund may focus its investments in securities of a particular sector. Economic, legislative, or regulatory developments may occur that significantly affect the sector. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value to fluctuate more than that of a fund that does not focus in a particular sector.

High Yield (“Junk Bond”) Investments Risk. Below investment grade fixed income securities, also known as “junk bonds,” are not investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss than higher quality debt securities. These lower-rated or defaulted debt securities may fluctuate more in price, and are less liquid than higher-rated securities because issuers of such lower-rated debt securities are not as strong financially, and are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and be more vulnerable to adverse changes in the economy.

Currency Risk. Investments in foreign countries are also subject to currency risk. As the Fund’s investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currencies, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Some of the currencies in emerging markets have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major adjustments have been made periodically in certain such currencies. Certain developing countries face serious exchange constraints.

Foreign & Emerging Markets Risk. Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. In addition, issuers of non-U.S. securities (particularly those tied economically to emerging countries) often are not subject to as much regulation as U.S. issuers, and the reporting, accounting, custody, and auditing standards to which those issuers are subject often are not as rigorous as U.S. standards. Investing in emerging market securities magnifies the risks inherent in foreign investments. Frontier countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries.

Loan-Related Investments Risk. In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may make investments that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund may use derivatives (including futures and forward contracts) to enhance returns or hedge against market declines. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index.

Limited History of Operations. The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, open-end management investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decision.

Management Risk. The Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of a particular asset class or individual security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect, and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated.

 

8


CLO Risk. Collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) issue classes or “tranches” that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, decrease of market value due to collateral defaults and removal of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults and investor aversion to CLO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CLOs depends largely on the tranche and the type of the underlying debts and loans in the tranche. Investments in subordinate tranches may carry greater risk. CLOs also carry risks including, but not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because the underlying assets in CLOs are loans, in the event an underlying loan is subject to liquidity risks such as the risk of extended settlement, investments in the corresponding CLOs may be indirectly subject to the same risks.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and equity securities. If a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security. Certain “triggering events” may cause the Fund to lose the principal amount invested in a contingent convertible security and coupon payments on contingent convertible securities may be discretionary and cancelled by the issuer. Due to these factors, the value of contingent convertible securities is unpredictable, and holders of contingent convertible securities may suffer a loss of capital when comparable equity holders do not.

Equity Securities Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the Fund invests will impact the value of the stocks held by the Fund and thus, the value of the Fund’s shares over short or extended periods. Price volatility is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. Investments in small capitalization or in mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in larger companies.

ETF Risk. Shareholders of the Fund will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the individual ETFs in which the Fund invests. In addition, an ETF may not replicate exactly the performance of the benchmark index it seeks to track for a number of reasons, including transaction costs incurred by the ETF, 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 securities held.

Investment Company Risk. If the Fund invests in shares of another investment company, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying investment companies 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 investment company securities, including ETFs and closed-end funds. Furthermore, investments in other 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.

Municipal Securities Risk. The value of municipal bonds that depend on a specific revenue source or general revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source(s) or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source(s). In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.

Preferred Stock Risk. The value of preferred stocks will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stock. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payments.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.

Performance Information

Performance information for the Fund will be available after the Fund completes a full calendar year of operation.

Portfolio Management

Investment Adviser

The Fund’s investment adviser is JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”).

Subadviser

The Fund’s subadviser is Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC.

 

9


Portfolio Managers

The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

William M. Bellamy, CFA

Portfolio Manager

Length of Service: Since 2021 (inception)

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment

 

[Institutional    Advisor    Investor    Class Z

$1,000,000

   No minimum    No minimum    $10,000,000]

There is no minimum for additional investments. If you hold shares through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may impose its own, different, investment minimums.

To Buy or Sell Shares:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, IL 60680-4766

Telephone: 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913

You can buy or sell shares of the Fund on any Business Day that the Fund is open through your broker or financial intermediary, or by mail or telephone. You can pay for shares by wire. The Adviser and Foreside Fund Partners, LLC (to be renamed JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC), the Fund’s distributor, reserve the right to waive any minimum in their sole discretion, and to reject any purchase order for any reason.

Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes

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

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

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

 

10


FUND SUMMARY

TSW LARGE CAP VALUE FUND

Investment Objective

The TSW Large Cap Value Fund (the “Fund”) seeks maximum long-term total return, consistent with reasonable risk to principal, by investing in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of relatively large companies.

Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.

 

     Institutional
Shares
    Advisor
Shares
    Investor
Shares
    Class Z
Shares
 

Shareholder Fees (Fees paid directly from your investment)

        

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

     None       None       None       None  

Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of net asset value)

     None       None       None       None  

Redemption Fee

     None       None       None       None  

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

        

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

        

Management Fee

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Fees

     [None     [0.10 ]%      [0.25 ]%      [None

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Other Expenses1

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     ___     ___     ___     ___

Fee Waivers and Reimbursements2

     (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %)      (___ %) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and Reimbursements

     ___     ___     ___     ___

 

1

Other Expenses have been adjusted from amounts incurred during the TSW Equity Portfolio’s most recent fiscal year to reflect estimated current expenses. The TSW Equity Portfolio, a series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, is the predecessor to the Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”).

2

JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) exceed ___%, ___%, ___%, and ___% for Institutional Shares, Advisor Shares, Investor Shares, and Class Z Shares, respectively, until [ ], 2022. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) to exceed the current expense limitation or the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. The agreement to waive fees and reimburse expenses may be terminated by the Board of Trustees at any time and will terminate automatically upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that each year your investment has a 5% return and Fund operating expenses remain the same. The contractual expense limitation for the Fund is reflected only in the 1 year example. Although your actual costs and returns might be different, your approximate costs of investing $10,000 in the Fund would be:

 

 

11


     1 Year      3 Years      5 Years      10 Years  

Institutional Shares

           

Advisor Shares

           

Investor Shares

           

Class Z Shares

           

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. Portfolio turnover rates excludes securities received or delivered from in-kind fund share transactions. High levels of portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses above, can adversely affect the Fund’s investment performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Predecessor Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 64% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

12


Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies with large market capitalizations. The Fund considers a company’s market capitalization to be large if it equals or exceeds that of the smallest company in the Russell 1000 Index (approximately $[ ] as of June 30, 2021). The Fund will generally invest primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks. Although the Fund will primarily draw its holdings from larger, more seasoned or established companies, it may also invest in companies of varying size as measured by assets, sales or market capitalization. The Fund will emphasize common stocks, but may also invest in other types of equity securities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and traded on U.S. exchanges.

The Fund utilizes a bottom-up, business-focused approach based on careful study of individual companies and competitive dynamics of the industries in which they participate. TSW strives to identify companies that are well managed, financially sound, fast growing, and strongly competitive and whose shares are underpriced relative to their intrinsic value. The portfolio managers intend, under normal circumstances, to have approximately 30-70 equity securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

Pursuant to a value investing philosophy, the Fund seeks to invest in securities the Subadviser believes provide a discount (or “margin of safety”) between a security’s price and what the Subadviser believes to be the true value of the underlying business (which is sometimes referred to as “intrinsic value”). The portfolio managers use quantitative tools to first narrow the Fund’s investment universe. Next, they combine fundamental research and qualitative analysis to make individual security selections. The portfolio managers seek to invest in the best risk-reward candidates within the investment universe, defined as companies that they believe have both attractive fundamentals (for example, a company’s revenues, earnings, or management) and are undervalued. The portfolio managers also assess a company’s future cash flows, catalysts that may reduce its intrinsic value within the next several years and potential impacts on expected returns.

TSW may sell a security if (i) the company’s earnings are significantly below market expectations or there is a significant downward revision to the company’s estimated earnings, (ii) TSW believes that the company’s catalyst(s) to close its price to value gap are achieved or are no longer valid, (iii) there is a change in the company’s risk/return profile, or (iv) TSW identifies a more attractive investment opportunity.

The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (REITs). Although the Fund does not invest in derivative instruments currently, it may do so at any time.

In response to adverse market conditions, the Fund may deviate from its principal strategies by making temporary investments of some of its assets in cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may be less likely to achieve its investment objective when it does so.

Principal Investment Risks

All investments carry a certain amount of risk, and the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective. The value of the Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and the value of your investment in the Fund also will vary. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund, or the Fund could perform worse than other investments. Investments in the Fund are not deposits of a bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund (in alphabetical order after the first five risks) are:

Equity Securities Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting issuers, industries or financial markets in which the Fund invests will impact the value of the stocks held by the Fund and thus, the value of the Fund’s shares over short or extended periods. Price volatility is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. Investments in small capitalization or in mid-capitalization companies may be more volatile than investments in larger companies.

Value Investing Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced adverse business, industry, or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. It may take longer than expected for the value of such securities to rise to the anticipated value, or the value may never do so.

 

13


Sector Risk. The Fund may focus its investments in securities of a particular sector. Economic, legislative, or regulatory developments may occur that significantly affect the sector. This may cause the Fund’s net asset value to fluctuate more than that of a fund that does not focus in a particular sector.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small- and mid-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon relatively small management groups. Therefore, small- and mid-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies.

Foreign & Emerging Markets Risk. Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. In addition, issuers of non-U.S. securities (particularly those tied economically to emerging countries) often are not subject to as much regulation as U.S. issuers, and the reporting, accounting, custody, and auditing standards to which those issuers are subject often are not as rigorous as U.S. standards. Investing in emerging market securities magnifies the risks inherent in foreign investments. Frontier countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries.

Currency Risk. Investments in foreign countries are also subject to currency risk. As the Fund’s investments in foreign securities are generally denominated in foreign currencies, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect the value of the Fund’s investments. Some of the currencies in emerging markets have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major adjustments have been made periodically in certain such currencies. Certain developing countries face serious exchange constraints.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund may use derivatives (including futures and forward contracts) to hedge against market declines. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. These risks include (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index.

Equity-Linked Instruments Risk. There is a risk that, in addition to market risk and other risks of the referenced equity security, the Fund may experience a return that is different from that of the referenced equity security. Equity-linked instruments also subject the Fund to counterparty risk, including the risk that the issuing entity may not be able to honor its financial commitment, which could result in a loss of all or part of the Fund’s investment.

Growth Stock Risk. The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and their prices can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news. Growth stocks may underperform stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over a short or long period of time and may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors.

Hedging Risk. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative or other security to offset certain risks associated with other Fund holdings or to render the portfolio more resilient to market fluctuations. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

IPO Risk. The Fund may purchase securities in IPOs. These securities are subject to many of the same risks of investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile.

Limited History of Operations. The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, open-end management investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decision.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may make investments that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value.

Long-Term Investment Strategy Risk. The Fund pursues a long-term investment approach, typically seeking returns over a period of several years. This investment style may cause the Fund to lose money or underperform compared to its benchmark index or other mutual funds over extended periods of time, and the Fund may not perform as expected in the long term. An investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of short- or medium-term fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

14


Management Risk. The Adviser or Subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of a particular asset class or individual security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect, and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated.

Participatory Notes Risk. P-notes, which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets where direct investment is either impossible or difficult due to local restrictions, represent interest in securities listed on certain foreign exchanges, and thus present similar risks to investing directly in such securities. P-notes also expose investors to counterparty risk, which is risk that the entity issuing the note may not be able to honor its financial commitments. The liquidity of a P-note reflects the liquidity in the underlying security. At times, it may be more illiquid than trading the underlying security as broker selection is restricted to the underwriter of the P-note.

Preferred Stock Risk. The value of preferred stocks will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stock. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payments.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.

Performance Information

The Fund commenced operations upon the reorganization of the Predecessor Fund into the Fund on [ ], 2021. With the reorganization, the Fund assumed the financial and performance history of the Predecessor Fund. The bar chart and performance table below provide an indication of the risks of an investment in the Fund (and the Predecessor Fund for periods prior to reorganization) by showing how the Fund’s performance has varied from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Performance reflects contractual fee waivers in effect. If fee waivers were not in place, performance would be reduced. After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Shares only and will vary from the after-tax returns for other share classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913.

Annual Total Returns – Institutional Shares for year ended December 31*

 

LOGO

 

Best Quarter:

 

2Q 2020

     16.42

Worst Quarter:

 

1Q 2020

     (23.26 )% 

 

*

The Fund’s fiscal year end is October 31. The Fund’s most recent quarterly return (since the end of the last fiscal year) through [    ] was [    ]%.

 

15


Average Annual Total Returns - for the Periods Ended December 31, 2020

 

     1 Year     5 Years     10 Years     Since
Inception^
 

Institutional Shares - Before Taxes

     7.38     9.82     9.15     [        

Institutional Shares - After Taxes on Distributions

     6.07     7.58     7.41     [        

Institutional Shares - After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

     5.22     7.34     7.09     [        

Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

     2.80     9.74     10.50     [        

Portfolio Management

Investment Adviser

The Fund’s investment adviser is JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”).

Subadviser

The Fund’s subadviser is Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC.

Portfolio Managers

The professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:

 

Brett P. Hawkins, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager, Chief Investment Officer

Length of Service: Since 2015*

  

Bryan F. Durand, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst

Length of Service: Since 2019*

 

*

Each Portfolio Manager served as portfolio manager of the Predecessor Fund, which reorganized into the Trust on [            ], 2021.

 

Buying and Selling Fund Shares

Minimum Initial Investment

 

[Institutional    Advisor      Investor      Class Z  

$1,000,000

     No minimum        No minimum      $ 10,000,000

There is no minimum for additional investments. If you hold shares through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may impose its own, different, investment minimums.

To Buy or Sell Shares:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, IL 60680-4766

Telephone: 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913

You can buy or sell shares of the Fund on any Business Day that the Fund is open through your broker or financial intermediary, or by mail or telephone. You can pay for shares by wire. The Adviser and Foreside Fund Partners, LLC (to be renamed JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC), the Fund’s distributor, reserve the right to waive any minimum in their sole discretion, and to reject any purchase order for any reason.

 

16


Dividends, Capital Gains and Taxes

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

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUND INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE, STRATEGIES, AND RISKS

Investment Objectives

The TSW Emerging Markets Fund seeks to maximize long-term capital appreciation. The TSW High Yield Bond Fund seeks high current income with a secondary focus on capital appreciation. The TSW Large Cap Value Fund seeks maximum long-term total return, consistent with reasonable risk to principal, by investing in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of relatively large companies. Each Fund’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval.

In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, each Fund also may invest to a lesser extent in other securities, use other strategies, and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategy. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI see the back cover of this prospectus). Of course, there is no guarantee that the Funds will achieve their investment goals.

The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or in the event of sizeable cash flows into or out of a Fund, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective or its other investment policies. If a Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective.

Strategies

In addition to its principal investment strategies, a Fund may use the investment strategies described below. A Fund may also employ investment practices that this prospectus does not describe, such as participating in repurchase agreements, when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning these and the Funds’ other investment practices and their risks, you should read the SAI.

Short-Term Investing. The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that a Fund uses under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, a Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. These instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Funds’ principal investment strategies, and may prevent a Fund from achieving its investment objective. A Fund will use a temporary strategy if the Adviser or Subadviser believes that pursuing a Fund’s investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss. The Funds have a policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in particular types of securities as described in the Funds’ principal investment strategy, and will not change this policy without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In addition to the temporary defensive measures discussed above, a Fund may also temporarily deviate from this 80% policy in other limited, appropriate circumstances, such as if a Fund experiences large cash inflows or redemptions. When the Adviser or Subadviser pursues a temporary defensive strategy, a Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it were pursuing its normal strategies.

 

17


Investment Risks

Any investment in the Funds is subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. Below are the principal risks of the Funds in alphabetical order. The significance of any specific risk to an investment in a Fund will vary over time, depending on the composition of the Fund’s portfolio, market conditions, and other factors. Your investment in a Fund may be subject (in varying degrees) to the following risks discussed below. Each Fund may be more susceptible to some of the risks than others. You should read all of the risk information for your Fund presented below carefully, because any one or more of these risks may result in losses to the Fund.

Asset Allocation Risk. The risk that if the Fund’s strategy for allocating assets among different asset classes does not work as intended, the Fund may not achieve its objective or may underperform other funds with similar investment strategies.

China Risk. To the extent a Fund invests in securities of Chinese issuers, it may be subject to certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers, including, among others, more frequent trading suspensions and government interventions (including by nationalization of assets), currency exchange rate fluctuations or blockages, limits on the use of brokers and on foreign ownership, different financial reporting standards, higher dependence on exports and international trade, potential for increased trade tariffs, embargoes and other trade limitations, and custody risks. U.S. or foreign government sanctions or other governments interventions could preclude a Fund from making certain investments in China or result in a Fund selling investments in China at disadvantageous times or prices. Significant portions of the Chinese securities markets may become rapidly illiquid, as Chinese issuers have the ability to suspend the trading of their equity securities, and have shown a willingness to exercise that option in response to market volatility and other events.

CLO Risk. Collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) issue classes or “tranches” that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, decrease of market value due to collateral defaults and removal of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults and investor aversion to CLO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CLOs depend largely on the tranche and the type of the underlying debts and loans in the tranche. Investments in subordinate tranches may carry greater risk. CLOs also carry risks including, but not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk. Because the underlying assets in CLOs are loans, in the event an underlying loan is subject to liquidity risks such as the risk of extended settlement, investments in the corresponding CLOs may be indirectly subject to the same risks.

Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities subject the Fund to the risks associated with both fixed-income securities and equity securities. If a convertible security’s investment value is greater than its conversion value, its price will likely increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. If the conversion value exceeds the investment value, the price of the convertible security will tend to fluctuate directly with the price of the underlying equity security. Certain “triggering events” may cause the Fund to lose the principal amount invested in a contingent convertible security and coupon payments on contingent convertible securities may be discretionary and cancelled by the issuer. Due to these factors, the value of contingent convertible securities is unpredictable, and holders of contingent convertible securities may suffer a loss of capital when comparable equity holders do not.

Credit Risk. Some Funds may invest in debt securities. An issuer of debt securities may fail to make interest payments or repay principal when due, in whole or in part. Changes in an issuer’s financial strength or in a security’s credit rating may affect a security’s value.

Currency Risk. A significant portion of a Fund’s assets may be denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies. There is the risk that the value of such assets and/or the value of any distributions from such assets may decrease if the currency in which such assets are priced or in which they make distributions falls in relation to the value of the U.S. dollar. Some emerging markets countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. A Fund is not required to hedge its foreign currency risk, although it may do so through foreign currency exchange contracts and other methods. Therefore, to the extent a Fund does not hedge its foreign currency risk, or the hedges are ineffective, the value of a Fund’s assets and income could be adversely affected by currency exchange rate movements.

Cybersecurity Risk. The computer systems, networks, and devices used by the Funds and their service providers to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons, and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized by the Fund and its service providers, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. The Funds and their shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.

Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches may cause disruptions and impact the Funds’ business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV; impediments to trading; the inability of the Funds, the Adviser or Subadviser, and other service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent release of confidential information.

 

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Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in which the Funds invest; counterparties with which the Funds engage in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for the Funds’ shareholders); and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.

Derivatives Risk. A derivative is an instrument with a value based on the performance of an underlying financial asset, index, or other measure. The types of derivatives that might be used by a Fund may include futures and forward contracts, options, swaps, and other similar instruments. The use of derivative contracts may involve risks different from, or greater than, the risks associated with investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. These risks include: (i) the risk that the counterparty to a derivative transaction may not fulfill its contractual obligations; (ii) the risk of mispricing or improper valuation; and (iii) the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index. Derivatives can be complex and may perform in ways unanticipated by the Adviser or Subadviser. Derivatives may be volatile, difficult to value, and a Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative position at a particular time or at an anticipated price.

Equity Securities Risk. Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer. Equity securities include both direct and indirect investments in such ownership interests, such as public and privately issued equity securities and common and preferred stocks, warrants and rights to subscribe to common stock or other equity securities, convertible securities, and derivative instruments that are expected or intended to track the price movement of equity indices. Different types of equity securities (including different types of instruments that provide direct or indirect exposure to ownership interests in issuers) provide different voting and dividend rights and priority in the event of a bankruptcy and/or insolvency of the issuer. In general, investments in equity securities and equity derivatives are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause a Fund’s net asset value to fluctuate. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of a Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. Although the two types of depositary receipt facilities are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depositary), although most sponsored depositary receipt holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositaries of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and financial information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depositary usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the underlying issuer or to pass through voting rights with respect to the underlying securities to depositary receipt holders.

Equity-Linked Instruments Risk. There is a risk that, in addition to market risk and other risks of the referenced equity security, the Fund may experience a return that is different from that of the referenced equity security. Equity-linked instruments also subject the Fund to counterparty risk, including the risk that the issuing entity may not be able to honor its financial commitment, which could result in a loss of all or part of the Fund’s investment.

Euro- and Eurozone-Related Risk. To the extent a Fund invests in investments located in Europe, it may be subject to risks not typically associated with investments in the United States. A majority of western European countries and a number of eastern European countries are members of the European Union, an intergovernmental union aimed at developing economic and political coordination and cooperation among its member states. European countries that are members of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (“EMU”) are subject to restrictions on inflation rates, interest rates, deficits, and debt levels. The EMU sets out different stages and commitments for member states to follow in an effort to achieve greater coordination of economic, fiscal, and monetary policies. As a condition to adopting the euro, EMU member states must also relinquish control of their monetary policies to

 

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the European Central Bank and become subject to certain monetary and fiscal controls imposed by the EMU. These controls remove EMU member states’ flexibility in implementing monetary policy measures to address regional economic conditions, which may impair their ability to respond to crises. A number of countries in the European Union have experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and financial difficulties. Additional European Union member countries may also fall subject to such difficulties. These events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments in euro-denominated securities and derivatives contracts, as well as securities of issuers located in the European Union or with significant exposure to European Union issuers or countries, to the extent a Fund invests in such securities. If the euro is dissolved entirely, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations and derivative contracts would be determined by laws in effect at such time. Such investments may continue to be held, or purchased, to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and permitted under applicable law. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of a Fund’s shares.

Fixed Income Risk. Some Funds may invest in fixed income securities. These securities will increase or decrease in value based on changes in interest rates. If rates increase, the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities generally declines. On the other hand, if rates fall, the value of the fixed income securities generally increases. Your investment will decline in value if the value of the Fund’s investments decreases. Fixed income securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, but are subject to greater fluctuations in value. Usually, changes in the value of fixed income securities will not affect cash income generated, but may affect the value of your investment.

Foreign & Emerging Markets Risk. Investing in foreign securities poses additional market risks since political and economic events unique in a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers and may not affect the U.S. economy or U.S. issuers. Securities markets outside the U.S., while growing in volume, have for the most part substantially less volume than U.S. markets, and many securities traded on these foreign markets are less liquid and their prices are more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. In addition, settlement of trades in some non-U.S. markets is much slower and more subject to failure than in U.S. markets. Other risks associated with investing in foreign securities include, among other things, imposition of exchange control regulation by the U.S. or foreign governments, U.S. and foreign withholding or other taxes, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, policies of governments with respect to possible nationalization of their industries, and economic or political instability in foreign nations. There may be less publicly available information about certain foreign companies than would be the case for comparable companies in the U.S. and certain foreign companies may not be subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and requirements comparable to or as uniform as those of U.S. companies. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which regulates auditors of U.S. public companies, is unable to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries. Investors in foreign countries often have limited rights and few practical remedies to pursue shareholder claims, including class actions or fraud claims, and the ability of the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons is limited.

Investing in emerging market securities magnifies the risks inherent in foreign investments. Some countries with emerging securities markets have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation for many years. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had and may continue to have negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain countries. Moreover, the economies of some countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as rate of growth of gross domestic product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, number and depth of industries forming the economy’s base, condition and stability of financial institutions, governmental controls, and investment restrictions that are subject to political change and balance of payments position. Issuers of non-U.S. securities (particularly those tied economically to emerging countries) often are not subject to as much regulation as U.S. issuers, and the reporting, accounting, custody, and auditing standards to which those issuers are subject often are not as rigorous as U.S. standards. Further, the Fund may face greater difficulties or restrictions with respect to investments made in emerging markets countries than in the United States. Satisfactory custodial services may not be available in some emerging markets countries, which may result in the Fund incurring additional costs and delays in the transportation and custody of such securities. A sub-set of emerging markets, frontier markets, are less developed than other emerging markets and are the most speculative. They have the least number of investors and may not have a stock market on which to trade. Most frontier markets consist chiefly of stocks of financial, telecommunications, and consumer companies that count on monthly payments from customers. Investments in this sector are typically illiquid, nontransparent, and subject to very low levels of regulation and high transaction fees. Frontier market investments may be subject to substantial political and currency risk. The risk of investing in frontier markets can be increased due to government ownership or control of parts of private sector and of certain companies; trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by frontier market countries or their trading partners; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries. These risks can result in the potential for extreme price volatility.

 

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Geographic Focus Risk. From time to time a Fund’s investment may be focused in a particular geographic region. The value of the investments of a Fund that focuses its investments in a particular geographic location will be highly sensitive to financial, economic, political, and other developments affecting the fiscal stability of that location, and conditions that negatively impact that location will have a greater impact on the Fund as compared with a fund that does not have its holdings similarly focused. Events negatively affecting such location are therefore likely to cause the value of a Fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.

Growth Stock Risk. The prices of growth stocks may be based largely on expectations of future earnings, and can decline rapidly and significantly in reaction to negative news about various factors, such as earnings, revenues, the economy, political developments, or other news. Growth stocks may underperform stocks in other broad style categories (and the stock market as a whole) over a short or long period of time. Growth stocks may shift in and out of favor with investors generally, sometimes rapidly, depending on changes in market, economic, and other factors. As a result, at times when it holds investments in growth stocks, the Fund may underperform other investment funds that favor different investment styles. Because growth companies typically reinvest their earnings, growth stocks typically do not pay dividends at levels associated with other types of stocks, if at all. GARP investing involves buying stocks that have a reasonable price/earnings ratio in relationship to the relevant company’s earnings growth rate. To the extent a Fund uses a GARP investing strategy, the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected when stocks preferred by a GARP investing strategy underperform or are not favored by investors in prevailing market and economic conditions.

Hedging Risk. Some Funds may invest in hedging assets. Hedging is a strategy in which the Fund uses a derivative or other security to offset certain risks associated with other Fund holdings or to render the portfolio more resilient to market fluctuations. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging strategy will reduce risk or that hedging transactions will be either available or cost effective. The Fund is not required to use hedging and may choose not to do so.

High Yield (“Junk Bond”) Investments Risk. Some Funds may invest in high yield securities, also known as “junk bonds.” The securities are not investment grade and are generally considered speculative because they present a greater risk of loss than higher quality debt securities. These lower-rated or defaulted debt securities may fluctuate more in price, and are less liquid than higher-rated securities because issuers of such lower-rated debt securities are not as strong financially, and are more likely to encounter financial difficulties and be more vulnerable to adverse changes in the economy.

India Risk. Government actions, bureaucratic obstacles and inconsistent economic reform within the Indian government have had a significant effect on the economy and could adversely affect market conditions, economic growth and the profitability of private enterprises. Global economic developments may inhibit the flow of foreign capital on which India is dependent to sustain its growth. Large portions of many Indian companies remain in the hands of individuals and corporate governance standards of Indian companies may be weaker and less transparent, which may increase the risk of loss and unequal treatment of investors. To the extent a Fund invests in investments in India, it may be subject to risks presented by investments in an emerging market country, including liquidity risk, which may result in extreme volatility in the prices of Indian securities. Religious, cultural and military disputes persist in India, and between India and Pakistan (as well as between sectarian groups within each country). In addition, the Indian economy could be adversely impacted by natural disasters and acts of terrorism. Both India and Pakistan have tested nuclear arms, and the threat of deployment of such weapons could hinder development of the Indian economy, and escalating tensions could impact the broader region.

Interest Rate Risk. When interest rates increase, fixed income securities or instruments held by the Fund will generally decline in value. When interest rates fall, the value of fixed income securities generally increase. Long-term fixed income securities or instruments will normally have more price volatility because of this risk than short term fixed income securities or instruments. The risks associated with changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and the Fund’s investments. Fluctuations in interest rates may also affect the liquidity of fixed income securities and instruments held by the Fund. Your investment will decline in value if the value of the Fund’s investments decreases.

Investment Company Risk. If a Fund invests in shares of another investment company, shareholders will indirectly bear fees and expenses charged by the underlying investment companies 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 and closed-end funds. Furthermore, investments in other 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.

IPO Risk. The Fund may purchase securities in IPOs. These securities are subject to many of the same risks of investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. In addition, the prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile.

 

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Japan Risk. The Japanese economy may be subject to economic, political and social instability, which could have a negative impact on Japanese securities, and may impact a Fund’s performance to the extent it invests in such securities. In the past, Japan’s economic growth rate has remained relatively low, and it may remain low in the future. At times, the Japanese economy has been adversely impacted by government intervention and protectionism, changes in its labor market, and an unstable financial services sector. International trade, government support of the financial services sector and other troubled sectors, government policy, natural disasters and/or geopolitical developments could significantly affect the Japanese economy. A significant portion of Japan’s trade is conducted with developing nations and can be affected by conditions in these nations or by currency fluctuations. Japan is an island state with few natural resources and limited land area and is reliant on imports for its commodity needs. Any fluctuations or shortages in the commodity markets could have a negative impact on the Japanese economy.

Key Person Risk. Key person risk is the risk that results when a Fund’s investment program is highly dependent on the investment skill and dedication of a small number of “key” persons at the Adviser or Subadviser, which can result in decreased investment results if these “key” persons become unable to apply their full attention to the management of the Fund’s investments for health or other reasons.

Loan-Related Investments Risk. In addition to risks generally associated with debt investments (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), loan-related investments such as loan participations and assignments are subject to other risks. Although a loan obligation may be fully collateralized at the time of acquisition, the collateral may decline in value, be or become illiquid or less liquid, or lose all or substantially all of its value subsequent to investment.

Limited History of Operations. The Fund is a newly organized, diversified, open-end management investment company with a limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decision.

Liquidity Risk. The Fund may make investments that are illiquid or that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perceptions. Illiquid investments may be more difficult to value.

Long-Term Investment Strategy Risk. The Fund pursues a long-term investment approach, typically seeking returns over a period of several years. This investment style may cause the Fund to lose money or underperform compared to its benchmark index or other mutual funds over extended periods of time, and the Fund may not perform as expected in the long term. An investment in the Fund may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of short- or medium-term fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

Management Risk. The Adviser or Subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, and potential appreciation of particular asset class or individual security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect, and there is no guarantee that individual securities will perform as anticipated.

Municipal Securities Risk. The value of municipal bonds that depend on a specific revenue source or general revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source(s) or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source(s). In addition, changes in federal tax laws or the activity of an issuer may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.

Natural Disaster/Epidemic Risk. Natural or environmental disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other severe weather-related phenomena generally, and widespread disease, including pandemics and epidemics, have been and may be highly disruptive to economies and markets, adversely impacting individual companies, sectors, industries, markets, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of a Fund’s investments. Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, market, or region are increasingly likely to adversely affect markets, issuers, and/or foreign exchange rates in other countries, for example, an epidemic or pandemic can result in travel restrictions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, prolonged quarantines, cancellations, supply chain disruptions, and lower consumer demand, as well as general concern and uncertainty. All of these disruptive effects were present, for example, in the global pandemic linked to the outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 that was first reported in China in December 2019. The effects of any disease outbreak may be greater in countries with less developed disease prevention and control programs and may also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. A pandemic and its effects may be short term or may last for an extended period of time, and in either case can result in significant market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures, declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn or recession. Infectious illness outbreaks can adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, individual issuers and capital markets in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen. Any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value of a Fund’s investments.

 

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Participatory Notes Risk. Participatory notes are equity access products structured as debt obligations issued by banks or broker-dealers that are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets where direct investment is either impossible or difficult due to local restrictions. The performance results of participatory notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the issuers or markets that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Investments in participatory notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the shares of the companies the notes seek to replicate. In addition, participatory notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues the notes will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Fund. Some participatory notes may be considered illiquid and, therefore, will be subject to a Fund’s percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities. The Funds may take long or short positions in participatory notes.

Preferred Stock Risk. A Fund may invest in preferred stock. The value of preferred stocks will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stock. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payments.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. A Fund may sell its portfolio securities, regardless of the length of time that they have been held, if the Adviser or Subadviser determines that it would be in the Fund’s best interest to do so. It may be appropriate to buy or sell portfolio securities due to economic, market, or other factors that are not within the Adviser or Subadviser’s control. These transactions will increase the Fund’s “portfolio turnover.” A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur if all of the securities in the Fund were replaced during the annual measurement period. High turnover rates generally result in higher brokerage costs to the Fund, may result in higher amounts of taxable distributions to shareholders each year and higher effective tax rates on those distribution amounts, and may reduce the Fund’s returns.

Regulatory Risk. Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.

Sector Risk. Sector risk is the possibility that securities within the same sector will decline in price due to sector-specific market or economic developments. If a Fund invests more heavily in a particular industry sector, the value of its shares may be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect that sector. As a result, a Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of sectors. Additionally, some sectors could be subject to greater government regulation than other sectors. Therefore, changes in regulatory policies for those sectors may have a material effect on the value of securities issued by companies in those sectors.

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Company Risk. Small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, these small- and mid-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets, and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. These companies may experience higher growth rates and higher interest rates than larger capitalization companies. Therefore, small- and mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Small cap securities may be traded over the counter or listed on an exchange and it may be harder to sell the smallest capitalization company stocks, which can reduce their selling prices. Smaller capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans that have a floating interest rate.

South Korea Risk. To the extent a Fund invests in investments located in South Korea, the Fund will be susceptible to adverse market, political, regulatory and geographic events affecting South Korea. The South Korean economy is dependent on the economies of other Asian countries, especially China and Southeast Asia, and the United States as key trading partners. Furthermore, South Korea’s economy may be significantly affected by currency fluctuations and increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies. Also, tensions with North Korea could escalate and lead to further uncertainty in the political and economic climate of South Korea.

Taiwan Risk. The economy of Taiwan is heavily dependent on exports. Currency fluctuations, increasing competition from Asia’s other emerge economies, and conditions that weaken demand for Taiwan’s export products worldwide could have a negative impact on the Taiwanese economy as a whole, and may impact a Fund’s performance to the extent the Fund invests in such securities. Additionally, a disruption in Taiwan’s exports could also result in broader negative economic impacts with respect to those industries and countries that rely upon them. Concerns over Taiwan’s history of political contention and its current relationship with China may also have a significant impact on the economy of Taiwan.

 

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United Kingdom Investments Risk. The United Kingdom has one of the largest economies in Europe and is heavily dependent on trade with the European Union, and to a lesser extent the United States and China. As a result, the British economy may be impacted by changes to the economic condition of the United States, China and other European countries. The British economy relies heavily on the export of financial services to the United States and other European countries and, therefore, a prolonged slowdown in the financial services sector may have a negative impact on the British economy, as well as on a Fund, to the extent the Fund invests in investments located in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the United Kingdom voted via referendum to leave the European Union (“Brexit”). After years of negotiations, a trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union became effective on January 1, 2021. The impact of Brexit on the economies of the United Kingdom and its trading partners is still uncertain.

Value Investing Risk. Value securities are securities of companies that may have experienced adverse business, industry, or other developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused the securities to be out of favor and, in turn, potentially undervalued. It may take longer than expected for the value of such securities to rise to the anticipated value, or the value may never do so.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

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

PRIOR RELATED PERFORMANCE

The following tables set forth historical performance information for the [separate accounts] (the “Composite”) that have substantially similar investment objectives, policies and strategies as the [TSW Emerging Markets Fund] and the [TSW High Yield Bond Fund]. Each Composite consists of a separate account managed by Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC (“TSW”).

The Composite data is provided to illustrate the past performance of a substantially similar account as measured against a specified market index and does not represent the performance of the Funds. The Composite is separate and distinct from each Fund; the performance of the composite is not intended as a substitute for a Fund’s performance and should not be considered a prediction of the future performance of a Fund or of TSW.

The Composites’ performance data shown below was calculated in accordance with recognized industry standards, consistently applied to all time periods. All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis, and assume the reinvestment of dividends, capital gains and other earnings. All returns are net of trading costs, without provision for U.S. federal or state income taxes. “Net of Fees” figures also reflect the deduction of all fees applicable to the account in the composite including a bundled fee (which includes all effective charges for management fees, custody and other administrative fees) and performance fees.

Securities transactions are accounted for on trade date and accrual accounting is utilized. Cash and equivalents are included in performance returns. Monthly returns of the Composite combine the individual account’s returns by asset-weighting the account’s asset value as of the last trading day of the month. Monthly returns are linked together in order to calculate annual returns. Performance information shown below was calculated differently than the methodology mandated by the SEC for registered investment companies.

The accounts that are included in the Composite may not be subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions and investment limitations imposed on the Funds by the Investment Company Act of 1940 or Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite would have been less favorable had the underlying account been subject to the same expenses as the respective Fund and may have been less favorable had it been regulated as an investment company under the federal securities laws. The expenses used in the Composite are lower than those used in each Fund.

The returns set forth below may not be representative of the results that may be achieved by a Fund in the future, in part because the past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. In addition, the results presented below may not necessarily equate with the return experienced by any particular investor as a result of the timing of investments and redemptions, market conditions and other factors. The effect of taxes on any investor will depend on such person’s tax status, and the results have not been reduced to reflect any income tax that may have been payable.

The tables below shows the annual total returns for the Composite, and a broad-based securities market index for periods ended December 31.

 

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TSW’s Prior Performance of a Similar Account Relating to TSW Emerging Markets Fund

 

Average Annual Total Returns

(for the periods ended December 31)

   Past 1 Year      Past 5 Years      Since
Inception ( )
 

[ ] Composite (Net of Fees)

        

[ ] Composite (Gross of Fees)

        

Index

        

TSW’s Prior Performance of a Similar Account Relating to TSW High Yield Bond Fund

 

Average Annual Total Returns

(for the periods ended December 31)

   Past 1 Year      Past 5 Years      Since
Inception ( )
 

[ ] Composite (Net of Fees)

        

[ ] Composite (Gross of Fees)

        

Index

        

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Investment Adviser

JOHCM (USA) Inc. (“JOHCM USA” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. Its principal place of business is 53 State Street, 13th Floor Boston, MA, 02109. JOHCM USA is wholly owned by J O Hambro Capital Management Limited (together with JOHCM USA, “JOHCM”), which is organized under the laws of England and Wales. The Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC in the U.S. under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. As adviser to the Funds, subject to the Board of Trustees’ supervision, JOHCM USA continuously reviews, supervises, and administers each Fund’s investment program. JOHCM USA also ensures compliance with each Fund’s investment policies and guidelines. For its services, the Adviser is entitled to a management fee, as set forth below, which is calculated daily and paid monthly based on the average daily net assets of each Fund. As of December 31, 2020, JOHCM USA had approximately $2.5 billion in assets under management.

Under the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is paid an annual management fee from each Fund as follows:

 

[Fund   

Management Fee (as percentage of average daily net

assets)

 

TSW Emerging Markets Fund

  

TSW High Yield Bond Fund

  

TSW Large Cap Value Fund

     ]  

Disclosure regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Adviser and each of the Funds will be available in the Funds’ first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders following each Fund’s commencement of operations.

Subadviser

Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 6641 W. Broad Street, Suite 600, Richmond, Virginia 23230, serves as each Fund’s subadviser. The Subadviser manages and supervises the investment of the Funds’ assets on a discretionary basis, subject to oversight by the Board. The Subadviser has provided investment management services to corporations, pensions and profit-sharing plans, 401(k) and thrift plans, trusts, estates and other institutions and individuals since 1970. The Subadviser is an indirect subsidiary of BrightSphere Investment Group Inc., a NYSE listed company. As of December 31, 2020, the Subadviser had approximately $22.3 billion in assets under management. The Adviser pays the Subadviser an annual management fee equal to [ ]% of the average daily net assets of the Funds.

Portfolio Management

The Funds are managed using a team-based approach. Each of the Funds is managed by one or more investment professionals and may be supported by analysts. The members of the Funds’ management teams, and the name of the Fund for which each team member is responsible, are listed below.

 

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Elliott W. Jones, CFA

Portfolio Manager

TSW Emerging Markets Fund

Elliott W. Jones, CFA is the Portfolio Manager for the Emerging Markets team. Elliott joined TSW as a research associate in 2012. He has been dedicated to non-U.S. strategies as a research analyst since 2015.

Elliott is a graduate of University of North Carolina, BA and Wake Forest University, MA. He previously worked for Union First Market Bank as a Financial Services Advisor. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

C. Will Halladay

Research Analyst

TSW Emerging Markets Fund

C. Will Halladay is a dedicated Research Analyst for the Emerging Markets team.

Will is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He previously worked for Markel Corporation as a Financial Analyst.

William M. Bellamy, CFA

Portfolio Manager

TSW High Yield Bond Fund

William M. Bellamy, CFA is the Director of Income Strategies and is responsible for overseeing all fixed income management at the firm. He is the Portfolio Manager for TSW’s Multi-Asset Income and Core Plus strategies.

William began his career in the investment industry in 1987. Prior to joining TSW in 2002, he was a Portfolio Manager at Trusco Capital Management managing total return oriented institutional accounts. Previously, William was a Vice President of Institutional Fixed Income for First Union Capital Markets and Clayton Brown & Associates, after beginning his career in Institutional Sales and Trading at Merrill Lynch. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, is a member the Richmond Society of Financial Analysts, and is registered as an Investment Adviser Representative.

Brett P. Hawkins, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

TSW Large Cap Value Fund

Brett P. Hawkins, CFA, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Portfolio Manager, is jointly and primarily responsible for managing the Fund. Brett also is a Co-Portfolio Manager for TSW’s Mid Cap Value strategy and a Portfolio Manager for TSW’s SMID Cap Value strategy. He joined TSW in 2001 and has over 28 years of investment experience. Prior to joining TSW, Brett was an Assistant Vice President of Equity Research with First Union Securities and previously worked at Arthur Andersen LLP as an Audit and Business Advisory Senior Associate. Brett graduated from the University of Richmond and received his MBA from the University of Virginia, Darden School.

Bryan F. Durand, CFA

Co-Portfolio Manager

TSW Large Cap Value Fund

Bryan F. Durand, CFA, Co-Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, is jointly responsible for managing the Fund. Bryan initially joined the Adviser in 2005 as an Equity Research Analyst and served in that role until 2008. He then served as a Senior Research Analyst at MFC Global Investment Management from 2008-2010 and a Partner at Private Advisors, LLC from 2010-August 2017 before rejoining the Adviser in his current role in September 2017. Bryan graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and received his MBA from Duke University, Fuqua School of Business.

The SAI provides information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of Fund shares.

 

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Participating Affiliate Arrangements

JOHCM USA has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with its United Kingdom-based affiliate, J O Hambro Capital Management Limited, and with its Singapore-based affiliate, JOHCM (Singapore) Pte. Limited (“JOH Singapore”). Pursuant to this arrangement, certain employees of J O Hambro Capital Management Limited and JOH Singapore, as “participating affiliates,” serve as “associated persons” of JOHCM USA and, in this capacity, are subject to the oversight of JOHCM USA and its Chief Compliance Officer. These associated persons will, on behalf of JOHCM USA, provide discretionary investment management services (including acting as portfolio managers), research and related services to the Funds in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in the Prospectus and SAI. The personnel-sharing arrangement is based on no-action letters of the staff of the SEC that permit SEC-registered investment advisers to rely on and use the resources of advisory affiliates, subject to certain conditions. While J O Hambro Capital Management Limited is currently registered as an investment adviser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), while acting as a participating affiliate of JOHCM USA, its associated persons will be subject to the policies and procedures of JOHCM USA. J O Hambro Capital Management Limited may in the future deregister as an investment adviser in the US, but such deregistration would not affect the participating affiliate arrangement through which it provides services to the Funds. JOH Singapore is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.

In addition, trading personnel will be shared across the affiliates referenced above, and execution of trades may be done by personnel employed by these affiliated entities, in each case subject to the participating affiliate arrangements described above. JOHCM USA expects to execute a substantial portion of each fund in the JOHCM Funds Trust’s (each a “JOHCM Fund”) trading orders through personnel and systems housed at J O Hambro Capital Management Limited in the United Kingdom. The Adviser expects to utilize this arrangement for JOHCM Funds which are otherwise managed by portfolio management teams based in the United States.

Administrator, Transfer Agent, Custodian, and Distributor

The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, serves as the Funds’ Administrator and Fund Accounting Agent, Transfer Agent, and Custodian. The Funds intend to enter into a distribution agreement with Foreside Fund Partners, LLC (to be renamed JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC) (the “Distributor”), 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, to distribute shares of the Funds.

YOUR ACCOUNT

Pricing Your Shares

When you buy and sell shares of a Fund, the price of the shares is based on the Fund’s net asset value per share (“NAV”) next determined after the order is received.

Calculating the Fund’s NAV

The NAV is calculated at the close of trading of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (“ET”)/3:00 p.m. Central time (“CT”), on each day that the NYSE is open for business. The NYSE is closed on the following days: Saturdays and Sundays; U.S. national holidays including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Your order to purchase or sell shares is priced at the next NAV calculated after your order is received in good order by the Fund or a financial intermediary. Only purchase orders received in good order by the Funds before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT will be effective at that day’s NAV. On occasion, the NYSE will close before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT. When that happens, purchase requests received by the Funds or a financial intermediary after the NYSE closes will be effective the following Business Day. The NAV of a Fund may change every day.

A purchase, redemption, or exchange request is considered to be “in good order” when all necessary information is provided and all required documents are properly completed, signed, and delivered. Requests must include the following:

 

   

The account number (if issued) and Fund name;

 

   

The amount of the transaction, in dollar amount or number of shares;

 

   

For redemptions and exchanges (other than telephone or wire redemptions), the signature of all account owners exactly as they are registered on the account;

 

   

Required signature guarantees, if applicable; and

 

   

Other supporting legal documents and certified resolutions that might be required in the case of estates, corporations, trusts and other entities or forms of ownership. Call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 for more information about documentation that may be required of these entities.

 

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Additionally, a purchase order initiating the opening of an account is not considered to be in “good order” unless you have provided all information required by the Funds’ “Customer Identification Program” as described below.

Valuing the Funds’ Assets

The market value of a Fund’s investments is determined primarily on the basis of readily available market quotations. Each Fund generally uses pricing services to determine the market value of securities. Foreign securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar as provided by an approved independent pricing service.

If market quotations for a security are not available or market quotations or a price provided by a pricing service do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading on the domestic or foreign exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the Fair Value Committee, established by the Board of Trustees, will value a Fund’s assets at their fair value according to policies approved by the Board of Trustees. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before a Fund calculates its NAV, the Fair Value Committee may need to price the security using the Funds’ fair value pricing guidelines.

In addition, fair value pricing may be used if events materially affecting the value of foreign securities occur between the time when the exchange on which they are traded closes and the time when the NAV is calculated. The Fund identifies possible fluctuations in international securities by monitoring the increase or decrease in the value of a designated benchmark index. In the event of an increase or decrease greater than predetermined levels, a Fund may use a systematic valuation model provided by an independent third-party pricing service to fair value its international equity securities.

Without a fair value price, short-term investors could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long-term investors. Foreign markets in which a Fund buys securities may be open on days the U.S. markets are closed, causing a Fund’s NAV to change even though the Fund is closed. While fair valuation of a Fund’s portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities, there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the NAV by short-term investors. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may differ materially from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security.

How to Purchase Shares

Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States. This prospectus is not intended for distribution to prospective investors outside of the United States. The Funds generally do not market or sell shares to investors domiciled outside of the United States, even if the investors are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States. Any non-U.S. shareholders generally would be subject to U.S. tax withholding on distributions by the Funds. This prospectus does not address in detail the tax consequences affecting any shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual or a non-U.S. trust or estate, corporation, or partnership. Investment in the Funds by non-U.S. investors may be permitted on a case-by-case basis, at the sole discretion of the Funds.

You may purchase shares directly from the Funds or through your broker or financial intermediary on any Business Day which the Funds are open, subject to certain restrictions described below. Purchase requests received in good order by the Funds or a financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (or before the close of the NYSE) will be effective at that day’s share price. Purchase requests received in good order by the Funds or a financial intermediary after the close of trading on the NYSE are processed at the share price determined on the following Business Day. You may invest any amount you choose, as often as you wish, subject to the minimum initial and minimum additional investment as stated in this prospectus. The Funds may accept initial investments smaller than the minimum initial investment amounts from eligible retirement account investors and in connection with the Funds’ participation in third-party distribution platforms and in certain other instances at their discretion.

 

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Share Classes

The Funds offer multiple share classes. Each Fund offers four classes of shares through this Prospectus: Institutional, Advisor, Investor and Z Shares. Each class of shares of each Fund has the same investment objective and investments, but the different share classes have different expense structures and eligibility requirements. Your financial intermediary can help you determine which share class to purchase. You should choose a share class for which you are eligible, with the expense structure that best meets your needs.

The principal differences among the classes are as follows:

 

     Institutional      Advisor     Investor     Class Z  

Minimum Initial Investment

   $ 1,000,000        None       None     $ 10,000,000  

Minimum Subsequent Investment

     None        None       None       None  

Sub- Accounting/Sub- Transfer Agency Expenses

    















Yes. Expenses
may vary
depending on
the
arrangements
with financial
intermediaries
that offer
Fund shares.
Expenses are
incurred
pursuant to
“fee for
service”
arrangements
with financial
intermediaries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     None       None       None  

Distribution (Rule 12b-1) Fees

     None        0.10     0.25     None  

Sales Charge (Load)

     None        None       None       None  

Redemption Fees

     None        None       None       None  

Institutional Shares of the Funds are primarily for institutional investors investing for their own or their customers’ accounts, and for investments made though financial institutions or intermediaries that typically require sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, shareholder services payments and/or recordkeeping payments from the Fund for some or all of their underlying investors (“sub-transfer agency fees”). Institutional Shares are expected to bear certain expenses associated with sub-transfer agency fees, which amounts may vary between the Funds. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Shares is $1,000,000. If you purchase Institutional Shares, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase and you will not pay a 12b-1 fee. The Adviser, and, from time to time, affiliates of the Adviser may also, at their own expense and out of their own resources, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds.

Your financial intermediary can help you determine whether you are eligible to purchase Institutional Shares. Eligible Institutional Share investors primarily include:

 

   

individuals and institutional investors with a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000;

 

   

employer sponsored retirement plans, pooled investment vehicles, clients of financial institutions or intermediaries which charge such clients a fee for advisory, investment consulting, or similar services or have entered into an agreement with the Funds or the Distributor to offer such shares though an investment platform;

 

   

clients of trust companies where the trust company is acting in fiduciary capacity, as agent, or as custodian.

 

   

investors through certain brokerage platforms in which an investor transacting through a broker may be required to pay commission and/or other forms of compensation to the broker;

 

29


   

officers, trustees, and employees, and their immediate family members (i.e., spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and any dependent of the person, as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), of the Funds and the Adviser, and its subsidiaries and affiliates;

 

   

Any trust or plan established as part of a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Code, if a contract exists between the Distributor and/or its affiliates and the state sponsor of the program or one of its service providers, to provide the program:

 

   

services relating to operating the program; and/or

 

   

Fund shares for purchase which require sub-transfer agency fees from the Fund.

 

   

Advisory programs where the shares are acquired on behalf of program participants in connection with a comprehensive fee or other advisory fee arrangement between the program participant and a registered broker dealer or investment adviser, trust company, bank, family office, or multi-family office (referred to as the “Sponsor”) on behalf of program participants if:

 

   

the program participant pays the Sponsor a fee for investment advisory or related services, under a comprehensive fee or other advisory fee arrangement; and

 

   

the Sponsor or the broker-dealer through which the Fund’s shares are acquired has an agreement with the Distributor.

 

   

Other investors for which the Fund or the Distributor has pre-approved the purchase.

Advisor Shares of the Funds are primarily for certain individual investors, investments made through financial institutions or intermediaries and institutional investors investing for their own or their customers’ accounts. There is no minimum investment amount required for Advisor Shares. If you purchase Advisor Shares of the Funds, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase or sub-transfer agency fees, but you will pay a 12b-1 fee not exceeding ten basis points (0.10%) of each Fund’s average daily net assets. Your financial intermediary can help you determine if you are eligible to purchase Advisor shares. The Adviser, and, from time to time, affiliates of the Adviser may also, at their own expense and out of their own resources, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds.

Investor Shares of the Funds are primarily for certain individual investors and investments made through financial institutions or intermediaries. There is no minimum investment amount required for Investor Shares. If you purchase Investor Shares of the Funds, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase or sub-transfer agency fees, but you will pay a 12b-1 fee not exceeding twenty-five basis points (0.25%) of a Fund’s average daily net assets. Your financial intermediary can help you determine if you are eligible to purchase Investor shares. The Adviser, and, from time to time, affiliates of the Adviser may also, at their own expense and out of their own resources, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds.

Class Z Shares of the Funds require a minimum initial investment of $10,000,000. If you purchase Class Z Shares, you will not pay a sales charge at the time of purchase, a 12b-1 fee or sub-transfer agency fee. The Adviser, and, from time to time, affiliates of the Adviser may also, at their own expense and out of their own resources, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Funds.

The following categories of investors and accounts may buy Class Z Shares of each Fund, provided that they do not require or receive sub-accounting or recordkeeping payments from the Fund:

 

   

Institutional investors, including, but not limited to, employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs or SARSEPs), endowments, foundations, insurance company general accounts, insurance company separate accounts, local, city, and state governmental institutions, and other tax-exempt entities that meet the requirements for qualification under Section 501 of the Code.

 

   

Unaffiliated U.S. registered mutual funds including those that operate as “fund of funds,” collective trust funds, investment companies or other pooled investment vehicles.

 

   

Other investors for which the Fund or the Adviser has pre-approved the purchase.

The following categories of investors and accounts qualify to buy Class Z Shares of each Fund but the $10 million investment minimum is waived:

 

   

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (not including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs or SARSEPs) that invest through a record-keeper or third party retirement platform.

 

30


   

Advisory programs where the shares are acquired on behalf of program participants in connection with a comprehensive fee or other advisory fee arrangement between the program participant and a registered broker dealer or investment adviser, trust company, bank, family office, or multi-family office (referred to as the “Sponsor”) on behalf of program participants if:

 

   

the program participant pays the Sponsor a fee for investment advisory or related services, under a comprehensive fee or other advisory fee arrangement; and

 

   

the Sponsor or the broker-dealer through which the Fund’s shares are acquired has an agreement with the Distributor.

 

   

Any trust or plan established as part of a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Code, if a contract exists between the Distributor and/or its affiliates and the state sponsor of the program or one of its service providers, to provide the program:

 

   

services relating to operating the program; and/or

 

   

Fund shares for purchase which require sub-transfer agency fees from the Fund.

 

   

Clients (other than defined contribution employer sponsored retirement plans) of an institutional consultant where (a) the consultant has undertaken to provide certain services directly to the client with respect to the client’s investment in the Fund and (b) the Fund or the Distributor has notified that consultant in writing that the proposed investment is permissible.

 

   

Investment companies or other pooled vehicles that are managed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

   

Officers, trustees, and employees, and their immediate family members (i.e., spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, and any dependent of the person, as defined in Section 152 of the Code, of the Funds and the Adviser, and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

   

Existing institutional separate account clients of the Adviser or its affiliates.

 

   

Investors for whom the Fund or the Adviser determines that a strategic reason exists for such a waiver.

 

   

Investors with an account which the Fund or the Adviser believes will grow to meet the investment minimum in the future.

The Funds reserve the right to modify or waive the eligibility requirements and investment minimums at any time.

Customer Identification Program: Important Information About Procedures for Opening an Account

Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open an account, the Funds will ask for your name, residential address, date of birth, government identification number, and other information that will allow us to identify you. For legal entity customers, we will also ask that any individual(s) who, directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the entity and one individual who has significant responsibility to control, manage, or direct the legal entity be identified. The Funds also may ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents.

If we do not receive the required information, there may be a delay in processing your investment request, which could subject your investment to market risk. If we are unable to immediately verify your identity, the Funds may restrict further investment until your identity is verified. Once the Funds are able to verify your identity, your investment will be accepted and processed at the next determined NAV. However, if we are unable to verify your identity, each Fund reserves the right to close your account without notice and return your investment to you at the NAV determined on the day in which your account is liquidated. If we close your account because we are unable to verify your identity, your investment will be subject to market fluctuation, which could result in a loss of a portion of your principal investment. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authorities, the Funds may be required by the authorities to withhold the proceeds.

 

31


Purchases Through Financial Intermediaries

You may make initial and subsequent purchases of shares of the Funds through a financial intermediary, such as an investment adviser or broker-dealer, bank, or other financial institution that purchases shares for its customers. The Funds may authorize certain financial intermediaries to receive purchase and sale orders on its behalf. Before investing in the Funds through a financial intermediary, you should read carefully any materials provided by the intermediary together with this prospectus.

When shares are purchased this way, the financial intermediary may:

 

   

charge a fee for its services;

 

   

act as the shareholder of record of the shares;

 

   

set different minimum initial and additional investment requirements;

 

   

impose other charges, commissions, or restrictions;

 

   

designate intermediaries to accept purchase and sale orders on the Funds’ behalf; or

 

   

impose an earlier cut-off time for purchase and redemption requests.

Each Fund considers a purchase or sale order as received when a financial intermediary receives the order in proper form before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (or before the NYSE closes, if it closes before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT). These orders will be priced based on the Fund’s NAV next computed after such order is received by the financial intermediary.

Shares held through an intermediary may be transferred into your name following procedures established by your intermediary and the Funds. Certain intermediaries may receive compensation from the Funds, the Adviser, or their affiliates.

Compensation to Financial Intermediaries

It is expected that Institutional Class, Advisor Class, Investor Class and Class Z shares of the Funds will make payments, or reimburse the Adviser or its affiliates for payments they make, to financial intermediaries that provide certain administrative, recordkeeping, and account maintenance services (sometimes referred to as “sub-transfer agency” or “sub-TA” services). The amount of such payments and/or reimbursement is subject to the caps established by the Board and is reviewed by the Trustees periodically.

Although the nature and extent of sub-transfer agency services provided to shareholders and the amount of sub-transfer agency fees charged to each class will vary among financial intermediaries, Institutional Class, Advisor Class, Investor Class and Class Z each bear sub-accounting expenses on a class-wide basis. This means that the sub-transfer agency fees you bear as a Fund shareholder may be greater than the sub-transfer agency fees charged by your financial intermediary to the Fund with respect to your investment. Advisor Class and Investor Class may make sub-transfer agency payments out of amounts authorized under distribution plans to be adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The Adviser also may, at its own expense and out of its own profits, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries for sub-transfer agency services they provide to their clients or customers hold shares of the Fund. Payments generally are based on either: (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of clients serviced by such financial intermediary, or (2) the number of accounts serviced by such financial intermediary. These additional cash payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement.

Additional information concerning payments the Fund, the Adviser or their affiliates may make to financial intermediaries, and the services provided by financial intermediaries, can be found in the SAI under “Payments to Financial Intermediaries.”

Fund Direct Purchases

You also may open a shareholder account directly with the Funds. You can obtain a copy of the New Account Application by calling the Funds at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 on days the Funds are open for business. You may invest in the following ways:

By Wire

To Open a New Account:

 

   

Complete a New Account Application and send it to:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, IL 60680-4766

Telephone: 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913

 

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Overnight Address:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

333 South Wabash Avenue

Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38

Chicago, IL 60604

 

   

You must also call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 on days the Funds are open for business to place an initial purchase via phone or provide an initial purchase Letter of Instruction.

 

   

Wire funds for your purchase. A wire will be considered made when the money is received and the purchase is accepted by the Funds. Any delays that may occur in receiving money, including delays that may occur in processing by the bank, are not the responsibility of the Funds or the Transfer Agent. Wires must be received prior to 4:00 pm ET to receive the current day’s NAV.

To Add to an Existing Account:

 

   

Call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 on days the Funds are open for business or provide a subsequent purchase Letter of Instruction.

 

   

Have your bank wire federal funds or effect an ACH transfer to:

The Northern Trust Company

Chicago, Illinois

ABA Routing No. 0710-00152

Northern Trust Account #5201682900

Shareholder Account #JOH1056    (ex. JOH10561234567)

Shareholder Name:

By Directed Reinvestment

Your dividend and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested unless you indicate otherwise on your application.

 

   

Complete the “Choose Your Dividend and Capital Gain Distributions” section on the New Account Application.

 

   

Reinvestments can only be directed to an existing Fund account.

Other Purchase Information

The Funds reserve the right to limit the amount of purchases and to refuse to sell to any person or intermediary. If your wire does not clear, you will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Fund. If you are already a Fund shareholder, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares from any identically registered account in the Fund as reimbursement for any loss incurred or money owed to the Fund. You also may be prohibited or restricted from making future purchases in the Funds.

 

33


Lost Shareholders, Inactive Accounts, and Unclaimed Property

It is important that the Funds maintain a correct address for each shareholder. An incorrect address may cause a shareholder’s account statements and other mailings to be returned to the Funds. Based upon statutory requirements for returned mail, the Funds will attempt to locate the shareholder or rightful owner of the account. If the Funds are unable to locate the shareholder, then they will determine whether the shareholder’s account can legally be considered abandoned. Your mutual fund account may be transferred to the state government of your state of residence if no activity occurs within your account during the “inactivity period” specified in your state’s abandoned property laws. The Funds are legally obligated to escheat (or transfer) abandoned property to the appropriate state’s unclaimed property administrator in accordance with statutory requirements. The shareholder’s last known address of record determines which state has jurisdiction. Please proactively contact the Transfer Agent at 1-866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 at least annually to ensure your account remains in active status.

If you are a resident of the state of Texas, you may designate a representative to receive notifications that, due to inactivity, your mutual fund account assets may be delivered to the Texas Comptroller. Please contact the Transfer Agent if you wish to complete a Texas Designation of Representative form.

How to Redeem Shares

You may redeem all or part of your investment in a Fund on any day that the Fund is open for business, subject to certain restrictions described below. Redemption requests received by the Fund or a financial intermediary before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT (or before the NYSE closes if it closes before 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT) will be effective that day. Redemption requests received by the Funds or a financial intermediary after the close of trading on the NYSE are processed at the NAV determined on the following Business Day.

The price you will receive when you redeem your shares will be the NAV next determined after the Funds receive your properly completed order to sell. You may receive proceeds from the sale by check, bank wire transfer, or direct deposit into your bank account and in certain cases, payment may be made in securities of a Fund as described in “Additional Information About Redemptions”. Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of a fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above, and may also be used in stressed market conditions. Redemption-in-kind proceeds are limited to securities that are traded on a public securities market or are limited to securities for which quoted bid and ask prices are available. They are distributed based on a weighted-average pro-rata basis of a Fund’s holdings to the redeeming shareholder. Each Fund typically expects that it will take one to three days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds; however, while not expected, payment of redemption proceeds may take up to seven days. The proceeds may be more or less than the purchase price of your shares, depending on the market value of the Fund’s securities at the time your redemption request is received. A financial intermediary may charge a transaction fee to redeem shares. In the event that a wire transfer is impossible or impractical, the redemption check will be sent by mail to the designated account. The Funds typically expect to hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. A Fund also may use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the Fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in stressed market conditions. The Funds have in place a line of credit that may be used to meet redemption requests during stressed market conditions.

Redemptions Through a Financial Intermediary

If you purchased shares from a financial intermediary, you may sell (redeem) shares by contacting your financial intermediary.

Redeeming Directly from the Fund

If you purchased shares directly from the Funds and you appear on Fund records as the registered holder, you may redeem all or part of your shares using one of the methods described below.

By Mail

 

   

Send a written request to:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766

 

34


Overnight Address:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

333 South Wabash Avenue

Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38

Chicago, IL 60604

 

   

The redemption request must include:

 

  1.

The number of shares or the dollar amount to be redeemed;

 

  2.

The Fund account number; and

 

  3.

The signatures of all account owners signed in the exact name(s) and any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

   

A Medallion Signature Guarantee (see below) also is required if:

 

  1.

The proceeds are to be sent elsewhere than the address of record, or

 

  2.

The redemption is requested in writing and the amount is greater than $100,000.

By Wire

If you authorized wire redemptions on your New Account Application, you can redeem shares and have the proceeds sent by federal wire transfer to a previously designated account.

 

   

Call the Transfer Agent at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 for instructions.

 

   

The minimum amount that may be redeemed by this method is $250.

By Telephone

Telephone privileges are automatically established on your account unless you indicate otherwise on your New Account Application.

 

   

Call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 to use the telephone privilege.

 

   

If your account is already opened and you wish to add the telephone privilege, send a written request to:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766

Overnight Address:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

333 South Wabash Avenue

Attn: Funds Center, Floor 38

Chicago, IL 60604

 

   

The written request to add the telephone privilege must be signed by each owner of the account and must be accompanied by signature guarantees.

Neither the Funds, the Transfer Agent, nor their respective affiliates will be liable for complying with telephone instructions that they reasonably believe to be genuine or for any loss, damage, cost, or expenses in acting on such telephone instructions. You will bear the risk of any such loss. The Funds, the Transfer Agent, or both, will employ reasonable procedures to determine that telephone instructions are genuine. If the Funds and/or the Transfer Agent do not employ such procedures, they may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Such procedures may include, among others, requiring forms of personal identification before acting upon telephone instructions, providing written confirmation of the transactions, and/or digitally recording telephone instructions. The Funds may terminate the telephone procedures at any time. During periods of extreme market activity it is possible that you may encounter some difficulty in telephoning us. If you are unable to reach us by telephone, you may request a sale by mail.

 

35


Medallion Signature Guarantee

Some circumstances require that your request to redeem shares be made in writing accompanied by an original Medallion Signature Guarantee. A Medallion Signature Guarantee helps protect you against fraud. You can obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee from most banks or securities dealers, but not from a notary public. You should verify with the institution that it is an eligible guarantor prior to signing. The recognized medallion program is Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program. SIGNATURE GUARANTEES RECEIVED FROM INSTITUTIONS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The Medallion Signature Guarantee must cover the amount of the requested transaction. There are several different guarantee amounts, so it is important to acquire a guarantee amount equal to or greater than the amount of the transaction. If the surety bond of the Medallion Guarantee is less than the transaction amount, your request may be rejected.

An original Medallion Signature Guarantee is required if any of the following applies:

 

   

the redemption is requested in writing and the amount redeemed is greater than $100,000;

 

   

the name(s) or the address on your account or the name or address of a payee has been changed within 30 days of your redemption request;

 

   

information on your investment application has been changed within the last 30 days (including a change in your name or your address);

 

   

proceeds or shares are being sent/transferred from a joint account to an individual’s account; or

 

   

proceeds are being sent via wire or ACH and bank instructions have been added or changed within 30 days of your redemption request.

If your written request is for redemption greater than $5 million, call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 for Medallion Signature Guarantee requirements.

Additional Information About Redemptions

The Funds typically expect that they will pay redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of a proper redemption request although proceeds normally are paid within three (3) Business Days. If you are redeeming shares that have been purchased via ACH, the Funds may hold redemption proceeds until the purchase amount has been collected, which may be as long as five (5) Business Days after purchase date. For shares recently purchased by check, redemption proceeds may not be available until the check has cleared which may take up to five (5) days for the date of purchase. To eliminate this delay, you may purchase shares of a Fund by wire. Also, when the NYSE is closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing or under any emergency circumstances, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may suspend redemptions or postpone payment of redemption proceeds. The Funds typically expect to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any lines of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in both regular and stressed market conditions.

At the discretion of the Funds or the Transfer Agent, corporate investors and other associations may be required to furnish an appropriate certification authorizing redemptions to ensure proper authorization.

Generally, all redemptions will be for cash. However, if you redeem shares worth over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the NAV of a Fund, the Fund reserves the right to pay part or all of your redemption proceeds in readily marketable securities instead of cash at the discretion of the Fund. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any securities distributed in lieu of cash and will bear market rate until the security is sold. If payment is made in securities, the Fund will value the securities selected in the same manner in which it computes its NAV. This process minimizes the effect of large redemptions on a Fund and its remaining shareholders. As with any security, a shareholder will bear taxes on any capital gains from the sale of a security received in a redemption in kind.

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

If your account balance drops below $1,000,000 in the case of Institutional Shares, $25,000 in the case of Advisor Shares, $2,000 in the case of Investor Shares, or $10,000,000 in the case of Class Z Shares because of redemptions you may be required to sell your shares. The Funds will provide you at least thirty (30) days’ written notice to give you sufficient time to add to your account and avoid the sale of your shares.

 

36


How to Exchange Shares

You may exchange your shares for the same share class of another JOHCM Fund on any Business Day by contacting the Funds directly by mail or telephone by calling 1-866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913. The exchange privilege may be changed or canceled at any time upon sixty (60) days’ written notice.

You may also exchange your shares of one class of a JOHCM Fund for shares of another class of the same JOHCM Fund, provided that you qualify as an eligible investor for the requested class at the time of the exchange. Investors are responsible for initiating an exchange request and all exchanges are subject to meeting any investment minimum or eligibility requirements. If you hold shares through a financial intermediary, your financial intermediary also may initiate an exchange between share classes in certain circumstances. You should consult your financial intermediary for details and read carefully any materials provided by the intermediary along with this prospectus. The JOHCM Funds do not charge a fee for this privilege.

The JOHCM Funds reserve the right to eliminate this exchange privilege at any time at its discretion and may refuse exchanges by any person or group if, in the JOHCM Funds’ judgment, the JOHCM Funds would potentially be adversely affected. Before making an exchange request, you should read the prospectus carefully, particularly since fees and expenses differ from one class to another. An exchange between classes of shares of the same JOHCM Fund is generally not taxable for federal income tax purposes. Investors could realize a taxable gain or loss when exchanging shares of on JOHCM Fund for shares of another JOHCM Fund. The JOHCM Funds do not provide tax advice; you should consult your own tax advisor. If you are exchanging between accounts that are not registered in the same name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN), there may be additional requirements.

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Funds may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Funds. For more information about the Funds’ policy on excessive trading, see “Market Timing Policy” below.

Market Timing Policy

Each Fund is intended to be a long-term investment. Excessive purchases and redemptions of shares of a Fund in an effort to take advantage of short-term market fluctuations, known as “market timing,” can interfere with long-term or efficient portfolio management strategies and increase the expenses of the Fund, to the detriment of long-term investors. Because each Fund invests its assets in foreign securities, investors may seek to take advantage of time zone differences between the foreign markets on which a Fund’s portfolio securities trade and the time at which the NAV is calculated. For example, a market-timer may purchase shares of a Fund based on events occurring after foreign market closing prices are established but before the NAV calculation, that are likely to result in higher prices in foreign markets the next day. The market-timer would then redeem the Fund’s shares the next day when a Fund’s share price would reflect the increased prices in foreign markets, realizing a quick profit at the expense of long-term Fund shareholders.

Excessive short-term trading may: (1) require a Fund to sell securities in the Fund’s portfolio at inopportune times to fund redemption payments, (2) dilute the value of shares held by long-term shareholders, (3) cause a Fund to maintain a larger cash position than would otherwise be necessary, (4) increase brokerage commissions and related costs and expenses, and (5) generate additional tax liability. Accordingly, the Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that seek to restrict market timing activity. Under these policies, the Funds periodically examine transactions that exceed monetary thresholds or numerical limits within certain time periods. If a Fund believes, in its sole discretion, that an investor is engaged in excessive short-term trading or is otherwise engaged in market timing activity, a Fund may, with or without prior notice to the investor, reject further purchase or exchange orders from that investor, and disclaim responsibility for any consequential losses that the investor may incur related to the rejected purchases. Alternatively, the Funds may limit the amount, number, or frequency of any future purchases or exchanges and/or the method by which an investor may request future purchases and redemptions. A Fund’s response to any particular market timing activity will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case, such as the extent and duration of the market timing activity and the investor’s trading history in the Fund. While the Funds cannot assure the prevention of all excessive trading and market timing, by making these judgments, the Funds believes it is acting in a manner that is in the best interests of shareholders.

Financial intermediaries may establish omnibus accounts with the Funds through which they place transactions for their customers. Omnibus accounts include multiple investors and typically provide the Funds with a net purchase or redemption. The identity of individual investors ordinarily are not known to or tracked by the Funds. The Funds will enter into information sharing agreements with certain financial intermediaries under which the financial intermediaries are obligated to: (1) enforce during the term of the agreement, a market-timing policy, the terms of which are acceptable to the Funds; (2) furnish the Funds, upon request, with information regarding customer trading activities in shares of the Funds; and (3) enforce the Funds’ market-timing policy with respect to customers identified by the Funds as having engaged in market timing.

 

37


The Funds apply these policies and procedures to all shareholders believed to be engaged in market timing or excessive trading. While the Funds may monitor transactions at the omnibus account level, the netting effect makes it more difficult to identify and eliminate market-timing activities in omnibus accounts. The Funds have no arrangements to permit any investor to trade frequently in shares of the Funds, nor will it enter into any such arrangements in the future.

Financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts with a Fund may impose market timing policies that are more restrictive than the market timing policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. For instance, these financial intermediaries may impose limits on the number of purchase and sale transactions that an investor may make over a set period of time and impose penalties for transactions in excess of those limits. Financial intermediaries also may exempt certain types of transactions from these limitations. If you purchased your shares through a financial intermediary, you should read carefully any materials provided by the financial intermediary together with this prospectus to fully understand the market timing policies applicable to you.

Distribution Plans

The Funds have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 that authorizes Advisor Class and Investor Class shares to pay distribution fees. Fees under the plan will not exceed 0.10% for Advisor shares and 0.25% for Investor shares. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Fund Policy

Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income as dividends to its shareholders on an annual basis. Each Fund intends to distribute its net realized long-term capital gains and its net realized short-term capital gains, if any, at least once a year. Each Fund may distribute income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund. The amount of any distribution varies and there is no guarantee a Fund will pay either income dividends or capital gain distributions.

Income dividends and capital gain distributions are automatically reinvested in additional shares of a Fund at the applicable NAV on the distribution date unless you request cash distributions on your application or through a written request. If cash payment is requested, a check normally will be mailed within five business days after the payable date.

Any undelivered checks or checks that are not cashed for six months may be deemed legally abandoned if an attempt to reach you to request a reissue of the check is not successful. The proceeds will then be escheated (transferred) to the appropriate state’s unclaimed property administration in accordance with statutory requirements.

TAXES

Distributions

The following information is provided to help you understand the federal income taxes you may have to pay on income dividends and capital gains distributions from a Fund, as well as on gains realized from your redemption of Fund shares. This discussion is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Funds.

Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code. By so qualifying, each Fund will not be subject to federal income taxes to the extent that it timely distributes all of its net investment income and any net realized capital gains.

For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income are taxable generally as ordinary income although certain distributions of qualified income paid to a non-corporate US shareholder may be subject to income tax at the applicable rate for long-term capital gain.

Distributions of net capital gains (that is, the excess of the net realized gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year over the net realized losses from investments that a Fund owned for one year or less) that are properly reported by a Fund as capital gain dividends will generally be taxable as long-term capital gain regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund.

 

38


Distributions of net realized short-term capital gain (that is, the excess of any net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss), if any, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Capital gain to a corporate shareholder is taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

If you are a taxable investor and invest in the Funds shortly before it makes a distribution, some of your investment may be returned to you in the form of a taxable distribution. Fund distributions will reduce the NAV per share. Therefore, if you buy shares after a Fund has experienced appreciation but before the record date of a distribution of those gains, you may pay the full price for the shares and then effectively receive a portion of the purchase price back as a taxable distribution. This is commonly known as “buying a dividend.”

Distributions from the Funds (both taxable income dividends and capital gains) are normally taxable to you as ordinary income or long-term capital gains, regardless of whether you reinvest these distributions or receive them in cash (unless you hold shares in a qualified tax-advantaged plan or account or are otherwise not subject to federal income tax). Due to the nature of the investment strategies used, distributions by a Fund generally are expected to consist primarily of income dividends and net realized capital gains; however, the nature of a Fund’s distributions could vary in any given year.

The Funds will mail to each shareholder after the close of the calendar year an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 1099 setting forth the federal income tax status of distributions made during the year. Income dividends and capital gains distributions also may be subject to state and local taxes.

Selling Shares

Selling, redeeming or exchanging your shares may result in a realized capital gain or loss, which is generally subject to federal income tax. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. For individuals, any long-term capital gains you realize from selling Fund shares currently are taxed at preferential income tax rates. Short-term capital gains are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. For shares acquired on or after January 1, 2012, the Funds (or relevant broker or financial adviser) are required to compute and report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information when such shares are sold or exchanged. The Funds have elected to use the average cost method, unless you instruct the Funds to use a different IRS accepted cost basis method, or choose to specifically identify your shares at the time of each sale or exchange. If your account is held by your broker or other financial adviser, they may select a different cost basis method. In these cases, please contact your broker or other financial adviser to obtain information with respect to the available methods and elections for your account. You should carefully review the cost basis information provided by the Funds and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on your federal and state income tax returns. Fund shareholders should consult with their tax advisers to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about how the cost basis reporting requirements apply to them.

Backup Withholding

By law, you may be subject to backup withholding on a portion of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds unless you provide your correct Social Security or taxpayer identification number and certify that: (1) this number is correct, (2) you are not subject to backup withholding, and (3) you are a U.S. person (including a US resident alien). You also may be subject to withholding if the IRS instructs the Funds to withhold a portion of your distributions or proceeds. You should be aware that the Funds may be fined by the IRS for each account for which a certified taxpayer identification number is not provided. In the event that such a fine is imposed with respect to a specific account in any year, the Funds may make a corresponding charge against the account.

Tax Status for Retirement Plans and Other Tax-Advantaged Accounts

When you invest in a Fund through a qualified employee benefit plan, retirement plan or some other tax-advantaged account, dividend and capital gain distributions generally are not subject to current federal income taxes. In general, these plans or accounts are governed by complex tax rules. You should ask your tax adviser or plan administrator for more information about your tax situation, including possible state or local taxes.

Medicare Tax

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax may be imposed on distributions you receive from a Fund and gains from selling, redeeming, or exchanging your shares.

 

39


SHAREHOLDER REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION

The Funds will send one copy of prospectuses and shareholder reports to households containing multiple shareholders with the same last name. This process, known as “householding,” reduces costs and provides a convenience to shareholders. If you share the same last name and address with another shareholder and you prefer to receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, call the Funds at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 and we will begin separate mailings to you within 30 days of your request. If you or others in your household invest in the Funds through a broker or other financial intermediary, you may receive separate prospectuses and shareholder reports, regardless of whether or not you have consented to householding on your investment application.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Financial information about the TSW Emerging Markets Fund and the TSW High Yield Bond Fund is not provided because the Funds are newly organized. The table that follows presents performance information about the Predecessor Fund to TSW Large Cap Value Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the Predecessor Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Predecessor Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the TSW Large Cap Value Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information provided below has been audited by BBD, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm whose report, along with the Predecessor Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Predecessor Fund’s Annual Report. You can obtain the Annual Report, which contains more performance information, at no charge by calling [1-866-4TSW-FUN.]

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios

For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

   

 

 
     2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

   $ 12.50     $ 13.69     $ 13.37     $ 13.11     $ 13.35  

Income from Operations:

          

Net Investment Income(1)

     0.08       0.22       0.07       0.07       0.06  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

     (0.58     0.39       1.35       1.56       0.55  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Operations

     (0.50     0.61       1.42       1.63       0.61  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends and Distributions:

          

Net Investment Income

     (0.10     (0.20     (0.07     (0.08     (0.07

Net Realized Gain

     (0.44     (1.60     (1.03     (1.29     (0.78

Total Dividends and Distributions

     (0.54     (1.80     (1.10     (1.37     (0.85
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redemption Fees(1)

     0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)      —         —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Year

   $ 11.46     $ 12.50     $ 13.69     $ 13.37     $ 13.11  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return

     (4.25 )%      6.38     11.03     13.32     4.88
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

40


Ratios and Supplemental Data:

          

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

   $ 30,593     $ 35,956     $ 41,099     $ 40,234     $ 41,584  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(3)

     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.20     1.50

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Reimbursements)

     1.88     1.74     1.68     1.63     1.62

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.70     1.78     0.54     0.56     0.49

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     64     46     60     40     66

 

 

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares. Had the Adviser not waived a portion of its expenses, total return would have been lower.

(1) 

Per share calculations were performed using average shares.

(2) 

Amount was less than $0.01 per share.

(3) 

The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets excludes the effect of fees paid indirectly. If these expense offsets were included, the ratio would have been the same as the ratio reported.

 

41


JOHCM Funds Trust

Notice of Privacy Policy & Practices

SAFEGUARDING PRIVACY

The Funds recognizes and respects the privacy concerns and expectations of our customers1. We are committed to maintaining the privacy and security of the personal confidential information we collect about you. We provide this notice so that you will know what kinds of information we collect and the circumstances in which that information may be disclosed to third parties.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION

We collect nonpublic personal information about our customers from the following sources:

 

   

Account Applications and other forms, which may include a customer’s name, address, social security number, and information about a customer’s investment goals and risk tolerance;

 

   

Account History, including information about the transactions and balances in a customer’s account(s); and

 

   

Correspondences including written, telephonic or electronic between a customer and the Funds or service providers to the Funds.

INFORMATION WE SHARE WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS

The Funds may disclose all non-public personal information we collect, as described above, to companies that perform services on our behalf, including those that assist us in responding to inquiries, processing transactions, preparing and mailing account statements and other forms of shareholder services, provided they use the information solely for these purposes and they enter into a confidentiality agreement regarding the information. The Funds also may disclose non-public personal information as otherwise permitted by law.

SAFEGUARDING CUSTOMER INFORMATION

We will safeguard, according to federal standards of security and confidentiality, any non-public personal information our customers share with us.

We require service providers to the Funds:

 

   

to maintain policies and procedures designed to assure only appropriate access to, and use of information about customers of the Funds; and

 

   

to maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards to guard nonpublic personal information of customers of the Funds.

We will adhere to the policies and practices described in this notice regardless of whether you are a current or former shareholder of the Funds.

 

1 

For purposes of this notice, the term “customer” or “customers” include individuals who provide nonpublic personal information to the Funds, but do not invest in Fund shares.


Investment Adviser

JOHCM (USA) Inc.

53 State Street, 13th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02109

Custodian

The Northern Trust Company

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

[ ]

Legal Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199

Distributor

Foreside Fund Partners, LLC (to be renamed JOHCM Funds

Distributors, LLC)

3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100

Portland, Maine 04101

For Additional Information,

call 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913

To Learn More

Several additional sources of information are available to you. The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), incorporated into this prospectus by reference, contains detailed information on Fund policies and operations.

Additional information about a Fund’s investments is available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual report to shareholders. The Funds’ annual reports contain management’s discussion of market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected a Fund’s investment return during its last fiscal year.

Call the Funds at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on days the Funds are open for business to request free copies of the SAI and the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports, to request other information about the Funds and to make shareholder inquiries. You may also visit the Funds on the web at www.johcm.com to obtain free copies of the Funds’ SAI and annual and semi-annual reports. Or, write to the Funds at:

JOHCM Funds Trust

c/o The Northern Trust Company

P.O. Box 4766

Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766

You may obtain reports and other information about the Funds on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at

the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov. Investment Company Act File Number: 811-23615

 


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

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

Dated August 10, 2021

 

LOGO

 

 

TSW EMERGING MARKETS FUND

Institutional Shares ([    ])

Advisor Shares ([    ])

Investor Shares ([    ])

Class Z Shares ([    ])

TSW HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Institutional Shares ([    ])

Advisor Shares ([    ])

Investor Shares ([    ])

Class Z Shares ([    ])

TSW LARGE CAP VALUE FUND

Institutional Shares ([    ])

Advisor Shares ([    ])

Investor Shares ([    ])

Class Z Shares ([    ])

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[                         ]

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of the TSW Emerging Markets Fund, TSW High Yield Bond Fund, and TSW Large Cap Value Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). This SAI should be read in conjunction with the prospectus dated [ ], 2021. A copy of the prospectus can be obtained at no charge by writing to the transfer agent, The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, or by calling 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913. The Funds’ prospectus (“Prospectus”) is incorporated by reference into this SAI.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Description of the Trust and the Funds

     1  

Additional Information about the Funds’ Investments and Risks

     1  

Investment Strategies and Risks

     1  

Investment Restrictions

     20  

Shares of the Funds

     22  

Management of the Trust

     22  

Additional Information About the Trustees

     25  

Code of Ethics

     26  

Distribution

     26  

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities

     28  

Control Persons and Principal Holders

     28  

Management Ownership

     28  

Investment Advisory and Other Services

     28  

The Investment Adviser

     28  

The Subadviser

     29  

Fund Services

     32  

Distributor

     32  

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     33  

Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices

     33  

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     33  

Determination of Share Price

     34  

Redemption In-Kind

     35  

Tax Considerations

     35  

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     47  

Financial Statements

     47  

Appendix A

  

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     A-1  

 


DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND THE FUNDS

JOHCM Funds Trust (the “Trust”) is a Massachusetts business trust operating under an Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) dated December 4, 2020. The Trust is an open-end investment company. The Declaration of Trust permits the Board of Trustees (“Trustees” or “Board”) to authorize and issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series. This Statement of Additional Information relates to the TSW Emerging Markets Fund, TSW High Yield Bond Fund, and TSW Large Cap Value Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), each a series of the Trust. The investment adviser to each of the Funds is JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser”) and the subadviser to each of the Funds is Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC. Each Fund is a diversified fund.

As of the date of this SAI, the TSW Large Cap Value Fund has assumed all of the assets and liabilities of its predecessor fund, TS&W Equity Portfolio, a series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, in a reorganization that closed on [ ], 2021 (the “Predecessor Fund”). The investment adviser to the Predecessor Fund was TSW. Any historical information provided in this SAI for such Fund, prior to [ ], 2021, is that of the Predecessor Fund.

For information concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Funds, see “How to Purchase Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares” in the Prospectus. For a description of the methods used to determine the share price and value of the Funds’ assets, see “Pricing Your Shares” in the Prospectus and “Determination of Share Price” in this Statement of Additional Information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENTS AND RISKS

Investment Strategies and Risks

All principal investment strategies and risks of each Fund are discussed in the Prospectus. This section contains a more detailed discussion of some of the investments the Funds may make, some of the techniques the Funds may use, and the risks related to those techniques and investments. Additional non-principal strategies and risks also are discussed here.

Arbitrage Transactions

A Fund may engage in arbitrage transactions involving near contemporaneous purchase of securities on one market and sale of those securities on another market to take advantage of pricing differences between markets. To the extent a Fund engages in arbitrage transactions, it will incur a gain to the extent that proceeds exceed costs and a loss to the extent that costs exceed proceeds. The risk of an arbitrage transaction, therefore, is that the participating Fund may not be able to sell securities subject to an arbitrage at prices exceeding the costs of purchasing those securities.

Borrowing

Each Fund may borrow money equal to 33 1/3% of its total assets for cash management or investment purposes. Borrowing may exaggerate changes in the net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund’s shares and in the return on the Fund’s portfolio. Although the principal of any borrowing will be fixed, a Fund’s assets may change in value during the time the borrowing is outstanding. The Funds may be required to liquidate portfolio securities at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so in order to make payments with respect to any borrowing. The Funds may be required to earmark or segregate liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet their obligations in connection with such borrowings. In an interest rate arbitrage transaction, a Fund borrows money at one interest rate and lends the proceeds at another, higher interest rate. These transactions involve a number of risks, including the risks that the borrower will fail or otherwise become insolvent or that there will be a significant change in prevailing interest rates.

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, intends to enter into a $100 million revolving credit facility agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Northern Trust for liquidity or for other temporary or emergency purposes. The Credit Agreement is expected to permit the Funds to borrow up to an aggregate commitment amount of $100 million, $50 million of which is committed and $50 million of which is uncommitted) at any time outstanding, subject to asset coverage and other limitations as specified in the Credit Agreement. Borrowing results in interest expense and other fees and expenses that may impact the Funds’ expenses, including any net expense ratios. The costs of borrowing may reduce the total returns for a Fund. The Credit Agreement is also expected to impose an ongoing commitment fee on undrawn amounts under the credit facility, which will be allocated to each share class within each Fund, pro rata, based on such Fund’s average net asset value.

 

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Commercial Paper, Cash and Other High Quality Investments

The Funds may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from one to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance current operations. The Funds may only invest in commercial paper rated at least “Prime-2” or better by Moody’s or rated “A-2” or better by S&P or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.

Each of the Funds may temporarily invest a portion of their assets in cash or other cash items pending other investments or to maintain liquid assets required in connection with some of the Funds’ investments. These cash items and other high quality debt securities may include fixed income securities issued by the governments, agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. and other developed market countries (e.g., Japan and Canada), bankers’ acceptances, and bank certificates of deposit. If the Funds’ custodian (the “Custodian”) holds cash on behalf of a Fund, the Fund may be an unsecured creditor in the event of the insolvency of the Custodian. In addition, the Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the Custodian.

Convertible Securities

A convertible security is a security (a bond or preferred stock) that may be exchanged or converted at a stated price within a specified period into a specified number of shares of common stock of the same or a different issuer. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

A contingent convertible security is a hybrid debt security typically issued by a non-U.S. bank that may be convertible into equity or may be written down if a pre-specified trigger event, such as a decline in capital ratio below a prescribed threshold, occurs. If such a trigger event occurs, a Fund may lose the principal amount invested on a permanent or temporary basis or the contingent convertible security may be converted to equity. Coupon payments on contingent convertible securities may be discretionary and may be cancelled by the issuer. Due to uncertainty surrounding coupon payments, contingent convertible securities may be volatile, and their price may decline rapidly in the event that coupon payments are suspended. The value of contingent convertible securities is unpredictable, and holders of contingent convertible securities may suffer a loss of capital when comparable equity holders do not.

Corporate Debt Securities

Corporate debt securities may include investment grade bonds (defined as Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or BBB- or higher by S&P) or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or in unrated bonds that are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of investment. Fixed rate securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends. Floating rate securities pay a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to a specified index or market rate. In addition, the Funds may create “synthetic” bonds which approximate desired risk and return profiles. This may be done where a “non-synthetic” security having the desired risk/return profile either is unavailable (e.g., short-term securities of certain foreign governments) or possesses undesirable characteristics (e.g., interest payments on the security would be subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes).

All debt securities are subject to the risk of an issuer’s credit risk, which is the risk that the issuer will be unable to meet principal and interest payments on the obligation and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as market interest rates, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. To the extent a Fund holds fixed income securities, it may also be subject to market risk. Market risk (or “interest rate risk”) relates to changes in a security’s value as a result of changes in interest rates. In general, the values of fixed income securities increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise. Credit risk relates to the ability of an issuer to make payments of principal and interest.

Mortgage-Backed Securities

Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

 

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Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

Currency Risk

The value of foreign securities is affected by changes in currency rates, foreign tax laws (including withholding tax), government policies (in this country or abroad), relations between nations and trading, settlement, custodial and other operational risks. An increase in the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies may cause the value of investments to decline. Certain foreign currencies may be particularly volatile, and foreign governments may intervene in the currency markets causing a decline in value or liquidity in foreign holdings, whose value is tied to the affected foreign currency. Currency exchange rates can be affected unpredictably as a result of intervention (or the failure to intervene) by the U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, or by currency or exchange controls or political and economic developments in the United States or abroad. Some of the currencies in emerging markets have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. dollar, and major adjustments have been made periodically in certain such currencies. Certain developing countries face serious exchange constraints. In addition, costs will be incurred in connection with conversions between various currencies.

Funds that are permitted to invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies may buy or sell foreign currencies or deal in forward foreign currency contracts, currency futures contracts and options, and options on currencies. Those Funds may use such currency instruments for hedging, investment, and/or currency risk management. Forward foreign currency contracts are contracts between two parties to purchase and sell a specified quantity of a particular currency at a specified price, with delivery and settlement to take place on a specified future date. A forward foreign currency contract can reduce a Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will deliver and can increase its exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. The effect on the value of a Fund is similar to the effect of selling securities denominated in one currency and purchasing securities denominated in another currency. A Fund also may purchase or sell options on currencies. Options on currencies possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and generally operate in a similar manner. They may be traded on an exchange or in the OTC markets. Options on currencies traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits, which may limit the ability of a Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using options. See “Foreign Currency Forward Contracts, Futures, and Options” below for additional information.

Depositary Receipts

The Funds may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), which are receipts issued by a bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in sponsored form, are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. EDRs are the European equivalent of ADRs and are designed to attract investment capital from the European region. GDRs are designed to raise capital in the U.S. and foreign securities markets. The underlying shares of depositary receipts are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. Depositary receipts are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. A sponsoring company provides financial information to the bank and may subsidize administration of the ADR, EDR or GDR. Unsponsored ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be created by a broker-dealer or depository bank without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the ADR, EDR or GDR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored depositary receipt. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored depositary receipt may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Unsponsored depositary receipts may carry more risk than sponsored depositary receipts because of the absence of financial information provided by the underlying company. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs, EDRs and GDRs. Depositary Receipts also may be subject to liquidity risk.

 

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Equity Securities

Equity securities consist of common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into common and preferred stock, rights, warrants, income trusts, and Master Limited Partnerships (“MLP”). Common stocks, the most familiar type, represent an equity (ownership) interest in a corporation. Preferred stocks represent an equity interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends or in the event of issuer liquidation or bankruptcy. Warrants are options to purchase equity securities at a specified price for a specific time period. Rights are similar to warrants, but normally have a short duration and are distributed by the issuer to its shareholders. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks that may be converted or exchanged into shares of the underlying common stock at a stated exchange ratio. Income trusts and Master Limited Partnerships units are equity investments and may lack diversification as such trusts are primarily invested in oil and gas, pipelines, and other infrastructures whereas MLPs are primarily engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, productions, and mining of minerals and natural resources. Although equity securities have a history of long-term growth in value, their prices fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.

Investments in equity securities are subject to inherent market risks and fluctuations in value due to earnings, economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Adviser. As a result, the return and NAV of a Fund will fluctuate. Securities in the Funds’ portfolios may not increase as much as the market as a whole and some undervalued securities may continue to be undervalued for long periods of time. Although profits in some Fund holdings may be realized quickly, it is not expected that most investments will appreciate rapidly.

Smaller Company Equity Securities. The Funds may invest in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations. Such investments may involve greater risk than is usually associated with larger, more established companies. Companies with small market capitalizations often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be dependent upon a relatively small management group. These securities may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements in price than securities of companies with larger market capitalizations or market averages in general. To the extent a Fund invests in securities with small market capitalizations, the NAV of the Fund may fluctuate more widely than market averages.

Foreign and Emerging Markets Investments

Investing in foreign securities generally represents a greater degree of risk than investing in domestic securities, due to possible exchange controls or exchange rate fluctuations, limits on repatriation of capital, less publicly available information as a result of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards different from those used in the U.S., more volatile markets, potentially less securities regulation, less favorable tax provisions, political or economic instability, war, or expropriation. As a result of its investments in foreign securities, the Funds may receive interest or dividend payments, or the proceeds of the sale or redemption of such securities, in the foreign currencies in which such securities are denominated.

Each of the Funds will also invest in countries or regions with relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the world’s major economies, and in countries or regions with the potential for rapid economic growth (emerging markets). The Adviser includes within its definition of an emerging market country, any country: (i) having an “emerging stock market” as defined by the International Finance Corporation; (ii) with low-to-middle-income economies according to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “World Bank”); or (iii) listed in World Bank publications as developing.

The risks of investing in foreign securities may be intensified in the case of investments in emerging markets. Securities of many issuers in emerging markets may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic issuers. Emerging markets also may have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of the Funds are uninvested and no return is earned thereon. Securities prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than in the more developed nations of the world, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be predominantly based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates. Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of substantial holdings difficult or impossible at times. Securities of issuers located in countries with emerging markets may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements.

Certain emerging markets may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital, or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. In addition, if deterioration occurs in an emerging market’s balance of payments or for other reasons, a country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances. The Funds could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Funds of any restrictions on investments.

 

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Certain European countries in which the Funds may invest have recently experienced significant volatility in financial markets and may continue to do so in the future. The impact of the United Kingdom’s intended departure from the European Union, commonly known as “Brexit,” and the potential departure of one or more other countries from the European Union may have significant political and financial consequences for global markets. These consequences include greater market volatility and illiquidity, currency fluctuations, deterioration in economic activity, a decrease in business confidence and an increased likelihood of a recession in such markets. Uncertainty relating to the withdrawal procedures and timeline may have adverse effects on asset valuations and the renegotiation of current trade agreements, as well as an increase in financial regulation in such markets. This may adversely impact Fund performance.

A Fund may, as part of its principal investment strategy, invest in frontier market countries. A sub-set of emerging markets, frontier markets are less developed than other emerging markets and are the most speculative. Frontier countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets than traditional emerging market countries and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries. They have the least number of investors and may not have a stock market on which to trade. Economic or political instability may cause larger price changes in frontier market securities than in securities of issuers based in more developed foreign countries, including securities of issuers in larger emerging markets. Frontier markets generally receive less investor attention than developed markets or larger emerging markets. Most frontier markets consist chiefly of stocks of financial, telecommunications, and consumer companies that count on monthly payments from customers. Investments in this sector are typically illiquid, nontransparent, and subject to very low levels of regulation and high transaction fees. Frontier market investments may be subject to substantial political and currency risk. The risk of investing in frontier markets can be increased due to government ownership or control of parts of private sector and of certain companies; trade barriers, exchange controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by frontier market countries or their trading partners; and the relatively new and unsettled securities laws in many frontier market countries. These risks can result in the potential for extreme price volatility.

Investments in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations may be restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times preclude investment in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations and increase the expenses of the Funds.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts, Futures, and Options

When investing in foreign securities, a Fund usually effects currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign exchange market. A Fund incurs expenses in converting assets from one currency to another.

Forward Contracts. The Funds may enter into foreign currency forward contracts for the purchase or sale of a fixed quantity of a foreign currency at a future date (“forward contracts”) for hedging purposes, either to “lock-in” the U.S. dollar purchase price of the securities denominated in a foreign currency or the U.S. dollar value of interest and dividends to be paid on such securities, or to hedge against the possibility that the currency of a foreign country in which a Fund has investments may suffer a decline against the

U.S. dollar, as well as for non-hedging purposes. The Funds may also enter into a forward contract on one currency in order to hedge against risk of loss arising from fluctuations in the value of a second currency (“cross hedging”). Forward contracts are traded over-the-counter, and not on organized commodities or securities exchanges. As a result, such contracts operate in a manner distinct from exchange-traded instruments, and their use involves certain risks beyond those associated with transactions in futures contracts or options traded on an exchange, including counterparty credit risk.

Only a limited market, if any, currently exists for hedging transactions relating to currencies in many emerging market countries, or to securities of issuers domiciled or principally engaged in business in emerging market countries, in which the Funds may invest. This may limit a Fund’s ability to effectively hedge its investments in those emerging markets.

Foreign Currency Futures. Generally, foreign currency futures provide for the delivery of a specified amount of a given currency, on the settlement date, for a pre-negotiated price denominated in U.S. dollars or other currency. Foreign currency futures contracts would be entered into for the same reason and under the same circumstances as forward contracts. The Adviser will assess such factors as cost spreads, liquidity and transaction costs in determining whether to utilize futures contracts or forward contracts in its foreign currency transactions and hedging strategy.

Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject to the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. A Fund must accept or make delivery of the underlying foreign currency, through banking arrangements, in accordance with any U.S. or foreign restrictions or regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and may be required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery which are assessed in the issuing country.

 

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Foreign Currency Options. The Funds may purchase and write options on foreign currencies for purposes similar to those involved with investing in forward contracts. For example, in order to protect against declines in the dollar value of portfolio securities which are denominated in a foreign currency, or to protect against potential declines in its portfolio securities that are denominated in foreign currencies.

The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the U.S. dollar. As a result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security, including foreign securities held in a “hedged” investment portfolio. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, investors may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.

As in the case of other kinds of options, the use of foreign currency options constitutes only a partial hedge, and the Funds could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on a foreign currency may not necessarily constitute an effective hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates and, in the event of rate movements adverse to a Fund’s position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs.

Options on foreign currencies written or purchased by the Funds may be traded on U.S. or foreign exchanges or over the counter. There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies traded over the counter or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis.

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions (i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that the U.S. options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.

Interest Rate Futures: An interest rate futures contract is an exchange-traded contract in which the specified underlying security is either an interest-bearing fixed income security or an inter-bank deposit. Two examples of common interest rate futures contracts are U.S. Treasury futures and Eurodollar futures contracts. The specified security for U.S. Treasury futures is a U.S. Treasury security. The specified security for Eurodollar futures is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is a daily reference rate based on the interest rates at which banks offer to lend unsecured funds to other banks in the London wholesale money market.

Additional Risk Factors. As a result of its investments in foreign securities, the Funds may receive interest or dividend payments, or the proceeds of the sale or redemption of such securities, in the foreign currencies in which such securities are denominated. In that event, a Fund may convert such currencies into dollars at the then current exchange rate. Under certain circumstances, however, such as where the Adviser believes that the applicable rate is unfavorable at the time the currencies are received or the Adviser anticipates, for any other reason, that the exchange rate will improve, the Fund may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time. In addition, a Fund may be required to receive delivery of the foreign currency underlying forward foreign currency contracts it has entered into. This could occur, for example, if an option written by the Fund is exercised or the Fund is unable to close out a forward contract. The Funds may hold foreign currency in anticipation of purchasing foreign securities.

The Funds may also elect to take delivery of the currencies’ underlying options or forward contracts if, in the judgment of the Adviser, it is in the best interest of a Fund to do so. In such instances as well, a Fund may convert the foreign currencies to dollars at the then current exchange rates, or may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time.

While the holding of currencies will permit the Funds to take advantage of favorable movements in the applicable exchange rate, it also exposes the Funds to risk of loss if such rates move in a direction adverse to a Fund’s position. Such losses could reduce any profits or increase any losses sustained by the Funds from the sale or redemption of securities, and could reduce the dollar value of interest or dividend payments received. In addition, the holding of currencies could adversely affect a Fund’s profit or loss on currency options or forward contracts, as well as its hedging strategies.

 

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Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”)

The Adviser generally attempts to allocate IPOs on a pro rata basis. However, due to the typically small size of the IPO allocation available to the Funds and the nature and market capitalization of the companies involved in IPOs, pro rata allocation may not always be possible. Because IPO shares frequently are volatile in price, the Funds may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time. As a Fund’s assets grow, the effect of the Fund’s investments in IPOs on the Fund’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce a Fund’s performance. This may increase the turnover of a Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to a Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling shares of an IPO, a Fund may realize taxable capital gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. Most IPOs involve a high degree of risk not normally associated with offerings of more seasoned companies. Companies involved in IPOs generally have limited operating histories, and their prospects for future profitability are uncertain. These companies often are engaged in new and evolving businesses and are particularly vulnerable to competition and to changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be dependent on certain key managers and third parties, need more personnel and other resources to manage growth and require significant additional capital. They may also be dependent on limited product lines and uncertain property rights and need regulatory approvals. Investors in IPOs can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. Stock prices of IPOs can also be highly unstable, due to the absence of a prior public market, the small number of shares available for trading and limited investor information.

Large Shareholder Risk

To the extent that a significant portion of a Fund’s shares are held by a limited number of shareholders or their affiliates, there is a risk that the subscription and redemption activities of these shareholders with regard to Fund shares could disrupt the Fund’s investment strategies, which could have adverse consequences for the Fund and other shareholders (e.g., by requiring the Fund to sell investments at inopportune times or causing the Fund to maintain larger-than-expected cash positions pending acquisition of investments). In addition, institutional separate accounts managed by the Manager may invest in the Fund and, therefore, the Manager at times may have discretionary authority over redemption decisions by a significant portion of the investor base holding shares of the Fund. In such instances, the Manager’s decision to make changes to or rebalance its client’s allocations in the separate accounts may impact the Fund’s performance.

Litigation and Enforcement Risk

The [Funds] may invest in companies involved in significant restructuring. These types of companies tend to involve increased litigation risk, including for investors in these companies. This risk may be greater in the event a Fund takes a large position or is otherwise prominently involved. The expense of defending against (or asserting) claims and paying any amounts pursuant to settlements or judgments would be borne by the Fund (directly if it were directly involved or indirectly in the case claims by or against an underlying company or settlements or judgments paid by an underlying company). Further, ownership of companies over certain threshold levels involves additional filing requirements and substantive regulation on such owners, and if the Fund fails to comply with all of these requirements, the Fund may be forced to disgorge profits, pay fines or otherwise bear losses or other costs from such failure to comply.

In addition, there have been a number of widely reported instances of violations of securities laws through the misuse of confidential information. Such violations may result in substantial liabilities for damages caused to others, for the disgorgement of profits realized and for penalties. Investigations and enforcement proceedings may be charged with involvement in such violations. Furthermore, if persons associated with a company in which the Fund invested engages in such violations, the Fund could be exposed to losses.

Loans

The [Funds] may invest in fixed and floating rate loans (“Loans”). Loans may include senior floating rate loans (“Senior Loans”) and secured and unsecured loans, second lien or more junior loans (“Junior Loans”) and bridge loans or bridge facilities (“Bridge Loans”). Loans are typically arranged through private negotiations between borrowers in the U.S. or in foreign or emerging markets which may be corporate issuers or issuers of sovereign debt obligations (“Borrowers”) and one or more financial institutions and other lenders (“Lenders”). Generally, the Funds invest in Loans by purchasing assignments of all or a portion of Loans (“Assignments”) or Loan participations (“Participations”) from third parties.

A Fund has direct rights against the Borrower on the Loan when it purchases an Assignment. Because Assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, however, the rights and obligations acquired by the Fund as the purchaser of an Assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning Lender. With respect to Participations, typically, the Fund will have a contractual relationship only with the Lender and not with the Borrower. The agreement governing Participations may limit the rights of the Fund to vote on certain changes which may be made to the Loan agreement, such as waiving a breach of a covenant. However, the holder of a Participation will generally have the right to vote on certain fundamental issues such as changes in principal amount, payment dates and interest rate. Participations may entail certain risks relating to the creditworthiness of the parties from which the participations are obtained.

 

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A Loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company or other financial institution (the “Agent”) for a group of Loan investors. The Agent typically administers and enforces the Loan on behalf of the other Loan investors in the syndicate. The Agent’s duties may include responsibility for the collection of principal and interest payments from the Borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all Loan investors. The Agent is also typically responsible for monitoring compliance with the covenants contained in the Loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the Borrower. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent, holds any collateral on behalf of the Loan investors. In the event of a default by the Borrower, it is possible, though unlikely, that the Fund could receive a portion of the borrower’s collateral. If the Fund receives collateral other than cash, any proceeds received from liquidation of such collateral will be available for investment as part of the Fund’s portfolio.

In the process of buying, selling and holding Loans, the Fund may receive and/or pay certain fees. These fees are in addition to interest payments received and may include facility fees, commitment fees, commissions and prepayment penalty fees. When the Fund buys or sells a Loan it may pay a fee. In certain circumstances, the Fund may receive a prepayment penalty fee upon prepayment of a Loan.

Additional Information concerning Senior Loans. Senior Loans typically hold the most senior position in the capital structure of the Borrower, are typically secured with specific collateral and have a claim on the assets and/or stock of the Borrower that is senior to that held by subordinated debt holders and shareholders of the Borrower. Collateral for Senior Loans may include (i) working capital assets, such as accounts receivable and inventory; (ii) tangible fixed assets, such as real property, buildings and equipment; (iii) intangible assets, such as trademarks and patent rights; and/or, (iv) security interests in shares of stock of subsidiaries or affiliates.

Additional Information concerning Junior Loans. Junior Loans include secured and unsecured loans including subordinated loans, second lien and more junior loans, and bridge loans. Second lien and more junior loans (“Junior Lien Loans”) are generally second or further in line in terms of repayment priority. In addition, Junior Lien Loans may have a claim on the same collateral pool as the first lien or other more senior liens or may be secured by a separate set of assets. Junior Loans generally give investors priority over general unsecured creditors in the event of an asset sale.

Additional Information concerning Bridge Loans. Bridge Loans are short-term loan arrangements (e.g., 12 to 18 months) typically made by a Borrower in anticipation of intermediate-term or long-term permanent financing. Most Bridge Loans are structured as floating-rate debt with step-up provisions under which the interest rate on the Bridge Loan rises the longer the Loan remains outstanding. In addition, Bridge Loans commonly contain a conversion feature that allows the Bridge Loan investor to convert its Loan interest to senior exchange notes if the Loan has not been prepaid in full on or prior to its maturity date. Bridge Loans typically are structured as Senior Loans but may be structured as Junior Loans.

Additional Information concerning Unfunded Commitments. Unfunded commitments are contractual obligations pursuant to which the Fund agrees to invest in a Loan at a future date. Typically, the Fund receives a commitment fee for entering into the Unfunded Commitment.

Additional Information concerning Synthetic Letters of Credit. Loans may include synthetic letters of credit. In a synthetic letter of credit transaction, the Lender typically creates a special purpose entity or a credit-linked deposit account for the purpose of funding a letter of credit to the borrower. When the Fund invests in a synthetic letter of credit, the Fund is typically paid a rate based on the Lender’s borrowing costs and the terms of the synthetic letter of credit. Synthetic letters of credit are typically structured as Assignments with the Fund acquiring direct rights against the Borrower.

Risk Factors of Loans. Loans are subject to the risks associated with debt obligations in general including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. When a Loan is acquired from a Lender, the risk includes the credit risk associated with the Borrower of the underlying Loan. The Fund may incur additional credit risk when the Fund acquires a participation in a Loan from another lender because the Fund must assume the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy of the other lender from which the Loan was acquired. To the extent that Loans involve Borrowers in foreign or emerging markets, such Loans are subject to the risks associated with foreign investments or investments in emerging markets in general. The following outlines some of the additional risks associated with Loans.

High Yield Securities Risk. The Loans that the Fund invests in may not be rated by an NRSRO, will not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities commission and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. To the extent that such high yield Loans are rated, they typically will be rated below investment grade and are subject to an increased risk of default in the payment of principal and interest as well as the other risks described under “Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities. Loans are vulnerable to market sentiment such that economic conditions or other events may reduce the demand for Loans and cause their value to decline rapidly and unpredictably.

 

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Liquidity Risk. Loans that are deemed to be liquid at the time of purchase may become illiquid or less liquid. No active trading market may exist for certain Loans and certain Loans may be subject to restrictions on resale or have a limited secondary market. Certain Loans may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods. The inability to dispose of certain Loans in a timely fashion or at a favorable price could result in losses to the Fund.

Collateral and Subordination Risk. With respect to Loans that are secured, the Fund is subject to the risk that collateral securing the Loan will decline in value or have no value or that the Fund’s lien is or will become junior in payment to other liens. A decline in value of the collateral, whether as a result of market value declines, bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, could cause the Loan to be under collateralized or unsecured. In such event, the Fund may have the ability to require that the Borrower pledge additional collateral. The Fund, however, is subject to the risk that the Borrower may not pledge such additional collateral or a sufficient amount of collateral. In some cases, there may be no formal requirement for the Borrower to pledge additional collateral. In addition, collateral may consist of assets that may not be readily liquidated, and there is no assurance that the liquidation of such assets would satisfy a Borrower’s obligation on a Loan. If the Fund were unable to obtain sufficient proceeds upon a liquidation of such assets, this could negatively affect Fund performance.

If a Borrower becomes involved in bankruptcy proceedings, a court may restrict the ability of a Fund to demand immediate repayment of the Loan by Borrower or otherwise liquidate the collateral. A court may also invalidate the Loan or a Fund’s security interest in collateral or subordinate the Fund’s rights under a Senior Loan or Junior Loan to the interest of the Borrower’s other creditors, including unsecured creditors, or cause interest or principal previously paid to be refunded to the Borrower. If a court required interest or principal to be refunded, it could negatively affect Fund performance. Such action by a court could be based, for example, on a “fraudulent conveyance” claim to the effect that the Borrower did not receive fair consideration for granting the security interest in the Loan collateral to the Fund. For Senior Loans made in connection with a highly leveraged transaction, consideration for granting a security interest may be deemed inadequate if the proceeds of the Loan were not received or retained by the Borrower, but were instead paid to other persons (such as shareholders of the Borrower) in an amount which left the Borrower insolvent or without sufficient working capital. There are also other events, such as the failure to perfect a security interest due to faulty documentation or faulty official filings, which could lead to the invalidation of the Fund’s security interest in Loan collateral. If a Fund’s security interest in Loan collateral is invalidated or a Senior Loan were subordinated to other debt of an Borrower in bankruptcy or other proceedings, the Fund would have substantially lower recovery, and perhaps no recovery on the full amount of the principal and interest due on the Loan, or the Fund could have to refund interest. Lenders and investors in Loans can be sued by other creditors and shareholders of the Borrowers. Losses can be greater than the original Loan amount and occur years after the principal and interest on the Loan have been repaid.

Agent Risk. Selling Lenders, Agents and other entities who may be positioned between the Fund and the Borrower will likely conduct their principal business activities in the banking, finance and financial services industries. Investments in Loans may be more impacted by a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting such industries than other types of investments. Entities engaged in such industries may be more susceptible to, among other things, fluctuations in interest rates, changes in the Federal Open Market Committee’s monetary policy, government regulations concerning such industries and concerning capital raising activities generally and fluctuations in the financial markets generally. An Agent, Lender or other entity positioned between the Fund and the Borrower may become insolvent or enter FDIC receivership or bankruptcy.

A Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Loan or suffer a loss of principal and/ or interest if assets or interests held by the Agent, Lender or other party positioned between the Fund and the Borrower are determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s, Lender’s or such other party’s creditors.

Junior Loan Risk. Junior Loans are subject to the same general risks inherent to any Loan investment. Due to their lower place in the Borrower’s capital structure and possible unsecured status, Junior Loans involve a higher degree of overall risk than Senior Loans of the same Borrower. Junior Loans that are Bridge Loans generally carry the expectation that the Borrower will be able to obtain permanent financing in the near future. Any delay in obtaining permanent financing subjects the Bridge Loan investor to increased risk. A Borrower’s use of Bridge Loans also involves the risk that the Borrower may be unable to locate permanent financing to replace the Bridge Loan, which may impair the Borrower’s perceived creditworthiness.

 

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Mezzanine Loan Risk. In addition to the risk factors described above, mezzanine loans are subject to additional risks. Unlike conventional mortgage loans, mezzanine loans are not secured by a mortgage on the underlying real property but rather by a pledge of equity interests (such as a partnership or limited liability company membership) in the property owner or another company in the ownership structures that has control over the property. Such companies are typically structured as special purpose entities. Generally, mezzanine loans may be more highly leveraged than other types of Loans and subordinate in the capital structure of the Borrower. While foreclosure of a mezzanine loan generally takes substantially less time than foreclosure of a traditional mortgage, the holders of a mezzanine loan have different remedies available versus the holder of a first lien mortgage loan. In addition, a sale of the underlying real property would not be unencumbered, and thus would be subject to encumbrances by more senior mortgages and liens of other creditors. Upon foreclosure of a mezzanine loan, the holder of the mezzanine loan acquires an equity interest in the Borrower. However, because of the subordinate nature of a mezzanine loan, the real property continues to be subject to the lien of the mortgage and other liens encumbering the real estate. In the event the holder of a mezzanine loan forecloses on its equity collateral, the holder may need to cure the Borrower’s existing mortgage defaults or, to the extent permissible under the governing agreements, sell the property to pay off other creditors. To the extent that the amount of mortgages and senior indebtedness and liens exceed the value of the real estate, the collateral underlying the mezzanine loan may have little or no value.

Foreclosure Risk. There may be additional costs associated with enforcing a Fund’s remedies under a Loan including additional legal costs and payment of real property transfer taxes upon foreclosure in certain jurisdictions. As a result of these additional costs, the Fund may determine that pursuing foreclosure on the Loan collateral is not worth the associated costs. In addition, if the Fund incurs costs and the collateral loses value or is not recovered by the Fund in foreclosure, the Fund could lose more than its original investment in the Loan. Foreclosure risk is heightened for Junior Loans, including certain mezzanine loans.

Master Limited Partnerships (MLP)

The Funds may invest in limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLP units are registered with the SEC and are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market. Generally, a MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners (like a Fund that invest in a MLP) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. They are allocated income and capital gains associated with the partnership project in accordance with the terms established in the partnership agreement. MLPs make distributions that are similar to dividends, and these are generally paid out on a quarterly basis. Some distributions received by a Fund with respect to its investments in MLPs may, if distributed by the Fund, be treated as a return of capital because of accelerated deductions available with respect to the activities of such MLPs and the MLPs’ distribution policies. Generally speaking, MLP investment returns are enhanced during periods of declining/low interest rates and tend to be negatively influenced when interest rates are rising. As an income vehicle, the unit price can be influenced by general interest rate trends independent of specific underlying fundamentals. In addition, most MLPs are fairly leveraged and typically carry a portion of “floating” rate debt. As such, a significant upward swing in interest rates would result in higher interest expense. Furthermore, most MLPs grow by acquisitions partly financed by debt, and higher interest rates could make it more difficult to transact accretive acquisitions.

MLPs are generally engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, exploration, production, and mining of minerals and natural resources. To the extent that a MLP’s interests are all in a particular industry, the MLP will, accordingly, be negatively impacted by economic events impacting that industry. The risks of investing in a MLP are generally those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions which will have the effect of reducing the amount of income paid by the MLP to its investors.

For purposes of qualifying as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), a Fund is not permitted to invest more than 25% of its total assets in MLPs treated as “qualified publicly traded partnerships” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Additionally, while MLPs are typically treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, changes in U.S. tax laws could revoke the pass-through attributes that provide the tax efficiencies that make MLPs attractive investment structures and could have the effect of reducing the amount of cash available for distribution by the MLP, resulting in a reduction of the value of a Fund’s investment in the MLP and lower income to the Fund. Changes in the laws, regulations or related interpretations relating to a Fund’s investments in MLPs could increase the Fund’s expenses, reduce its cash distributions, negatively impact the value of an investment in an MLP, or otherwise impact the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy. See the “Tax Considerations” section of the SAI for more information about these and other special tax considerations that can arise in respect of a Fund’s investments in MLPs.

 

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Models and Data Risk

The Adviser may utilize various proprietary quantitative models in connection with providing investment management services to a Fund. There is a possibility that one or all of the quantitative models may fail to identify profitable opportunities at any time. Furthermore, the models may incorrectly identify opportunities and these misidentified opportunities may lead to substantial loss. Data used in the construction of models may prove to be inaccurate or stale, which may result in losses for a Fund. Investments selected using the models may perform differently than expected as a result of, among other things, the market factors used in creating models, the weight given to each such market factor, changes from the market factors’ historical trends and technical issues in the construction and implementation of the models (e.g., data problems, and/or software issues). The Adviser’s judgments about the weightings among various models and strategies may be incorrect, adversely affecting performance.

Municipal Bonds and Municipal Securities Risks

Government obligations in which the [Funds] may invest also include municipal securities, which are obligations, often bonds and notes, issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities, the interest on which is typically exempt from federal income tax.

Municipal bonds are generally considered riskier investments than Treasury securities. The prices and yields on municipal securities are subject to change from time to time and depend upon a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer (or other entities whose financial resources are supporting the municipal security), general conditions in the market for tax-exempt obligations, the size of a particular offering and the maturity of the obligation and the rating(s) of the issue. Contrary to historical trends, in recent years, the market has encountered increased rates of default and lower yields on municipal bonds. This is a product of significant reductions in revenues for many states and municipalities as well as residual effects of a generally weakened economy.

Changes in a municipality’s financial health may make it difficult for the municipality to make interest and principal payments when due. A number of municipalities have had significant financial problems recently, and these and other municipalities could, potentially, continue to experience significant financial problems resulting from lower tax revenues and/or decreased aid from state and local governments in the event of an economic downturn. This could decrease a Fund’s income or hurt the ability to preserve capital and liquidity. Under some circumstances, municipal securities might not pay interest unless the state legislature or municipality authorizes money for that purpose. Some securities, including municipal lease obligations, carry additional risks. For example, they may be difficult to trade or interest payments may be tied only to a specific stream of revenue. Since some municipal securities may be secured or guaranteed by banks and other institutions, the risk to a Fund could increase if the banking or financial sector suffers an economic downturn and/or if the credit ratings of the institutions issuing the guarantee are downgraded or at risk of being downgraded by a national rating organization. If such events were to occur, the value of the security could decrease or the value could be lost entirely, and it may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell the security at the time and the price that normally prevails in the market. Interest on municipal obligations, while generally exempt from federal income tax, may not be exempt from federal alternative minimum tax.

The interest rates on inverse floating rate municipal securities bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on another security or the value of an index. The market value of the inverse floating rate security will vary inversely with changes in market interest rates and will be more volatile in response to interest rate changes than that of a fixed rate obligation. An investment in these securities typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed rate security. Inverse floating rate instruments may be considered to be leveraged, including if their interest rates vary by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of a change in a reference rate of interest (typically a short-term interest rate). As a result, the market prices of inverse floating rate securities may be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and in prepayment rates on the underlying securities and may decrease significantly when interest rates increase or prepayment rates change.

Non-Investment-Grade Debt Securities

The Funds may invest in non-investment-grade securities. Non-investment-grade securities, also referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds,” are debt securities that are rated lower than the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (for example, lower than Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or lower than BBB- by Standard & Poor’s) or are determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s Adviser. These securities are generally considered to be, on balance, highly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation and will generally involve more credit risk than securities in the investment-grade categories. Investment in these securities generally provides greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk.

 

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Some high yield securities are issued by smaller, less-seasoned companies, while others are issued as part of a corporate restructuring, such as an acquisition, merger, or leveraged buyout. Companies that issue high yield securities are often highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with investment-grade securities. Some high yield securities were once rated as investment-grade but have been downgraded to junk bond status because of financial difficulties experienced by their issuers.

The market values of high yield securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do investment-grade securities, which in general react to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. High yield securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are investment-grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in junk bond prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an issuer of high yield securities held by the Fund defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for investment-grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the ability of the Fund to sell a high yield security or the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily NAV of Fund Shares. When secondary markets for high yield securities are less liquid than the market for investment-grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available.

A Fund will not necessarily dispose of a security if a credit-rating agency downgrades the rating of the security below its rating at the time of purchase.

Options

The Funds may invest in covered put and covered call options and write covered put and covered call options on securities in which it may invest directly and that are traded on registered domestic securities exchanges. The writer of a call option, who receives a premium, has the obligation, upon exercise of the option, to deliver the underlying security against payment of the exercise price during the option period. The writer of a put, who receives a premium, has the obligation to buy the underlying security, upon exercise, at the exercise price during the option period.

A Fund may write put and call options on securities only if they are “covered,” and such options must remain “covered” as long as the Fund is obligated as a writer. Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Funds will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. Each Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Funds’ Custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, each Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options. Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying security or its equivalent covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration if such cash is segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if a Fund maintains appropriate liquid securities with a value equal to the strike price or holds on a share-for-share or equal principal amount basis a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if appropriate liquid assets representing the difference are segregated by the Fund. A put option is “covered” if a Fund maintains appropriate liquid securities with a value equal to the exercise price, or owns on a share-for-share or equal principal amount basis a put on the same security as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written.

There are numerous risks associated with transactions in options. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, current market price of the underlying index or security in relation to the exercise price of the option, the actual or perceived volatility of the underlying index or security and the time remaining until the expiration date. The premium received for an option written by a Fund is recorded as an asset of the Fund and its obligation under the option contract as an equivalent liability. A Fund then adjusts over time the liability as the market value of the option changes. The value of each written option will be marked to market daily.

 

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A decision as to whether, when and how to write call options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events. The Funds may write straddles (covered or uncovered) consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same underlying security. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities except that, rather than the right to take or make delivery of securities at a specified price, an option on a securities index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the securities index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Unlike options on securities, all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the securities market generally (or in a particular industry or segment of the market) rather than price movements in individual securities.

Because the exercise of index options is settled in cash, sellers of index call options cannot provide in advance for their potential settlement obligations by acquiring and holding the underlying securities. When a call option sold by a Fund is exercised or closed out, a Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities or to deliver portfolio securities to the option purchaser to satisfy its obligations when it would not otherwise choose to do so, or a Fund may choose to sell portfolio securities to realize gains to offset the losses realized upon option exercise. Such sales or delivery would involve transaction costs borne by a Fund and may also result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains taxed to individuals at ordinary income tax rates, and may adversely impact a Fund’s after-tax returns.

OTC Options Risks. The Funds may be required to treat as illiquid OTC options purchased and securities being used to cover certain written OTC options, and it will treat the amount by which such formula price exceeds the intrinsic value of the option (i.e., the amount, if any, by which the market price of the underlying security exceeds the exercise price of the option) as an illiquid investment. The Funds may also purchase and write so-called dealer options.

Participants in OTC options markets typically are not subject to the same level of credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of exchange-based markets and therefore OTC derivatives generally expose a Fund to greater counterparty risk than exchange-traded derivatives.

Other Derivatives

A Fund investing in derivatives will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to any over-the-counter derivatives contracts purchased by a Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract, a Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. A Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

Options on securities, futures contracts, and options on currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (1) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (2) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (3) delays in the Adviser’s ability to act upon

economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (4) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (5) lesser trading volume.

Certain investment strategies of the Funds described above may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by a Fund which require the Fund to enter into offsetting transactions or to segregate assets in amounts that would cover the Fund’s potential liabilities consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.

On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act providing for the regulation of registered investment companies’ use of derivatives and certain related instruments. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 will not be required until approximately the middle of 2022. The new rule, among other things, limits derivatives exposure through one of two value-at-risk tests and eliminates

 

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the asset segregation framework for covering derivatives and certain financial instruments arising from the SEC’s Release 10666 and ensuing staff guidance. The rule also requires funds to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (including the appointment of a derivatives risk manager and the implementation of certain testing requirements) and subjects funds to certain reporting requirements in respect of derivatives. Limited derivatives users (as determined by Rule 18f-4) are not, however, subject to the full requirements under the rule. As the Funds come into compliance, the Funds’ approach to asset segregation and coverage requirements described in this SAI will be impacted.

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (“CEA”), and the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Funds’ operation. Accordingly, the Funds are not currently subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.

Equity-Linked Instruments Risk. There is a risk that, in addition to market risk and other risks of the referenced equity security, a Fund may experience a return that is different from that of the referenced equity security. Equity-linked instruments also subject a Fund to counterparty risk, including the risk that the issuing entity may not be able to honor its financial commitment, which could result in a loss of all or part of the Fund’s investment

Participatory Notes. Each of the Funds may also invest in participatory notes. Participatory notes issued by banks or broker-dealers are designed to replicate the performance of certain non-U.S. companies traded on a non-U.S. exchange. Participatory notes are a type of equity-linked derivative that generally are traded over-the-counter. Even though a participatory note is intended to reflect the performance of the underlying equity securities on a one-to-one basis so that investors will not normally gain or lose more in absolute terms than they would have made or lost had they invested in the underlying securities directly, the performance results of participatory notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the issuers or markets that the notes seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. Investments in participatory notes involve risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying securities. In addition, participatory notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues the notes will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Fund. Participatory notes constitute general unsecured, unsubordinated contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, and each Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such banks or broker-dealers and has no rights under a participatory note against the issuers of the securities underlying such participatory notes. There can be no assurance that the trading price or value of participatory notes will equal the value of the underlying value of the equity securities they seek to replicate.

Leverage Risk. Because many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. When a Fund uses derivatives for leverage, investments in the Fund will tend to be more volatile, resulting in larger gains or losses in response to market changes. Other recent U.S. and non U.S. legislative and regulatory reforms, including those related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the 1940 Act restrictions with respect to “senior securities,” have resulted in, and may in the future result in, new regulation of derivative instruments and a Fund’s use of such instruments. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in derivative transactions (for example, by making certain types of derivative instruments or transactions no longer available to a Fund), establish new margin requirements and/or increase the costs of derivatives transactions, and the Fund may as a result be unable to execute its investment strategies in a manner its Manager might otherwise choose.

Other Investment Companies

The Funds may invest in securities issued by other investment companies, including shares of money market funds, exchange traded funds (“ETFs”), open-end and closed-end investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and passive foreign investment companies.

ETFs may not be actively managed. Rather, an ETF’s objective may track the performance of a specified index. Therefore, securities may be purchased, retained and sold by ETFs at times when an actively managed trust would not do so. As a result, a Fund may have a greater risk of loss (and a correspondingly greater prospect of gain) from changes in the value of the securities that are heavily weighted in the index than would be the case if the ETF were not fully invested in such securities. Because of this, an ETF’s price can be volatile. In addition, the results of an ETF will not match the performance of the specified index due to reductions in the ETF’s performance attributable to transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the ETF to service providers.

 

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The value of commodity-linked ETFs may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, change in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The prices of commodity-related ETFs may fluctuate quickly and dramatically and may not correlate to price movements in other asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and cash

The Funds may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to NAV or at a premium to NAV. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by a Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and a Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the NAV of a Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by a Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund. Also, there may be a limited secondary market for shares of closed-end funds.

Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. A Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and NAV than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.

Shares of closed-end funds and ETFs are not individually redeemable, but are traded on securities exchanges. The prices of such shares are based upon, but not necessarily identical to, the value of the securities held by the issuer. There is no assurance that the requirements of the securities exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of any closed-end fund or ETF will continue to be met.

Real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with several requirements of the Code. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred directly by the Fund.

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills and on cash flows, are not diversified, and are subject to default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

Investment in REITs involves risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. These risks include limited financial resources, infrequent or limited trading, and more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities. In addition, small capitalization stocks, such as certain REITs, historically have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 Index.

Some of the countries in which the Funds may invest may not permit, or may place economic restrictions on, direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may be permitted only through foreign government-approved or government-authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. These funds may also invest in other investment companies that invest in foreign securities. Investing through such vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be subject to limitation under the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment company, a Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. Those expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that a Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.

 

15


Preferred Stock

Preferred stocks, like some debt obligations, are generally fixed-income securities. Shareholders of preferred stocks normally have the right to receive dividends at a fixed rate when and as declared by the issuer’s board of directors, but do not participate in other amounts available for distribution by the issuing corporation. Dividends on the preferred stock may be cumulative, and all cumulative dividends usually must be paid prior to shareholders of common stock receiving any dividends. Because preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends, preferred stocks generally entail less risk than common stocks. Upon liquidation, preferred stocks are entitled to a specified liquidation preference, which is generally the same as the par or stated value, and are senior in right of payment to common stock. Preferred stocks are, however, equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer as great a degree of protection of capital or assurance of continued income as investments in corporate debt securities. Preferred stock dividends are not guaranteed and management can elect to forego the preferred dividend, resulting in a loss to a Fund. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer, and convertible preferred stocks may be subordinated to other preferred stock of the same issue. Preferred stocks lack voting rights and the Adviser may incorrectly analyze the security, resulting in a loss to a Fund.

Regulatory Risk

Changes in the laws or regulations of the United States or other countries, including any changes to applicable tax laws and regulations, could impair the ability of a Fund to achieve its investment objective and could increase the operating expenses of the Fund.

Repurchase Agreements

To maintain liquidity, each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements (agreements to purchase U.S. Treasury notes and bills, subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a specified time and price) with well-established registered securities dealers or banks.

A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a Fund purchases a security and, at the same time, the seller (normally a commercial bank or broker-dealer) agrees to repurchase the same security (and/or a security substituted for it under the repurchase agreement) at an agreed-upon price and date in the future. The resale price is in excess of the purchase price, as it reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate effective for the period of time during which the Fund holds the securities. Repurchase agreements may be viewed as a type of secured lending. The purchaser maintains custody of the underlying securities prior to their repurchase; thus the obligation of the bank or dealer to pay the repurchase price on the date agreed to is, in effect, secured by such underlying securities. If the value of such securities is less than the repurchase price, the other party to the agreement is required to provide additional collateral so that all times the collateral is at least 102 % of the repurchase price.

The majority of these transactions run from day to day and not more than seven days from the original purchase. However, the maturities of the securities subject to repurchase agreements are not subject to any limits and may exceed one year. The securities will be marked to market every business day so that their value is at least equal to the amount due from the seller, including accrued interest. A Fund’s risk is limited to the ability of the seller to pay the agreed-upon sum on the delivery date.

Although repurchase agreements carry certain risks not associated with direct investments in securities, each Fund intends to enter into repurchase agreements only with banks and dealers believed by the Adviser to present minimum credit risks in accordance with guidelines established by the Board of Trustees.

Illiquid Securities

Each Fund may invest in illiquid securities. Each Fund will invest no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements and time deposits of more than seven days’ duration. The absence of a regular trading market for illiquid securities imposes additional risks on investments in these securities. Illiquid securities may be difficult to value and may often be disposed of only after considerable expense and delay. The SEC has adopted a liquidity risk management rule (the “Liquidity Rule”) that requires the Funds to establish a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees (defined infra), have designated the Adviser to administer the Funds’ LRMP. Under the LRMP, the Adviser assesses, manages, and periodically reviews the Funds’ liquidity risk. The Liquidity Rule defines “liquidity risk” as the risk that the Funds could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Funds without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Funds. The liquidity of the Funds’ portfolio investments is determined based on relevant market, trading and investment-specific considerations under the LRMP. To the extent that an investment is deemed to be an illiquid investment or a less liquid investment, the Funds can expect to be exposed to greater liquidity risk. While the liquidity risk management program attempts to assess and manage liquidity risk, there is no guarantee it will be effective in its operations and may not reduce the liquidity risk inherent in a Fund’s investments.

 

16


Rights

Rights are usually granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued to the public. The right entitles its holder to buy common stock at a specified price. Rights have similar features to warrants, except that the life of a right is typically much shorter, usually a few weeks. The risk of investing in a right is that the right may expire prior to the market value of the common stock exceeding the price fixed by the right.

Securities Issued in PIPE Transactions

Some Funds may invest in securities that are purchased in private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) transactions. Securities acquired by the Fund in such transactions are subject to resale restrictions under securities laws. While issuers in PIPE transactions typically agree that they will register the securities for resale by the Fund after the transaction closes (thereby removing resale restrictions), there is no guarantee that the securities will in fact be registered. In addition, a PIPE issuer may require the Fund to agree to other resale restrictions as a condition to the sale of such securities. Thus, a Fund’s ability to resell securities acquired in PIPE transactions may be limited, and even though a public market may exist for such securities, the securities held by the Fund may be deemed illiquid.

Sovereign Obligations

Sovereign debt includes investments in securities issued or guaranteed by a foreign sovereign government or its agencies, authorities or political subdivisions. An investment in sovereign debt obligations involves special risks not present in corporate debt obligations. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and a Fund may have limited recourse in the event of a default. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign debt may be more volatile than prices of U.S. debt obligations. In the past, certain emerging markets have encountered difficulties in servicing their debt obligations, withheld payments of principal and interest and declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debts. A sovereign debtor’s willingness or ability to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange, the relative size of the debt service burden, the sovereign debtor’s policy toward principal international lenders and local political constraints. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and other entities to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The failure of a sovereign debtor to implement economic reforms, achieve specified levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of third-party commitments to lend funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts.

Structured Investments

A structured investment is a security having a return tied to an underlying index or other security or asset class. Structured investments generally are individually negotiated agreements and may be traded over-the-counter. Structured investments are organized and operated to restructure the investment characteristics of the underlying security. This restructuring involves the deposit with or purchase by an entity, such as a corporation or trust, or specified instruments (such as commercial bank loans) and the issuance by that entity or one or more classes of securities (“structured securities”) backed by, or representing interests in, the underlying instruments. The cash flow on the underlying instruments may be apportioned among the newly issued structured securities to create securities with different investment characteristics, such as varying maturities, payment priorities and interest rate provisions, and the extent of such payments made with respect to structured securities is dependent on the extent of the cash flow on the underlying instruments. Because structured securities typically involve no credit enhancement, their credit risk generally will be equivalent to that of the underlying instruments. Investments in structured securities are generally of a class of structured securities that is either subordinated or unsubordinated to the right of payment of another class. Subordinated structured securities typically have higher yields and present greater risks than unsubordinated structured securities. Structured instruments include structured notes. In addition to the risks applicable to investments in structured investments and debt securities in general, structured notes bear the risk that the issuer may not be required to pay interest on the structured note if the index rate rises above or falls below a certain level. Structured securities are typically sold in private placement transactions, and there currently is no active trading market for structured securities. Investments in government and government-related restructured debt instruments are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt and requests to extend additional loan amounts. Structured investments include a wide variety of instruments including, without limitation, collateralized debt obligations, credit linked notes, and participation notes and participatory notes.

 

17


Swaps Risk

A Fund, as the purchaser in a swap, bears the risk that the investment might expire worthless. It also would be subject to counterparty risk—the risk that the counterparty may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Fund in the event of a default (or similar event). In addition, as a purchaser in a credit default swap, a Fund’s investment would only generate income in the event of an actual default (or similar event) by the issuer of the underlying obligation.

As the seller in a credit default swap, a Fund effectively adds economic leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. If no event of default (or similar event) occurs, a Fund would keep the premium payments received from the counterparty and generally would have no payment obligations, with the exception of an initial payment made on the credit default swap or any margin requirements with the credit default swap counterparty. For credit default swap agreements, trigger events for payment under the agreement vary by the type of underlying investment (e.g., corporate and sovereign debt and asset-backed securities) and by jurisdiction (e.g., United States, Europe and Asia).

In connection with credit default swaps in which a Fund is the seller, the Fund will typically segregate or “earmark cash or liquid assets, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the swap (minus any amounts owed to the Fund).

If the Funds enter into a credit default swap agreement, the Funds will write insurance protection on the full notional amount of the agreement. Whether a Fund’s use of swap agreements or swaptions will be successful in furthering its investment objectives will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a Fund’s interest. A Fund bears the risk that the Adviser will not accurately forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors in establishing swap positions for the Fund. Because swaps are two-party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because, they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. If a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Moreover, a Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument.

U.S. Government Securities

The Funds may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, including bills, notes and bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. Obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of Fannie Mae (“FNMA”), are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury; still others, such as those of the Federal Farm Credit Banks or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), 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 agencies or instrumentalities, such as FNMA, or the FHLMC, since it is not obligated to do so by law. These agencies or instrumentalities are supported by the issuer’s right to borrow specific amounts from the U.S. Treasury, the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations from such agencies or instrumentalities, or the credit of the agency or instrumentality. Whether backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury or not, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to fluctuating interest rates.

 

18


Ginnie Mae

Ginnie Mae is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. Ginnie Mae is a wholly-owned corporation of the U.S. government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by Ginnie Mae are treasury securities, which means the full faith and credit of the U.S. government backs them. Ginnie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration-insured or Veterans Administration guaranteed mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of the Funds’ shares. To buy Ginnie Mae securities, the Funds may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Funds may lose if prepayment occurs.

Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac is stockholder-owned corporation established by the U.S. Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders. Freddie Mac supplies lenders with the money to make mortgages and packages the mortgages into marketable securities. The system is designed to create a stable mortgage credit system and reduce the rates paid by homebuyers. Freddie Mac, not the U.S. government, guarantees timely payment of principal and interest.

Warrants

Warrants are securities that are usually issued with a bond or preferred stock but may trade separately in the market. A warrant allows its holder to purchase a specified amount of common stock at a specified price for a specified time. The risk of investing in a warrant is that the warrant may expire prior to the market value of the common stock exceeding the price fixed by the warrant. The Funds do not invest in warrants but may receive them pursuant to a corporate event involving one of its portfolio holdings. In addition, the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of a warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.

When-Issued or Delayed-Delivery Securities

The Funds may purchase securities on a “when-issued” or “delayed delivery” basis. Although the payment and interest terms of these securities are established at the time a Fund enters into the commitment, the securities may be delivered and paid for a month or more after the date of purchase, when their value may have changed. A Fund makes such commitments only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell the securities before settlement date if the investment adviser deems it advisable for investment reasons.

At the time a Fund enters into a binding obligation to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, liquid assets of the Fund having a value at least as great as the purchase price of the securities to be purchased will be segregated or earmarked on the books of the Fund and held by the Custodian throughout the period of the obligation. The use of these investment strategies, as well as any borrowing by the Fund, may increase NAV fluctuation.

Securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis are recorded as assets on the day following the purchase and are marked-to-market daily. A Fund will not invest more than 25% of its assets in when-issued or delayed delivery securities, does not intend to purchase such securities for speculative purposes and will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis with the intention of actually acquiring the securities. However, the Fund reserves the right to sell acquired when-issued or delayed-delivery securities before their settlement dates if deemed advisable.

Temporary Defensive Position

From time to time, each Fund may take temporary defensive positions that are inconsistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies, in attempting to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions. For example, a Fund may hold all or a portion of its assets in money market instruments (high quality income securities with maturities of less than one year), securities of money market funds or U.S. government repurchase agreements. A Fund may also invest in such investments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies. As a result, a Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

Fund Operations

Operational Risk. An investment in a Fund, like any fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. The occurrence of any of these failures, errors or breaches could result in a loss of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on a Fund. While the Funds seek to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to a Fund.

 

19


Information Security Risk. The Funds, and their service providers, may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized release of confidential information or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber-attacks affecting the Funds or the Adviser, Custodian, transfer agent, fund accounting agent, financial intermediaries, and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Funds. For instance, cyber-attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds’ ability to calculate their NAVs, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede security trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines, financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber-security risks are also present for issues or securities in which the Funds may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Funds’ investment in such companies to lose value.]

Investment Restrictions

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

1. Borrowing Money. Borrow money to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

2. Senior Securities. Issue senior securities to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

3. Underwriting. Act as underwriter of securities to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

4. Real Estate. Purchase, sell, or hold real estate or interests in real estate to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

5. Commodities. Invest in commodities to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

6. Loans. Make loans to others to the extent consistent with applicable law, regulation or order from time to time.

7. Concentration. Not purchase any securities which would cause more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities of issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry; provided that there shall be no limit on the purchase of U.S. government securities, including securities issued by any agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government, and related repurchase agreements.

In determining whether a transaction is permitted by applicable law, regulation, or order, the Funds currently construe fundamental policies (1) and (2) above not to prohibit any transaction that is permitted under Section 18 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, as interpreted or modified, or as may otherwise be permitted by regulators having jurisdiction from time to time. The Trust understands that the staff of the SEC deems certain transactions that the Funds may enter into to involve the issuance of a senior security unless certain cash, U.S. government securities or other high grade debt instruments are deposited in a segregated account or are otherwise covered. Such transactions include: short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, forward contracts, futures contracts and options thereon, options on securities and currencies, dollar rolls, and swaps, caps, floors and collars. Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness when such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed. Provisions of the 1940 Act permit the Funds to borrow from a bank, provided that the borrowing Funds maintains continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with exceptions for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary administrative purposes.

 

20


For purposes of fundamental policy (5) above, all swap agreements and other derivative instruments that were not classified as commodity interests or commodity contracts prior to July 21, 2010 are not deemed to be commodities or commodity contracts.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, with respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition of any security or the action taken.

Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions. The investment restrictions described below may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Shareholders will be given 60 days’ advance notice of any change to the following non-fundamental policies:

TSW Emerging Markets Fund: The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies that are domiciled in or tied economically to emerging market countries, including frontier markets.

TSW High Yield Bond Fund: The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in high yield fixed income securities, also known as “junk bonds” (higher risk, lower rated fixed income securities rated BB or below by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization or determined to be of a similar quality by the Subadviser).

TSW Large Cap Value Fund: The Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus the amount of borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies with large market capitalizations.

The Fund may:

 

  1.

Not securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

  2.

Not borrow money, except that (1) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements, in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (2) the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (3) the Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, and (4) the Fund may purchase securities on margin and engage in short sales to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Notwithstanding the investment restrictions above, the Fund may not borrow amounts in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets, taken at market value, and then only from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes such as the redemption of Fund shares. The Fund will not purchase securities while borrowings are outstanding except to exercise prior commitments and to exercise subscription rights.

 

  3.

Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.

 

  4.

Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

  5.

Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

  6.

Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund may, notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

21


The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the outstanding securities of any one investment company, unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder.

 

  7.

Write covered call options and may buy and sell put and call options.

 

  8.

Enter into repurchase agreements.

 

  9.

Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional shareholders. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.

 

  10.

Sell securities short and engage in short sales “against the box.”

 

  11.

Enter into swap transactions.

Further,

 

  12.

The Fund may not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies that are relatively large in terms of revenues and assets, and a market capitalization that exceeds $3 billion at time of purchases without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The foregoing percentages apply at the time of purchase.]

SHARES OF THE FUNDS

Shares in the Funds are offered in multiple classes. Each Fund is currently authorized to issue Advisor Shares, Investor Shares, Institutional Shares and Class Z Shares. The differences between the share classes are summarized in the Prospectus under the heading “How to Purchase Shares – Share Classes.” The procedures for purchasing shares of the Funds are summarized in the Prospectus under “How to Purchase Shares,” and the procedures for redeeming shares of the Funds are summarized in the Prospectus under “How to Redeem Shares.”

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

The Board of Trustees and Trust Officers

The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust and appoints the officers. Each Trustee serves until the termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires, or is removed. The Board plans to meet four times a year to review the progress and status of the Trust. The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act (each an “Independent Trustee”).

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1                 

  

Position(s)
Held with the
Trust2

  

Term of Office/
Length of Time
Served

  

Principal

Occupation(s) During

Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in
the Trust
Overseen
by Trustee

  

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Joseph P. Gennaco

(1961)

   Trustee    Since inception    Sole Principal at JPG Consulting, LLC (April 2019 – present); Independent Non-Executive Director at BNY Mellon International Limited (January 2019 – present); Executive at BNY Mellon (July 2005 – December 2018).    [11]    None

Barbara A. McCann

(1961)

   Trustee    Since inception    None    [11]    None

 

22


Name, Address and

Year of Birth1                 

  

Position(s)
Held with the
Trust2

  

Term of Office/
Length of Time
Served

  

Principal

Occupation(s) During

Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in
the Trust
Overseen
by Trustee

  

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Kevin J. McKenna

(1957)

   Trustee    Since inception    Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of BlackRock Global Allocation Fund Team at BlackRock, Inc. (January 2011 – September 2016).    [11]    None

Beth K. Werths

(1968)

   Trustee    Since inception    Executive Vice President and International General Counsel at Natixis Investment Management (until November 2020).    [11]    None

 

1 

The mailing address of each Trustee is 53 State Street, 13th Floor Boston, MA, 02109.

The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act and each officer of the Trust.

 

Name, Address and

Year of Birth1                 

  

Position(s)
Held with the
Trust

  

Term of Office/
Length of Time
Served

  

Principal

Occupation(s) During

Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in
the Trust
Overseen by
Trustee 

  

Other
Directorships
Held by
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Nicholas Good

(1973)

   Trustee    Since inception    Chief Executive Officer of JOHCM (USA) Inc. (December 2019 – present); Executive Vice President and Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at State Street Global Advisors (April 2018 – November 2019); Co-Head of Global SPDR Business at State Street Global Advisors (May 2016 – April 2018).    [11]    None

Jonathan Weitz

(1976)

   President and Chief Executive Officer    Since inception    Chief Operating Officer, US JOHCM (USA) Inc. 2020 to present; Senior Vice President—Business Manager JOHCM (USA) Inc. 2016 to 2020; Partner and Management Committee Member Century Capital Management 2003 to 2016.    N/A    N/A

Troy Sheets

(1971)

   Treasurer    Since inception    Senior Director, Foreside Financial Group, LLC 2016 to present; Director, Beacon Hill Fund Services, Inc. 2009 to 2016.    N/A    N/A

Mary Lomasney

(1957)

   Secretary    Since inception    Head of Legal and Compliance, US, JOHCM (USA) Inc. 2016 to present; Managing Director BNY Mellon 2007 to 2015.    N/A    N/A

Matthew J. Broucek

(1988)

   Assistant Secretary    Since inception    Vice President, Northern Trust Global Fund Services Fund Governance Solutions 2016 to present; Associate, RSM US LLP, 2015 to 2016.    N/A    N/A

 

1 

The mailing address of each Trustee is 53 State Street, 13th Floor Boston, MA, 02109.

 

23


As of December 31, 2020, none of the Trustees beneficially owned any of the equity securities of Trust

Trustee Compensation

Trustees who are deemed “interested persons” of the Trust and officers of the Trust receive no compensation from the Funds. The Trust has no retirement or pension plans. Because the Trust is newly formed, no compensation has yet been paid to the Trustees. The following table summarizes the compensation to be paid to the Independent Trustees for the Funds’ initial fiscal year ending September 30, 2021.1

 

Name of Trustee

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the Funds
     Total
Compensation
from the Trust
 

Joseph P. Gennaco

   $ 98,250      $ 98,250  

Barbara A. McCann

   $ 92,250      $ 92,250  

Kevin J. McKenna

   $ 92,250      $ 92,250  

Beth K. Werths

   $ 95,250      $ 95,250  

 

1 

Total compensation is based on estimated amounts to be paid for the Funds’ initial fiscal year ending September 30, 2021. For the initial fiscal year, the Funds expect to pay compensation to the Independent Trustees for three of the four fiscal quarters. At its initial meeting in December 2020, the Board approved retainer fees for the Independent Trustees at the following annual rates: $105,000 for each Independent Trustee, in addition to $12,000 for each member of the Audit Committee (and $8,000 for the chair of the Audit Committee) and $6,000 for each member of the Nominating and Governance Committee (and $4,000 for the chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee). The Board additionally approved compensatory fees for special meetings at the following per-meeting rates: $3,000 for in-person special meetings of the Board, and $1,500 for in-person special meetings of the Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.

Leadership Structure and Board of Trustees

The primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees is to represent the interests of the shareholders of the Trust and to provide oversight of the management of the Trust. Four of the Trustees on the Board are independent of and not affiliated with the Adviser or its affiliates. The Chair of the Board of Trustees is Nicholas Good, who is an interested Trustee. The Board has adopted Fund Governance Guidelines to provide guidance for effective leadership. The guidance sets forth criteria for Board membership, trustee orientation and continuing education and annual trustee evaluations. The Board reviews quarterly reports from the investment advisers providing management services to the Funds, as well as quarterly reports from the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and other service providers. This process allows the Board to effectively evaluate issues that impact the Trust as a whole as well as issues that are unique to each Fund. The Board has determined that this leadership structure is appropriate to ensure that the regular business of the Board is conducted efficiently while still permitting the Trustees to effectively fulfill their fiduciary and oversight obligations. The Board reviews its structure and the structure of its committees annually.

The Trustees have delegated day-to-day operations to various service providers whose activities they oversee. The Trustees have also engaged legal counsel (who is also legal counsel to the Trust) that is independent of the Adviser or its affiliates to advise them on matters relating to their responsibilities in connection with the Trust. The Trustees meet separately in an executive session on an at least quarterly basis and meet separately in executive session with the Funds’ CCO at least annually. On an annual basis, the Board conducts a self-assessment and evaluates its structure and the structure of its committees. The Board has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee.

All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee’s function is to oversee the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; to oversee the quality and objectivity of the Trust’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; and to act as a liaison between the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee is able to focus Board time and attention to matters of interest to shareholders and, through its private sessions with the Trust’s auditor, CCO and legal counsel, stay fully informed regarding management decisions. Because the Trust is newly organized, the Audit Committee did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

All of the Independent Trustees are members of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Nominating and Governance Committee nominates candidates for election to the Board of Trustees, makes nominations for membership on all committees. The Nominating and Governance Committee also reviews as necessary the responsibilities of any committees of the Board and whether there is a continuing need for each committee, whether there is a need for additional committees of the Board, and whether committees should be combined or reorganized. The Nominating and Governance Committee makes recommendations for any such

 

24


action to the full Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee also considers candidates for trustees nominated by shareholders. Shareholders may recommend candidates for Board positions by forwarding their correspondence to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s address and the shareholder communication will be forwarded to the Nominating and Governance Committee Chairperson for evaluation. Because the Trust is newly organized, the Nominating and Governance Committee did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Board Oversight of Risk

The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and financial risks, among others. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Funds resides with the Adviser or other service providers, subject to supervision by Fund Management. The Audit Committee and the Board oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed. For example, the Board meets with portfolio managers and receives regular reports regarding investment and liquidity risks. The Board meets with the CCO and receives regular reports regarding compliance and regulatory risks. The Audit Committee meets with the Trust’s Treasurer and receives regular reports regarding fund operations and risks related to the valuation, and overall financial reporting of the Funds. From its review of these reports and discussions with management, the Board learns in detail about the material risks to which each Fund is exposed, enabling a dialogue about how management and service providers mitigate those risks.

Not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified nor can controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. It may not be practical or cost effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, the processes and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness, and some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the Funds or the Adviser, its affiliates, or other service providers. Moreover, it is necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds’ goals. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Funds’ ability to manage risk is subject to substantial limitations. The Trustees believe that their current oversight approach is an appropriate way to manage risks facing each Fund, whether investment, compliance, financial, or otherwise. The Trustees may, at any time in their discretion, change the manner in which they conduct risk oversight of the Funds.

Additional Information About the Trustees

The Board believes each of the Trustees has demonstrated leadership abilities and possesses experience, qualifications, and skills valuable to the Trust. Each of the Trustees has substantial business and professional backgrounds that indicate they have the ability to critically review, evaluate and access information provided to them.

Below is additional information concerning each particular Trustee and his or her attributes. The information provided below, and in the chart above, is not all-inclusive. Many Trustee attributes involve intangible elements, such as intelligence, work ethic, the ability to work together, and the ability to communicate effectively, exercise judgment, ask incisive questions, manage people and problems or develop solutions.

Joseph P. Gennaco is a seasoned and results-driven business executive with impeccable integrity and strong leadership skills. He has close to 40 years’ worth of experience with various areas of business and finance including: Operations, Technology, Finance, Risk & Compliance, and all facets of Distribution (including Sales, Marketing, Relationship Management, and Product Development). Mr. Gennaco additionally possesses strong communications skills, as well as interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Barbara A. McCann is a senior financial services executive who is skilled at developing and implementing business strategies. Ms. McCann has a proven record of executing business initiatives through managing teams within and across business lines. She managed the BNY Mellon Institutional Funds Group, during which time she succeeded in growing the group’s assets under management from $1.5 billion to over $5.5 billion in the span of two years. Ms. McCann has worked closely with sales, compliance, legal investment managers and operational groups to ensure continued growth of the funds she has overseen, and she is familiar with many funds and investment boutiques. Ms. McCann also served as the Secretary of the Mellon Institutional Funds Group Board.

Kevin J. McKenna has over 30 years of experience in the investment management industry, and has an abiding respect for fiduciary duty. He has managed a wide variety of fixed income portfolios and supervised a large and complex fixed-income investment platform. Mr. McKenna has also served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for a large multi-asset team, where he served as the team’s primary point of contact with corporate Internal Audit and Risk Management groups. Separately, Mr. McKenna sat on the Regional and Global Management Committees of a leading global prime broker.

 

25


Beth K. Werths has senior executive level experience in business and management that provides her with an insightful perspective on strategic planning, risk oversight, operational matters and crisis management that is valuable to the Board. Her legal expertise and leadership on global governance, regulatory, product development, information technology and information security issues contribute to her skills in the areas of risk management, compliance, internal controls, legislative advocacy and cybersecurity. She provides the Board with considerable knowledge and insight regarding the financial services industry as well as governance, regulatory and investor relations issues that are relevant to large corporations. She has a record of demonstrated executive leadership and integrity and has served in roles where she counsels other senior executives and boards.

Nicholas Good is very closely connected to the Funds from a performance, risk and commercial perspective due to his position as Chief Executive Officer of JOHCM (USA) Inc. Mr. Good possesses over 20 years’ worth of experience in asset management.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Trust, the Adviser, and the principal underwriter have each adopted a Code of Ethics (the “Code”) under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. The personnel subject to the Code are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund.

DISTRIBUTION

The Funds have adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, applicable to Advisor Shares and Investor Shares that permits each Fund to pay for certain distribution and promotion activities related to marketing their shares and other shareholder services (the “Plan”). Pursuant to the Plan, a Fund will pay its principal underwriter a fee for the principal underwriter’s services in connection with the sales and promotion of the Fund and the provision of shareholder services to Fund shareholders, including its expenses in connection therewith, at an annual rate of ten basis points (0.10%) of each of the Funds’ average daily net assets attributable to Advisor Shares, twenty-five basis points (0.25%) of each of the Funds’ average daily net assets attributable to Investor Shares. Payments received by the principal underwriter pursuant to the Plan may be greater or less than distribution expenses incurred by the principal underwriter with respect to the applicable class and are in addition to fees paid by each Fund pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The principal underwriter may in turn pay others for distribution and shareholder servicing as described below.

The Plan has been approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or any related agreement. Continuation of the Plan and the related agreements must be approved by the Trustees annually, in the same manner, and a Plan or any related agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by a majority of such Independent Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable class. Any amendment increasing the maximum percentage payable under a Plan or other material change must be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable class, and all other material amendments to a Plan or any related agreement must be approved by a majority of the Independent Trustees.

Financial Intermediaries

The Funds may authorize certain financial intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on its behalf. A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when a financial intermediary or its designee accepts the order. These orders will be priced at the NAV next calculated after the order is accepted.

The Funds may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries under which a Fund pays the financial intermediaries for services, such as networking, sub-transfer agency and/or omnibus recordkeeping. The Funds may also reimburse the Adviser or JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) for amounts they pay to financial intermediaries for the provision of such services. The amount of such payments and/or reimbursements and the manner in which such amount is calculated are reviewed by the Trustees periodically. The amount of such payments permitted to be made outside the Plan is currently capped by resolution of the Board. Any payments made pursuant to agreements between the Funds and financial intermediaries are in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder servicing fees that a financial intermediary may be receiving under an agreement with the Distributor. The Funds may enter into certain agreements with financial intermediaries that require payments for sub-transfer agency services in excess of the Board-approved cap on payments and/or reimbursements to financial intermediaries. In such instances the Adviser will pay, out of its own profits, the difference between the amount due under the agreement with the financial intermediary and the cap on such payments and/or reimbursements approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

26


Financial intermediaries are firms that sell shares of mutual funds, including the Fund, for compensation and/or provide certain administrative and account maintenance services to mutual fund investors. Financial intermediaries may include, among others, brokers, financial planners or advisers, banks, and insurance companies. In some cases, a financial intermediary may hold its clients’ Fund shares in nominee name. Shareholder services provided by a financial intermediary may (though they will not necessarily) include, among other things: processing and mailing trade confirmations, periodic statements, prospectuses, annual reports, semiannual reports, shareholder notices, and other SEC-required communications; capturing and processing tax data; issuing and mailing dividend checks to shareholders who have selected cash distributions; preparing record date shareholder lists for proxy solicitations; collecting and posting distributions to shareholder accounts; and establishing and maintaining systematic withdrawals and automated investment plans and shareholder account registrations. The Funds may from time to time purchase securities issued by financial intermediaries that provide such services, or their affiliates; however, in selecting investments for a Fund, no preference will be shown for such securities.

The compensation paid by the Funds or the Adviser or its affiliates to a financial intermediary is typically paid continually over time, during the period when the financial intermediary’s clients hold investments in the Funds. The amount of continuing compensation paid by a Fund or the Adviser or its affiliates to different financial intermediaries for shareholder services varies. The compensation is typically a percentage of the value of the financial intermediary’s clients’ investments in a Fund or a per account fee. The variation in compensation may, but will not necessarily, reflect enhanced or additional services provided by the financial intermediary.

If payments to financial intermediaries by a mutual fund, distributor or adviser for a particular mutual fund complex exceed payments by other mutual fund complexes, a shareholder’s financial adviser and the financial intermediary employing him or her may have an incentive to recommend that fund complex over others. Please speak with a financial adviser to learn more about the total amounts paid to that financial adviser and his or her firm by the Distributor and its affiliates and by sponsors of other mutual funds he or she may recommend to you. You should also consult disclosures made by your financial intermediary at the time of purchase. You should ask your financial intermediary whether it receives additional cash compensation payments, as described below, from the Adviser or its affiliates.

If you are purchasing, selling, exchanging or holding Fund shares through a program of services offered by a financial intermediary, you may be required by the financial intermediary to pay additional fees. You should contact the financial intermediary for information concerning what additional fees, if any, may be charged.

The Distributor, the Adviser and/or their affiliates may make payments to financial intermediaries for distribution, shareholder servicing, marketing and promotional activities and related expenses out of their profits and other available sources, including profits from their relationships with the Funds. These payments are not reflected as Fund expenses in the fee table contained in the Prospectus. The total amount of these payments may be substantial, may be substantial to any given recipient, and may exceed the costs and expenses incurred by the recipient for any fund-related marketing or shareholder servicing activities. The payments described in this paragraph are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” Revenue sharing arrangements are separately negotiated between the Distributor, the Adviser and/or their affiliates, and the recipients of these payments. Revenue sharing payments may also include non-cash compensation to financial intermediaries and their representatives in the form of (1) occasional gifts; (2) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (3) sponsorship support of regional or national conferences or seminars.

Revenue sharing payments create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of a Fund to you. Contact your financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it receives or may receive. Revenue sharing payments, as well as payments by a Fund under the Plan or for recordkeeping and/or shareholder services, also benefit the Adviser, the Distributor and their affiliates to the extent the payments result in more assets being invested in the Fund(s) on which fees are being charged.

Because the Funds have not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, no revenue sharing payments have been made by the Funds’ Adviser or Distributor in respect of the Funds.

 

27


CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Control Persons and Principal Holders

Shareholders who beneficially own more than 25% of the shares of a Fund are presumed to “control” the Fund as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Persons controlling a Fund can affect the outcome of proposals submitted to the shareholders for approval, including changes to the Fund’s fundamental policies or the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. As of [ ], 2021, the persons listed below owned of record 5% or more of a class of the Predecessor Fund’s outstanding shares. Because TSW Emerging Markets Fund and TSW High Yield Bond Fund commenced operations on or following the date of this SAI, as of [ ], 2021, no person or entity “controlled” (within the meaning of the 1940 Act) such Funds.

[[Fund] – [ ] Shares]

 

Shareholder Name, Address

  

% Ownership

  

Shareholder Name, Address

  

% Ownership

[ ]    [ ]%    [ ]    [ ]%
[ ]    [ ]%          

Management Ownership

As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers of the Funds, as a group, did not own any outstanding equity securities of the Funds.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

The Investment Adviser

JOHCM (USA) Inc. (the “Adviser” or “JOHCM USA”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser’s principal place of business is 53 State Street, 13th Floor Boston, MA, 02109. JOHCM USA is wholly owned by J O Hambro Capital Management Limited (“JOH Ltd.,” and, together with JOHCM USA, “JOHCM”), which is organized under the laws of England and Wales. The Adviser is an investment adviser registered with the SEC in the U.S. under the 1940 Act. As Adviser to the Funds, JOHCM USA continuously reviews, supervises, and administers each Fund’s investment program. JOHCM USA also ensures compliance with each Fund’s investment policies and guidelines. As of December 31, 2020, JOHCM USA had approximately $2.5 billion in assets under management.

JOHCM USA has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with JOH Ltd., its United Kingdom-based affiliate, and with its Singapore-based affiliate, JOHCM (Singapore) Pte. Limited (“JOH Singapore”). Pursuant to these arrangements, certain employees of JOH Ltd. and JOH Singapore, as “participating affiliates,” will serve as “associated persons” of JOHCM USA and, in this capacity, be subject to the oversight of JOHCM USA and its Chief Compliance Officer. These associated persons will, on behalf of JOHCM USA, provide discretionary investment management services (including acting as portfolio managers), research and related services to the Funds in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and limitations set forth in this SAI and the Prospectus. While JOH Ltd. is currently registered as an investment adviser with the SEC, while acting as a participating affiliate of JOHCM USA, its associated persons will be subject to the policies and procedures of JOHCM USA. JOH Ltd. may in the future deregister as an investment adviser in the US, but such deregistration would not affect the participating affiliate arrangement through which it provides services to the Funds. JOH Singapore is not registered as an investment adviser with the SEC.

In addition, trading personnel will be shared across the affiliates referenced above, and execution of trades may be done by personnel employed by these affiliated entities, in each case subject to the participating affiliate arrangements described above. JOHCM USA expects to execute a substantial portion of each Fund’s trading orders through personnel and systems housed at JOH Ltd. in the United Kingdom. JOHCM USA expects to utilize this arrangement for the Funds regardless of whether the named portfolio managers are located in the U.S., U.K. or Singapore.

Under the terms of the Trust’s Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser (“Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, provides or arranges to be provided to the Funds such investment advice as its deems advisable and will furnish or arrange to be furnished a continuous investment program for the Funds consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and policies. As compensation for advisory services, the Funds are obligated to pay the Adviser fees computed and accrued daily and paid monthly at the annual rates set forth below:

 

28


Fund    Percentage of Average Daily Net Assets  

TSW Emerging Markets Fund

     [ ]% 

TSW High Yield Bond Fund

     [ ]% 

TSW Large Cap Value Fund

     [ ]% 

Because the Trust is newly organized, no fees were paid to the Adviser pursuant to the Advisory Agreement in any prior fiscal year.

The Advisory Agreement will continue for an initial term of two years, and on a year-to-year basis thereafter, provided that continuance is approved at least annually by specific approval of the Board of Trustees or by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund. In either event, it must also be approved by a majority of the Trustees who are neither parties to the Advisory Agreement nor interested persons, as defined in the 1940 Act, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time without the payment of any penalty by the Board of Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund on not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser. In the event of its assignment, the Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically.

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses to the extent that total annual operating expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) to amounts specified in the Prospectus of each Fund until June 30, 2022. If it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements for a period not to exceed three years from the date on which the waiver or reimbursement was made to the extent that such a recapture does not cause the total annual fund operating expenses (excluding brokerage costs, interest, taxes, dividends, litigation and indemnification expenses, expenses associated with investments in underlying investment companies, and extraordinary expenses) to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. The agreement to waive fees and reimburse expenses may be terminated by the Board of Trustees at any time and will terminate automatically upon termination of the Advisory Agreement.

The Subadviser

[Thompson, Siegel & Walmsley LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TSW”) serves as the subadviser to the Funds. TSW’s principal place of business is 6641 W. Broad Street, Suite 600, Richmond, Virginia 23230. The Subadviser serves as subadviser pursuant to a subadvisory agreement (the “Subadvisory Agreement”). Under the Subadvisory Agreement, subject to the supervision of the Board and the Adviser, the Subadviser regularly provides with respect to the portion of the Funds’ assets allocated to it by the Adviser, investment research, advice, management and supervision; furnishes a continuous investment program for the allocated assets consistent with the Funds’ investment objectives, policies and restrictions; and places orders pursuant to its investment determinations. The Subadviser may delegate to companies that the Subadviser controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, certain of the Subadviser’s duties under a Subadvisory Agreement, subject to the Subadviser’s supervision, provided the Subadviser will not be relieved of its duties or obligations under the Subadvisory Agreement as a result of any delegation.

The Subadvisory Agreement will continue in effect for its initial term and thereafter from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act), and (b) in either event, by a majority of the Independent Trustees with such Independent Trustees casting votes in person at a meeting called for such purpose. The Board or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) may terminate the Subadvisory Agreement without penalty, in each case on not more than [ ] days’ nor less than [ ] days’ written notice to the Subadviser. The Subadviser may terminate the respective Subadvisory Agreement, on [ ] days’ written notice to the Funds and the Adviser. The Subadvisory Agreement may be terminated upon the mutual written consent of the Adviser and the Subadviser. The Subadvisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act) by the applicable Subadviser, and shall not be assignable by the Adviser without the consent of the Subadviser.

The Subadvisory Agreement provides that the Subadviser, its affiliates performing services contemplated by the Subadvisory Agreement, and the partners, shareholders, directors, officers and employees of the Subadviser and such affiliates will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment, or for any act or omission in the execution of securities transactions for the Funds, but the Subadviser is not protected against any liability to the Funds or the Adviser to which the Subadviser would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Subadvisory Agreement.

 

29


As compensation for its services, the Adviser pays to TSW a fee equal to [ ]% of the management fee paid to the Adviser by the Funds, net of any waivers and expense reimbursements.]

[Portfolio Manager Holdings

The following table indicates for the TSW Large Cap Value Fund the dollar range of shares beneficially owned in the Predecessor Fund by the Portfolio Managers as of [ ], 2021.]

 

               [Dollar Range of Shares in the TSW Large Cap Value Fund]
Individual    Title   

None

   $1–  
$10,000
   $10,001–  
$50,000
   $50,001–  
$100,000
   $100,001–  
$500,000
   $500,001–  
$1,000,000
  

Over

$1,000,000

Brett P. Hawkins    Co-Portfolio Manager                                   
Bryan F. Durand    Co-Portfolio Manager                                   

Other Portfolio Manager Information

The portfolio managers are also responsible for managing other account portfolios in addition to the respective Fund that they manage.

A portfolio manager’s management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund investments on the one hand and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The side-by-side management of a Fund and other accounts presents a variety of potential conflicts of interests. For example, the portfolio manager may purchase or sell securities for one portfolio and not another. The performance of securities within one portfolio may differ from the performance of securities in another portfolio.

In some cases, another account managed by the same portfolio manager may compensate the Adviser based on performance of the portfolio held by that account. Performance-based fee arrangements may create an incentive for the Adviser to favor higher-fee-paying accounts over other accounts, including accounts that are charged no performance-based fees, in the allocation of investment opportunities. The Adviser has adopted policies and procedures that seek to mitigate such conflicts and to ensure that all clients are treated fairly and equally.

Another potential conflict could arise in instances in which securities considered as investments for the Funds are also appropriate investments for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser. When a decision is made to buy or sell a security by a Fund and one or more of the other accounts, the adviser may aggregate the purchase or sale of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a manner it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. However, a variety of factors can determine whether a particular account may participate in a particular aggregated transaction. Because of such differences, there may be differences in invested positions and securities held in accounts managed according to similar strategies. When aggregating orders, the Adviser employs procedures designed to ensure accounts will be treated in a fair and equitable manner and no account will be favored over any other. The Adviser has implemented specific policies and procedures to address any potential conflicts.

The following tables indicate the number of accounts and asset under management (in millions) for each type of account for each portfolio manager (and one research analyst responsible for day-to-day management) as of [ ], 2021.

 

30


Elliott W. Jones, Portfolio Manager, TSW Emerging Markets Fund

 

     Number of Accounts    Assets Under Management
(in millions)

Account Type

   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee
   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee

Registered Investment Companies

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Accounts

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Total

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

C. Will Halladay, Research Analyst, TSW Emerging Markets Fund

 

     Number of Accounts    Assets Under Management
(in millions)

Account Type

   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee
   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee

Registered Investment Companies

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Accounts

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Total

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

William M. Bellamy, Portfolio Manager, TSW High Yield Bond Fund

 

     Number of Accounts    Assets Under Management
(in millions)

Account Type

   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee
   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee

Registered Investment Companies

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Accounts

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Total

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Brett P. Hawkins, Co-Portfolio Manager, TSW Large Cap Value Fund

 

     Number of Accounts    Assets Under Management
(in millions)

Account Type

   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee
   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee

Registered Investment Companies

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Other Accounts

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

Total

   []    []    $[]    $[ ]

 

31


Bryan F. Durand, Co-Portfolio Manager, TSW Large Cap Value Fund

 

     Number of Accounts    Assets Under Management
(in millions)

Account Type

   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee
   Total    Subject to a
Performance
Fee

Registered Investment Companies

   []    []    $[ ]    $[ ]

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   []    []    $[ ]    $[ ]

Other Accounts

   []    []    $[ ]    $[ ]

Total

   []    []    $[ ]    $[ ]

Portfolio Manager Compensation

The Adviser compensates the portfolio managers for their management of the Funds. The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a combination of some or all of the following: a base salary, a revenue share (proportion of the management fee generated as well as performance fees earned by the firm from the non-U.S. mutual fund portfolios they manage, and equity interest in the firm.

Fund Services

The Northern Trust Company, 50 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, serves as the Administrator (“Administrator”) for the Funds and serves as the Funds’ Transfer Agent, Custodian, and Fund Accounting Agent. The Custodian acts as the Trust’s depository, provides safekeeping of its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Trust’s request, and maintains records in connection with its duties. The Transfer Agent maintains the records of each shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of Fund shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent, and performs other accounting and shareholder service functions. The fees and certain expenses of the Transfer Agent, Custodian, Fund Accounting Agent, and Administrator are paid by the Funds.

The Management Fees paid by the Predecessor Fund to SEI Investments Global Fund Services, the Predecessor Fund’s administrator, for the last three fiscal years are set forth in the table below:

 

     Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2020
   Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2019
   Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2018
TSW Large Cap Value Fund     
     $125,344    $125,002    $125,002

TSW Emerging Markets Fund and TSW High Yield Bond Fund are newly organized, and did not pay any administrative fees or expenses during the prior fiscal year.

Distributor

JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC, the Distributor, a subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC, located at 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, provides distribution services to the Funds pursuant to a distribution agreement with the Trust. Under its agreement with the Trust, the Distributor acts as an agent of the Trust in connection with the offering of the shares of the Funds on a continuous basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Distributor, and its officers, have no role in determining each Funds’ investment policies or which securities to buy or sell.

The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks, or other financial institutions for distribution of shares of the Funds. The Trust in its discretion also may from time to time, subject to applicable law, issue shares of the Funds other than through the Distributor.

 

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, One North Wacker, Chicago, Illinois 60606, has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds for the initial fiscal year ending September 30, 2021 in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will perform an annual audit of the Funds’ financial statements and provides audit and tax services.

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for each Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility, and responsiveness of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.

All decisions concerning the purchase and sale of securities and the allocation of brokerage commissions on behalf of the Funds are made by the Adviser. In selecting broker-dealers to use for such transactions, the Adviser will seek to achieve the best overall result for a Fund taking into consideration a range of factors that include not just price, but also the broker’s reliability, reputation in the industry, financial standing, infrastructure, research and execution services and ability to accommodate special transaction needs. The Adviser will use knowledge of each Fund’s circumstances and requirements to determine the factors that the Adviser takes into account for the purpose of providing each Fund with “best execution.”

Under a participating affiliate arrangement, JOHCM USA may borrow personnel and resources from its affiliates, JOH Ltd., to execute trades for the Funds. JOHCM USA may utilize this arrangement for both United Kingdom securities and non-United Kingdom securities for all JOHCM Funds, including JOHCM Funds which are otherwise managed by portfolio management teams based in the United States.

Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter, or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.

The following table shows the dollar amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Predecessor Fund to firms that provided research and brokerage services and the approximate dollar amount of transactions involved during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, October 31, 2019, and October 31, 2018. Funds that are not listed paid no brokerage commissions to firms for such services.

 

Fund    Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2020
   Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2019
   Fiscal Year Ended October
31, 2018
TSW Large Cap Value Fund     
     $25,692    $22,373    $26,401

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Funds will not disclose (or authorize the Custodian or principal underwriter to disclose) portfolio holdings information to any person or entity except as follows:

 

   

To persons providing services to the Funds who have a need to know such information in order to fulfill their obligations to the Funds, such as portfolio managers, administrators, custodians, pricing services, proxy voting services, accounting and auditing services, liquidity vendors, and research and trading services, and the Trust’s Board of Trustees;

 

   

In connection with periodic reports that are available to shareholders and the public;

 

33


   

To mutual fund rating or statistical agencies or persons performing similar functions;

 

   

Pursuant to a regulatory request or as otherwise required by law; or

 

   

To persons approved in writing by the CCO or President of the Trust.

Monthly top ten holdings and active weightings for each Fund are available on its website (www.johcm.com/us/our-funds) 15 calendar days after each month-end. In addition to this monthly disclosure, each Fund may also make publicly available its portfolio holdings at other dates as may be determined from time to time. To find the top ten holdings and active weightings for each Fund, click on “Asset Allocation” in the right hand column next to the Fund. The same information is also available by calling the Trust at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913.

A complete listing of quarter-end portfolio holdings for each Fund is available on its website (www.johcm.com/us/our-funds) 10 calendar days after each quarter-end. To find the quarter end portfolio holdings for each Fund, click on ”Overview” in the right hand column next to the Fund and then click on “Quarterly Holdings” next to “Fund Material”. The same information is also available by calling the Trust at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913. The Funds will disclose portfolio holdings quarterly, in the annual and semi-annual Reports, as well as in filings with the SEC, in each case no later than 60 days after the end of the applicable fiscal period.

Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Funds have ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings information on a daily basis to the Adviser, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent, and Custodian and on an as needed basis to other third parties providing services to the Funds. The Adviser, Administrator, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian receive portfolio holdings information daily in order to carry out the essential operations of the Funds. The Funds disclose portfolio holdings to their auditors, legal counsel, proxy voting services (if applicable), pricing services, printers, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisers or sub-advisers. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel at any time. The Funds, the Adviser, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent, and the Custodian, are prohibited from entering into any special or ad hoc arrangements with any person to make available information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings without the specific approval of the Trust’s CCO or President. Any party wishing to release portfolio holdings information on an ad hoc or special basis must submit any proposed arrangement to the CCO, which will review the arrangement to determine (i) whether the arrangement is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders, (ii) whether the information will be kept confidential (based on the factors discussed below), (iii) whether sufficient protections are in place to guard against personal trading based on the information, and (iv) whether the disclosure presents a conflict of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of the Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Funds or the Adviser. The CCO will provide to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis a report regarding all portfolio holdings information released on an ad hoc or special basis. Additionally, the Adviser and any affiliated persons of the Adviser, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Funds, as a result of disclosing the Funds’ portfolio holdings. The Trust’s CCO monitors compliance with these procedures, and reviews their effectiveness on an annual basis.

Information disclosed to third parties, whether on an ongoing or ad hoc basis, is disclosed under conditions of confidentiality. “Conditions of confidentiality” include (i) confidentiality clauses in written agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential. The agreements with the Funds’ Adviser, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent, and Custodian contain confidentiality clauses, which the Board and these parties have determined extend to the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings and the duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Trust believes that these are reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality of the Funds’ portfolio holdings and will provide sufficient protection against personal trading based on the information.

DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE

The price (NAV) of the shares of each Fund is determined at the close of trading of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT except for the following days on which the share price of each Fund is not calculated: Saturdays and Sundays; U.S. national holidays including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Security prices are generally provided by an independent third party pricing service approved by the Trustees as of the close of the NYSE, normally at 4:00 pm ET, each business day on which the share price of the Funds are calculated (as defined in each Fund’s prospectus).

 

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Equity securities (including options, rights, warrants, futures, and options on futures) traded in the over-the-counter market or on a primary exchange shall be valued at the closing price or last trade price, as applicable, as determined by the primary exchange. If no sale occurred on the valuation date, the securities will be valued at the latest quotations available from the designated pricing vendor as of the closing of the primary exchange. Securities for which quotations are either (1) not readily available or (2) determined to not accurately reflect their value are valued at their fair value using procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Significant bid-ask spreads, or infrequent trading may indicate a lack of readily available market quotations. Securities traded on more than one exchange will first be valued at the last sale price on the principal exchange, and then the secondary exchange. The NASD National Market System is considered an exchange. Investments in other open-end registered investment companies are valued at their respective NAV as reported by such companies.

Fixed-income securities will be valued at the latest quotations available from the designated pricing vendor. These quotations will be derived by an approved independent pricing service based on their proprietary calculation models. In the event that market quotations are not readily available for short-term debt instruments, securities with less than 61 days to maturity may be valued at amortized cost as long as there are no credit or other impairments of the issuer.

In the event an approved pricing service is unable to provide a readily available quotation, the security may be priced by an alternative source, such as a broker who covers the security and can provide a daily market quotation. The appropriateness of the alternative source, such as the continued use of the broker, will be reviewed and ratified quarterly by the Funds’ Fair Value Committee (“FVC”). Securities for which quotations are (1) not readily available, (2) not provided by an approved pricing service or broker, or (3) determined to not accurately reflect their value, are valued by the FVC using procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.

Foreign securities, currencies and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of such currencies against the U.S. dollar, as of valuation time, as provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Board.

REDEMPTION IN-KIND

The Funds ordinarily do not intend to redeem shares in any form except cash. However, if the amount redeemed is over the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of a Fund’s net assets, each Fund has the right to redeem shares by giving the redeeming shareholder the amount that exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets in securities instead of cash. In the event that an in-kind distribution is made, a shareholder may incur additional expenses, such as the payment of brokerage commissions, on the sale or other disposition of the securities received from a Fund.

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following tax information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the tax information contained in each Fund’s Prospectus. The Prospectus generally describes the U.S. federal income tax treatment of each Fund and its shareholders. This section of the SAI provides additional information concerning U.S. federal income taxes. It is based on the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, judicial authority, and administrative rulings and practice, all as in effect as of the date of this SAI and all of which are subject to change, including with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to investments in each Fund. There maybe other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situation and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.

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

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company

Each Fund has elected or will elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code and intends each year to qualify and to be eligible to be treated as such. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things: (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from: (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as defined below); (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (i) at least 50% of the fair market value of its total assets consists of: (A) cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities and

 

35


securities of other RICs; and (B) other securities (other than those described in clause (A)) limited in respect of any one issuer to a value that does not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities of any one issuer (other than those described in clause (i)(A)), the securities (other than securities of other RICs) of two or more issuers the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and (c) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, taking into account any capital loss carryforwards) and its net tax-exempt income, for such year.

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

For purposes of the diversification test in (b) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership and in the case of a Fund’s investments in loan participations, the Fund shall treat both the financial intermediary and the issuer of the underlying loan as an issuer. Also, for purposes of the diversification test in (b) above, the identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain undercurrent law, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to issuer identification for a particular type of investment may adversely affect a Fund’s ability to meet the diversification test in (b) above. The qualifying income and diversification requirements described above may limit the extent to which a Fund can engage in certain derivative transactions, as well as the extent to which it can invest in MLPs and certain commodity-linked ETFs.

If a Fund qualifies as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, determined with reference to any capital loss carryforwards) distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).

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

Each Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction), its net tax-exempt income (if any), and its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation. Any taxable income, including any net capital gain retained by a Fund, will be subject to tax at the Fund level at regular corporate rates.

In the case of net capital gain, each Fund is permitted to designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a timely notice to its shareholders who would then, in turn, be: (i) required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their shares of such undistributed amount; and (ii) entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly-filed U.S.

 

36


tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If a Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund would be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. A Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance a Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income, and its earnings and profits, a RIC generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its: (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, and (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

In order to comply with the distribution requirements described above applicable to RICs, a Fund generally must make the distributions in the same taxable year that it realizes the income and gain, although in certain circumstances, a Fund may make the distributions in the following taxable year in respect of income and gains from the prior taxable year.

If a Fund declares a distribution to shareholders of record in October, November, or December of one calendar year and pays the distribution in January of the following calendar year, the Fund and its shareholders will be treated as if the Fund paid the distribution on December 31 of the earlier year.

Excise Tax

If a Fund were to fail to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 of such year (or December 31 of that year if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the Fund would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts.

Each Fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid the imposition of the 4% excise tax. However, no assurance can be given that a Fund will not be subject to the excise tax.

For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a RIC’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be taken into account after October 31 of a calendar year generally are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also, for these purposes, a Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year.

Capital Loss Carryforwards

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, each Fund is able to carry forward a net capital loss from any taxable year to offset its capital gains, if any, realized during a subsequent taxable year. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains.

If a Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses, those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration; any such carryover losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term.

See each Fund’s most recent annual shareholder report for each Fund’s available capital loss carryforwards, if any, as of the end of its most recently ended fiscal year.

Fund Distributions

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, a Fund will recognize long-term capital

 

37


gain or loss on investments it has owned for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned for one year or less. Tax rules can alter a Fund’s holding period in investments and thereby affect the tax treatment of gain or loss on such investments. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by a Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates relative to ordinary income. The IRS and the Department of the Treasury have issued proposed regulations that would impose special rules in respect of Capital Gain Dividends received through partnership interests constituting “applicable partnership interests” under Section 1061 of the Code. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of investment income reported by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to net capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.

The Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things: (i) distributions paid by a Fund of net investment income and capital gains as described above; and (ii) any net gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in a Fund.

As required by federal law, detailed federal tax information with respect to each calendar year will be furnished to each shareholder early in the succeeding year.

If, in and with respect to any taxable year, a Fund makes a distribution to a shareholder in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of such shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in its shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of its shares. To the extent a Fund makes distributions of capital gains in excess of the Fund’s net capital gain for the taxable year (as reduced by any available capital loss carryforwards from prior taxable years), there is a possibility that the distributions will be taxable as ordinary dividend distributions, even though distributed excess amounts would not have been subject to tax if retained by the Fund.

Distributions are taxable as described herein whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

A dividend paid to shareholders in January generally is deemed to have been paid by a Fund on December 31 of the preceding year, if the dividend was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November or December of that preceding year.

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

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

 

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In general, distributions of investment income reported by a Fund as derived from qualified dividend income are treated as qualified dividend income in the hands of a shareholder taxed as an individual, provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares.

If the aggregate qualified dividends received by a Fund during a taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income (excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly reported as Capital Gain Dividends) are eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

In general, dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of a Fund qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by a Fund will not be treated as a dividend eligible for the dividends-received deduction: (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock); or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends received deduction may otherwise be disallowed or reduced: (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund; or (2) by application of various provisions of the Code (for instance, the dividends-received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock (generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds)).

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

Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, are treated as qualified REIT dividends in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. Non-corporate shareholders are permitted a federal income tax deduction equal to 20% of qualified REIT dividends received by them, subject to certain limitations. Very generally, a “section 199A dividend” is any dividend or portion thereof that is attributable to certain dividends received by the Fund from REITs, to the extent such dividends are properly reported as such by the RIC in a written notice to its shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so.

Subject to future regulatory guidance to the contrary, distributions attributable to qualified publicly traded partnership income from a Fund’s investments in MLPs will ostensibly not qualify for the deduction available to non-corporate taxpayers in respect of such amounts received directly from an MLP.

Tax Implications of Certain Fund Investments

Special Rules for Debt Obligations. Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in a Fund’s income and required to be distributed by the Fund over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by a Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Subject to the discussion below regarding Section 451 of the Code: (i) generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt security having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt security; (ii) alternatively, a Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income

 

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(as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security; and (iii) the rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in a Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, Section 451 of the Code generally requires any accrual method taxpayer to take into account items of gross income no later than the time at which such items are taken into account as revenue in the taxpayer’s financial statements. The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations providing that Section 451 does not apply to the accrual of market discount. If Section 451 were to apply to the accrual of market discount, a Fund would be required to include in income any market discount as it takes the same into account on its financial statements.

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

If a Fund holds the foregoing kinds of obligations, or other obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or, if necessary, by disposition of portfolio securities including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so. These dispositions may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend than if the Fund had not held such obligations.

Securities Purchased at a Premium. Very generally, where a Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity - that is, at a premium - the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if the Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require the Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.

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

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

Certain Investments in REITs. Any investment by a Fund in equity securities of REITs qualifying as such under Subchapter M of the Code may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction and generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

Certain distributions made by the Fund attributable to dividends received by the Funds from REITs may qualify as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders, as discussed above.

Mortgage-Related Securities. A Fund may invest directly or indirectly in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of each Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest

 

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in a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC will be allocated to shareholders of the RIC in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related interest directly. As a result, a Fund investing in such interests may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.

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

Foreign Currency Transactions. Any transaction by a Fund in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations or certain foreign currency options, futures contracts or forward contracts (or similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses generally will reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions. Such ordinary income treatment may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by a Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

Foreign currency gains generally are treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. There is a remote possibility that the Secretary of the Treasury will issue contrary tax regulations with respect to foreign currency gains that are not directly related to a RIC’s principal business of investing in stocks or securities (or options or futures with respect to stocks or securities), and such regulations could apply retroactively.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, a Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, a Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the PFIC. A Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold (and, solely for purposes of this mark-to-market election, repurchased) its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.” A foreign issuer in which a Fund invests will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to the Fund if such issuer is a controlled foreign corporation (“CFC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the Fund holds (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of the voting interests in or total value of such issuer. In such a case, a Fund generally would be required to include in gross income each year, as ordinary income, its share of certain amounts of a CFC’s income, whether or not the CFC distributes such amounts to the Fund.

Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, a Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

Options and Futures

In general, option premiums received by a Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If a call option written by a Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the Fund generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of the Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

 

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A Fund’s options activities may include transactions constituting straddles for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is, that trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Such straddles include, for example, positions in a particular security, or an index of securities, and one or more options that offset the former position, including options that are “covered” by a Fund’s long position in the subject security. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires: (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter; and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. These straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the dividends-received deduction, as the case may be.

The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by a Fund (including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options) will be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, section 1256 contracts held by a Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable.

Other Derivatives, Hedging, and Related Transactions. In addition to the special rules described above in respect of futures and options transactions, each Fund’s transactions in other derivative instruments (e.g., forward contracts and swap agreements), as well as any of its hedging, short sale, securities loan or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (e.g., notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, thereby affecting, among other things, whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders.

Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain undercurrent law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid a Fund-level tax.

Commodity-Linked Instruments. A Fund’s investments in commodity-linked instruments can be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and can bear on the Fund’s ability to so qualify. Income and gains from certain commodity-linked instruments do not constitute qualifying income to a RIC for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. The tax treatment of some other commodity-linked instruments in which a Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a RIC. If a Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a RIC unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.

Exchange-Traded Notes, Structured Notes. The tax rules are uncertain with respect to the treatment of income or gains arising in respect of commodity-linked ETNs and certain commodity-linked structured notes; also, the timing and character of income or gains arising from ETNs can be uncertain. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect a Fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a RIC and to avoid a fund-level tax.

Book-Tax Differences. Certain of a Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If such a difference arises, and the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income

 

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to qualify as a RIC that is accorded special tax treatment and to avoid an entity-level tax. In the alternative, if the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt income, the distribution (if any) of such excess generally will be treated as: (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income); (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in its shares; and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Investments in Other RICs. A Fund’s investments in shares of another mutual fund, an ETF or another company that qualifies as a RIC (each, an “investment company”) can cause the Fund to be required to distribute greater amounts of net investment income or net capital gain than the Fund would have distributed had it invested directly in the securities held by the investment company, rather than in shares of the investment company. Further, the amount or timing of distributions from a Fund qualifying for treatment as a particular character (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment company. If a Fund receives dividends from an investment company and the investment company reports such dividends as qualified dividend income, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report a portion of its distributions as qualified dividend income, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the investment company.

If a Fund receives dividends from an investment company and the investment company reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report its distributions derived from those dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction as well, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the investment company.

Investments in Master Limited Partnerships and Certain Non-U.S. Entities. A Fund’s ability to make direct and indirect investments in MLPs and certain non-U.S. entities is limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC, and if the Fund does not appropriately limit such investments or if such investments are recharacterized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s status as a RIC may be jeopardized. Among other limitations, the Fund is permitted to have no more than 25% of the value of its total assets invested in qualified publicly traded partnerships, including MLPs.

Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to qualified publicly traded partnership income from a Fund’s investment in a MLP will ostensibly not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such MLP directly.

Tax-Exempt Shareholders

Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b).

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

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

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

 

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Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares

The sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss.

In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held by a shareholder for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares.

Further, all or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash-sale” rule if other substantially identical shares are purchased, including by means of dividend reinvestment, within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

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

Foreign Taxation

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

Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in a Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

Foreign Shareholders

Distributions by a Fund to shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“foreign shareholders”) properly reported by the Fund as: (1) Capital Gain Dividends; (2) short-term capital gain dividends; and (3) interest-related dividends, each as defined below and subject to certain conditions described below, generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax.

In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S. source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual foreign shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. The exception to

 

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withholding for interest-related dividends does not apply to distributions to a foreign shareholder (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation. If a Fund invests in a RIC that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to foreign shareholders. The Fund may report such part of its dividends as interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to shareholders.

Foreign shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts.

Distributions by a Fund to foreign shareholders other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

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

Subject to certain exceptions (e.g., for a Fund that is a “United States real property holding corporation” as described below), a Fund is generally not required (and does not expect) to withhold on the amount of a non-dividend distribution (i.e., a distribution that is not paid out of the Fund’s current earnings and profits for the applicable taxable year or accumulated earnings and profits) when paid to its foreign shareholders.

Special rules would apply if a Fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A Fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and RICs that are QIEs, not-greater-than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in RICs generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether a Fund is a QIE.

If an interest in a Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, in which case such foreign shareholder generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

Moreover, if a Fund were a USRPHC or, very generally, had been one in the last five years, it would be required to withhold on amounts distributed to a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder to the extent such amounts would not be treated as a dividend, i.e., are in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated “earnings and profits” for the applicable taxable year. Such withholding generally is not required if the Fund is a domestically controlled QIE.

If a Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to: (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands; and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s foreign shareholders and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a foreign shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the foreign shareholder’s current and past ownership of the Fund.

 

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Foreign shareholders of each Fund also maybe subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.

Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisers and, if holding shares through intermediaries, their intermediaries, concerning the application of these rules to their investment in a Fund.

Foreign shareholders with respect to whom income from a Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the foreign shareholder within the United States will in general be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income derived from the Fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in shares of the Fund and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a foreign shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States. More generally, foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

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

Special rules (including withholding and reporting requirements) apply to foreign partnerships and those holding Fund shares through foreign partnerships. Additional considerations may apply to foreign trusts and estates. Investors holding Fund shares through foreign entities should consult their tax advisers about their particular situation.

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

Backup Withholding

Each Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts

Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of a Fund could be required to report annually their “financial interest” in the Fund’s “foreign financial accounts,” if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (“FBAR”). Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, and persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements

Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require each Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, a Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays. The IRS and the Department of Treasury have issued proposed regulations providing that these withholding rules will not apply to the gross proceeds of share redemptions or Capital Gain Dividends a Fund pays. If a payment by a Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends).

 

46


Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

General Considerations

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

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Board of Trustees has delegated responsibilities for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by each Fund to the Adviser, which has delegated such responsibilities to the Subadviser, subject to the general oversight of the Board. The Subadviser has adopted written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the 1940 Act, as amended, consistent with its fiduciary obligations. The Proxy Policy has been approved by the Board of Trustees. The Proxy Policy is designed and implemented in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights are exercised prudently and solely in the best economic interests of the Funds and their shareholders considering all relevant factors and without undue influence from individuals or groups who may have an economic interest in the outcome of a proxy vote. Any conflict between the best economic interests of the Funds and the Subadviser’s interests will be resolved in the Funds’ favor pursuant to the Proxy Policy.

The Adviser’s and Subadviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures are attached as Appendix A.

Investors may obtain a copy of the proxy voting policies and procedures by writing to the Trust in the name of the pertinent Fund c/o The Northern Trust Company, P.O. Box 4766, Chicago, Illinois 60680-4766 or by calling the Trust at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913. Information about how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ending June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling the Trust at 866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913 and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October  31, 2020 for TSW Large Cap Value Fund are included in the Predecessor Fund’s Annual Report, which was filed with the SEC on January 11, 2021 as part of the Predecessor Fund’s filing on Form N-CSR and is incorporated into this SAI by reference. The Annual Report is available, without charge, upon request, by calling [866-260-9549 (toll free) or 312-557-5913]. TSW Emerging Markets Fund and TSW High Yield Bond Fund are newly organized and do not have audited financial statements available as of the date of the SAI.

 

 

47


APPENDIX A

J O HAMBRO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED

JOHCM (USA) INC.

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES SUMMARY

JOHCM USA has established procedures to ensure that all proxies that are received are properly distributed and voted on a timely basis in the best interest of the client. JOHCM USA uses Broadridge Proxy Edge and ISS Proxy Exchange to facilitate its voting and engagement activities. ISS is used for research and recommendations and Broadridge Proxy Edge is used to vote.

Where ISS research highlights issues which do not represent best practice, portfolio managers may discuss the issue internally with the Investment Director or they may choose to discuss specific issues directly with company management. After careful analysis, a voting decision is made by the portfolio manager for the particular account and an authorized individual submits the proxy vote.

Should a conflict of interest arise between JOHCM USA’s interests and those of a client, JOHCM USA will arrange a discussion with such client to review the proxy voting materials and the conflict and will obtain the client’s consent before voting. If JOHCM USA is not able to obtain the client’s consent, JOHCM USA shall take reasonable steps to ensure, and must be able to demonstrate that those steps resulted in, a decision to vote the proxies in the best interests of the client.

Once the proxy has been voted, it is recorded and stored on the Broadridge Proxy Edge system. These records contain the proxy statements received on behalf of the client and the record of votes cast on behalf of the client. The Adviser also retains any documents that it has prepared which were material to making a decision on how to vote, or that memorialized the basis for the decision, and records of the client’s requests for proxy voting information and any written response.

Clients may request a copy of our proxy voting policy or information regarding this proxy voting policy, including how JOHCM USA voted on specific proxies.

 

A-1


[THOMPSON, SIEGEL & WALMSLEY LLC

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Policy

TSW has a fiduciary responsibility to its clients for voting proxies, where authorized, for portfolio securities consistent with the best economic interests of its clients. TSW maintains written policies and procedures as to the handling, research, voting and reporting of proxy voting and makes appropriate disclosures about our Firm’s proxy voting policies and practices in Form ADV Part 2A. In addition, we review our policies and practices no less than annually for adequacy; to make sure they have been implemented effectively, and to make sure they continue to be reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of our clients. Our policy and practice include the responsibility to monitor corporate actions and potential conflicts of interest, receive and vote client proxies, and make information available to clients about the voting of proxies for their portfolio securities while maintaining relevant and required records.

Background

Proxy voting is an important right of shareholders, and reasonable care and diligence should be undertaken to ensure that such rights are properly exercised.

Investment advisers registered with the SEC, and which exercise voting authority with respect to client securities, are required by Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act to (a) adopt and implement written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that client securities are voted in the best interests of clients, which should include how an adviser addresses material conflicts that may arise between an adviser’s interests and those of its clients; (b) disclose to clients how they may obtain information from the adviser with respect to the voting of proxies for their securities; (c) describe to clients a summary of its proxy voting policies and procedures and, upon request, furnish a copy to its clients; and (d) maintain certain records relating to the adviser’s proxy voting activities when the adviser does have proxy voting authority.

A related companion release by the SEC also adopted rule and form amendments under the Securities Act and Investment Company Act similar to the above which TSW complies with when acting as a sub-adviser to a mutual fund.

Responsibility

TSW’s Compliance Officer (Proxy Coordinator) has the responsibility for the organization and monitoring of our proxy voting policy, practices, and recordkeeping. Implementation and disclosure, including outlining our voting guidelines in our procedures, is the responsibility of the CCO and Director of Operations. TSW has retained the services of a third-party provider, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”) to assist with the proxy process. ISS is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Advisers Act. It is a leading provider of proxy voting and corporate governance services. ISS provides TSW proxy proposal research and voting recommendations and votes proxies on TSW’s behalf in accordance with ISS’s standard voting guidelines. Those guidelines cover the following areas:

 

   

Operational Issues

 

   

Board of Directors

 

   

Proxy Contests

 

   

Anti-takeover Defenses and Voting Related Issues

 

   

Mergers and Corporate Restructurings

 

   

State of Incorporation

 

   

Capital Structure

 

   

Executive & Director Compensation

 

   

Equity Compensation Plans

 

   

Specific Treatment of Certain Award Types in Equity Plan Evaluations

 

A-2


   

Other Compensation Proposals & Policies

 

   

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

 

   

Social/Environmental Issues

 

   

Consumer Issues and Public Safety

 

   

Environment and Energy

 

   

General Corporate Issues

 

   

Labor Standards and Human Rights

 

   

Military Business

 

   

Workplace Diversity

 

   

Mutual Fund Proxies

TSW generally believes that voting proxies in a manner that is favorable to a business’s long-term performance and valuation is in its clients’ best interests. However, a uniform voting policy may not be in the best interest of all clients. While TSW applies ISS’s standard policy to most clients, where appropriate we utilize ISS’s Taft-Hartley or Catholic policy guidelines to meet specific requirements.

TSW’s Proxy Coordinator is responsible for monitoring ISS’s voting procedures on an ongoing basis. TSW’s general procedure regarding the voting of proxies is addressed below. For instances not directly addressed in this policy the Proxy Oversight Representative should act in accordance with the principles outlined in the SEC’s Guidance Regarding Proxy Voting Responsibilities of Investment Advisers issued in August 2019 in consultation with the Proxy Coordinator.

Procedure

TSW has adopted various procedures and internal controls to review, monitor and ensure the Firm’s Proxy Voting policy is observed, implemented properly and amended or updated, as appropriate, which include the following:

Voting Procedures

 

   

Upon timely receipt of proxy materials, ISS will automatically release vote instructions on client’s behalf as soon as custom research is completed. TSW retains authority to override the votes (before cut-off date) if TSW disagrees with the vote recommendation.

 

   

The Proxy Coordinator will monitor the voting process at ISS via ISS’s Proxy Exchange website (ISS’s online voting and research platform). Records of which accounts are voted, how accounts are voted, and how many shares are voted are kept electronically with ISS.

 

   

For proxies not received by ISS, TSW and ISS will make a best effort attempt to receive ballots from the clients’ custodian prior to the vote cutoff date.

 

   

TSW is responsible for account maintenance – opening and closing of accounts, transmission of holdings and account environment monitoring. ISS will email TSW Compliance personnel to get approval when closing an account that was not directed by TSW.

 

   

The Manager of Research Operations (Proxy Oversight Representative) will keep abreast of any critical or exceptional events or events qualifying as a conflict of interest via ISS Proxy Exchange website and email.

 

   

TSW has the ability to override ISS recommended vote instructions and will do so if believed to be in the best interest of the client. All changes are documented and coordinated between the Proxy Oversight Representative and/or Proxy Coordinator and the Portfolio Manager and/or Research Analyst. Changes generally occur as a result of TSW’s communication with issuer management regarding matters pertaining to securities held when the issuer questions or disputes ISS’s voting recommendation.

All proxies are voted solely in the best interest of clients on a best efforts basis. Proactive communication takes place via regular meetings with ISS’s Client Relations team.

 

A-3


Disclosure

TSW will provide conspicuously displayed information in its Disclosure Document summarizing this Proxy Voting policy, including a statement that clients may request information regarding how TSW voted a client’s proxies, and that clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures.

See Form ADV, Part 2A – Item 17– Voting Client Securities

Client Requests for Information

 

   

All client requests for information regarding proxy votes, or policies and procedures, received by any associate should be forwarded to the Proxy Coordinator.

 

   

In response to any request, the Proxy Coordinator will prepare a response to the client with the information requested, and as applicable, will include the name of the issuer, the proposal voted upon, and how TSW voted the client’s proxy with respect to each proposal about which the client inquired.

Voting Guidelines

 

   

TSW has a fiduciary responsibility under ERISA to vote ERISA Plan proxies unless the Plan directs otherwise. TSW will vote proxies when directed by non-ERISA clients. In the absence of specific voting guidelines from the client and upon timely receipt of proxy materials from the custodian, TSW will vote proxies in the best interests of each particular client according to the recommended election of ISS. ISS’s policy is to vote all proxies from a specific issuer the same way for each client, ab sent qualifying restrictions from a client. Clients are permitted to place reasonable restrictions on TSW’s voting authority in the same manner that they may place such restrictions on the actual selection of account securities.

 

   

ISS will generally vote in favor of routine corporate housekeeping proposals such as the election of directors and selection of auditors absent conflicts of interest raised by auditors’ non-audit services.

 

   

ISS will generally vote against proposals that cause board members to become entrenched, reduce shareholder control over management or in some way diminish shareholders’ present or future value.

 

   

In reviewing proposals, ISS will further consider the opinion of management and the effect on management, and the effect on shareholder value and the issuer’s business practices.

 

   

A complete summary of ISS’s U.S. and International voting guidelines is available at: https://www.issgovernance.com/policy

Forensic Testing Procedures

 

   

No less than quarterly, TSW will review the ISS Proxy Exchange list of accounts voted to ensure all appropriate accounts are being voted. This will be performed by the Proxy Coordinator.

 

   

TSW will conduct periodic tests to review proxy voting records and the application of general voting guidelines, especially in circumstances such as corporate events (e.g., mergers and acquisition transactions, dissolutions, conversions, consolidations, etc.) or contested director elections. Any matter warranting additional, often issuer-specific review will be escalated to the Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst as needed.

 

   

TSW occasionally communicates directly with issuer management regarding matters pertaining to securities held in the portfolio when it questions or disputes ISS’s voting recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest

 

   

TSW will identify any conflicts that exist between the interests of the adviser and each client by reviewing the relationship of TSW with the issuer of each security to determine if TSW or any of its associates has any financial, business or personal relationship with the issuer.

 

   

If a material conflict of interest exists, the Proxy Coordinator will instruct ISS to vote using ISS’s standard policy guidelines which are derived independently from TSW.

 

   

TSW will maintain a record of the voting resolution of any conflict of interest.

 

   

ISS also maintains a Conflicts Policy which indicates how they address any potential conflicts of interest and is available at: https://www.issgovernance.com/compliance/due-diligencematerials

 

 

A-4


Practical Limitations Relating to Proxy Voting

TSW makes a best effort to vote proxies. In certain circumstances, it may be impractical or impossible for TSW to do so. Identifiable circumstances include:

 

   

Limited Value: Where TSW has concluded that to do so would have no identifiable economic benefit to the client-shareholder;

 

   

Unjustifiable Cost: When the costs of or disadvantages resulting from voting, in TSW’s judgment, outweigh the economic benefits of voting;

 

   

Securities Lending: If securities are on loan on the record date, the client lending the security cannot vote the proxy. Because TSW generally is not aware of when a security is on loan, we will not likely have the opportunity to recall the security prior to the record date; and

 

   

Failure to receive proxy statements: TSW may not be able to vote proxies in connection with certain holdings, most frequently for foreign securities, if it does not receive the account’s proxy statement in time to vote the proxy.

Recordkeeping

TSW and/or ISS shall retain the following proxy records in accordance with the SEC’s five-year retention requirement:

 

   

These policies and procedures and any amendments;

 

   

Each proxy statement that ISS receives;

 

   

A record of each vote that ISS casts on behalf of TSW;

 

   

Any document ISS created that was material to making a decision regarding how to vote proxies, or that memorializes that decision; and

 

   

A copy of each client request for information on how ISS voted such client’s proxies (i.e., Vote Summary Report), and a copy of any response.

Due Diligence and Error Procedures

TSW will periodically perform due diligence on ISS, focusing on the following areas:

 

   

Adequacy of ISS’s staffing and personnel;

 

   

Adequacy/robustness of ISS’s Policies and Procedures and review of their policies for conflict issues;

 

   

Adequacy of control environment and operational controls of ISS (i.e., SSAE 18);

 

   

Review of any specific conflicts ISS may have with regard to TSW;

 

   

Review of ISS for any business changes that may affect services provided to TSW; and

 

   

Review quarterly reporting package provided by ISS and enhance this package as necessary for any additional information that is needed.

TSW will take the following steps should there ever be an issue/error that occurs with regard to its proxy voting responsibilities:

 

   

Follow up with ISS to determine the cause of and the details surrounding the issue;

 

   

Report back to the affected client immediately with such details and how the issue will be resolved;

 

   

Put additional controls in place if necessary, to prevent such issues from occurring in the future; and

 

   

Report back to the affected client with the final resolution and any remedial steps.]

 

A-5


PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits.

 

(a)  

(i) Agreement and Declaration of Trust .1

(ii) Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust. 3

  (iii) Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust – filed herewith.
(b)   Amended and Restated Bylaws. 1
(c)   Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holder. None other than in the Declaration of Trust and Bylaws of the Registrant.
(d)   (i) Investment Advisory Agreement between JOHCM Funds Trust and JOHCM (USA) Inc. 1
  (ii) Amended and Restated Schedules A and B to the Investment Advisory Agreement for the JOHCM Funds, adding Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions. 4
  (iii) Amended and Restated Schedules A and B to the Investment Advisory Agreement for the JOHCM Funds, adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.
(e)   Distribution Agreement between JOHCM Funds Trust and JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC. 4
  (i) Amended and Restated Exhibit A to the Distribution Agreement for JOHCM Funds Trust, adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.
(f)   Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts. Not applicable.
(g)   Form of Custody Agreement. 1
(h)   Other Material Contracts.
  (i)    Form of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between registrant (“Registrant” or “Trust”) and The Northern Trust Company . 1
  (ii)    Form of Fund Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Trust and JOHCM (USA) Inc. 1
  (iii)    Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and JOHCM (USA) Inc. 1
  (iv)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement adding Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions. 4
  (v)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.
  (vi)    Shareholder Services, Recordkeeping and Sub-Transfer Agency Services Agreement between the Trust and JOHCM (USA) Inc. 2
  (vii)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Shareholder Services, Recordkeeping and Sub-Transfer Agency Services Agreement – adding Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions. 4
  (viii)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Shareholder Services, Recordkeeping and Sub-Transfer Agency Services Agreement adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.
  (ix)    Administration and Compliance Services Agreement between the Trust and JOHCM (USA) Inc. 2
  (x)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Administration and Compliance Services Agreement adding Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions . 4
  (xi)    Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Administration and Compliance Services Agreement adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.
(i)   (i) Legal Opinion and consent of Ropes  & Gray LLP as to JOHCM Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund, JOHCM Global Select Fund, JOHCM International Select Fund, JOHCM International Small Cap Equity Fund, JOHCM Emerging Markets Small Mid Cap Equity Fund, JOHCM International Opportunities Fund, JOHCM Global Income Builder Fund, and JOHCM Credit Income Fund. 1
  (ii) Legal Opinion and consent of Ropes & Gray LLP as to Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions. 4
  (iii) Legal Opinion and consent of Ropes & Gray LLP as to TSW Emerging Markets Fund, TSW High Yield Bond Fund, and TSW Large Cap Value Fund – to be filed by amendment.
(j)   Other Opinions.
  (i)    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm. Not applicable.
(k)   Omitted Financial Statements. Not applicable.
(l)   Initial Capital Agreements.
  (i)    Subscription Agreement. Not applicable.


(m)

 

(i) Rule 12b-1 Plan. 1

 

(ii) Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 adding Regnan Global Equity Impact Solutions. 4

 

(iii) Amended and Restated Schedule A to the Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 adding the TSW Funds – to be filed by amendment.

(n)

 

Rule 18f-3 Plan. 1

(o)

 

Powers of Attorney.

 

(i)             Power of Attorney for Joseph P. Gennaco, Barbara A. McCann, Kevin J. McKenna, Beth K. Werths, and Nicholas Good. 2

(ii)             Power of Attorney for Jonathan Weitz. 2

(iii)             Power of Attorney for Troy Sheets. 2

(p)

 

Code of Ethics.

 

(i)

  

Code of Ethics of JOHCM Funds Trust. 1

 

(iii)

  

Code of Ethics of the Distributor. 1

 

(iii)

  

Code of Ethics of JOHCM (USA) Inc. 1

 

1 

Previously filed as an Exhibit to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2021.

2 

Previously filed as an Exhibit to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2021.

3

Previously filed as Exhibit to Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2021.

4

Previously filed as Exhibit to Registrant’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2021.

Item 29. Control Persons. Not applicable.

Item 30. Indemnification.

Reference is made to Article VIII, sections 1 through 3, of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”), which is incorporated by reference herein. In addition, the Registrant maintains a trustees and officers liability insurance policy under which the Registrant and its trustees and officers are named insureds. Certain service providers to the Registrant also have contractually agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the trustees against liability arising in connection with the service provider’s performance of services under the relevant agreement.

The Registrant also agreed to contractually indemnify each trustee. The agreement between the Registrant and each trustee, in addition to delineating certain procedural aspects relating to indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by the Declaration of Trust and Amended and Bylaws and the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as now or hereafter in force, provides that the Registrant shall indemnify and hold harmless a trustee against any and all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the trustee in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the trustee’s service to the Trust, unless the trustee has been adjudicated in a final adjudication on the merits to have engaged in certain disabling conduct.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, 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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.

JOHCM (USA) Inc., 53 State Street, 13th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, is registered as an investment adviser and is a wholly owned subsidiary of J O Hambro Capital Management Limited. Additional information about the adviser and its officers is incorporated by reference to the Statement of Additional Information filed herewith, and the adviser’s Form ADV, file number 801-78083. Neither the adviser, nor its officers or directors, have engaged in another business of a substantial nature during the last two years.

Item 32. Principal Underwriter.

 

  (a)

Not applicable.

 

  (b)

The following are the Officers and Manager of JOHCM Funds Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”). The Distributor’s main business address is Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101.

 

Name

  

Address

  

Position with
Underwriter

  

Position with Registrant

Richard J. Berthy    Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101    President, Treasurer and Manager    None
Mark A. Fairbanks    Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101    Vice President    None
Jennifer K. DiValerio    899 Cassatt Road, 400 Berwyn Park, Suite 110, Berwyn, PA 19312    Vice President    None
Nanette K. Chern    Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    None
Jennifer E. Hoopes    Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, ME 04101    Secretary    None

 

  (c)

Not applicable.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records.

Accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained by the Registrant at 53 State Street, 13th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 and/or by the Registrant’s administrator, transfer agent, fund accounting agent and custodian, The Northern Trust Company, 50 LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60603; the Registrant’s compliance and financial control services service provider, Foreside Fund Officer Services, LLC, 690 Taylor Road, Suite 210, Gahanna, Ohio 43230; the Registrant’s distributor, JOHCM Funds Distributors, 3 Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101; JOHCM (USA) Inc., 53 State Street, 13th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, and J O Hambro Capital Management Limited, Ryder Court, Ground Floor, 14 Ryder Street, London SW1Y6QB, United Kingdom for certain records.

Item 34. Management Services. Not applicable.

Item 35. Undertakings. None.


NOTICE

A copy of the Declaration of JOHCM Funds Trust, together with all amendments thereto, is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer or Trustee of the Trust in his or her capacity as an officer or Trustee of the Trust and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees or officers of the Trust or shareholders of any series of the Trust individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust or the respective series.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 10th day of August, 2021.

 

JOHCM Funds Trust
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Weitz

Name:   Jonathan Weitz
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Jonathan Weitz

Jonathan Weitz

   President and Chief Executive Officer   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Troy Sheets*

Troy Sheets

   Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Joseph P. Gennaco*

Joseph P. Gennaco

   Trustee   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Barbara A. McCann*

Barbara A. McCann

   Trustee   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Kevin J. McKenna*

Kevin J. McKenna

   Trustee   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Beth K. Werths*

Beth K. Werths

   Trustee   

August 10, 2021

/s/ Nicholas Good*

Nicholas Good

   Trustee   

August 10, 2021

 

*By:  

/s/ Jonathan Weitz

Jonathan Weitz, as Attorney-in-Fact
Date: August 10, 2021

 


Exhibit Index

 

(i)    Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust    Exhibit (a)(iii)