N-2 1 fp0058822_n2.htm

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2020

 

1933 Act File No. 333-[ ]

1940 Act File No. 811-23616

File No. 814-[ ]

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-2

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

[X]
 

 

and

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

[X]
     

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED REAL ASSET FUND

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

414-299-2270

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

 

Terrance P. Gallagher

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

Joshua B. Deringer, Esq.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

215-988-2700

 

APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:

AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE

 

[   ]Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans.

 

[X]Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan.

 

 

 

[   ]Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto.

 

[   ]Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.

 

[   ]Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act.

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

 

  [X] when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act

 

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

  [   ] This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement].

 

  [   ] This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .

 

  [   ] This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .

 

  [   ] This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: .

 

Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:

 

  [X] Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”)).

 

  [   ] Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act).

 

  [   ] Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the Investment Company Act).

 

  [   ]

A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form).

 

  [   ] Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

 

 

  [   ] Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”).

 

  [   ] If an Emerging Growth Company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.

 

  [X] New Registrant (registered or regulated under the Investment Company Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing).

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1) AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION FEE
Shares of Beneficial Interest $1,000,000 $109.10

 

(1)  Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

 

Subject to Completion, [DATE]

 

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

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED REAL ASSET FUND

PROSPECTUS

 

[DATE]

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund (the “Fund”) is a Delaware statutory trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund operates under an Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”) dated October 26, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). Aspiriant, LLC serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund. The Investment Manager is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long term capital appreciation. The Fund is a “fund of funds” that intends to invest primarily in general or limited partnerships, funds, corporations, trusts or other investment vehicles (collectively, “Investment Funds”) that invest substantially all their assets in real estate, infrastructure, commodities and other real asset securities and funds.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets in Investment Funds that hold equity, debt and other economic interests in real assets or real asset companies. The Fund cannot guarantee that its investment objective will be achieved or that its strategy of investing in the Investment Funds will be successful. SEE “PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 8.

 

This Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) applies to the offering of shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the Fund. The Fund expects to commence the public offering of the Shares in [January] 2021 and will publicly offer Shares thereafter. The Shares will generally be offered as of the first business day of each calendar quarter or at such other times as may be determined by the Fund, in each case subject to any applicable sales charges and other fees, as described herein. The Shares will be issued at net asset value per Share. The Fund has registered $1,000,000 for sale under the registration statement to which this Prospectus relates. No Shareholder will have the right to require the Fund to redeem its Shares.

 

Simultaneous with the commencement of the Fund’s operations (“Commencement of Operations”), the Global Real Estate Opportunities, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”), reorganized with and transferred substantially all its assets into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintains an investment objective, strategies and investment policies, guidelines and restrictions that are, in all material respects, equivalent to those of the Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund share the same investment adviser and portfolio managers.

 

This Prospectus concisely provides information that you should know about the Fund before investing. You are advised to read this Prospectus carefully and to retain it for future reference. Additional information about the Fund, including the Funds statement of additional information (the “SAI”), dated [DATE], has been filed with the SEC. While the Fund does not maintain a website, you may request a free copy of this Prospectus, the SAI, annual and semi-annual reports and other information about the Fund, and make inquiries without charge by writing to the Fund, c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc., 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, or by calling the Fund toll-free at [ ]. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus in its entirety. You can obtain the SAI, annual and semi-annual reports of the Fund (once available), and other information about the Fund on the SECs website at https://www.sec.gov. The address of the SECs internet site is provided solely for the information of prospective investors and is not intended to be an active link.

 

Shares are an illiquid investment.

You should generally not expect to be able to sell your Shares (other than through the repurchase process), regardless of how the Fund performs.

Although the Fund intends to implement a Share repurchase program, only a limited number of Shares will be eligible for repurchase by the Fund.

If you are permitted to sell your Shares to a third party rather than through the repurchase process, you may receive less than your purchase price.

The Fund does not intend to list the Shares on any securities exchange and the Fund does not expect a secondary market in the Shares to develop.

You should consider that you may not have access to the money you invest for an indefinite period of time.

An investment in the Shares is not suitable for you if you need foreseeable access to the money you invest.

Because you will be unable to sell your Shares or have them repurchased immediately, you will find it difficult to reduce your exposure on a timely basis during a market downturn.

The Fund has no operating history and the shares have no history of public trading.

 

 

Total Offering(1)  

 

  Price to Public

Sales Charge Load(2)

Proceeds to Fund(3)

Shares Current Net Asset Value 0.00% $1,000,000

 

(1)UMB Distribution Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as the principal underwriter of the Funds Shares on a best-efforts basis. The Shares are being offered through the Distributor and may also be offered through other brokers or dealers that have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor. The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may make payments to selected affiliated or unaffiliated third parties (including the parties who have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor) from time to time in connection with the distribution of Shares and/or the servicing of Shareholders and/or the Fund. These payments will be made out of the Investment Managers and/or affiliates’ own assets and will not represent an additional charge to the Fund. The amount of such payments may be significant in amount and the prospect of receiving any such payments may provide such third parties or their employees with an incentive to favor sales of Shares of the Fund over other investment options. See “DISTRIBUTOR.” The Fund will sell Shares only to investors who certify that they are “Eligible Investors.” See “INVESTOR QUALIFICATIONS.” The minimum initial investment in the Fund by any investor is $25,000. However, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may accept investments below this minimum. Pending any closing, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account with UMB Bank, n.a., the Funds escrow agent. On the date of any closing, the balance in the escrow account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned on escrowed amounts will be credited to the Fund. See “Fund Summary - The Offering.”

 

(2)The Shares are not subject to a “sales load,” as defined in the Investment Company Act. See “DISTRIBUTOR.”

 

(3)The Funds initial offering expenses are described under “FUND FEES AND EXPENSES” below.

 

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete, nor have they made, nor will they make, any determination as to whether anyone should buy these securities. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

You should not construe the contents of this Prospectus and the SAI as legal, tax or financial advice. You should consult with your own professional advisers as to legal, tax, financial, or other matters relevant to the suitability of an investment in the Fund.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information provided by this Prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date shown below.

 

THE FUND’S PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER IS UMB DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, LLC.

 

The date of this Prospectus [DATE]

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
FUND SUMMARY 4
FUND FEES AND EXPENSES 7
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 7
USE OF PROCEEDS 8
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES 8
PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS 8
FUND PERFORMANCE 18
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND 18
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE 19
DISTRIBUTOR 19
ADMINISTRATION 20
CUSTODIAN 21
FUND EXPENSES 21
VOTING 21
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 21
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES 22
TENDER OFFERS/OFFERS TO REPURCHASE 22
TENDER/REPURCHASE PROCEDURES 23
TRANSFERS OF SHARES 23
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING 23
CREDIT FACILITY 24
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE 24
TAXES 26
ERISA AND CODE CONSIDERATIONS 29
INVESTOR QUALIFICATIONS 30
PURCHASING SHARES 30
TERM, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION 30
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS 30
FISCAL YEAR 30
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL 31
INQUIRIES 31
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

3 

 

FUND SUMMARY

 

This is only a summary and does not contain all of the information that investors should consider before investing in the Fund. Investors should review the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and SAI, especially the information set forth under the heading “Principal Risk Factors.”

 

The Fund and the Shares   Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund (the “Fund”) is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and organized as a Delaware statutory trust on October 26, 2020. Aspiriant, LLC serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund. The Investment Manager provides day-to-day investment management services to the Fund. The Fund is non-diversified, which means that under the Investment Company Act, it is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in any single issuer of securities. The Fund is an appropriate investment only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment.

 

  Simultaneous with the commencement of the Fund’s operations (“Commencement of Operations”), the Global Real Estate Opportunities, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”), reorganized with and transferred substantially all its portfolio securities into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintains an investment objective, strategies and investment policies, guidelines and restrictions that are, in all material respects, equivalent to those of the Fund. The Fund and the Predecessor Fund share the same investment adviser and portfolio managers. For past performance information of the Predecessor Fund, see “Performance.”

 

  The Fund intends to satisfy the diversification requirements necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which generally requires that, at the end of each quarter: (1) at least 50% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in (i) cash and cash items (including receivables), Federal Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies; and (ii) securities of separate issuers, each of which amounts to no more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets (and no more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting shares), and (2) no more than 25% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in (i) securities (other than Federal Government securities or the securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer; (ii) the securities (other than the securities of other regulated investment companies) of two or more issuers which the taxpayer controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses; or (iii) the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Investment Objective and Strategies   The investment objective of the Fund is long term capital appreciation. The Fund intends to invest primarily in general or limited partnerships, funds, corporations, trusts or other investment vehicles (“Investment Funds”) that invest substantially all their assets in real estate, infrastructure, commodities and other real asset securities and funds. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

The Investment Manager   As Investment Manager, Aspiriant, LLC provides day-to-day investment management services to the Fund. Its principal place of business is located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025. The Investment Manager is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). As of [DATE] approximately $[ ] billion of assets were under the management of the Investment Manager and its affiliates.

 

Performance  Simultaneous with the Commencement of Operations, the Predecessor Fund, reorganized with and into the Fund. The performance of Shares for periods before the Commencement of Operations is that of the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund’s performance has been adjusted to reflect the estimated gross expenses of the Shares (minus the projected Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses). For the estimated gross expenses of the Shares (including Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses), see “Fund Fees and Expenses.”

 

    For past performance information of the Predecessor Fund, see “Performance.”

 

    PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE INVESTMENT RESULTS.

 

The Administrator   The Fund has retained UMB Fund Services, Inc. (the “Administrator”) to provide it with certain administrative services, including performing all actions related to the issuance and repurchase of Shares of the Fund. The Fund compensates the Administrator for these services and reimburses the Administrator for certain of its out-of-pocket expenses. See “Fees and Expenses” below.

 

Fees and Expenses   The Fund bears its own operating expenses (including, without limitation, its offering expenses not paid by the Investment Manager). A more detailed discussion of the Fund’s expenses can be found under FUND EXPENSES.”

 

    Investment Management Fee. The Investment Manager is entitled to a management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) calculated at an annual rate of 0.50%, payable quarterly in arrears, based upon the Fund’s net assets as of quarter-end. The Investment Manager, however, has entered into an investment management fee limitation agreement (the Management Fee Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager has agreed to waive 0.40% of its Investment Management Fee. The Management Fee Limitation Agreement is in effect for one year from the Commencement of Operations and will automatically renew for consecutive one-year terms thereafter (each, a “Current Term”). Neither the Fund nor the Investment Manager may terminate the Management Fee Limitation Agreement during a Current Term. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders.

4 

 

    Administrative Services Fee. Pursuant to an administrative services agreement with the Fund, the Investment Manager is entitled to a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.10%, payable quarterly in arrears, based upon the Funds net assets as of quarter-end for providing administrative services to the Fund. Such services include the review of shareholder reports and other filings with the SEC; oversight and management of the Fund’s primary service providers; periodic due diligence reviews of the Fund’s primary service providers; coordination and negotiation of all of the contracts and pricing relating to the Fund’s primary service providers; providing information to the Independent Trustees relating to the review and selection of the Fund’s primary service providers; and all such other duties or services necessary for the appropriate administration of the Fund. See “ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT.”

 

  Administration Fee. The Fund pays the Administrator an annual fee beginning at [ ]% of the Fund's net assets and decreasing as combined assets under management reach certain levels.

 

  In consideration for these services, the Fund pays the Administrator a minimum quarterly administration fee of $12,500, or $50,000 on an annualized basis (the “Administration Fee”). The Administration Fee is paid to the Administrator out of the assets of the Fund and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Administrator also is reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses relating to services provided to the Fund and receives a fee for transfer agency services. The Administration Fee and the other terms of the Administration Agreement may change from time to time as may be agreed to by the Fund and the Administrator.

 

Fees of Underlying Managers   As an investor in the Investment Funds, the Fund will indirectly bear asset-based fees and performance-based fees or allocations charged by the investment advisers to the Investment Funds (the “Underlying Managers”). Such fees and performance-based compensation are in addition to the fees that are charged by the Investment Manager to the Fund and allocated to the Fund. Generally, fees payable to Underlying Managers of the Investment Funds will range from 0.00% to 2.00% (annualized) of the average net asset value (“NAV”) of the Funds investment. In addition, certain Underlying Managers charge an incentive allocation or fee generally ranging from 0.00% to 20.00% of an Investment Funds net profits, although it is possible that such ranges may be exceeded for certain Underlying Managers. An investor in the Fund bears a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund.

 

Investor Qualifications   Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The criteria for qualifying as an “accredited investor” are set forth in the investor application that must be completed by each prospective investor. Investors who meet such qualifications are referred to in this Prospectus as “Eligible Investors.” Existing Shareholders who request to purchase additional Shares (other than in connection with the DRIP (as defined below) will be required to qualify as Eligible Investors and to complete an additional investor application prior to the additional purchase.

 

The Offering   The minimum initial investment in the Fund by any investor is $25,000, and the minimum additional investment in the Fund by any Shareholder is $10,000. However, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may accept investments below these minimums.

 

    Shares will generally be offered for purchase as of the first business day of each calendar quarter, except that Shares may be offered more or less frequently as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) in its sole discretion. Once a prospective investor’s purchase order is received, a confirmation is sent to the investor. Potential investors should send subscription funds by wire transfer pursuant to instructions provided to them by the Fund.

 

    Subscriptions are generally subject to the receipt of cleared funds on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund and notified to prospective investors. Pending any closing, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account with UMB Bank, n.a., the Fund’s escrow agent. On the date of any closing, the balance in the escrow account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. Any interest earned on escrowed amounts will be credited to the Fund for the benefit of all Shareholders.

 

    A prospective investor must submit a completed investor application on or prior to the acceptance date set by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject, in its sole discretion, any request to purchase Shares in the Fund at any time. The Fund also reserves the right to suspend or terminate offerings of Shares at any time at the Board’s discretion. Additional information regarding the subscription process is set forth under “Investor Qualifications.”

 

Distribution Policy   Distributions will be paid at least annually on the Shares in amounts representing substantially all of the net investment income and net capital gains, if any, earned each year. The Fund is not a suitable investment for any investor who requires regular dividend income.

5 

 

    Each Shareholder whose Shares are registered in its own name will automatically be a participant under the Funds dividend reinvestment program (the “DRIP”) and have all income dividends and/or capital gains distributions automatically reinvested in Shares unless such Shareholder, at any time, specifically elects to receive income dividends and/or capital gains distributions in cash. The Fund reserves the right to cap the aggregate amount of any income dividends and/or capital gain distributions that are made in cash (rather than being reinvested) at a total amount of not less than 20% of the total amount distributed to Shareholders. In the event that Shareholders submit elections in aggregate to receive more than the cap amount of such a distribution in cash, any such cap amount will be pro-rated among those electing Shareholders.

 

Repurchase Offers   At the discretion of the Board and provided that it is in the best interests of the Fund and Shareholders to do so, the Fund intends to provide a limited degree of liquidity to the Shareholders by conducting repurchase offers generally quarterly with a Valuation Date (as defined below) on or about March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year. In each repurchase offer, the Fund may offer to repurchase its Shares at their NAV as determined as of approximately March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, of each year, as applicable (each, a “Valuation Date”). Each repurchase offer ordinarily will be limited to the repurchase of approximately 5% of the Shares outstanding, but if the value of Shares tendered for repurchase exceeds the value the Fund intended to repurchase, the Fund may determine to repurchase less than the full number of Shares tendered. In such event, Shareholders will have their Shares repurchased on a pro rata basis, and tendering Shareholders will not have all of their tendered Shares repurchased by the Fund. Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase will be asked to give written notice of their intent to do so by the date specified in the notice describing the terms of the applicable repurchase offer, which date will be approximately 95 days prior to the date of repurchase by the Fund. See “TENDER OFFERS/OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.”

 

Risk Factors   The Fund is subject to substantial risks — including market risks, strategy risks and Underlying Manager risks. Investment Funds generally will not be registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act and, therefore, the Fund will not be entitled to the various protections afforded by the Investment Company Act with respect to its investments in Investment Funds. While the Investment Manager will attempt to moderate any risks of securities activities of the Underlying Managers, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment activities will be successful or that the Shareholders will not suffer losses. The Investment Manager will not have any control over the Underlying Managers, thus there can be no assurances that an Underlying Manager will manage its Investment Funds in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. There may also be certain conflicts of interest relevant to the management of the Fund, arising out of, among other things, activities of the Investment Manager, its affiliates and employees with respect to the management of accounts for other clients as well as the investment of proprietary assets. Prospective investors should review carefully the “PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS” section of this Prospectus. An investment in the Fund should only be made by investors who understand the risks involved and who are able to withstand the loss of the entire amount invested.

 

    Accordingly, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment, and you should invest in the Fund only if you can sustain a complete loss of your investment. Past results of the Investment Manager, its principals, the Fund or the Underlying Managers are not indicative of future results. See “PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS.”

 

Summary of Taxation   The Fund has elected to be treated and qualify as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) for federal income tax purposes. As a RIC, the Fund will generally not be subject to federal corporate income tax, provided that when it is a RIC, it distributes out all of its income and gains each year.

 

    The Investment Funds may be subject to taxes, including withholding taxes, attributable to investments of the Investment Funds. U.S. investors in the Fund are not expected to be entitled to a foreign tax credit with respect to any of those taxes. The Fund may also invest, either directly or indirectly through a subsidiary of the Fund, in private Investment Funds treated as partnerships for U.S. tax purposes. See '"TAXES."

6 

 

FUND FEES AND EXPENSES

 

The following tables describe the aggregate fees and expenses that the Fund expects to incur and that the Shareholders can expect to bear, either directly or indirectly, through the Funds investments.

 

TRANSACTION EXPENSES:

Maximum Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of subscription amount) None
Maximum Early Repurchase Fee (as a percentage of repurchased amount) None

 

ANNUAL EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHARES)(1)

 

Investment Management Fee(2) 0.50%
Other Expenses(3) [  ]%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(3)(4) [  ]%
Total Annual Expenses [  ]%
Less: Management Fee Waiver(6) 0.40%
Net Annual Expenses [  ]%

 

(1)This table summarizes the expenses of the Fund and is designed to help investors understand the costs and expenses they will bear, directly or indirectly, by investing in the Fund.

 

(2)For its provision of advisory services to the Fund, the Investment Manager is entitled to an annual Investment Management Fee equal to 0.50% of the Funds net assets determined as of quarter-end, payable quarterly in arrears. The Investment Management Fee will be calculated before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders.

 

(3)“Other Expenses” (as defined below) and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

 

(4)In addition to the Funds direct expenses, the Fund indirectly bears a pro-rata share of the expenses of the Investment Funds. The Investment Funds generally charge, in addition to management fees calculated as a percentage of the average net asset value (“NAV”) of the Funds investment, performance-based fees generally from 0% to 20% of the net capital appreciation in the Funds investment for the year or other measurement period, subject to loss carryforward provisions, as defined in the respective Investment Funds’ agreements. The fees and expenses indicated are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year. In the future, these fees and expenses may be substantially higher or lower than reflected, because certain fees are based on the performance of the Underlying Managers (Investment Funds), which fluctuate over time. In addition, the Funds portfolio changes from time to time, which will result in different Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

 

(5)The Investment Manager has entered into an investment management fee limitation agreement (the Management Fee Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager has agreed to waive 0.40% of its Investment Management Fee on an annualized basis. The Management Fee Limitation Agreement is in effect for one year from the Commencement of Operations and will automatically renew for consecutive one-year terms thereafter (each a “Current Term”). Neither the Fund nor the Investment Manager may terminate the Management Fee Limitation Agreement during a Current Term..

 

The purpose of the table above is to assist prospective investors in understanding the various fees and expenses Shareholders will bear directly or indirectly. “Other Expenses,” as shown above, is an estimate based on anticipated investments in the Fund and anticipated expenses for the current fiscal year of the Funds operations, and includes, among other things, professional fees and other expenses that the Fund will bear, including initial and ongoing offering costs and fees and expenses of the Administrator, escrow agent and custodian. For a more complete description of the various fees and expenses of the Fund, see “INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE,” “ADMINISTRATION,” “FUND EXPENSES,” and “PURCHASING SHARES.”

 

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The example assumes that all distributions are reinvested at NAV and that the percentage amounts listed under annual expenses remain the same in the years shown. The assumption in the hypothetical example of a 5% annual return is the same as that required by regulation of the SEC applicable to all registered investment companies. The assumed 5% annual return is not a prediction of, and does not represent, the projected or actual performance of the Shares.

 

EXAMPLE

 

You Would Pay the Following Expenses Based on a $1,000 Investment in the Fund, Assuming a 5% Annual Return: 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
  $[ ] $[ ] $[ ] $[ ]

 

The example is based on the annual fees and expenses set out on the table above, taking into account the fee waiver in the first year of each period and should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown. Moreover, the rate of return of the Fund may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return used in the example. A greater rate of return than that used in the example would increase the dollar amount of the asset-based fees paid by the Fund.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund has no performance history as of the date of this Prospectus, there are no financial highlights for the Fund.

7 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The proceeds from the sale of Shares, not including the Funds fees and expenses (including, without limitation, offering expenses not paid by the Investment Manager), will be invested by the Fund in accordance with the Funds investment objective and strategies as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three months after receipt, consistent with market conditions and the availability of suitable investments. Such proceeds will be invested together with any interest earned in the Funds escrow account prior to the closing of the applicable offering. See “PURCHASING SHARESPurchase Terms.” Delays in investing the Funds assets may occur, for example, because of the time required to complete certain transactions, but any such delay will not exceed three months after the receipt of funds.

 

Pending the investment of the proceeds of any offering or any other available funds pursuant to the Funds investment objective and strategies, a portion of such amounts, which may include a substantial portion of the proceeds of an offering, may be invested in short-term debt securities or money market funds. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Fund may maintain a portion of its assets in cash or such short-term securities or money market funds to meet operational needs, for temporary defensive purposes, or to maintain liquidity. The Fund may be prevented from achieving its objective during any period in which the Funds assets are not substantially invested in accordance with its principal investment strategies.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND STRATEGIES

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Funds investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund intends to invest substantially all of its assets primarily in general or limited partnerships, funds, corporations, trusts or other investment vehicles (collectively, “Investment Funds”) that invest substantially all their assets in real estate, infrastructure, commodities and other real asset securities and funds. Under normal circumstances, the Fund intends to invest at least 80% of its net assets in Investment Funds that hold equity, debt and other economic interests in real assets or real asset companies. 

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets among a range of real asset investment strategies.  The Fund's investments in real asset investment strategies include funds that invest in public and private issuances of equity securities, debt securities (including but not limited to bank loans, high yield or "junk" securities, secured debt, inflation-indexed securities and mezzanine financing) and commodities (including but not limited to precious metals and energy resources). The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign, including emerging market, securities. The Fund concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its net assets) in real asset and real asset related securities and strategies.

 

In selecting Investment Funds and asset class exposures, the Investment Manager will take asset diversification and potential volatility of return into account. In seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objective, preserve capital and fund capital calls from private funds, the Investment Manager may invest a portion of the Fund’s net assets in cash, cash equivalents and selected fixed income strategies. The Fund may invest in a real asset strategy by employing a sub-advisor approved by the Board of Trustees. The Fund may invest in Investment Funds directly or through (i) its wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary (the “Cayman Subsidiary”) or (ii) its wholly-owned subsidiary organized under Delaware law as a corporation (the “Onshore Subsidiary,” together with the Cayman Subsidiary, the “Subsidiaries”). The Fund may allocate up to [25%] of its assets in the Subsidiaries, which hava the same investment objective as the Fund, are intended to provide the Fund with indirect exposure to Investment Funds in a manner consistent with the limitations and requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) that apply to the Fund, which limit the amount of income the Fund may receive from certain sources. To the extent they are applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiaries, the Subsidiaries will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.

 

Private Funds. The Fund may gain exposure to real asset related investments through investments in continuously offered private real asset funds and, through investments in closed-end institutional real asset funds (collectively the ‘‘Private Funds’’). The Private Funds invest in the equity (common and preferred) and debt financings associated with the acquisition, development, and/or operations of real assets and real asset companies. Additionally, the Private Funds may seek to make debt investments via primary and secondary markets in secured and unsecured real asset-related debt. The closed-end Private Funds include funds that have minimums to close and maximum capital raise limitations (‘‘targeted capital raises’’), multi-year periods with limited or no liquidity (‘‘investment lock-up periods’’), and targeted termination or liquidity dates (‘‘expected fund life terms’’).

 

Real Estate. This strategy invests in real estate and related investments such as: exchange-traded and privately-traded real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and REIT-like entities; residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") and other securitized products; investments related to existing or newly constructed income-producing properties (including but not limited to office, industrial, retail, and multi-family residential properties); raw land; mortgage loans; and real estate companies (companies that have substantial holdings in, or primarily own or manage, real estate; paper, lumber, hotel and entertainment companies; building supply manufacturers; and mortgage lenders and mortgage servicing companies). REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest in real estate or real estate-related companies. If a REIT meets certain requirements, including distributing to shareholders substantially all its taxable income (other than net capital gains), then it is not taxed on the income distributed to shareholders. CMBS are bonds that are secured by first mortgages on commercial real estate.

 

Infrastructure. This strategy invests in infrastructure, including equity and debt interests in infrastructure assets and companies, including master limited partnerships (“MLP’) as well as funds with a similar investment orientation, Infrastructure assets provide essential facilities and services supporting economic productivity. Such assets may include, among others, regulated assets (including but not limited to electricity transmission and distribution facilities, gas distribution systems, water distribution and waste water collection and processing facilities), transportation assets (including but not limited to toll roads, airports, seaports and railway lines), and communications assets (including but not limited to data centers, broadcast and wireless towers, fiber/broadband and satellite networks).

 

PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS

 

All investments carry risks to some degree. The Fund cannot guarantee that its investment objective will be achieved or that its strategy of investing in the Investment Funds will be successful. An investment in the Fund involves substantial risks, including the risk that the entire amount invested may be lost. The Fund allocates its assets to Underlying Managers and invests in Investment Funds that invest in and actively trade securities and other financial instruments using a variety of strategies and investment techniques that may involve significant risks. Various other types of risks are also associated with investments in the Fund, including risks relating to the fund of funds structure of the Fund, risks relating to compensation arrangements and risks relating to the limited liquidity of the Shares.

8 

 

GENERAL RISKS

 

 LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY. The Fund is a newly-organized closed-end management investment company that has limited operating history and no public trading of its shares. The Fund is designed primarily as a long-term investment vehicle and not as a trading tool. An investment in the Fund’s securities should not constitute a complete investment program for any investor and involves a high degree of risk. Due to the uncertainty in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The value of the Fund’s shares could decline substantially and cause you to lose some or all of your investment.

 

LACK OF OPERATING HISTORY OF INVESTMENT FUNDS. Certain Investment Funds may be newly formed entities that have no operating histories. In such cases, the Investment Manager may evaluate the past investment performance of the applicable Underlying Managers or of their personnel. However, this past investment performance may not be indicative of the future results of an investment in an Investment Fund. Although the Investment Manager and its affiliates and their personnel have experience evaluating the performance of alternative asset managers and providing manager selection and asset allocation services to clients, the Fund’s investment programs should be evaluated on the basis that there can be no assurance that the Investment Manager’s assessments of Underlying Managers, and in turn their assessments of the short-term or long-term prospects of investments, will prove accurate. Thus, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective and its NAV may decrease.

 

INDUSTRY CONCENTRATION RISK. Investment Funds generally are not subject to industry concentration restrictions on their investments and, in some cases, may invest 25% or more of the value of their total assets in a single industry or group of related industries. Although the Fund does not believe it is likely to occur given the nature of its investment program, it is possible that, at any given time, the assets of Investment Funds in which the Fund has invested will, in the aggregate, be invested in a single industry or group of related industries constituting 25% or more of the value of their combined total assets. However, because these circumstances may arise, the Fund is subject to greater investment risk to the extent that a significant portion of its assets may at times be invested, through investments the Fund makes in the Investment Funds, in the securities of issuers engaged in similar businesses that are likely to be affected by the same market conditions and other industry-specific risk factors. Investment Funds are not generally required to provide current information regarding their investments to their investors (including the Fund). Thus, the Fund and the Investment Manager may not be able to determine at any given time whether or the extent to which Investment Funds, in the aggregate, have invested 25% or more of their combined assets in any particular industry.

 

REPURCHASE OFFERS; LIMITED LIQUIDITY; IN-KIND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Fund will offer to purchase only a small portion of its Shares (generally each quarter), and there is no guarantee that Shareholders will be able to sell all of the Shares that they desire to sell in any particular repurchase offer. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, the Fund may repurchase only a pro rata portion of the Shares tendered by each Shareholder. The potential for proration may cause some investors to tender more Shares for repurchase than they wish to have repurchased. The decision to offer to repurchase Shares is in the complete and absolute discretion of the Board and the Board may, under certain circumstances, elect not to offer to repurchase Shares.

 

The Funds repurchase policy will have the effect of decreasing the size of the Fund over time from what it otherwise would have been. Such a decrease may therefore force the Fund to sell assets it would not otherwise sell. It may also reduce the investment opportunities available to it and cause its expense ratio to increase.

 

Payment for repurchased Shares may require the Fund to liquidate portfolio holdings earlier than the Investment Manager would otherwise want, potentially resulting in losses, and may increase the Funds portfolio turnover, subject to such policies as may be established by the Board in an attempt to avoid or minimize potential losses and turnover resulting from the repurchase of Shares.

 

If a Shareholder tenders all of its Shares (or a portion of its Shares) in connection with a repurchase offer made by the Fund, that tender may not be rescinded by the Shareholder after the date on which the repurchase offer terminates. However, although the amount payable to the Shareholder will be based on the value of the Fund’s assets as of the repurchase date, the value of Shares that are tendered by Shareholders generally will not be determined until a date approximately one month later. Thus, a Shareholder will not know its repurchase price until after it has irrevocably tendered its Shares.

 

LIMITED LIQUIDITY; IN-KIND DISTRIBUTIONS. Shares in the Fund provide limited liquidity since Shareholders will not be able to redeem Shares on a daily basis. A Shareholder may not be able to tender its Shares in the Fund promptly after it has made a decision to do so. In addition, with very limited exceptions, Shares are not transferable, and liquidity will be provided only through repurchase offers made from time to time by the Fund. Shares in the Fund are therefore suitable only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of Shares and should be viewed as a long-term investment.

 

The Fund expects to distribute cash to the Shareholders for Shares that are repurchased. However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will have sufficient cash to pay for Shares that are being repurchased or that it will be able to liquidate investments at favorable prices to pay for repurchased Shares. Investment Funds may be permitted to redeem their interests in-kind. Thus, the Investment Funds may pay the Fund’s redemption proceeds in securities that are illiquid or difficult to value. In these circumstances, the Fund would seek to dispose of these securities in a manner that is in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund does not intend to make in-kind distributions to the Shareholders.

 

In addition, in extreme cases, the Fund may not be able to complete repurchases if it is unable to redeem a portion of its investment in Investment Funds due to the Investment Funds’ holding of illiquid investments.

 

BORROWING, USE OF LEVERAGE. The Fund may leverage its investments with the Underlying Managers by “borrowing.” In addition, the strategies implemented by the Underlying Managers typically are leveraged. The use of leverage increases both risk and profit potential. The Investment Manager may cause the Fund to use various methods to leverage investments, including (i) borrowing, (ii) swap agreements or other derivative instruments, (iii) employing certain Underlying Managers (many of which trade on margin and do not generally need additional capital in order to increase the level of the positions they acquire for it) to trade notional equity in excess of the equity actually available in their accounts or (iv) a combination of these methods. The Fund is subject to the Investment Company Act requirement that an investment company satisfy an asset coverage requirement of 300% of its indebtedness, including amounts borrowed, measured at the time the investment company incurs the indebtedness. This means that at any given time the value of the Fund’s total indebtedness may not exceed one-third the value of its total assets (including such indebtedness). These limits do not apply to the Investment Funds and, therefore, the Fund’s portfolio may be exposed to the risk of highly leveraged investment programs of certain Investment Funds.

 

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS. The Fund and some or all of the Investment Funds may use options, swaps, futures contracts, forward agreements and other derivatives contracts. Transactions in derivative instruments present risks arising from the use of leverage (which increases the magnitude of losses), volatility, the possibility of default by a counterparty and illiquidity. Use of derivative instruments for hedging or speculative purposes by the Fund or the Investment Funds could present significant risks, including the risk of losses in excess of the amounts invested.

 

LEGAL, TAX AND REGULATORY. Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur that may materially adversely affect the Fund. For example, the regulatory and tax environment for derivative instruments in which Underlying Managers may participate is evolving, and changes in the regulation or taxation of derivative instruments may materially adversely affect the value of derivative instruments held by the Fund and the ability of the Fund to pursue its trading strategies. Similarly, the regulatory environment for leveraged investors and for hedge funds generally is evolving, and changes in the direct or indirect regulation of leveraged investors or hedge funds may materially adversely affect the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment objective or strategies. Increased regulatory oversight and other legislation or regulation relating to hedge fund managers, hedge funds and funds of hedge funds could result. Such legislation or regulation could pose additional risks and result in material adverse consequences to the Investment Funds or the Fund and/or limit potential investment strategies that would have otherwise been used by the Underlying Managers or the Fund in order to seek to obtain higher returns.

9 

 

NON-QUALIFICATION AS A REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY. If for any taxable year the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions. To qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund must meet three numerical requirements each year regarding (i) the diversification of the assets it holds, (ii) the income it earns, and (iii) the amount of taxable income that it distributes to shareholders. The Fund may also invest, either directly or indirectly through the Subsidiaries, in Investment Funds. To the extent that the Fund invests in Investment Funds directly and not through the Subsidiaries, the Fund’s ability to meet the RIC diversification and income requirements will depend upon the investments held by such Investment Funds and the nature of the income produced by such investments. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. However, such distributions will be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income, which is subject to tax at reduced rates, in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions. These requirements and certain additional tax risks associated with investments in the Fund are discussed in “TAXES” in this Prospectus. 

 

NON-DIVERSIFIED STATUS. The Fund is a “non-diversified” management investment company. Thus, there are no percentage limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act on the Fund’s assets that may be invested, directly or indirectly, in the securities of any one issuer. Consequently, if one or more securities are allocated a relatively large percentage of the Fund’s assets, losses suffered by such securities could result in a higher reduction in the Fund’s capital than if such capital had been more proportionately allocated among a larger number of securities. The Fund may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company.

 

CYBERSECURITY RISK. Cybersecurity refers to the combination of technologies, processes and procedures established to protect information technology systems and data from unauthorized access, attack or damage. The Fund, the Investment Funds and their affiliates and third-party service providers are subject to cybersecurity risks. Cybersecurity risks have significantly increased in recent years and the Fund could suffer such losses in the future. Computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other malicious code and other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events occur, this potentially could jeopardize confidential and other information, including nonpublic personal information and sensitive business data, processed and stored in, and transmitted through, computer systems and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in the Fund’s operations or the operations of the Investment Funds or their respective affiliates and third-party service providers. This could result in significant losses, reputational damage, litigation, regulatory fines or penalties, or otherwise adversely affect the Fund’s business, financial condition or results of operations. Privacy and information security laws and regulation changes, and compliance with those changes, may result in cost increases due to system changes and the development of new administrative processes. In addition, the Fund may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify the Fund’s protective measures and to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures arising from operational and security risks.

 

SPECIAL RISKS OF FUND OF FUNDS STRUCTURE

 

NO REGISTRATION. Investment Funds generally will not be registered as investment companies under the Investment Company Act. Accordingly, the provisions of the Investment Company Act, which, among other things, require investment companies to have securities held in custody at all times in segregated accounts and regulate the relationship between the investment company and its asset management, are not applicable to an investment in the Investment Funds. In addition, Investment Funds generally are not obligated to disclose the contents of their portfolios. This lack of transparency may make it difficult for the Investment Manager to monitor whether holdings of the Investment Funds cause the Fund to be above specified levels of ownership in certain investment strategies. Although the Fund expects to receive information from each Underlying Manager regarding its investment performance on a regular basis, in most cases there is little or no means of independently verifying this information. An Underlying Manager may use proprietary investment strategies that are not fully disclosed to its investors and may involve risks under some market conditions that are not anticipated by the Fund. In addition, while many Underlying Managers will register with the SEC and state agencies as a result of developments in certain laws, rules and regulations, some Underlying Managers may still be exempt from registration. In such cases, these Underlying Managers will not be subject to various disclosure requirements and rules that would apply to registered investment advisers. Similarly, while many Underlying Managers will register as commodity pool operators under the Commodity Exchange Act, other Underlying Managers will be exempt from registration and will not be subject to various disclosure requirements and rules that would apply to registered commodity pool operators.

 

MULTIPLE LEVELS OF FEES AND EXPENSES. Although in many cases investor access to the Investment Funds may be limited or unavailable, an investor who meets the conditions imposed by an Investment Fund may be able to invest directly with the Investment Fund. By investing in Investment Funds indirectly through the Fund, the investor bears asset-based fees and performance-based fees and allocations. Moreover, investors in the Fund bear a proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the Fund (including organizational and offering expenses not paid by the Investment Manager, operating costs, sales charges, brokerage transaction expenses, and administrative fees) and, indirectly, similar expenses of the Investment Funds. Thus, an investor in the Fund may be subject to higher operating expenses than if he or she invested in an Investment Fund directly or in a closed-end fund which did not utilize a “fund of funds” structure.

 

Most of the Investment Funds may be subject to a performance-based fee or allocation, irrespective of the performance of other Investment Funds and the Fund generally. Accordingly, an Underlying Manager to an Investment Fund with positive performance may receive performance-based compensation from the Investment Fund, and thus indirectly from the Fund and its Shareholders, even if the Funds overall performance is negative. Generally, fees payable to Underlying Managers of the Investment Funds will range from 0.00% to 2.00% (annualized) of the average NAV of the Funds investment. In addition, certain Underlying Managers charge an incentive allocation or fee generally ranging from 0.00% to 20.00% of an Investment Funds net profits, although it is possible that such ranges may be exceeded for certain Underlying Managers. The performance-based compensation received by an Underlying Manager also may create an incentive for that Underlying Manager to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than those that it might have made in the absence of the performance-based allocation. Such compensation may be based on calculations of realized and unrealized gains made by the Underlying Manager without independent oversight.

10 

 

UNDERLYING MANAGERS INVEST INDEPENDENTLY. The Underlying Managers generally invest wholly independently of one another and may at times hold economically offsetting positions. To the extent that the Investment Funds do, in fact, hold such positions, the Fund’s portfolio, considered as a whole, may not achieve any gain or loss despite incurring fees and expenses in connection with such positions. Furthermore, it is possible that from time to time, various Investment Funds selected by the Investment Manager may be competing with each other for the same positions in one or more markets. In any such situations, the Fund could indirectly incur certain transaction costs without accomplishing any net investment result.

 

LIQUIDITY CONSTRAINTS OF INVESTMENT FUNDS. Since the Fund may make additional investments in or affect withdrawals from an Investment Fund only at certain times pursuant to limitations set forth in the governing documents of the Investment Fund, the Fund from time to time may have to invest a greater portion of its assets temporarily in money market securities than it otherwise might wish to invest and may have to borrow money to repurchase Shares. The redemption or withdrawal provisions regarding the Investment Funds vary from fund to fund. Therefore, the Fund may not be able to withdraw its investment in an Investment Fund promptly after it has made a decision to do so. Some Investment Funds may impose early redemption fees while others may not. This may adversely affect the Funds investment return or increase the Funds expenses and limit the Funds ability to make offers to repurchase Shares from Shareholders. Investment Funds may be permitted to redeem their interests in-kind. Thus, upon the Funds withdrawal of all or a portion of its interest in an Investment Fund, it may receive securities that are illiquid or difficult to value. See CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE.” In these circumstances, the Investment Manager does not intend to distribute securities to Shareholders and therefore would seek to dispose of these securities in a manner that is in the best interests of the Fund.

 

Limitations on the Funds ability to withdraw its assets from Investment Funds may, as a result, limit the Funds ability to repurchase Shares. For example, many Investment Funds may impose lock-up periods prior to allowing withdrawals, which can be two years or longer from the date of the Funds investment. After expiration of the lock-up period, withdrawals may be permitted only on a limited basis, such as semi-annually or annually. Because the primary source of funds to repurchase Shares will be withdrawals from Investment Funds, the application of these lock-ups and other withdrawal limitations, such as gates or suspension provisions, will significantly limit the Funds ability to tender its Shares for repurchase.

 

VALUATION OF INVESTMENT FUNDS. The valuation of the Funds investments in Investment Funds is ordinarily determined based upon valuations calculated by the Administrator, in accordance with valuation procedures approved by the Board and based on information provided by the Investment Funds or their respective administrators. Although the Investment Manager reviews the valuation procedures used by all Underlying Managers, neither the Investment Manager nor the Administrator can confirm or review the accuracy of valuations provided by Investment Funds or their administrators. An Underlying Manager may face a conflict of interest in valuing such securities since their values will affect the Underlying Managers compensation.

 

If an Underlying Managers valuations are consistently delayed or inaccurate, the Investment Manager generally will consider whether the Investment Fund continues to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. The Fund may be unable to sell interests in such an Investment Fund quickly, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold such interests for an extended period of time. In such a case, such interests would continue to be valued without the benefit of the Underlying Managers valuations, and the Investment Manager may determine to discount the value of the interests or value them at zero, if deemed to be the fair value of such holding. Revisions to the Funds gain and loss calculations will be an ongoing process, and no appreciation or depreciation figure can be considered final until the annual audits of Investment Funds are completed. Promoting transparency and receiving necessary information from Investment Funds may possibly be an impediment to monitoring the performance of Investment Funds on a regular basis.

 

HIGH PORTFOLIO TURNOVER. The Funds activities involve investment in the Investment Funds, which may invest on the basis of short-term market considerations. The turnover rate within the Investment Funds may be significant, potentially involving negative tax implications and substantial brokerage commissions, and fees. The Fund will have no control over this turnover. It is anticipated that the Funds income and gains, if any, will be primarily derived from ordinary income. In addition, the withdrawal of the Fund from an Investment Fund could involve expenses to the Fund under the terms of the Funds investment.

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF INVESTMENT FUNDS. The Underlying Managers often have broad indemnification rights and limitations on liability. The Fund may also agree to indemnify certain of the Investment Funds and, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Investment Company Act and the Securities Act, their Underlying Managers from any liability, damage, cost, or expense arising out of, among other things, certain acts or omissions relating to the offer or sale of the shares of the Investment Funds.

 

INVESTMENTS IN NON-VOTING SECURITIES. In order to avoid becoming subject to certain Investment Company Act prohibitions with respect to affiliated transactions, the Fund intends to own less than 5% of the voting securities of each Investment Fund. This limitation on owning voting securities is intended to ensure that an Investment Fund is not deemed an “affiliated person” of the Fund for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which may, among other things, potentially impose limits on transactions with the Investment Funds, both by the Fund and other clients of the Investment Manager. To limit its voting interest in certain Investment Funds, the Fund may enter into contractual arrangements under which the Fund irrevocably waives its rights (if any) to vote its interests in an Investment Fund. Other accounts managed by the Investment Manager may also waive its voting rights in a particular Investment Fund (for example, to facilitate investment in small Investment Funds determined to be attractive by the Investment Manager). Subject to the oversight of the Board, the Investment Manager will decide whether to waive such voting rights and, in making these decisions, will consider the amounts (if any) invested by the Fund and its other clients in the particular Investment Fund. Rights may not be waived or contractually limited for an Investment Fund that does not provide an ongoing ability for follow-on investment, such as an Investment Fund having a single initial funding, closing or commitment, after which no new investment typically would occur. These voting waiver arrangements may increase the ability of the Fund and other clients of the Investment Manager to invest in certain Investment Funds. However, to the extent the Fund contractually forgoes the right to vote the securities of an Investment Fund, the Fund will not be able to vote on matters that require the approval of the interest holders of the Investment Fund, including matters adverse to the Funds interests.

 

Although the Fund may hold non-voting interests, the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder may nevertheless require the Fund to limit its position in any one Investment Fund in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, as may be determined by the Fund in consultation with counsel. These restrictions could change from time to time as applicable laws, rules or interpretations thereof are modified. There are also other statutory tests of affiliation (such as on the basis of control), and, therefore, the prohibitions of the Investment Company Act with respect to affiliated transactions could apply in some situations where the Fund owns less than 5% of the voting securities of an Investment Fund. In these circumstances, transactions between the Fund and an Investment Fund may, among other things, potentially be subject to the prohibitions relating to affiliates of Section 17 of the Investment Company Act notwithstanding that the Fund has entered into a voting waiver arrangement.

11 

 

CONTROL OVER UNDERLYING MANAGERS. The Fund will invest in Investment Funds that it believes will generally, and in the aggregate, be managed in a manner consistent with the Funds investment objective and strategy. The Investment Manager will not have any control over the Underlying Managers, thus there can be no assurances that an Underlying Manager will manage its Investment Funds in a manner consistent with the Funds investment objective.

 

SubsidiarIES. The Fund may make investments through the Cayman Subsidiary and/or the Onshore Subsidiary. By investing in the Subsidiaries, the Fund is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiaries’ investments. The investments held by the Subsidiaries are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the Fund and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the Fund. These risks are described elsewhere in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objectives of the Subsidiaries will be achieved.

 

The Subsidiaries are not registered under the 1940 Act, and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the Fund wholly owns and controls the Subsidiaries, making it unlikely that the Subsidiaries will take action contrary to the interests of the Fund and its shareholders. The Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the Fund, including its investment in the Subsidiaries, and the Fund's role as sole shareholder of each of the Cayman Subsidiary and the Onshore Subsidiary. The Subsidiaries will be subject to the same investment restrictions and limitations, and follow the same compliance policies and procedures, as the Fund.

 

Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its Subsidiaries to operate as described in this Prospectus and in the SAI and could adversely affect the Fund. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Cayman Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Fund shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

 

There is a risk that the IRS could assert that the income derived from the Fund's investment in the Cayman Subsidiary will not be considered qualifying income for purposes of the Fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In 2019, the Treasury and the IRS issued regulations that provide that the income from a foreign subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation is qualifying income for purposes of a fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes (1) ethat the income is actually distributed by the foreign subsidiary to the RIC each year and (2) even if not distributed, to extent the income is derived with respect to the fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. The Cayman Subsidiary intends to distribute its income each year in order for such income to be treated as qualifying income of the Fund. If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a RIC and became subject to federal income tax, shareholders of the Fund would be subject to diminished returns.

 

INVESTMENT-RELATED RISKS

 

GENERAL INVESTMENT-RELATED RISKS

 

GENERAL ECONOMIC AND MARKET CONDITIONS. The success of the Funds investment program may be affected by general economic and market conditions, such as interest rates, availability of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws, and national and international political circumstances, global pandemics. These factors may affect the level and volatility of securities prices and the liquidity of investments held by the Fund in the Investment Funds and, thus, the Funds investments. Unexpected volatility or illiquidity could impair the Funds profitability or result in losses.

 

HIGHLY VOLATILE MARKETS. Price movements of forwards, futures and other derivative contracts in which an Investment Funds assets (and therefore the Funds assets) may be invested are influenced by, among other things, interest rates, changing supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies of governments, and national and international political and economic events and policies. The prices of commodities contracts and all derivative instruments, including futures and options, can be highly volatile. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and by regulation, in certain markets, particularly those in currencies, financial instruments, futures and options. Such intervention often is intended directly to influence prices and may, together with other factors, cause all of such markets to move rapidly in the same direction because of, among other things, interest rate fluctuations. Investment Funds are also subject to the risk of the failure of any exchanges on which their positions trade or of the clearinghouses for those exchanges.

 

Pandemic Risk. The continuing spread of an infectious respiratory illness caused by a novel strain of coronavirus (known as COVID-19) has caused volatility, severe market dislocations and liquidity constraints in many markets, including securities the Fund holds, and may adversely affect the Fund’s investments and operations. The outbreak was first detected in December 2019 and subsequently spread globally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international and domestic travel restrictions and disruptions, closed international borders, enhanced health screenings at ports of entry and elsewhere, disruption of and delays in healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, event and service cancellations or interruptions, disruptions to business operations (including staff reductions), supply chains and consumer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These disruptions have led to instability in the marketplace, including stock and credit market losses and overall volatility. The impact of COVID-19, and other infectious illness outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics that may arise in the future, could adversely affect the economies of many nations or the entire global economy, the financial performance of individual issuers, borrowers and sectors and the health of the markets generally in potentially significant and unforeseen ways. In addition, the impact of infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19, in emerging market countries may be greater due to generally less established healthcare systems. This crisis or other public health crises may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks in certain countries or globally.

 

The Fund and Investment Manager have in place business continuity plans reasonably designed to ensure that they maintain normal business operations, and that the Fund, its portfolio and assets are protected. However, in the event of a pandemic or an outbreak, such as COVID-19, there can be no assurance that the Fund, its advisers and service providers, or the Fund’s portfolio companies, will be able to maintain normal business operations for an extended period of time or will not lose the services of key personnel on a temporary or long-term basis due to illness or other reasons. A pandemic or disease could also impair the information technology and other operational systems upon which the Fund’s advisers rely and could otherwise disrupt the ability of the Fund’s service providers to perform essential tasks.

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To satisfy any repurchase requests during periods of extreme volatility, such as those associated with COVID-19, it is more likely the Fund will be required to dispose of portfolio investments at unfavorable prices compared to their intrinsic value. In addition, any repurchase completed while the Fund has unrealized losses may cause the investors whose shares were repurchased to crystalize their losses even if such unrealized losses do not ultimately convert into realized losses. You should review this prospectus and the SAI to understand the Fund’s discretion to implement temporary defensive measures.

 

The foregoing could lead to a significant economic downturn or recession, increased market volatility, a greater number of market closures, higher default rates and adverse effects on the values and liquidity of securities or other assets. Such impacts, which may vary across asset classes, may adversely affect the performance of the Fund’s investments, the Fund and your investment in the Fund. In certain cases, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on either specific securities or even the entire market, which may result in the Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or to accurately price its investments.

 

Governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world, such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, have in the past responded to major economic disruptions with changes to fiscal and monetary policy, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. Certain of those policy changes are being implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such policy changes may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend and interest paying securities. The effect of recent efforts undertaken by the U.S. Federal Reserve to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the reduction of the federal funds target rate, and other monetary and fiscal actions that may be taken by the U.S. federal government to stimulate the U.S. economy, are not yet fully known. The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its full impacts are also unknown, resulting in a high degree of uncertainty for potentially extended periods of time, especially in certain sectors in which the Fund may make investments.

 

RISKS OF SECURITIES ACTIVITIES OF THE UNDERLYING MANAGERS. The Underlying Managers will invest and trade in a variety of different securities, and utilize a variety of investment instruments and techniques. Each security and each instrument and technique involves the risk of loss of capital. While the Investment Manager will attempt to moderate these risks, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment activities will be successful or that the Shareholders will not suffer losses. See “RISKS OF SECURITIES ACTIVITIES OF THE UNDERLYING MANAGERS” for further information.

 

COUNTERPARTY RISK. Many of the markets in which the Investment Funds effect their transactions are “over the counter” or “inter-dealer” markets. The participants in these markets are typically not subject to credit evaluation and regulatory oversight as are members of “exchange based” markets. To the extent an Investment Fund invests in swaps, derivative or synthetic instruments, or other over the counter transactions, on these markets, the Investment Fund (and therefore the Fund) is assuming a credit risk with regard to parties with whom it trades and may also bear the risk of settlement default. These risks may differ materially from those associated with transactions effected on an exchange, which generally are backed by clearing organization guarantees, daily marking to market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Transactions entered into directly between two counterparties generally do not benefit from such protections. This exposes an Investment Fund (and therefore the Fund) to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Investment Fund (and therefore the Fund) to suffer a loss. Such counterparty risk is accentuated in the case of contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where an Investment Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. Investment Funds are not restricted from dealing with any particular counterparty or from concentrating any or all of their transactions with one counterparty. However, the Investment Manager, with the intent to diversify, intend to attempt to monitor counterparty credit exposure of Investment Funds. The ability of Investment Funds to transact business with any one or number of counterparties, the lack of any independent evaluation of such counterparties’ financial capabilities and the absence of a regulated market to facilitate settlement may increase the potential for losses by the Fund.

 

COMMITMENT STRATEGY RISK. Certain of the instruments in which the Fund invests are structured to draw-down capital from investors through capital calls for purposes of private investments. Investors in such vehicles may not contribute the full amount of their commitment to the investment at the time of their initial purchase. Instead, investors may be required to make incremental contributions pursuant to capital calls. The overall impact on performance due to holding a portion of the investment portfolio in cash could be a drag on the Fund’s performance. If investors in these vehicles employ an “over-commitment” strategy, this could result in insufficient cash to meet such commitments, which could have negative impacts on the Fund such as a reduced ability to pursue its investment strategy; a need to borrow or sell assets at depressed prices, and penalties. The Fund will need to make commitments in advance of knowing the account’s total assets under management at the time the total commitment is fully drawn down. If assets have increased or decreased at a greater level than would normally be expected, the Fund may be significantly under or over its targeted allocation.

 

FRAUD RISK. Of paramount concern in loan investments is the possibility of material misrepresentation or omission on the part of the borrower or loan seller. Such inaccuracy or incompleteness may adversely affect the valuation of the collateral underlying the loans or may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to perfect or effectuate a lien on the collateral securing the loan. The Fund will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of representations made by borrowers to the extent reasonable, but cannot guarantee such accuracy or completeness.

 

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS RISK. Alternative investments provide limited liquidity and include, among other things, the risks inherent in investing in securities, futures, commodities and derivatives, using leverage and engaging in short sales. An investment in alternative investment products is speculative, involves substantial risks, and should not constitute a complete investment program.

 

ASSET ALLOCATION RISK. The Fund’s investment performance depends, at least in part, on how its assets are allocated and reallocated among asset classes and strategies. Such allocation could result in the Fund holding asset classes or investments that perform poorly or underperform other asset classes, strategies or available investments.

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGY-SPECIFIC INVESTMENT-RELATED RISKS

 

For purposes of this section, references to “the Investment Manager” and “the Fund” should be read to include the Underlying Managers and the Investment Funds, respectively, as applicable.

 

REAL ESTATE RELATED RISK. The main risk of real estate related investments is that the value of the underlying real estate may go down. Many factors may affect real estate values. These factors include both the general and local economies, the amount of new construction in a particular area, the laws and regulations (including zoning and tax laws) affecting real estate and the costs of owning, maintaining and improving real estate. The availability of mortgages and changes in interest rates may also affect real estate values. If the Fund’s real estate-related investments are concentrated in one geographic area or in one property type, the Fund will be particularly subject to the risks associated with that area or property type. The Fund may invest in a wide array of real estate exposures that involve equity or equity-like risk in the underlying properties. Real estate historically has experienced significant fluctuation and cycles in value, and specific market conditions may result in a permanent reduction in value. The value of the real estate will depend on many factors beyond the control of the general partner, including, without limitation: changes in general economic or local conditions; changes in supply of or demand for competing properties in an area (as a result, for instance, of over-building); changes in interest rates; the promulgation and enforcement of governmental regulations relating to land use and zoning restrictions, environmental protection and occupational safety; unavailability of mortgage funds which may render the construction, leasing, sale or refinancing of a property difficult; the financial condition of borrowers and of tenants, buyers and sellers of property; changes in real estate tax rates and other operating expenses; the imposition of rent controls; energy and supply shortages; various uninsured or uninsurable risks; and natural disasters.

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REITS. The Fund will invest in real asset related Investment Funds through Private Funds and entities that are intended to qualify as REITs. Qualification as a REIT under the Code in any particular year is a complex analysis that depends on a number of factors. There can be no guarantee that any entity in or through which the Fund invests will qualify as a REIT. An entity that fails to qualify as a REIT would be subject to a corporate level tax, would not be entitled to a deduction for dividends paid to its shareholders and would not pass through to its shareholders the character of income earned by the entity. If the Fund were to invest in an entity that failed to qualify as a REIT, such failure could significantly reduce the Fund’s yield on that investment and could adversely affect the Fund’s NAV.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE. The Fund may invest its assets in securities issued by companies in the infrastructure industry. Infrastructure companies are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown including surplus capacity, government budgetary constraints and other factors. Additionally, infrastructure companies may be subject to regulation by various governmental authorities and also may be affected by governmental regulation of rates charged to customers, service interruptions and/or legal challenges due to environmental, operational or other issues and the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards. There is also the risk that publicly-funded infrastructure projects, especially in emerging markets, may be subject to the effects of public corruption resulting in delays and cost overruns. Other risks include environmental damage due to a company’s operations or an accident, changes in market sentiment toward infrastructure and terrorist acts. Infrastructure securities may also be highly illiquid investments.

 

MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS (MLPs). The Fund may invest in units of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in an MLP. Some energy infrastructure companies in which the Fund may invest are organized as LLCs which are treated in the same manner as MLPs for federal income tax purposes. The Fund may invest in LLC common units which represent an ownership interest in the LLC. Interests in MLP and LLC common units entitle the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. I-Shares represent an indirect ownership interest in MLP common units issued by an MLP affiliate, which is typically a publicly traded LLC. Securities of MLP affiliates also include publicly traded equity securities of LLCs that own, directly or indirectly, general partner interests of an MLP. Pursuant to tax regulations, the Fund may invest no more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of MLPs and other entities treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships. Issuers of MLP I-Shares are corporations and not partnerships for tax purposes. As a result, MLP I-Shares are not subject to this limitation.

 

A change in current tax law, or a change in the business of a given MLP, could result in an MLP being treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which would result in such MLP being required to pay U.S. federal income tax on its taxable income. Thus, if any of the MLPs owned by the Fund were treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the after-tax return to the Fund with respect to its investment in such MLPs would be materially reduced.

 

To the extent that the Fund invest in the equity securities of an MLP, the Fund will be a limited partner or member in such MLP. Accordingly, the Fund will be required to include in its taxable income the Fund’s allocable share of the income, gains, losses, deductions and expenses recognized by each such MLP, regardless of whether the MLP distributes cash to the Fund. The Fund may have to sell investments to provide cash to make required distributions if its allocable share of an MLP’s income and gains is not offset by the MLP’s tax deductions, losses and credits and the MLP does not distribute sufficient cash. The portion, if any, of a distribution received by the Fund from an MLP that is offset by the MLP’s tax deductions, losses or credits is essentially treated as a return of capital. The percentage of an MLP’s income and gains that is offset by tax deductions, losses and credits will fluctuate over time for various reasons. A significant slowdown in acquisition activity or capital spending by MLPs in which the Fund invests could result in a reduction of depreciation deductions, which may result in increased current taxable income for the Fund.

 

Because of the Fund’s investments in equity securities of MLPs, the Fund’s earnings and profits may be calculated using accounting methods that are different from those used for calculating taxable income. Because of these differences, the Fund may make distributions out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits, which will be treated as taxable dividends, even in years in which the Fund’s distributions exceed its taxable income. In addition, changes in tax laws or regulations, or future interpretations of such laws or regulations, could adversely affect the Fund or the MLP investments in which the Fund invests.

 

COMMODITIES. The Fund may purchase or sell derivatives, securities or other instruments that provide exposure to commodities. The Fund’s investments in commodities-related instruments may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-related instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes 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. An unexpected surplus of a commodity caused by one of the aforementioned factors, for example, may cause a significant decrease in the value of the commodity (and a decrease in the value of any investments directly correlated to the commodity). Conversely, an unexpected shortage of a commodity caused by one of the aforementioned factors may cause a significant increase in the value of the commodity (and a decrease in the value of any investments inversely correlated to that commodity). The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions due to, among other factors, lack of liquidity, the participation of speculators, and government regulation and other actions. The Fund may focus its commodity-related investments in a particular sector of the commodities market (such as gold, oil, metal or agricultural products). As a result, to the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a particular sector of the commodities market, the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with those sectors, including the risk of due to adverse economic, business or political developments affecting a particular sector.

 

 DISTRESSED SECURITIES. Certain of the companies in whose securities the Fund may invest may be in transition, out of favor, financially leveraged or troubled, or potentially troubled, and may be or have recently been involved in major strategic actions, restructurings, bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation. These characteristics of these companies can cause their securities to be particularly risky, although they also may offer the potential for high returns. These companies’ securities may be considered speculative, and the ability of the companies to pay their debts on schedule could be affected by adverse interest rate movements, changes in the general economic factors affecting a particular industry or specific developments within the companies.

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Such investments can result in significant or even total losses. In addition, the markets for distressed investment assets are frequently illiquid.

 

In liquidation (both in and out of bankruptcy) and other forms of corporate reorganization, there exists the risk that the reorganization either will be unsuccessful (due to, for example, failure to obtain requisite approvals), will be delayed (for example, until various liabilities, actual or contingent, have been satisfied) or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security the value of which will be less than the purchase price to the Fund of the security in respect to which such distribution was made.

 

In certain transactions, the Fund may not be “hedged” against market fluctuations, or, in liquidation situations, may not accurately value the assets of the company being liquidated. This can result in losses, even if the proposed transaction is consummated.

 

HIGH YIELD SECURITIES RISK. High yield securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) are below investment grade debt securities or comparable unrated securities and are considered predominantly speculative. Lower rated and comparable unrated debt securities tend to offer higher yields than higher rated securities with the same maturities because the historical financial condition of the issuers of such securities may not have been as strong as that of other issuers. However, lower rated securities generally involve greater risks of loss of income and principal than higher rated securities. Changes in economic conditions are also more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to make principal payments and interest payments. The recent economic downturn has severely affected the ability of many highly leveraged issuers to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Factors having an adverse impact on the market value of lower quality securities will have an adverse effect on the Fund’s NAV to the extent that it invests in such securities. In addition, the Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek recovery upon a default in payment of principal or interest on its portfolio holdings or to take other steps to protect its investment in an issuer.

 

MEZZANINE DEBT. Mezzanine securities generally are rated below investment grade and frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as senior loans, second lien loans and non-investment grade bonds. However, unlike senior loans and second lien loans, mezzanine securities are not a senior or secondary secured obligation of the related borrower. They typically are the most subordinated debt obligation in an issuer’s capital structure. Mezzanine securities also may often be unsecured. Mezzanine securities therefore are subject to additional risk that the cash flow of the related borrower and the property securing the loan may be insufficient to repay the scheduled obligation after giving effect to any senior obligations of the related borrower. Mezzanine securities are also expected to be a highly illiquid investment. Mezzanine securities will be subject to certain additional risks to the extent that such loans may not be protected by financial covenants or limitations upon additional indebtedness. Investment in mezzanine securities is a highly specialized investment practice that depends more heavily on independent credit analysis than investments in other types of debt obligations.

 

SHORT POSITIONS. Short positions may comprise a significant portion of the Fund’s overall portfolio. In short selling, the Fund will sell securities it does not own by borrowing such securities from a third party, such as a broker-dealer. The Fund is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan. To borrow a security, the Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. Short positions may be held for both profit opportunities and for hedging purposes. The Investment Manager may from time to time engage in short sales for the Fund in an approach known as “pairs trading,” where the Fund combines a long position in a particular security with a short position in a similar security in the same or related industry or sector. Pairs trading may be undertaken for speculative and/or hedging purposes and may be weighted toward either the long or short side of the position. The Investment Manager may from time to time also make short sales “against the box”, where the Fund retains a long position in the same security. Short sales that are not “against the box” involve a form of investment leverage, and the amount of the Fund’s loss on a short sale is potentially unlimited. At any particular time, the Fund’s portfolio overall may be “net long” (i.e., the value of long positions, at cost, will be greater than the net exposure on short positions) or “net short” (net exposure on short positions will be greater than the value of long positions).

 

ASSET-BACKED (INCLUDING MORTGAGE-BACKED) SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in asset-backed investments that are backed primarily by the cash flows of a discrete pool of fixed or revolving receivables or other financial assets that by their terms convert into cash within a finite time period. These could include assets such as unsecured consumer or other receivables, credit card receivables, trade receivables, equipment leases, and other assets that produce streams of payments. Asset backed exposures are generally not insured or guaranteed by the related sponsor or any other entity and therefore, if the assets or sources of funds available to the issuer are insufficient to pay those outstanding liability, the Fund will incur losses. In addition, asset-backed exposures entail prepayment risk that may vary depending on the type of asset, but is generally less than the prepayment risk associated with mortgage-backed securities. Asset-backed investments present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may provide the Fund with a less effective security interest in the related collateral than do mortgage-backed securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on the underlying collateral may not, in some cases, be available to support payments on these investments.

 

Real Estate Loans

 

● Senior Mortgage Loans: These mortgage loans are typically secured by first liens on properties, including office, multifamily, retail, industrial, senior living facilities, hospitality and mixed-use. In some cases, first lien mortgages may be divided into an A-Note and a B-Note. The A-Note is typically a privately negotiated loan that is secured by a first mortgage on a commercial property or group of related properties that is senior to a B-Note secured by the same first mortgage property or group.

 

● Subordinated Debt: These loans may include structurally subordinated first mortgage loans and junior participations in first mortgage loans or participations in these types of assets. As noted above, a B-Note is typically a privately negotiated loan that is secured by a first mortgage on a commercial property or group of related properties and is subordinated ty an A-Note secured by the same first mortgage property or group. The subordination of a B-Note or junior participation typically is evidenced by participation or intercreditor agreements with other holders of interests in the note. B-Notes are subject to more credit risk with respect to the underlying mortgage collateral than the corresponding A-Note.

 

● Preferred Equity: Real estate preferred equity investments are subordinate to first mortgage loans and are not collateralized by the property underlying the investment. As a holder of preferred equity, the Fund seeks to enhance its position with covenants that limit the activities of the entity in which the Fund has an interest and protect its equity by obtaining an exclusive right to control the underlying property after an event of default, should such default occur on the Fund’s investment.

 

● Mezzanine Loans: Like B-Notes, these loans are also subordinated, but are usually secured by a pledge of the borrower’s equity ownership in the entity that owns the property or by a second lien mortgage on the property. In a liquidation, these loans are generally junior to any mortgage liens on the underlying property, but senior to any preferred equity or common equity interests in the entity that owns the property. Investor rights are usually governed by intercreditor agreements. See “Mezzanine Debt” above.

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Asset-backed securities entail certain risks not presented by mortgage-backed securities, including the risk that in certain states it may be difficult to perfect the liens securing the collateral backing certain asset-backed securities. In addition, certain asset-backed securities are based on loans that are unsecured, which means that there is no collateral to seize if the underlying borrower defaults.

 

BONDS AND OTHER FIXED INCOME SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in bonds and other fixed income securities, both U.S. and non- U.S., and may take short positions in these securities. The Fund will invest in these securities when they offer opportunities for capital appreciation (or capital depreciation in the case of short positions) and may also invest in these securities for temporary defensive purposes and to maintain liquidity. Fixed income securities include, among other securities: bonds, notes and debentures issued by U.S. and non-U.S. corporations; U.S. government securities or debt securities issued or guaranteed by a non-U.S. government; municipal securities; and mortgage-backed and asset backed securities. These securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, and may include zero coupon obligations. Fixed income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (i.e., credit risk) and are subject to price volatility resulting from, among other things, interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (i.e., market risk).

 

EQUITY SECURITIES. The Fund’s portfolio may include long and short positions in common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers. Investment Manager also may invest in depositary receipts relating to non-U.S. securities, which are subject to the risks affecting investments in foreign issuers discussed under “NON-U.S. INVESTMENTS” below. Issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be pronounced.

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions for a variety of purposes, including “locking in” the U.S. dollar price of a security between trade and settlement date, or hedging the U.S. dollar value of securities held in the Fund. The Fund may also engage in foreign currency transactions for non-hedging purposes to generate returns.

 

Foreign currency transactions may involve, for example, the purchase of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars or the maintenance of short positions in foreign currencies. Foreign currency transactions may involve the Fund agreeing to exchange an amount of a currency it does not currently own for another currency at a future date. The Fund would typically engage in such a transaction in anticipation of a decline in the value of the currency it sells relative to the currency that the Fund has contracted to receive in the exchange. The Investment Manager’s success in these transactions will depend principally on its ability to predict accurately the future exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts for hedging and non-hedging purposes in pursuing its investment objective. Forward contracts are transactions involving an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a specified price. Forward contracts may be used for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future non-U.S. currency exchange rates, such as when the Investment Manager anticipates purchasing or selling a non-U.S. security. This technique would allow the Investment Manager to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts may also be used to attempt to protect the value of an existing holding of non-U.S. securities. Imperfect correlation may exist, however, between the non-U.S. securities holdings of the Fund, and the forward contracts entered into with respect to those holdings. In addition, forward contracts may be used for non-hedging purposes, such as when the Investment Manager anticipates that particular non-U.S. currencies will appreciate or depreciate in value, even though securities denominated in those currencies are not then held in the applicable investment portfolio. Generally, the Fund is subject to no requirement that they hedge all or any portion of their exposure to non-U.S. currency risks, and there can be no assurance that hedging techniques will be successful if used.

 

INFLATION-INDEXED SECURITIES. The Fund may invest in inflation-indexed securities that are debt securities, the principal value of which is periodically adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Inflation-indexed securities may be issued by the U.S. government, by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, and by corporations. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the CPI accruals as part of a semiannual coupon payment.

 

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed securities is tied to the CPI, which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation, and energy. Inflation-indexed securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will correlate to the rate of inflation in the United States.

 

Inflation—a general rise in prices of goods and services—erodes the purchasing power of an investor’s portfolio. For example, if an investment provides a “nominal” total return of 5% in a given year and inflation is 2% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 3%. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, has generally occurred during the past 50 years, so investors should be conscious of both the nominal and real returns of their investments. Investors in inflation-indexed securities funds who do not reinvest the portion of the income distribution that is attributable to inflation adjustments will not maintain the purchasing power of the investment over the long term. This is because interest earned depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation if the investor fails to reinvest the principal adjustment paid out as part of the Fund’s income distributions. Although inflation-indexed securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise because of reasons other than inflation (e.g., changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

 

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation (i.e., the CPI) falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed securities, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the inflation-indexed securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-indexed securities include inflation-related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

The value of inflation-indexed securities should change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates, in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates were to increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed securities.

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Coupon payments that the Fund receives from inflation-indexed securities are included in the fund’s gross income for the period during which they accrue. Any increase in principal for an inflation-indexed security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-indexed security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments, even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, if the Fund holds these securities, it distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments each quarter in the form of cash or reinvested shares (which, like principal adjustments, are taxable to shareholders). It may be necessary for the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to make required distributions.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK. The Fund is subject to the risks of changes in interest rates. A decline in interest rates could reduce the amount of current income the Fund is able to achieve from interest on fixed-income securities, convertible debt and the proceeds of short sales. An increase in interest rates could reduce the value of any fixed income securities and convertible securities owned by the Fund. To the extent that the cash flow from a fixed income security is known in advance, the present value (i.e., discounted value) of that cash flow decreases as interest rates increase; to the extent that the cash flow is contingent, the dollar value of the payment may be linked to then prevailing interest rates. Moreover, the value of many fixed income securities depends on the shape of the yield curve, not just on a single interest rate. Thus, for example, a callable cash flow, the coupons of which depend on a short rate such as the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), may shorten (i.e., be called away) if the long rate decreases. In this way, such securities are exposed to the difference between long rates and short rates. The Fund may also invest in floating rate securities. The value of these investments is closely tied to the absolute levels of such rates, or the market’s perception of anticipated changes in those rates. This introduces additional risk factors related to the movements in specific interest rates that may be difficult or impossible to hedge, and that also interact in a complex fashion with prepayment risks.

 

The Fund’s investments, interest payment obligations and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as LIBOR. On July 27, 2017, the head of the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. Regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, but global consensus is lacking and the process for amending existing contracts or instruments to transition away from LIBOR remains unclear. There also remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. As such, the transition away from LIBOR may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, reduced values of LIBOR-related investments, and reduced effectiveness of hedging strategies.

 

  NON-U.S. INVESTMENTS. The Fund may invest in securities of non-U.S. companies and countries. Foreign obligations have risks not typically involved in domestic investments. Foreign investing can result in higher transaction and operating costs for the Fund. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements to which U.S. issuers are subject and consequently, less information may be available to investors in companies located in such countries than is available to investors in companies located in the United States. The value of foreign investments may be affected by reduced levels of governmental exchange control regulations; foreign withholding taxes; reduced liquidity in foreign markets; fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies and costs associated with currency conversions; the potential difficulty in repatriating funds; expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets; delays in settlement of transactions; other jurisdictions imposing restrictions on investments; changes in governmental economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad; or other political and economic factors. In addition, there may be difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad.

 

Securities of issuers in emerging and developing markets present risks not found in securities of issuers in more developed markets. Securities of issuers in emerging and developing markets may be more difficult to sell at acceptable prices and their prices may be more volatile than securities of issuers in more developed markets. Settlements of securities trades in emerging and developing markets may be subject to greater delays than in other markets so that the Fund might not receive the proceeds of a sale of a security on a timely basis. Emerging markets generally have less developed trading markets and exchanges, and legal and accounting systems.

 

In June 2016, voters in the United Kingdom (“UK”) approved a referendum to leave the European Union (“EU”), commonly referred to as “Brexit”. The UK left the EU on January 31, 2020, with a transition period currently set to end on December 31, 2020, during which the parties will negotiate their future relationship. There is significant uncertainty regarding the potential consequences for Brexit. The political divisions within the UK, as well as those between the UK and the EU, which the referendum vote has highlighted coupled with the uncertain consequences of Brexit, may have a significant impact upon the UK and European economies as well as the broader global economy. The Fund may be exposed to risks related to Brexit, including volatile trading markets and significant and unpredictable currency fluctuations. Securities issued by companies domiciled in the UK could be subject to changing regulatory and tax regimes. Banking and financial services companies that operate in the UK or EU could be disproportionately impacted by these actions. Further insecurity in EU membership or the abandonment of the euro could exacerbate market and currency volatility and negatively impact investments in securities issued by companies located in EU countries. Brexit also may cause additional member states to contemplate departing the EU, which would likely perpetuate political and economic instability in the region and cause additional market disruption in global financial markets. As a result, markets in the UK, Europe and globally could experience increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth which in return could potentially have an adverse effect on the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

SMALL CAPITALIZATION ISSUERS. The Fund may invest in smaller capitalization companies, including micro-cap companies. Investments in smaller capitalization companies often involve significantly greater risks than the securities of larger, better-known companies because they may lack the management expertise, financial resources, product diversification and competitive strengths of larger companies. The prices of the securities of smaller companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies, as these securities typically are traded in lower volume and the issuers typically are more subject to changes in earnings and prospects. In addition, when selling large positions in small capitalization securities, the seller may have to sell holdings at discounts from quoted prices or may have to make a series of small sales over a period of time.

 

* * *

 

LIMITS OF RISK DISCLOSURES. The above discussions of the various risks, and the related discussion of risks in the SAI, that are associated with the Fund, the Shares and the Investment Funds are not, and are not intended to be, a complete enumeration or explanation of the risks involved in an investment in the Fund. Prospective investors should read this entire Prospectus and consult with their own advisers before deciding whether to invest in the Fund. In addition, as the Fund’s investment program changes or develops over time, an investment in the Fund may be subject to risk factors not currently contemplated or described in this Prospectus.

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In view of the risks noted above, the Fund should be considered a speculative investment and prospective investors should invest in the Fund only if they can sustain a complete loss of their investment.

 

No guarantee or representation is made that the investment program of the Fund will be successful or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

 

GLOBAL REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES, L.P. PERFORMANCE

 

Simultaneous with the Fund’s Commencement of Operations, Global Real Estate Opportunities, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”) reorganized with and into the Fund. The Predecessor Fund maintained an investment objective, strategies and investment policies, guidelines and restrictions that are, in all material respects, equivalent to those of the Fund and at the time of the conversion of the Predecessor Fund was managed by the same Investment Manager and portfolio managers as the Fund.

 

The Predecessor Fund commenced operations on January 1, 2012, when an affiliated party (the “Affiliated Party”) contributed investments to the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund assumed the performance of the Affiliated Party which commenced operations on January 4, 2007. The performance quoted below is that of the Predecessor Fund and Affiliated Party and reflects the fees and expenses incurred by the Predecessor Fund and Affiliated Party. The performance returns of the Predecessor Fund are unaudited and are calculated by the Investment Manager on a total return basis. After-tax performance returns are not included for the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund was a privately placed fund and was not registered under the Investment Company Act and was not subject to certain investment limitations, diversification requirements, and other restrictions imposed by the Investment Company Act and the Code, which, if applicable, may have adversely affected its performance.

 

Past performance is no indication of future returns.

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS
January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2019

 

  1 Year 5 Years 10 Years
Predecessor Fund % % %

 

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE (%) NET OF FEES

 

  1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
2009        
2010        
2011        
2012        
2013        
2014        
2015        
2016        
2017        
2018        
2019        

 

This information does not indicate how the Fund has performed or will perform in the future. Performance will vary based on many factors, including market conditions, the composition of the Fund’s holdings and the Fund’s expenses. Investments held by the Fund will not be identical to the investments of the Predecessor Fund reflected in the returns shown. The returns were calculated using the SEC standard methodology. The prior performance information represents the historical performance for a similarly managed account and is not the Fund’s performance or indicative of the Fund’s future performance.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business operations of the Fund on behalf of the Shareholders. A majority of the Board is and will be persons who are not “interested persons,” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act (the “Independent Trustees”). To the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act and other applicable law, the Board may delegate any of its rights, powers and authority to, among others, the officers of the applicable fund, any committee of such board, or service providers. See “BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS” in the Funds SAI for the identities of the Trustees and executive officers of the Fund, brief biographical information regarding each of them, and other information regarding the election and membership of the Board.

 

THE INVESTMENT MANAGER. Aspiriant, LLC serves as the investment adviser (the “Investment Manager”) of the Fund. The Investment Manager is located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California and is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. As of [DATE], the Investment Manager and its affiliates had assets under management of approximately $[ ] billion. In addition, the Investment Manager also serves as the investment adviser to each of the Cayman Subsidiary and the Onshore Subsidiary, pursuant to a separate investment advisory agreement with each such entity. The Adviser does not receive additional compensation for its management of the Cayman Subsidiary or the Onshore Subsidiary. 

 

The Investment Manager and its affiliates may in the future serve as an investment manager or otherwise manage or direct the investment activities of other registered and/or private investment companies with investment programs similar to the investment program of the Fund. See “CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.”

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PORTFOLIO MANAGERS.

 

John Allen, CFA, is Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) at the Investment Manager. Mr. Allen joined the Investment Manager as CIO in 2014. Prior to joining the Investment Manager he was a senior member of the client service team at Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo (“GMO”) from 2009 to 2014. Prior to joining GMO, Mr. Allen was Head of Investments at a large family office. He began working in the financial services industry in the investment banking department at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and business consulting practice of Stern Stewart & Company. Mr. Allen is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

 

Marc Castellani, CFA, CAIA, CIMA, is Managing Director of Investment Strategy & Research at the Investment Manager. Mr. Castellani joined the Investment Manager in 2015. Prior to joining the Adviser, he worked at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Los Angeles from 2012 to 2015. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Private Bank, he worked at U.S. Trust from 2010 to 2012. Previously, Mr. Castellani was a senior investment banker in the Merger and Acquisitions departments of J.P. Morgan and Banc of America Securities. He began his career in the financial services industry as an Associate in the corporate finance advisory practice of Stern Stewart & Company. Mr. Castellani is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a M.B.A from the University of Rochester.

 

THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. The Investment Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund became effective as of [ ], and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or a majority of the Board, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. See “VOTING.” The Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Investment Manager.

 

The Investment Management Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund, the Investment Manager and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of services to the Fund. The Investment Management Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund, of the Investment Manager, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Investment Manager, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the persons willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEE

 

The Fund pays to the Investment Manager an investment management fee (the “Investment Management Fee”) in consideration of the advisory and other services provided by the Investment Manager to the Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Manager a quarterly Investment Management Fee equal to 0.50% on an annualized basis of the Funds net assets as of each quarter-end. The Investment Management Fee will be paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date, and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. NAV means the total value of all assets of the Fund, less an amount equal to all accrued debts, liabilities and obligations of the Fund; provided that for purposes of determining the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for any quarter, NAV will be calculated prior to any reduction for any fees and expenses of the Fund for that quarter, including, without limitation, the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for that quarter.

 

The Investment Manager has entered into an investment management fee limitation agreement (the Management Fee Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager has agreed to waive 0.40% of its Investment Management Fee. The Management Fee Limitation Agreement is in effect for one year from the Commencement of Operations and will automatically renew for consecutive one-year terms thereafter (each, a “Current Term”). Neither the Fund nor the Investment Manager may terminate the Management Fee Limitation Agreement during a Current Term. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

The administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) between the Investment Manager and the Fund became effective as of [ ], and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Administrative Services Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund. The Administrative Services Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Investment Manager.

 

Pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement with the Fund, the Investment Manager is entitled to 0.10% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net assets as of each quarter-end for providing administrative services to the Fund. Such services include the review of shareholder reports and other filings with the SEC; oversight and management of the Fund’s primary service providers; periodic due diligence reviews of the Fund’s primary service providers; coordination and negotiation of all of the contracts and pricing relating to the Fund’s primary service providers; providing information to the Independent Trustees relating to the review and selection of the Fund’s primary service providers; and all such other duties or services necessary for the appropriate administration of the Fund.

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

UMB Distribution Services, LLC (the “Distributor”) is the distributor (also known as principal underwriter) of the Shares of the Fund and is located at 235 W. Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

Under a Distribution Agreement with the Fund, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Trust in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies or which securities are to be purchased or sold by the Fund.

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The Distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial intermediaries for distribution of shares of the Fund. With respect to certain financial intermediaries and related fund “supermarket” platform arrangements, the Fund and/or the Investment Manager, rather than the Distributor, typically enter into such agreements. These financial intermediaries may charge a fee for their services and may receive shareholder service or other fees from parties other than the Distributor. These financial intermediaries may otherwise act as processing agents and are responsible for promptly transmitting purchase, redemption and other requests to the Fund.

 

Investors who purchase Shares through financial intermediaries will be subject to the procedures of those intermediaries through which they purchase shares, which may include charges, investment minimums, cutoff times and other restrictions in addition to, or different from, those listed herein. Information concerning any charges or services will be provided to customers by the financial intermediary through which they purchase shares. Investors purchasing shares of the Fund through financial intermediaries should acquaint themselves with their financial intermediary’s procedures and should read the Prospectus in conjunction with any materials and information provided by their financial intermediary. The financial intermediary, and not its customers, will be the shareholder of record, although customers may have the right to vote Shares depending upon their arrangement with the intermediary. The Distributor does not receive compensation from the Fund for its distribution services. The Investment Manager pays the Distributor a fee for certain distribution-related services.

 

Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor is solely responsible for its costs and expenses incurred in connection with its qualification as a broker-dealer under state or federal laws. The Distribution Agreement also provides that the Fund will indemnify the Distributor and its affiliates and certain other persons against certain liabilities. Specifically, the Distribution Agreement provides that the Fund shall indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor, its affiliates and each of their respective members, managers, directors, officers, employees, representatives and any person who controls or previously controlled the Distributor (collectively, the “Distributor Indemnitees”), free and harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages and expenses (including the costs of investigating or defending any alleged losses, claims, demands, liabilities, damages or expenses and any reasonable counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, “Losses”) that any Distributor Indemnitee may incur arising out of or relating to (i) the Distributor serving as distributor of the Fund; (ii) the Funds breach of any of its obligations, representations, warranties or covenants; (iii) the Funds failure to comply with any applicable securities laws or regulations; or (iv) any claim that the registration statement, prospectus, shareholder reports, sales literature and advertising materials or other information filed or made public by the Fund (as from time to time amended) include or included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, provided, however, that the Funds obligation to indemnify any of the Distributor Indemnitees shall not be deemed to cover any Losses arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the registration statement, prospectus, annual or interim report, or any such advertising materials or sales literature in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distributor and furnished to the Fund by the Distributor in writing and acknowledging the purpose of its use. In no event shall anything contained in the Distribution Agreement be so construed as to protect the Distributor against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders to which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations.

 

The Investment Manager and/or its affiliates may make payments to selected affiliated or unaffiliated third parties (including the parties who have entered into selling agreements with the Distributor) from time to time in connection with the distribution of Shares and/or the servicing of Shareholders and/or the Fund. These payments will be made out of the Investment Manager’s and/or affiliates’ own assets and will not represent an additional charge to the Fund. The amount of such payments may be significant in amount and the prospect of receiving any such payments may provide such third parties or their employees with an incentive to favor sales of Shares of the Fund over other investment options. Contact your financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it receives or may receive.

 

The following table summarizes the compensation payable to the Distributor or in connection with this offering.

 

Agreement Fees Maximum Fee
Distribution Services Agreement Distribution Services(1) $[ ](2)

 

(1)The Distributor is compensated by the Investment Manager (and not the Fund) for providing certain distribution services, including out-of-pocket expenses. The fee is subject to a minimum annual fee of $[ ] and the total fee to be received by the Distributor for the three-year period of the offering shall not exceed $[ ].

(2)Paid by the Investment Manager and not the Fund.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

The Fund has retained the Administrator, UMB Fund Services, Inc., whose principal business address is 235 West Galena Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, to provide administrative services, and to assist with operational needs. The Administrator provides such services to the Fund pursuant to an administration agreement between the Fund and the Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”). The Administrator is responsible directly or through its agents for, among other things, providing the following services to each of the Fund; (1) maintaining a list of Shareholders and generally performing all actions related to the issuance and repurchase of Shares of the Fund, if any, including delivery of trade confirmations and capital statements; (2) providing certain administrative, clerical and bookkeeping services; (3) providing transfer agency services, services related to the payment of distributions, and accounting services; (4) computing the NAV of the Fund in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and procedures defined in consultation with the Investment Manager; (5) overseeing the preparation of semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund in accordance with GAAP, quarterly reports of the operations of the Fund and information required for tax returns; (6) supervising regulatory compliance matters and preparing certain regulatory filings; and (7) performing additional services, as agreed upon, in connection with the administration of the Fund. The Administrator may from time to time delegate its responsibilities under the Administration Agreement to one or more parties selected by the Administrator, including its affiliates or affiliates of the Investment Manager.

 

The Fund pays the Administrator an annual fee beginning at [ ]% of the Fund's net assets and decreasing as combined assets under management reach certain levels.

 

In consideration for these services, the Fund pays the Administrator a minimum quarterly administration fee of $12,500, or $50,000 on an annualized basis (the “Administration Fee”). The Administration Fee is paid to the Administrator out of the assets of the Fund and therefore decreases the net profits or increases the net losses of the Fund. The Administrator also is reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses relating to services provided to the Fund and receives a fee for transfer agency services. The Administration Fee and the other terms of the Administration Agreement may change from time to time as may be agreed to by the Fund and the Administrator.

20 

 

The Administration Agreement provides that, in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund, the Administrator and any partner, director, officer or employee of the Administrator, or any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, will not be liable to the Fund for any error of judgment, for any mistake of law or for any act or omission by the person in connection with the performance of administration services for the Fund. The Administration Agreement also provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by the Fund to the Administrator, or any partner, director, officer or employee of the Administrator, and any of their affiliates, executors, heirs, assigns, successors or other legal representatives, against any liability or expense to which the person may be liable that arises in connection with the performance of services to the Fund, so long as the liability or expense is not incurred by reason of the person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations to the Fund.

 

CUSTODIAN

 

UMB Bank, n.a. (the “Custodian”), an affiliate of the Administrator, serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund, and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. subcustodians (which may be banks and trust companies), securities depositories and clearing agencies in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Investment Manager or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. subcustodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106.

 

FUND EXPENSES

 

The Fund will pay all of its expenses.. The expenses of the Fund include, but are not limited to, any fees and expenses in connection with the offering and issuance of Shares; all fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the operation of the Fund; all fees and expenses directly related to portfolio transactions and positions for the Funds account such as direct and indirect expenses associated with the Funds investments, and enforcing the Funds rights in respect of such investments; quotation or valuation expenses; the Investment Management Fee, the Administrative Services Fee and the Administration Fee; brokerage commissions; interest and fees on any borrowings by the Fund; professional fees; research expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of consultants who perform fund manager due diligence research); fees and expenses of outside legal counsel (including fees and expenses associated with the review of documentation for prospective investments by the Fund), including foreign legal counsel; accounting, auditing and tax preparation expenses; fees and expenses in connection with repurchase offers and any repurchases or redemptions of Shares; taxes and governmental fees (including tax preparation fees); fees and expenses of any custodian, subcustodian, transfer agent, and registrar, and any other agent of the Fund; all costs and charges for equipment or services used in communicating information regarding the Funds transactions with any custodian or other agent engaged by the Fund; bank services fees; costs and expenses relating to any amendment of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or other organizational documents of the Fund; expenses of preparing, amending, printing, and distributing the Prospectus and any other sales material (and any supplements or amendments thereto), reports, notices, other communications to Shareholders, and proxy materials; expenses of preparing, printing, and filing reports and other documents with government agencies; expenses of Shareholders’ meetings, including the solicitation of proxies in connection therewith; expenses of corporate data processing and related services; shareholder recordkeeping and account services, fees, and disbursements; expenses relating to investor and public relations; fees and expenses of the members of the Board who are not employees of the Investment Manager or its affiliates; insurance premiums; Extraordinary Expenses (as defined below); and all costs and expenses incurred as a result of dissolution, winding-up and termination of the Fund. The Fund may need to sell portfolio securities to pay fees and expenses, which could cause the Fund to realize taxable gains.

 

“Extraordinary Expenses” means all expenses incurred by the Fund outside of the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, costs incurred in connection with any claim, litigation, arbitration, mediation, government investigation or dispute and the amount of any judgment or settlement paid in connection therewith, or the enforcement of the rights against any person or entity; costs and expenses for indemnification or contribution payable to any person or entity; expenses of a reorganization, restructuring or merger, as applicable; expenses of holding, or soliciting proxies for, a meeting of shareholders (except to the extent relating to items customarily addressed at an annual meeting of a registered closed-end management investment company); and the expenses of engaging a new administrator, custodian, transfer agent or escrow agent.

 

The Investment Manager will bear all of their expenses and costs incurred in providing investment advisory services to the Fund, including travel and other expenses related to the selection and monitoring of investments. In addition, the Investment Manager is responsible for the payment of the compensation and expenses of those officers of the Fund affiliated with the Investment Manager, and making available, without expense to the Fund, the services of such individuals, subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law.

 

The Fund will bear directly certain ongoing offering costs associated with any periodic offers of Shares which will be expensed as they are incurred. Offering costs cannot be deducted by the Fund or the Shareholders.

 

The Funds fees and expenses will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to Shareholders.

 

VOTING

 

Each Shareholder will have the right to cast a number of votes, based on the value of such Shareholders Shares, at any meeting of Shareholders called by the Board. Except for the exercise of such voting privileges, Shareholders will not be entitled to participate in the management or control of the Funds business, and may not act for or bind the Fund.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

The Fund may be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest.

 

The Investment Manager and its affiliates engage in financial advisory activities that are independent from, and may from time to time conflict with, those of the Fund. In the future, there might arise instances where the interests of such affiliates conflict with the interests of the Fund. The Investment Manager and its affiliates may provide services to, invest in, advise, sponsor and/or act as investment manager to investment vehicles and other persons or entities (including prospective investors in the Fund) which may have structures, investment objectives and/or policies that are similar to (or different than) those of the Fund; which may compete with the Fund for investment opportunities.. In addition, the Investment Manager, its affiliates and their respective clients may themselves invest in securities that would be appropriate for the Fund. By acquiring Shares, each Shareholder will be deemed to have acknowledged the existence of any such actual and potential conflicts of interest and to have waived any claim with respect to any liability arising from the existence of any such conflict of interest.

21 

 

Although the Investment Manager and its affiliates will seek to allocate investment opportunities among the Fund and their other clients in a fair and reasonable manner, there can be no assurance that an investment opportunity which comes to the attention of the Investment Manager and its affiliates will be appropriate for the Fund or will be referred to the Fund. The Investment Manager and its affiliates are not obligated to refer any investment opportunity to the Fund.

 

The directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees of the Investment Manager and its affiliates may buy and sell securities or other investments for their own accounts (including through funds managed by the Investment Manager or its affiliates). As a result of differing trading and investment strategies or constraints, investments may be made by directors, partners, trustees, managers, members, officers and employees that are the same, different from or made at different times than investments made for the Fund. To reduce the possibility that the Fund will be materially adversely affected by the personal trading described above, each of the Fund and the Investment Manager have adopted codes of ethics (collectively, the “Codes of Ethics”) in compliance with Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act that restricts securities trading in the personal accounts of investment professionals and others who normally come into possession of information regarding the portfolio transactions of the Fund. The Codes of Ethics are available on the EDGAR Database on the SECs website at https://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by email at publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

OUTSTANDING SECURITIES

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, there were no outstanding Shares of the Fund.

 

TENDER OFFERS/OFFERS TO REPURCHASE

 

A substantial portion of the Funds investments are illiquid. For this reason, the Fund is structured as a closed-end fund, which means that the Shareholders will not have the right to redeem their Shares on a daily basis. In addition, the Fund does not expect any trading market to develop for the Shares. As a result, if investors decide to invest in the Fund, they will have very limited opportunity to sell their Shares.

 

At the discretion of the Board and provided that it is in the best interests of the Fund and the Shareholders to do so, the Fund intends to provide a limited degree of liquidity to the Shareholders by conducting repurchase offers generally quarterly with a Valuation Date (as defined below) on or about March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year.

 

The Board will consider the following factors, among others, in making its determination for the Fund to make each repurchase offer:

 

the recommendation of the Investment Manager;

 

whether any Shareholders have requested to tender Shares or portions thereof to the Fund;

 

the liquidity of the Funds assets (including fees and costs associated with withdrawing from investments);

 

the investment plans and working capital requirements of the Fund;

 

the relative economies of scale with respect to the size of the Fund;

 

the history of the Fund in repurchasing Shares or portions thereof;

 

the availability of information as to the value of the Funds assets;

 

the economic condition of the securities markets and the economy generally as well as political, national or international developments or current affairs; and

 

the anticipated tax consequences to the Fund of any proposed repurchases of Shares or portions thereof.

 

Each repurchase offer ordinarily will be limited to the repurchase of approximately [5]% of the Funds Shares but the Board will set an amount based on relevant factors, including the liquidity of the Funds positions and the Shareholders’ desire for liquidity. A Shareholder whose Shares (or a portion thereof) are repurchased by the Fund will not be entitled to a return of any sales charge that was charged in connection with the Shareholders purchase of the Shares.

 

Shares will be repurchased at their NAV determined as of approximately March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, as applicable (each such date, a “Valuation Date”). Shareholders tendering Shares for repurchase will be asked to give written notice of their intent to do so by the date specified in the notice describing the terms of the applicable repurchase offer, which date will be approximately 95 days prior to the Valuation Date. Shareholders who tender may not have all of the tendered Shares repurchased by the Fund. If over-subscriptions occur, the Fund may elect to repurchase less than the full amount that a Shareholder requests to be repurchased. In such an event, the Fund may repurchase only a pro rata portion of the amount tendered by each Shareholder.

 

The decision to offer to repurchase Shares is in the complete and absolute discretion of the Board, which may, under certain circumstances, elect not to offer to repurchase Shares. In certain circumstances, the Board may require a Shareholder to tender its Shares.

 

A Shareholder who tenders for repurchase only a portion of their Shares in the Fund will be required to maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000. If a Shareholder tenders a portion of their Shares and the repurchase of that portion would cause the Shareholder’s account balance to fall below this required minimum (except as a result of pro ration), the Fund reserves the right to reduce the portion of the Shares to be purchased from the Shareholder so that the required minimum balance is maintained. Such minimum capital account balance requirement may also be waived by the Board in its sole discretion, subject to applicable federal securities laws.

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TENDER/REPURCHASE PROCEDURES

 

Due to liquidity restraints associated with the Funds investments in Investment Funds, it is presently expected that, under the procedures applicable to the repurchase of Shares, Shares will be valued as of the applicable Valuation Date. The Fund will generally pay the value of the Shares repurchased (or as discussed below, 95% of such value if all Shares owned by a Shareholder are repurchased) within approximately 45 days after the Valuation Date. This amount will be subject to adjustment within 45 days after completion of the annual audit of the Funds financial statements for the fiscal year in which the repurchase is effective. Shares may be repurchased prior to Investment Fund audits. To mitigate any effects of this, if all Shares owned by a Shareholder are repurchased, the Shareholder will receive an initial payment equal to 95% of the estimated value of the Shares (after adjusting for fees, expenses, reserves or other allocations or redemption charges) within approximately 45 days after the Valuation Date, subject to audit adjustment, and the balance due will be determined and paid within 45 days after completion of the Funds annual audit.

 

Under these procedures, Shareholders will have to decide whether to tender their Shares for repurchase without the benefit of having current information regarding the value of the Shares as of the Valuation Date. The Shareholder may inquire of the Fund, at the telephone number indicated within this Prospectus, as to the value of the Shares last determined. In addition, there will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which the Shareholders must tender the Shares and the date they can expect to receive payment for their Shares from the Fund. However, promptly after the expiration of a repurchase offer, Shareholders whose Shares are accepted for repurchase may be given non-interest bearing, non-transferable promissory notes by the Fund representing the Funds obligation to pay for repurchased Shares. Any promissory notes will be held by the Administrator and can be provided upon request by calling UMB Fund Services, Inc. at [ ]. Payments for repurchased Shares may be delayed under circumstances where the Fund has determined to redeem its interest in Investment Funds to make such payments, but has experienced delays in receiving payments from such Investment Funds.

 

Repurchase of Shares by the Fund are subject to certain regulatory requirements imposed by SEC rules. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may postpone payment of the repurchase price and may suspend repurchases during any period or at any time.

 

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Fund may cause a mandatory repurchase or redemption of all or some of the Shares of a Shareholder, or any person acquiring Shares from or through a Shareholder, in the event that the Board determines or has reason to believe, in its sole discretion, that: (i) its Shares have been transferred to, or has vested in, any person, by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of a Shareholder; (ii) ownership of the Shares by such Shareholder or other person will cause the Fund to be in violation of, or subject the Fund or the Investment Manager to additional registration or regulation under the securities, commodities, or other laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction; (iii) continued ownership of the Shares by such Shareholders may be harmful or injurious to the business or reputation of the Fund or the Investment Manager, or may subject the Fund or any Shareholders to an undue risk of adverse tax or other fiscal consequences; (iv) any representation or warranty made by a Shareholder in connection with the acquisition of Shares was not true when made or has ceased to be true, or the Shareholder has breached any covenant made by it in connection with the acquisition of Shares; or (v) it would be in the best interests of the Fund for the Fund to cause a mandatory redemption of such Shares in circumstances where the Board determines that doing so is in the best interests of the Fund in a manner as will not discriminate unfairly against any Shareholder.

 

TRANSFERS OF SHARES

 

No person shall become a substituted Shareholder of the Fund without the consent of the Fund, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion. Shares held by Shareholders may be transferred only: (i) by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder; or (ii) under other limited circumstances, with the consent of the Board (which may be withheld in its sole discretion and is expected to be granted, if at all, only under extenuating circumstances).

 

Notice to the Fund of any proposed transfer must include evidence satisfactory to the Board that the proposed transferee, at the time of transfer, meets any requirements imposed by the Fund with respect to investor eligibility and suitability. See “INVESTOR QUALIFICATIONS.” Notice of a proposed transfer of a Share must also be accompanied by a properly completed investor application in respect of the proposed transferee. In connection with any request to transfer Shares, the Fund may require the Shareholder requesting the transfer to obtain, at the Shareholder’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the Fund as to such matters as the Fund may reasonably request. The Board generally will not consent to a transfer of Shares by a Shareholder (i) unless such transfer is to a single transferee, or (ii) if, after the transfer of the Shares, the balance of the account of each of the transferee and transferor is less than $25,000. Each transferring Shareholder and transferee may be charged reasonable expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ and accountants’ fees, incurred by the Fund in connection with the transfer.

 

Any transferee acquiring Shares by operation of law in connection with the death, divorce, bankruptcy, insolvency, or adjudicated incompetence of the Shareholder, will be entitled to the distributions allocable to the Shares so acquired, to transfer the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and to tender the Shares for repurchase by the Fund, but will not be entitled to the other rights of a Shareholder unless and until the transferee becomes a substituted Shareholder as specified in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust. If a Shareholder transfers Shares with the approval of the Board, the Fund shall as promptly as practicable take all necessary actions so that each transferee or successor to whom the Shares are transferred is admitted to the Fund as a Shareholder.

 

By subscribing for Shares, each Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Board, the Investment Manager, and each other Shareholder, and any affiliate of the foregoing against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including legal or other expenses incurred in investigating or defending against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses or any judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement), joint or several, to which such persons may become subject by reason of or arising from any transfer made by that Shareholder in violation of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or any misrepresentation made by that Shareholder in connection with any such transfer.

 

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING

 

If the Fund, the Investment Manager or any governmental agency believes that the Fund has sold Shares to, or is otherwise holding assets of, any person or entity that is acting, directly or indirectly, in violation of U.S., international or other anti-money laundering laws, rules, regulations, treaties or other restrictions, or on behalf of any suspected terrorist or terrorist organization, suspected drug trafficker, or senior foreign political figure(s) suspected of engaging in corruption, the Fund, the Investment Manager or such governmental agency may freeze the assets of such person or entity invested in the Fund or suspend the repurchase of Shares. The Fund may also be required to, or deem it necessary or advisable to, remit or transfer those assets to a governmental agency, in some cases without prior notice to the investor.

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CREDIT FACILITY

 

The Fund may enter into one or more credit agreements or other similar agreements negotiated on market terms (each, a “Borrowing Transaction”) with one or more banks or other financial institutions which may or may not be affiliated with the Investment Manager (each, a “Financial Institution”) as chosen by the Investment Manager and approved by the Board. The Fund may borrow under a credit facility for a number of reasons, including without limitation, to pay fees and expenses, to make annual income distributions and to satisfy certain repurchase offers in a timely manner to ensure liquidity for the investors. To facilitate such Borrowing Transactions, the Fund may pledge its assets to the Financial Institution.

 

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

GENERAL

 

The Fund calculates its NAV as of the close of business on the last day of each quarter and at such other times as the Board may determine, including in connection with repurchases of Shares, in accordance with the procedures described below or as may be determined from time to time in accordance with policies established by the Board. Shareholders will receive the estimated NAV of the Fund, free of charge upon request.

 

The Valuation Committee will oversee the valuation of the Funds investments on behalf of the Fund. The Board has approved valuation procedures for the Fund (the “Valuation Procedures”). The Valuation Procedures provide that the Fund will value its investments in direct investments and Investment Funds at fair value.

 

In accordance with the Valuation Procedures, fair value as of each quarter-end or other applicable accounting periods, as applicable, ordinarily will be the value determined as of such date by each Investment Fund in accordance with the Investment Fund’s valuation policies and reported at the time of the Fund’s valuation. As a general matter, the fair value of the Fund’s interest in an Investment Fund will represent the amount that the Fund could reasonably expect to receive from the Investment Fund if the Fund’s interest was redeemed at the time of valuation, based on information reasonably available at the time the valuation is made and that the Fund believes to be reliable. In the event that the Investment Fund does not report a quarter-end value to the Fund on a timely basis, the Fund will determine the fair value of such Investment Fund based on the most recent final or estimated value reported by the Investment Fund, as well as any other relevant information available at the time the Fund values its portfolio. Using the nomenclature of the hedge fund industry, any values reported as “estimated” or “final” values are expected to reasonably reflect market values of securities when available or fair value as of the Fund’s valuation date. A substantial amount of time may elapse between the occurrence of an event necessitating the pricing of Fund assets and the receipt of valuation information from the Underlying Manager of an Investment Fund.

 

Prior to the Fund investing in any Investment Fund, the Investment Manager will conduct a due diligence review of the valuation methodologies utilized by the Investment Fund, which as a general matter will utilize market values when available, and otherwise will utilize principles of fair value that the Investment Manager reasonably believe to be consistent, in all material respects, with those used by the Fund in valuing its own investments. Although the Valuation Procedures provide that the Investment Manager will review the valuations provided by the Underlying Managers to the Investment Funds, none of the Board or the Investment Manager will be able to confirm independently the accuracy of valuations provided by such Underlying Managers, which may be unaudited.

 

The Funds Valuation Procedures require the Investment Manager to take reasonable steps in light of all relevant circumstances to value the Funds portfolio. The Investment Manager will consider such information, and may conclude in certain circumstances that the information provided by an Underlying Manager does not represent the fair value of the Funds interests in the Investment Fund. Although redemptions of interests in Investment Funds are subject to advance notice requirements, Investment Funds will typically make available NAV information to holders which will represent the price at which, even in the absence of redemption activity, the Investment Fund would have effected a redemption if any such requests had been timely made or if, in accordance with the terms of the Investment Funds governing documents, it would be necessary to effect a mandatory redemption. Following procedures adopted by the Board, the Investment Manager will consider whether it is appropriate, in light of all relevant circumstances, to value such interests at the NAV as reported by the Underlying Manager at the time of valuation, or whether to adjust such value to reflect a premium or discount to NAV. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and industry practice, the Fund may not always apply a discount in cases where there is no contemporaneous redemption activity in a particular Investment Fund. In other cases, as when an Investment Fund imposes extraordinary restrictions on redemptions, when other extraordinary circumstances exist, or when there have been no recent transactions in Investment Fund interests, the Fund may determine that it is appropriate to apply a discount to the NAV of the Investment Fund. Any such decision will be made in good faith, and subject to the review and supervision of the Board.

 

The valuations reported by the Underlying Managers, upon which the Fund calculates its quarter-end NAV and the NAV of each Share, may be subject to later adjustment or revision, based on information reasonably available at that time. For example, any “estimated” values from Investment Funds may be revised and fiscal year-end NAV calculations of the Investment Funds may be audited by their independent auditors and may be revised as a result of such audits. Other adjustments may occur from time to time. Because such adjustments or revisions, whether increasing or decreasing the NAV of the Fund at the time they occur, relate to information available only at the time of the adjustment or revision, the adjustment or revision may not affect the amount of the repurchase proceeds of the Fund received by Shareholders who had their Shares in the Fund repurchased at a NAV calculated prior to such adjustments and received their repurchase proceeds, subject to the ability of the Fund to adjust or recoup the repurchase proceeds received by Shareholders under certain circumstances. As a result, to the extent that such subsequently adjusted valuations from the Underlying Managers or revisions to the NAV of an Investment Fund adversely affect the Fund’s NAV, the outstanding Shares may be adversely affected by prior repurchases to the benefit of Shareholders who had their Shares repurchased at a NAV higher than the adjusted amount. Conversely, any increases in the NAV resulting from such subsequently adjusted valuations may be entirely for the benefit of the outstanding Shares and to the detriment of Shareholders who previously had their Shares repurchased at a NAV lower than the adjusted amount. The same principles apply to the purchase of Shares. New Shareholders may be affected in a similar way.

 

The Valuation Procedures provide that, where deemed appropriate by the Investment Manager and consistent with the Investment Company Act, investments in Investment Funds may be valued at cost. Cost will be used only when cost is determined to best approximate the fair value of the particular security under consideration. For example, cost may not be appropriate when the Fund is aware of sales of similar securities to third parties at materially different prices or in other circumstances where cost may not approximate fair value (which could include situations where there are no sales to third parties). In such a situation, the Funds investment will be revalued in a manner that the Investment Manager, in accordance with the Valuation Procedures, determines in good faith best reflects approximate market value. The Board will be responsible for ensuring that the Valuation Procedures utilized by the Investment Manager is fair to the Fund and consistent with applicable regulatory guidelines.

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To the extent the Fund invests in securities or other instruments that are not investments in Investment Funds, the Fund will generally value such assets as described below. Securities traded (1) on one or more of the U.S. national securities exchanges or the OTC Bulletin Board will be valued at their last sales price, and (2) on NASDAQ will be valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), at the close of trading on the exchanges or markets where such securities are traded for the business day as of which such value is being determined. Securities traded on NASDAQ for which the NOCP is not available will be valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices in this market. Securities traded on a foreign securities exchange generally will be valued at their closing prices on the exchange where such securities are primarily traded and translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. If an event occurs between the close of the foreign exchange and the computation of the Fund’s NAV that would materially affect the value of the security, the value of such a security will be adjusted to its fair value. Except as specified above, the value of a security, derivative, or synthetic security that is not actively traded on an exchange shall be determined by an unaffiliated pricing service that may use actual trade data or procedures using market indices, matrices, yield curves, specific trading characteristics of certain groups of securities, pricing models, or combinations of these. The Investment Manager will monitor the value assigned to each security by the pricing service to determine if they believe the value assigned to a security is correct. If the Investment Manager believes that the value received from the pricing service is incorrect, then the value of the security will be its fair value as determined in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.

 

Debt securities will be valued in accordance with the Valuation Procedures, which generally provide for using a third-party pricing system, agent, or dealer selected by the Investment Manager, which may include the use of valuations furnished by a pricing service that employs a matrix to determine valuations for normal institutional size trading units. The Board will monitor periodically the reasonableness of valuations provided by any such pricing service. Debt securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, absent unusual circumstances, will be valued at amortized cost, so long as such valuations are determined by the Board to represent fair value.

 

Assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars using foreign exchange rates provided by a pricing service. Trading in foreign securities generally is completed, and the values of such securities are determined, prior to the close of securities markets in the United States. Foreign exchange rates are also determined prior to such close. On occasion, the values of securities and exchange rates may be affected by events occurring between the time as of which determination of such values or exchange rates are made and the time as of which the NAV of the Fund is determined. When such events materially affect the values of securities held by the Fund or its liabilities, such securities and liabilities may be valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board.

 

In general, fair value represents a good faith approximation of the current value of an asset and will be used when there is no public market or possibly no market at all for the asset. The fair values of one or more assets may not be the prices at which those assets are ultimately sold. In such circumstances, the Investment Manager and/or the Board, in consultation with the Administrator, will reevaluate the Fund’s fair value methodology to determine, what, if any, adjustments should be made to the methodology.

 

Although the Valuation Procedures approved by the Board and the Fund provide that the Investment Manager will review the valuations provided by the Administrator (via the Underlying Managers or their administrators), neither the Investment Manager nor the Administrator will be able to confirm independently the accuracy of any valuations provided thereby.

 

Prospective investors should be aware that situations involving uncertainties as to the valuation of portfolio positions could have an adverse effect on the Funds net assets if the judgments of the Board and/or the Investment Manager (in reliance on the Investment Funds and/or their administrators) regarding appropriate valuations should prove incorrect. The Fund may desire to dispose of an interest in an Investment Fund, but be unable to dispose of such interest, and could therefore be obligated to continue to hold the interests for an extended period of time. In such a case, the Administrator, upon consultation with the Investment Manager, may continue to value the interests in accordance with the Valuation Procedures, without the benefit of an Underlying Managers or its administrators valuations, and may, if so instructed by the Investment Manager, in its sole discretion, discount the value of the interests, if applicable, in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.

 

Applicable federal tax requirements generally limit the degree to which the Fund may invest in the Subsidiaries to an amount not exceeding 25% of its total assets. The Subsidiaries price their respective portfolio investments pursuant to the same pricing and valuation methodologies and procedures employed by the Fund. The Subsidiaries offer to redeem all or a portion of their respective shares at the current net asset value per share every day the Fund is open for business. The value of shares of the Cayman Subsidiary and the Onshore Subsidiary will fluctuate with the value of their respective portfolio investments.

 

SUSPENSION OF CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

As noted above, the Fund calculates its NAV as of the close of business on the last day of each quarter. However, there may be circumstances where it may not be practicable to determine an NAV, such as during any period when the principal stock exchanges for securities in which Investment Funds have invested their assets are closed other than for weekends and customary holidays (or when trading on such exchanges is restricted or suspended). In such circumstances, the Board (after consultation with the Investment Manager) may suspend the calculation of NAV. The Fund will not accept subscriptions for Shares if the calculation of NAV is suspended, and the suspension may require the termination of a pending repurchase offer by the Fund (or the postponement of the Valuation Date for a repurchase offer). Notwithstanding a suspension of the calculation of NAV, the Fund will be required to determine the value of its assets and report NAV in its semi-annual and annual reports to Shareholders, and in its reports on Form N-PORT filed with the SEC after the end of the first and third quarters of the Funds fiscal year. The Fund will resume calculation of NAV after the Board (in consultation with the Investment Manager) determines that conditions no longer require suspension of the calculation of NAV.

25 

 

TAXES

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The following is a summary of certain material federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Shares. Because the federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund may vary from Shareholder to Shareholder depending on each Shareholder’s unique federal income tax circumstances, this summary does not attempt to discuss all of the federal income tax consequences of such an investment. Among other things, except in certain limited cases, this summary does not purport to deal with persons in special situations (such as financial institutions, non U.S. persons, insurance companies, entities exempt from federal income tax, regulated investment companies, dealers in commodities and securities and pass through entities). Further, to the limited extent this summary discusses possible foreign, state and local income tax consequences; it does so in a very general manner. Finally, this summary does not purport to discuss federal tax consequences (such as estate and gift tax consequences) other than those arising under the federal income tax laws. You are therefore urged to consult your tax advisers to determine the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Shares.

 

The following summary is based upon the Code as well as administrative regulations and rulings and judicial decisions thereunder, as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change at any time (possibly on a retroactive basis). Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the tax consequences to the Fund or its shareholder will continue to be as described herein.

 

The Fund has not sought or obtained a ruling from the Internal Revenue (the “IRS”) (or any other federal, state, local or foreign governmental agency) or an opinion of legal counsel as to any specific federal, state, local or foreign tax matter that may affect it. Accordingly, although this summary is considered to be a correct interpretation of applicable law, no assurance can be given that a court or taxing authority will agree with such interpretation or with the tax positions taken by the Fund.

 

Except where specifically noted, this summary relates solely to U.S. Shareholders. A U.S. Shareholder for purposes of this discussion is a person who is a citizen or a resident alien of the U.S., a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the U.S. or any political subdivision thereof, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source or a trust if: (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

TAXATION OF THE FUND

 

The below is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant under current law, which is subject to change. Except where otherwise specifically indicated, the discussion relates to investors who are individual U.S. citizens or residents. You should consult your own tax adviser regarding tax considerations relevant to your specific situation, including federal, state, local and non- U.S. taxes.

 

The Fund intends to continue qualifying as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under federal income tax law. As a RIC, the Fund will generally not be subject to federal corporate income taxes, provided that it distributes out to Shareholders their taxable income and gain each year. To qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, the Fund must derive with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, other income derived with respect to its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies, or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Income Test”).

 

Second, generally, at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50% of the value of the Funds assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Fund has not invested more than 5% of the value of its total assets in securities of the issuer and as to which the Fund does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer), and no more than 25% of the value of the Funds total assets may be invested in the securities of (1) any one issuer (other than U.S. government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies), (2) two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or (3) one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

Third, the Fund must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

The Fund intends to comply with this distribution requirement. If the Fund were to fail to make sufficient distributions, it could be liable for corporate income tax and for excise tax in respect of the shortfall or, if the shortfall is large enough, the Fund could be disqualified as a RIC. If for any taxable year the Fund were not to qualify as a RIC, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to Shareholders. In that event, taxable Shareholders would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, and corporate Shareholders could be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

 

The Code imposes a nondeductible 4% excise tax on RICs that fail to distribute each year an amount equal to specified percentages of their ordinary taxable income and capital gain net income (excess of capital gains over capital losses). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

Distributions To Shareholders. The Fund contemplates declaring as dividends each year all or substantially all of its taxable income. In general, distributions will be taxable to you for federal, state and local income tax purposes unless you are a tax-exempt entity, including qualified retirement plans or individual retirement accounts. Distributions are taxable whether they are received in cash or reinvested in Fund Shares. A shareholder may thus recognize income and gains taxable for federal, state and local income tax purposes and not receive any cash distributions to pay any resulting taxes.

 

Fund distributions, if any, that are attributable to “qualified dividend income” or “long-term capital gains” earned by the Fund would be taxable to non-corporate Shareholders at reduced rates. Shareholders must have owned the Fund Shares for at least 61 days during the 121 day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date to benefit from the lower rates on qualified dividend income. In addition, to the extent the Fund designates dividends it pays to its shareholders as “section 199A dividends” such shareholder may be eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to such dividends. The amount of section 199A dividends that the Fund may pay and report to its shareholders is limited to the excess of the ordinary REIT dividends, other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income, that the Fund receives from REITs for a taxable year over the Fund’s expenses allocable to such dividends. The Fund will provide notice to its shareholders of the amount of any distribution which may be taken into account as a dividend which is eligible for the capital gains tax rates or as section 199A dividends Furthermore, U.S. individuals with modified adjusted gross income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) and trusts and estates with income above specified levels are subject to a 3.8% tax on their net investment income, which includes interest, dividends and capital gains.

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Shareholders are generally taxed on any dividends from the Fund in the year they are actually distributed. But dividends declared in October, November or December of a year, and paid in January of the following year, will generally be treated for federal income tax purposes as having been paid to Shareholders on December 31.

 

Investments In Partnerships. The Fund will own interests in entities that are classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. As a partner in a partnership, the Fund will be required to recognize its allocable share of taxable income, if any, from the partnership, whether or not such income is actually distributed from the partnership to the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund may need to borrow money or dispose of its interests in underlying funds to make the required distributions. Additionally, the Fund may receive an allocation of items of income or deduction that are tax preferences or adjustments to income for alternative minimum tax purposes which will be passed through to Funds shareholders. For purposes of the Income Test, income that the Fund realizes from equity interests in entities that are classified as partnerships will generally have the same character for the Fund as in the hands of such an entity; consequently, the Fund may be required to limit its equity investments in any such entities that earn fee income, rental income, or other nonqualifying income. Additionally, private investment funds generally are not obligated to disclose the contents of their portfolios. This lack of transparency may make it difficult for the Fund to monitor the source of its income, and otherwise comply with Subchapter M of the Code, and ultimately may limit the universe of private investment funds in which the Fund may invest.

 

The character of the income recognized by the Partnership flows through to the Fund including for purposes of determining whether at least 90% of the income of the Fund is qualifying income. Accordingly, if a Partnership derives income other than qualifying income, such income will not count toward meeting the 90% requirement.

 

Because the IRS may deem the Fund to own a proportionate share of a partnerships assets in determining whether it meets the asset diversification test, the Fund will limit its investments in partnerships to avoid violating the diversification tests.

 

Expenses. As long as the Fund is not continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, regularly traded on an established securities market or does not have at least 500 shareholders at all times during the taxable year, certain expenses incurred by the Fund and Investment Funds that if paid by an individual would be treated as “miscellaneous itemized deductions” are generally not deductible by the Fund. Instead each shareholder will be treated as if it received a dividend in an amount equal to its allocable share of the Funds expenses and then having paid such expenses itself. For non-corporate taxpayers, such expenses will generally be considered “miscellaneous itemized deductions” and under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the ability for noncorporate taxpayers to deduct miscellaneous itemized deductions has been suspended.

 

Certain Withholding Taxes. The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on dividends from Investment Funds located in foreign countries, and the Investment Funds may be subject to taxes, including withholding taxes, attributable to investments of the Investment Funds. If at the close of the Fund’s taxable year more than 50% of the value of its assets consists of foreign stock or securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect, for federal income tax purposes, to treat certain foreign taxes paid by it, including generally any withholding and other foreign income taxes, as paid by its Shareholders. If the Fund so elects, the pro rata amount of such foreign taxes paid by the Fund will be included in its Shareholders’ income and each such Shareholder will be entitled either (1) to credit that proportional amount of taxes against U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or (2) to take that amount as an itemized deduction. The Fund does not expect to be able to make such election.

 

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions. You will recognize taxable gain or loss on a sale, exchange or redemption of your shares in an amount equal to the difference between your tax basis in the shares and the amount you receive for them. Generally, this gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on whether your holding period exceeds twelve months. Additionally, any loss realized on a disposition of shares of the Fund may be disallowed under “wash sale” rules to the extent the shares disposed of are replaced with other shares of the Fund within a period of 61 days beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of, such as pursuant to a dividend reinvestment in shares of the Fund. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

 

The Fund is required to compute and report the cost basis share sold or exchanged. The Fund has elected to use the First In, First Out (“FIFO”) method, unless you instruct the Fund to select a different 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 advisor, they may select a different method. In these cases, please contact the holder of your shares 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 Fund 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.

 

IRAs and Other Tax Qualified Plans. In general, dividends received and gain or loss realized with respect to shares held in an IRA or other tax qualified plan are not currently taxable unless the Fund Shares were acquired with borrowed funds.

 

Pursuant to the Regulations directed at tax shelter activity, taxpayers are required to disclose to the Internal Revenue Service certain information on Form 8886 if they participate in a “reportable transaction.” A transaction may be a “reportable transaction” based upon any of several indicia with respect to a shareholder, including the recognition of a loss in excess of certain thresholds (for individuals, $2 million in one year or $4 million in any combination of years). Investors should consult their own tax advisers concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to their investment in Fund Shares.

 

U.S. Tax Treatment Of Foreign Shareholders. Nonresident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign investors in the Fund will generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on Fund distributions attributable to net capital gains. . The exemption may not apply, however, if the investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the foreign investor in the United States or if the foreign investor is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

 

Fund distributions attributable to other categories of Fund income, such as interest, and dividends from companies whose securities are held by the Fund, will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax when paid to foreign shareholders. However, the Fund may be able to designate a portion of the distributions made as interest related dividends or short term capital gain dividends which are generally exempt from this withholding tax. The withholding tax may, however, be reduced (and, in some cases, eliminated) under an applicable tax treaty between the United States and a shareholders country of residence or incorporation, provided that the shareholder furnishes the Fund with a properly completed Form W-8BEN or W-BEN-E, as applicable, to establish entitlement for these treaty benefits.

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A foreign investor will generally not be subject to U.S. tax on gains realized on sales or exchanges of Fund shares unless the investment in the Fund is connected to a trade or business of the investor in the United States or if the investor is present in the United States for 183 days or more in a year and certain other conditions are met.

 

Special rules would apply if the 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 the Fund is a QIE.

 

If an interest in the Fund were a USRPI, a greater-than-5% foreign investor, or any foreign investor if shares in the Fund are not considered regularly traded on an established securities market, generally would be required to file a U.S. tax return in connection with the sale of its Fund shares, and pay related taxes due on any gain realized on the sale.

 

Moreover, if the 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 investor 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 the Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions to a foreign investor 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 investors and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign investor 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 investor, 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 investor’s current and past ownership of the Fund. Foreign investors of the Fund also may be 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.

 

In addition, the Fund will be required to withhold 30% tax on payments to foreign entities that do not meet specified information reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

 

All foreign investors should consult their own tax advisers regarding the tax consequences in their country of residence of an investment in the Fund.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to the U.S. federal income tax consequences summarized above, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions and redemptions. State income taxes may not apply, however, to the portions of the Fund’s distributions, if any, that are attributable to interest on U.S. government securities.

 

Investment in Cayman Subsidiary

 

The investment of up to 25% of a fund’s assets in a foreign subsidiary such as the Cayman Subsidiary is a structure that has been used by a number of RICs as a way of indirectly making investments that would not generate qualifying income if they were made directly by the RIC. Section 851(b) of the Code provides that income earned by a controlled foreign corporation (a “CFC”), such as the Cayman Subsidiary, will be treated as qualifying income for a RIC provided that CFC distributes those earnings out to the RIC each year. During the period 2006-2011, the IRS issued a number of private letter rulings to other funds in which the IRS ruled that income derived from a fund’s investment in a CFC such as the Cayman Subsidiary will generally constitute qualifying income for the fund, even if the CFC itself engages in transactions that would not generate qualifying income if they were engaged in by the fund itself and even if the earnings of the CFC are not distributed to the fund each year. In 2011, the IRS suspended the issuance of such private letter rulings pending further review of the subject. In 2019, the Treasury and the IRS issued regulations that provide that the income from a foreign subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation is qualifying income for purposes of a fund remaining qualified as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes (1) to the extent that the income is actually distributed by the foreign subsidiary to the RIC each year and (2) even if not distributed, to extent the income is derived with respect to the fund’s business of investing in stock, securities or currencies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to cause the Cayman Subsidiary to make such distributions to the Fund each year, so that the income of the Cayman Subsidiary will be qualifying income for the Fund.

 

If, however, the IRS were to determine that income derived from the Fund’s investment in the Cayman Subsidiary does not constitute qualifying income and if such positions were upheld by a court, or if future legislation or Treasury regulations were to adversely affect the tax treatment of such investments, the Fund might cease to qualify as a RIC and would be required to reduce its exposure to such investments which might result in difficulty in implementing its investment strategy. In that event, the Fund’s taxable income would be subject to tax at the fund level at regular corporate tax rates (without reduction for distributions to shareholders) and to a further tax at the shareholder level when such income is distributed. In such an event, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a regulated investment company, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make certain distributions.

 

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Taxation of the Cayman Subsidiary. There is, at present, no direct taxation in the Cayman Islands and interest, dividends and gains payable to the Cayman Subsidiary will be received free of all Cayman Islands taxes. The Cayman Subsidiary is registered as an "exempted company" pursuant to the Companies Law (as amended). The Cayman Subsidiary has applied for, and expects to receive, an undertaking from the Governor in Cabinet of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, for a period of twenty years from the date of the undertaking, no law that thereafter is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income or on gains or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the Cayman Subsidiary, or to the shareholders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Under applicable “backup withholding” requirements, the Fund may be required in certain cases to withhold and remit to the IRS a percentage of taxable dividends or gross proceeds realized upon sale payable to shareholders who have failed to provide a correct tax identification number in the manner required, or who are subject to withholding by the IRS for failure to properly include on their return payments of taxable interest or dividends, or who have failed to certify to the Fund that they are not subject to backup withholding when required to do so or that they are “exempt recipients.” The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Shareholder will be allowed as a credit against the Shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such a Shareholder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. 

 

OTHER TAX MATTERS

 

The preceding is a summary of some of the tax rules and considerations affecting Shareholders and the Funds operations, and does not purport to be a complete analysis of all relevant tax rules and considerations, nor does it purport to be a complete listing of all potential tax risks inherent in making an investment in the Fund. A Shareholder may be subject to other taxes, including but not limited to, state and local taxes, estate and inheritance taxes, and intangible taxes that may be imposed by various jurisdictions. The Fund also may be subject to state, local, and foreign taxes that could reduce cash distributions to Shareholders. It is the responsibility of each Shareholder to file all appropriate tax returns that may be required. Each prospective Shareholder is urged to consult with his or her tax adviser with respect to any investment in the Fund.

 

ERISA AND CODE CONSIDERATIONS

 

Persons who are fiduciaries with respect to one or more employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (such plans being “ERISA Plans”), as well as owners or other fiduciaries with respect to individual retirement accounts and annuities (“IRAs”), Keogh plans and similar arrangements, should consider, among other things, the matters described below before determining whether to invest in the Fund.

 

Without limitation, ERISA Plans generally include pension, profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b) and welfare benefit plans, which are established or maintained by private employers, including plans maintained jointly by private employers and unions, as well as SEP-IRA and SIMPLE IRA arrangements. ERISA imposes certain general and specific responsibilities on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to an ERISA Plan, including prudence, loyalty, diversification, adherence to governing documents, the avoidance of ERISA prohibited transactions (unless exempted), and other standards. In determining whether a particular investment is appropriate for an ERISA Plan, U.S. Department of Labor regulations provide that a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan must, within the scope of its responsibilities, give appropriate consideration to, among other things, the role that the investment plays in the ERISA Plan’s portfolio, whether the investment is designed reasonably to further the ERISA Plan’s purposes, the risk and return factors, the portfolio’s composition with regard to diversification, the liquidity and current total return of the portfolio relative to the anticipated cash flow needs of the ERISA Plan and the proposed investment, the income taxes (if any) attributable to the investment, and the projected return of the investment relative to the ERISA Plan’s funding objectives. Before investing the assets of an ERISA Plan in the Fund, an ERISA Plan fiduciary should determine whether such an investment is consistent with ERISA’s fiduciary responsibilities and the foregoing considerations. If a fiduciary with respect to any such ERISA Plan breaches such responsibilities with regard to selecting an investment or an investment course of action for such ERISA Plan, the fiduciary may be held personally liable for losses incurred by the ERISA Plan as a result of such breach. Likewise, many ERISA Plans are also subject to the prohibited transaction rules of section 4975 of the Code, as discussed in the next paragraph.

 

IRAs (other than SEPs and SIMPLEs), Keogh plans, individual 401(k) plans and certain other plans that cover only owner-employees, partners of a partnership, and their respective spouses, as well as certain other tax-advantaged accounts, are generally not subject to ERISA, but are subject to the prohibited transaction rules of section 4975 of the Code (“Code Plans”), and thus their owners or other fiduciaries should determine whether an investment in the Fund will violate those rules.

 

In addition, depending on the particular circumstances, certain other accounts and entities in which one or more ERISA Plans and/or Code Plans directly or indirectly hold equity interests may be subject to some or all of the above rules. Specifically, where the underlying assets of such accounts or entities are deemed to constitute “plan assets” of ERISA Plans and/or Code Plans, persons who have or exercise certain discretionary powers, and persons who render investment advice for compensation with respect to their assets, will be considered fiduciaries to the respective ERISA Plans and/or Code Plans. In these cases, such fiduciaries may be subject to ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility rules and ERISA and/or the Code’s prohibited transaction rules, as applicable. Examples of such accounts and entities which may in some cases be deemed to hold “plan assets” include certain funds-of-funds, insurance company accounts and collective trust vehicles. For brevity, we refer to such accounts and entities whose underlying assets are deemed to constitute “plan assets,” together with ERISA Plans and Code Plans, as “Plan Investors.”

 

Investments by ERISA Plans and Code Plans in investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act, publicly-offered securities and operating companies should not result in such entities’ underlying assets being deemed to constitute “plan assets.”

 

Because the Fund will be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, the underlying assets of the Fund will not be considered “plan assets” of the Plan Investors investing in the Fund for purposes of ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility rules and ERISA and the Code’s prohibited transaction rules. Thus, the Investment Manager will not be a fiduciary within the meaning of ERISA and the Code with respect to the assets of any Plan Investor that becomes a Shareholder of the Fund, solely as a result of the Plan Investor’s investment in the Fund.

 

Certain prospective Plan Investors may currently maintain relationships with the Investment Manager or one or more Underlying Managers of the Investment Funds in which the Fund invests, or with other entities that are affiliated with the Investment Manager such Underlying Managers. Each of such persons may be deemed to be a party in interest to, a disqualified person of, and/or a fiduciary of any Plan Investor to which it provides investment management, investment advisory, or other services. Among other things, ERISA and the Code prohibit Plan assets from being used for the benefit of a party in interest or disqualified person and also prohibit a fiduciary from using its position to cause the Plan to make an investment from which it or certain third parties in which such fiduciary has an interest would receive a fee or other consideration, unless an exemption to such prohibited transaction applies. Plan Investors should consult with legal counsel to determine if participation in the Fund is a transaction that is prohibited by ERISA or the Code. Fiduciaries of Plan Investors, including IRA owners, will be required to represent that the decision to invest in the Fund was made by them as fiduciaries that are independent of such affiliated persons, that they are duly authorized to make such investment decisions, and that they have not relied on any individualized advice or recommendation of such affiliated persons as a primary basis for the decision to invest in the Fund.

29 

 

The provisions of ERISA and the Code are subject to extensive and continuing administrative and judicial interpretation and review. The discussion of ERISA and the Code contained herein is, of necessity, general and may be affected by the future publication or the future applicability of final regulations and rulings. Potential investors should consult with their legal advisers regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition and ownership of Shares. In addition, certain other plans, including for example governmental plans, ERISA-exempt church plans and bona fide “top-hat” deferred compensation plans, while not subject to ERISA or the prohibited transaction rules under section 4975 of the Code, may nonetheless be subject to similar rules and restrictions arising under other sources of law, and should consider the application of such other laws before investing in the Fund.

 

INVESTOR QUALIFICATIONS

 

Each prospective investor in the Fund will be required to certify that it is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act. The criteria for qualifying as an “accredited investor” are set forth in the investor application that must be completed by each prospective investor. Investors who meet such qualifications are referred to in this Prospectus as “Eligible Investors.” Existing Shareholders who request to purchase additional Shares (other than in connection with the DRIP) will be required to qualify as “Eligible Investors” and to complete an additional investor application prior to the additional purchase.

 

PURCHASING SHARES

 

PURCHASE TERMS

 

The minimum initial investment in the Fund by any investor is $25,000, and the minimum additional investment in the Fund by any Shareholder is $10,000. However, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may accept investments below these minimums. Shares may be purchased by principals and employees of the Investment Manager or their affiliates and its immediate family members without being subject to the minimum investment requirements. The Shares will initially be issued at $10.00 per share and thereafter the purchase price for Shares will be based on the NAV per Share as of the date such Shares are purchased.

 

Shares will generally be offered for purchase as of the first business day of each calendar quarter, except that Shares may be offered more or less frequently as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The Board may also suspend or terminate offerings of Shares at any time.

 

Except as otherwise permitted by the Board, initial and subsequent purchases of Shares will be payable in cash. Each initial or subsequent purchase of Shares will be payable in one installment which will generally be due (i) four business days prior to the date of the proposed acceptance of the purchase set by the Fund, which is expected to be the last day of each calendar quarter (the “Acceptance Date”), where funds are remitted by wire transfer, or (ii) ten business days prior to the Acceptance Date, where funds are remitted by check. A prospective investor must also submit a completed investor application at least five business days before the Acceptance Date. The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any subscription to purchase Shares in the Fund at any time. Although the Fund may, in its sole discretion, elect to accept a subscription prior to receipt of cleared funds, an investor will not become a Shareholder until cleared funds have been received. In the event that cleared funds and/or a properly completed investor application are not received from a prospective investor prior to the cut-off dates pertaining to a particular offering, the Fund may hold the relevant funds and investor application for processing in the next offering.

 

Pending any offering, funds received from prospective investors will be placed in an escrow account with UMB Bank, n.a., the Funds escrow agent. On the date of any closing, the balance in the escrow account with respect to each investor whose investment is accepted will be invested in the Fund on behalf of such investor. In general, an investment will be accepted if the investor meets the Funds eligibility requirement and a completed investor application and funds are received in good order on or prior to the Acceptance Date set by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to reject, in its sole discretion, any request to purchase Shares in the Fund at any time. For any investor whose investment is not accepted, the balance in the escrow account with respect to such investor will be returned to the investor. Any interest earned with respect to escrow accounts will be paid to the Fund.

 

TERM, DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

The Fund may be dissolved upon approval of a majority of the Trustees. Upon the liquidation of the Fund, its assets will be distributed first to satisfy (whether by payment or the making of a reasonable provision for payment) the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Fund, including actual or anticipated liquidation expenses, other than debts, liabilities or obligations to Shareholders, and then to the Shareholders proportionately in accordance with the amount of Shares that they own. Assets may be distributed in-kind on a proportionate basis if the Board or liquidator determines that the distribution of assets in-kind would be in the interests of the Shareholders in facilitating an orderly liquidation.

 

REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

The Fund will furnish to Shareholders as soon as practicable after the end of each of its taxable years such information as is necessary for them to complete U.S. federal and state income tax or information returns, along with any other tax information required by law. The Fund anticipates sending Shareholders an unaudited semi-annual and an audited annual report within 60 days after the close of the period for which the report is being made, or as otherwise required by the Investment Company Act. Shareholders also will be sent reports regarding the Funds operations each quarter.

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

The Funds fiscal year is the 12-month period ending on March 31. The Funds taxable year is the 12-month period ending on October 31.

30 

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL

 

[], is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund.

 

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Fund and the IndependentTrustees.

 

INQUIRIES

 

Inquiries concerning the Fund and Shares (including procedures for purchasing Shares) should be directed to the Funds Administrator, UMB Fund Services, Inc. at [ ].

31 

 

ASPIRIANT RISK-MANAGED REAL

ASSET FUND

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

(877) 779-1999

 

Investment Manager

Aspiriant, LLC

11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

 

Custodian Bank

UMB Bank, n.a.

1010 Grand Boulevard

Kansas City, MO 64106

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

[ ]

 

Transfer Agent / Administrator

UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

Distributor

UMB Distribution Services, LLC

235 W. Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

Fund Counsel

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

 

32

 

 

 

 

Subject to Completion, [DATE]

 

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

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund

 

Dated [DATE]

 

c/o UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

[PHONE]

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI relates to and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) of the Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund (the “Fund”) dated [DATE], and as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time. A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained without charge by contacting the Fund at the telephone number or address set forth above.

 

This SAI is not an offer to sell shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) of the Fund and is not soliciting an offer to buy Shares in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the same meaning set forth in the Prospectus.

 

Shares are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC (“Distributor”) to institutions and financial intermediaries who may distribute Shares to clients and customers (including affiliates and correspondents) of the Fund’s investment adviser, and to clients and customers of other organizations. The Fund’s Prospectus, which is dated [DATE], provides basic information investors should know before investing. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of the Fund and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES 3
FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES 3
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE FUND AND RELATED RISKS 3
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS 12
CODES OF ETHICS 15
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES 15
BROKERAGE 17
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL 17
CUSTODIAN 17
DISTRIBUTOR 17
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 17
CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS 18
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 18
APPENDIX A – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A-1
APPENDIX B – DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS B-1

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES

 

The investment objective of the Fund, as well as the principal investment strategies of the Fund and the principal risks associated with such investment strategies, are set forth in the Prospectus. Certain additional information regarding the investment program of the Fund is set forth below.

 

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

 

The Fund’s fundamental policies, which are listed below, may only be changed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. At the present time, the Shares are the only outstanding voting securities of the Fund. As defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), the vote of a “majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund” means the vote, at an annual or special meeting of the Shareholders of the Fund, duly called, (i) of 67% or more of the Shares represented at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares are present in person or represented by proxy, or (ii) of more than 50% of the outstanding Shares, whichever is less. No other policy is a fundamental policy of the Fund, except as expressly stated. Within the limits of the fundamental policies of the Fund, the management of the Fund, including the Fund’s investment adviser, Aspiriant, LLC (the “Investment Manager”), has reserved freedom of action. The Fund may not:

 

(1)Issue any senior security, except to the extent permitted by Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any other applicable authority.

 

(2)Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by Section 18 of the Investment Company Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by the SEC or any other applicable authority. This investment restriction does not apply to borrowings from affiliated investment companies or other affiliated persons of the Fund to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the SEC or any other applicable authority.

 

(3)Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the disposition of its portfolio securities.

 

(4)Make loans, except through purchasing fixed-income securities, lending portfolio securities, or entering into repurchase agreements in a manner consistent with the investment policies of the Fund, or as otherwise permitted under the Investment Company Act. This investment restriction does not apply to loans to affiliated investment companies or other affiliated persons of the Fund to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act, the SEC or any other applicable authority.

 

(5)Purchase, hold or deal in real estate, except that the Fund may invest in securities that are secured by real estate, including, without limitation, mortgage-related securities, or that are issued by companies or partnerships that invest or deal in real estate or real estate investment trusts, and may hold and dispose of real estate acquired by the Fund as a result of the ownership of securities or other permitted investments.

 

(6)Invest 25% or more of the value of its total assets in the securities of issuers that the Fund’s investment advisor determines are engaged in any single industry, except that, under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest over 25% of its total assets in the securities of companies in the real estate industry. U.S. government securities and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities may be purchased without limitation. This investment restriction does not apply to investments by the Fund in Investment Funds (as defined below). The Fund may invest in Investment Funds that may concentrate their assets in one or more industries.

 

With respect to these investment restrictions and other policies described in this SAI or the Prospectus, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment or transaction, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the values of investments or the value of the Fund’s total assets, unless otherwise stated, will not constitute a violation of such restriction or policy. The Fund’s investment policies and restrictions do not apply to the activities and the transactions of the Investment Funds, but will apply to investments made by the Fund directly (or any account consisting solely of the Fund’s assets).

 

The investment objective of the Fund is not a fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) without the vote of a majority (as defined by the Investment Company Act) of the Fund’s outstanding Shares.

 

In addition, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year. A high portfolio turnover rate (100% or more) may increase the Fund’s transaction costs (including brokerage commissions and dealer costs), which would adversely impact the Fund’s performance. Higher portfolio turnover may result in the realization of more short-term capital gains than if the Fund had lower portfolio turnover. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate will not be a limiting factor, however, if the Investment Manager considers a portfolio change appropriate.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES OF THE FUND AND RELATED RISKS

 

As discussed in the Prospectus, the Fund pursues its investment objective by allocating its capital, directly and indirectly, in general or limited partnerships, funds, corporations, trusts or other investment vehicles (collectively, “Investment Funds”) that invest substantially all their assets in real estate, infrastructure, commodities and other real asset securities and funds. This section provides additional information about various types of investments and investment techniques that may be employed by Investment Funds in which the Fund invests, or by the Fund. Many of the investments and techniques described in this section may be based in part on the existence of a public market for the relevant securities. To that extent, such investments and techniques are not expected to represent the principal investments or techniques of the majority of the Investment Funds, or of the Fund; however, there is no limit on the types of investments the Investment Funds may make and certain Investment Funds may use such investments or techniques extensively. Similarly, there are few limits on the types of investments the Fund may make. Accordingly, the descriptions in this section cannot be comprehensive. Any decision to invest in the Fund should take into account (i) the possibility that the Investment Funds may make virtually any kind of investment, (ii) that the Fund has similarly broad latitude in the kinds of investments it may make (subject to the fundamental policies described above), and (iii) that all such investments will be subject to related risks, which can be substantial.

3 

 

For purposes of this section, references to “the Investment Manager” and “the Fund” should be read to include the investment advisers to the Investment Funds (the “Underlying Managers”) and the Investment Funds, respectively, as applicable.

 

Private Funds

 

The Fund can invest in closed-end or continuously offered private funds and closed-end institutional funds (collectively the ‘‘Private Funds”) directly or through its wholly owned and controlled subsidiary organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, (the “Cayman Subsidiary”). The Fund can also make investments through its wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary organized under Delaware law as a corporation (the “Onshore Subsidiary”). The continuously offered Private Funds generally take subscriptions on periodic bases, typically permit quarterly or semi-annual redemptions, and typically do not have a defined termination date. Closed-end private funds include funds that have targeted capital raises, investment lock-up periods, and expected fund life terms. 

 

The Private Funds may use leverage as a way to seek or enhance returns. Dependent upon the investment strategy, geographic focus, and/or other economic or property-specific factors, each Private Fund will have differing leverage limitations. Such limitations are specific to each Private Fund and may apply to an overall portfolio limitation as well as a property specific limitation.

 

To the extent the Fund holds non-voting securities of, or contractually foregoes the right to vote in respect of, a Private Fund (which it intends to do in certain circumstances in order to avoid being considered an “affiliated person” of a Private Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act), it will not be able to vote on matters that require the approval of the investors of the Private Fund, including matters that could adversely affect the Fund’s investment, such as changes to the Private Fund’s investment objective or policies or the termination of the Private Fund. If the Fund’s ability to vote is limited, its ability to influence matters being voted on will be reduced relative to other investors (which may include other investment funds or accounts managed by Investment Manager). Where a separate non-voting security class is not available, the Fund would seek to create by contract the same result as owning a non-voting security class through a written agreement between the Fund and the Private Fund in which the Fund irrevocably foregoes the right to vote. The absence of voting rights potentially could have an adverse impact on the Fund.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts

 

The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in real estate or real estate related loans. 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 properties that have appreciated in value. Equity REITs may further be categorized by the type of real estate securities they own, such as apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, healthcare facilities, manufactured housing and mixed property types. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs. Like regulated investment companies such as the Fund, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund.

 

Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by such REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects. REITs are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, default by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibilities of failing to qualify for the exemption from tax for distributed income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from the Investment Company Act. REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. Investing in REITs also involves risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. That is, they may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to abrupt or erratic price movements in comparison to larger capitalization companies. To the extent that assets underlying a REIT are concentrated geographically, by property type or in certain other respects, these risks may be heightened.

 

In addition, the value of such securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers of mortgage-related securities owned by the Fund. Because investments in mortgage-related securities are interest sensitive, the ability of the issuer to reinvest or to reinvest favorably in underlying mortgages may be limited by government regulation or tax policy. For example, action by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to limit the growth of the nation’s money supply may cause interest rates to rise and thereby reduce the volume of new residential mortgages. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantees and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will be able to meet their obligation. 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 investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates, causing the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

 

The REIT investments of the Fund may often not provide complete tax information to the Fund until after the calendar year-end. Consequently, because of the delay, it may be necessary for the Fund to request permission to extend the deadline for issuance of Forms 1099-DIV beyond January 31. Also, under current provisions of the Code, distributions attributable to operating income of REITs in which the Fund invests are not eligible for favorable tax treatment as long-term capital gains and will be taxable to you as ordinary income. To the extent, however, that the Fund designates dividends it pays to its shareholders as “section 199A dividends” such shareholder may be eligible for a 20% deduction with respect to such dividends. The amount of section 199A dividends that the Fund may pay and report to its shareholders is limited to the excess of the ordinary REIT dividends, other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income, that the Fund receives from REITs for a taxable year over the Fund’s expenses allocable to such dividends.

 

Infrastructure Companies

 

The Fund considers a company to be engaged in the infrastructure business if it derives at least 50% of its revenues or earnings from, or devotes at least 50% of its assets to, infrastructure-related activities. The Fund defines infrastructure as the systems and networks of energy, transportation, utilities, communication and other services required for the normal function of society. Infrastructure companies are involved in, among other things: (1) the generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy; (2) the storage, transportation and distribution of natural resources, such as natural gas, used to produce energy; (3) alternative energy sources; (4) the building, operation and maintenance of highways, toll roads, tunnels, bridges and parking lots; (5) the building, operation and maintenance of airports and ports, railroads and mass transit systems; (6) telecommunications, including wireless and cable networks; (7) water treatment and distribution; and (8) other public services such as health care and education.

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Investments in infrastructure-related companies have greater exposure to the potential adverse economic, regulatory, political and other changes affecting such entities. Infrastructure-related companies are subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, costs associated with compliance with and changes in environmental and other regulations, difficulty in raising capital in adequate amounts on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets, the effects of surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services in a developing deregulatory environment, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Additionally, infrastructure-related entities may be subject to regulation by various governmental authorities and may also be affected by governmental regulation of rates charged to customers, government budgetary constraints, service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps and the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards. Other factors that may affect the operations of infrastructure-related companies include innovations in technology that could render the way in which a company delivers a product or service obsolete, significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company’s products, increased susceptibility to terrorist acts or political actions, risks of environmental damage due to a company’s operations or an accident, and general changes in market sentiment towards infrastructure and utilities assets.

 

Master Limited Partnerships

 

The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in equity securities of master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and their affiliates. An MLP generally has two classes of partners, the general partner and the limited partners. The general partner normally controls the MLP through an equity interest plus units that are subordinated to the common (publicly traded) units for an initial period and then only converting to common if certain financial tests are met. As a motivation for the general partner to successfully manage the MLP and increase cash flows, the terms of most MLPs typically provide that the general partner receives a large portion of the net income as distributions reach higher target levels. As cash flow grows, the general partner receives greater interest in the incremental income compared to the interest of limited partners. The general partner’s incentive compensation typically increases to up to 50% of incremental income. Nevertheless, the aggregate amount distributed to limited partners will increase as MLP distributions reach higher target levels. Given this incentive structure, the general partner has an incentive to streamline operations and undertake acquisitions and growth projects in order to increase distributions to all partners.

 

MLP common units represent an equity ownership interest in a partnership, providing limited voting rights and entitling the holder to a share of the company’s success through distributions and/or capital appreciation. Unlike shareholders of a corporation, common unit holders do not elect directors annually and generally have the right to vote only on certain significant events, such as mergers, a sale of substantially all of the assets, removal of the general partner or material amendments to the partnership agreement. MLPs are required by their partnership agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. Common unit holders generally have first right to a minimum quarterly distribution prior to distributions to the convertible subordinated unit holders or general partner (including incentive distributions). Common unit holders typically have arrearage rights if the minimum quarterly distribution is not met. In the event of liquidation, MLP common unit holders have first right to the partnership’s remaining assets after bondholders, other debt holders, and preferred unit holders have been paid in full. MLP common units trade on a national securities exchange or over-the-counter. Some limited liability companies (“LLCs”) may be treated as MLPs for federal income tax purposes.

 

Similar to MLPs, LLCs typically do not pay federal income tax at the entity level and are required by their operating agreements to distribute a large percentage of their current operating earnings. In contrast to MLPs, LLCs have no general partner and there are no incentives that entitle management or other unit holders to increased percentages of cash distributions as distributions reach higher target levels. In addition, LLC common unit holders typically have voting rights with respect to the LLC, whereas MLP common units have limited voting rights. MLP common units and other equity securities can be affected by macro-economic and other factors affecting the stock market in general, expectations of interest rates, investor sentiment toward MLPs or a MLP’s business sector, changes in a particular issuer’s financial condition, or unfavorable or unanticipated poor performance of a particular issuer (in the case of MLPs, generally measured in terms of distributable cash flow).

 

Prices of common units of individual MLPs and other equity securities can also be affected by fundamentals unique to the partnership or company, including earnings power and coverage ratios. MLP convertible subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to the MLP, and institutional investors, and may be purchased in direct placements from such persons. The purpose of the convertible subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed to common unit holders. Convertible subordinated units generally are not entitled to distributions until holders of common units have received specified minimum quarterly distributions, plus any arrearages, and may receive less in distributions upon liquidation. Convertible subordinated unit holders generally are entitled to a minimum quarterly distribution prior to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner, but are not entitled to arrearage rights. Therefore, they generally entail greater risk than MLP common units. They are generally convertible automatically into the senior common units of the same issuer at a one-to-one ratio upon the passage of time or their satisfaction of certain financial tests. These units do not trade on a national exchange or over-the-counter, and there is no active market for convertible subordinated units. The value of a convertible security is a function of its worth if converted into the underlying common units. Convertible subordinated units generally have similar voting rights to MLP common units. Because convertible subordinated units generally convert to common units on a one-to-one ratio, the price that the Fund could be expected to pay upon the purchase or to realize upon resale is generally tied to the common unit price less a discount. The size of the discount varies depending on a variety of factors including the likelihood of conversion, and the length of time remaining to conversion, and the size of the block purchased.

 

The Fund may invest in MLP I-Shares, which are issued by corporations and are not subject to the 25% limit on the Fund’s investments in MLPs. MLP I-Shares represent an indirect investment in MLP I-units. MLP I-units are equity securities issued to affiliates of MLPs, typically a limited liability company, that own an interest in and manage the MLP. The issuer has management rights but is not entitled to incentive distributions. The MLP I-Share issuer’s assets consist exclusively of MLP I-units. Distributions by MLPs to MLP I-unit holders are made in the form of additional MLP I-units, generally equal in amount to the cash received by common unit holders of MLPs. Distributions to MLP I-Share holders are made in the form of additional MLP I-Shares, generally equal in amount to the MLP I-units received by the MLP I-Share issuer. The issuer of the MLP I-Share is taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes; however, the MLP does not allocate income or loss to the MLP I-Share issuer. Accordingly, investors receive a Form 1099, are not allocated their proportionate share of income of the MLPs and are not subject to state income tax filing obligations. The price of MLP I-Shares and their volatility tend to be correlated to the price of common units, although the price correlation is not precise.

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Asset-Backed (Including Mortgage-Backed) Securities

 

To the extent described in the Prospectus, the Fund may purchase asset-backed securities, which are securities backed by mortgages, real estate debt, consumer loans, senior living debt, installment contracts, small business loans, credit card receivables, municipal securities or other financial assets. The investment characteristics of asset-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed-income securities. Asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made periodically, thus in effect “passing through” such payments made by the individual borrowers on the assets that underlie the securities, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities. The average life of asset-backed securities varies with the maturities of the underlying instruments, and the average life of a mortgage-backed instrument, in particular, is likely to be substantially less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools underlying the securities as a result of mortgage prepayments. For this and other reasons, an asset-backed security normally is subject to both call risk and extension risk, and an asset-backed security’s stated maturity may be shortened. In addition, the security’s total return may be difficult to predict precisely. These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed-income securities.

 

If an asset-backed security is purchased at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity. Conversely, if an asset-backed security is purchased at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase, while slower than expected prepayments will decrease, yield to maturity. In calculating the average weighted maturity of the Fund’s fixed income investments, the maturity of asset-backed securities will be based on estimates of average life. Prepayments on asset-backed securities generally increase with falling interest rates and decrease with rising interest rates; furthermore, prepayment rates are influenced by a variety of economic and social factors. In general, the collateral supporting non-mortgage asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments.

 

Asset-backed securities acquired by the Fund may include collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”). CMOs provide the holder with a specified interest in the cash flow of a pool of underlying mortgages or other mortgage-backed securities. Issuers of CMOs ordinarily elect to be taxed as pass-through entities known as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”). CMOs are issued in multiple classes, each with a specified fixed or floating interest rate and a final distribution date. The relative payment rights of the various CMO classes may be structured in a variety of ways, and normally are considered derivative securities. In some cases CMOs may be highly leveraged and very speculative. The Fund will not purchase “residual” CMO interests, which normally exhibit greater price volatility.

 

Inflation-Indexed Securities

 

Inflation-indexed securities are debt securities, the principal value of which is periodically adjusted to reflect the rate of inflation as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). Inflation-indexed securities may be issued by the U.S. government, by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, and by corporations. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the CPI accruals as part of a semiannual coupon payment.

 

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed securities is tied to the CPI, which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation, and energy. Inflation-indexed securities issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will correlate to the rate of inflation in the United States.

 

Inflation—a general rise in prices of goods and services—erodes the purchasing power of an investor’s portfolio. For example, if an investment provides a “nominal” total return of 5% in a given year and inflation is 2% during that period, the inflation-adjusted, or real, return is 3%. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, has generally occurred during the past 50 years, so investors should be conscious of both the nominal and real returns of their investments. Investors in inflation-indexed securities funds who do not reinvest the portion of the income distribution that is attributable to inflation adjustments will not maintain the purchasing power of the investment over the long term. This is because interest earned depends on the amount of principal invested, and that principal will not grow with inflation if the investor fails to reinvest the principal adjustment paid out as part of the Fund’s income distributions. Although inflation-indexed securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise because of reasons other than inflation (e.g., changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

 

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation (i.e., the CPI) falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed securities will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed securities, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the inflation-indexed securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Other inflation-indexed securities include inflation-related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

The value of inflation-indexed securities should change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates, in turn, are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates were to increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed securities.

 

Coupon payments that the Fund receives from inflation-indexed securities are included in the Fund’s gross income for the period during which they accrue. Any increase in principal for an inflation-indexed security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-indexed security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments, even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, if the Fund holds these securities, it distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments each quarter in the form of cash or reinvested shares (which, like principal adjustments, are taxable to shareholders). It may be necessary for the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions, including when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to make required distributions.

6 

 

Commodities

 

The Fund may purchase or sell derivatives, securities or other instruments that provide exposure to commodities. The Fund’s investments in commodities-related instruments may subject the Fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-related instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes 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. An unexpected surplus of a commodity caused by one of the aforementioned factors, for example, may cause a significant decrease in the value of the commodity (and a decrease in the value of any investments directly correlated to the commodity). Conversely, an unexpected shortage of a commodity caused by one of the aforementioned factors may cause a significant increase in the value of the commodity (and a decrease in the value of any investments inversely correlated to that commodity). The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions and other disruptions due to, among other factors, lack of liquidity, the participation of speculators, and government regulation and other actions. The Fund may focus its commodity-related investments in a particular sector of the commodities market (such as gold, oil, metal or agricultural products). As a result, to the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a particular sector of the commodities market, the Fund may be more susceptible to risks associated with those sectors, including the risk of due to adverse economic, business or political developments affecting a particular sector.

 

Equity Securities

 

The investment portfolios of the Fund may include long and short positions in common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities of U.S. and foreign issuers. The value of equity securities depends on business, economic and other factors affecting those issuers. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be pronounced.

 

The Investment Manager may generally invest in equity securities without restriction. These investments may include securities of companies with small- to medium-sized market capitalizations, including micro cap companies and growth stage companies. The securities of certain companies, particularly smaller-capitalization companies, involve higher risks in some respects than do investments in securities of larger companies. For example, prices of small-capitalization and even medium-capitalization stocks are often more volatile than prices of large-capitalization stocks, and the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency of many smaller companies (with the attendant losses to investors) is higher than for larger, “blue-chip” companies. In addition, due to thin trading in the securities of some small-capitalization companies, an investment in those companies may be illiquid.

 

Fixed-Income Securities

 

The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities. An Investment Manager will invest in these securities when their yield and potential for capital appreciation are considered sufficiently attractive, and also may invest in these securities for defensive purposes and to maintain liquidity. Fixed-income securities include bonds, notes and debentures issued by U.S. and foreign corporations and governments. These securities may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, and may include zero coupon obligations. Fixed-income securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest payments on its obligations (i.e., credit risk) and are subject to the risk of price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness or financial condition of the issuer and general market liquidity (i.e., market risk). Certain portfolio securities, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to significant reductions of yield and possible loss of principal.

 

The Fund may invest in both investment grade and non-investment grade debt securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Investment grade debt securities are securities that have received a rating from at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (a “Rating Agency”) in one of the four highest rating categories or, if not rated by any Rating Agency, have been determined by the Investment Manager to be of comparable quality.

 

The Fund’s investments in non-investment grade debt securities, including convertible debt securities, are considered by the Rating Agencies to be predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Non-investment grade securities in the lowest rating categories may involve a substantial risk of default or may be in default. Adverse changes in economic conditions or developments regarding the individual issuer are more likely to cause price volatility and weaken the capacity of the issuers of non-investment grade securities to make principal and interest payments than is the case for higher grade securities. In addition, the market for lower grade securities may be thinner and less liquid than the market for higher grade securities.

 

Non-U.S. Securities

 

The Fund may invest in equity and fixed-income securities of non-U.S. issuers and in depositary receipts, such as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which represent indirect interests in securities of non-U.S. issuers. Non-U.S. securities in which the Fund may invest may be listed on non- U.S. securities exchanges or traded in non-U.S. over-the-counter markets or may be purchased in private placements and not be publicly traded. Investments in non-U.S. securities are affected by risk factors generally not thought to be present in the U.S. Foreign investing can result in higher transaction and operating costs for the Fund. Foreign issuers are not subject to the same accounting and disclosure requirements to which U.S. issuers are subject and consequently, less information may be available to investors in companies located in such countries than is available to investors in companies located in the United States. The value of foreign investments may be affected by reduced levels of governmental exchange control regulations; foreign withholding taxes; reduced liquidity in foreign markets; fluctuations in the rate of exchange between currencies and costs associated with currency conversions; the potential difficulty in repatriating funds; expropriation or nationalization of a company’s assets; delays in settlement of transactions; other jurisdictions imposing restrictions on investments; changes in governmental economic or monetary policies in the United States or abroad; or other political and economic factors. In addition, there may be difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad.

 

As a general matter, the Fund is not required to hedge against non-U.S. currency risks, including the risk of changing currency exchange rates, which could reduce the value of non-U.S. currency denominated portfolio securities irrespective of the underlying investment. However, from time to time, the Fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts (“forward contracts”) for hedging purposes and non-hedging purposes to pursue its investment objective. Forward contracts are transactions involving the Fund’s obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a specified price. Forward contracts may be used by the Fund for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future non-U.S. currency exchange rates, such as when the Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a non-U.S. security. This technique would allow the Fund to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. Forward contracts also may be used to attempt to protect the value of the Fund’s existing holdings of non-U.S. securities. There may be, however, imperfect correlation between the Fund’s non-U.S. securities holdings and the forward contracts entered into with respect to such holdings. Forward contracts also may be used for non-hedging purposes to pursue the Fund’s investment objective, such as when the Investment Manager anticipates that particular non-U.S. currencies will appreciate or depreciate in value, even though securities denominated in such currencies are not then held in the Fund’s investment portfolio.

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ADRs involve substantially the same risks as investing directly in securities of non-U.S. issuers, as discussed in the Fund’s Prospectus. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that show evidence of underlying securities issued by a non-U.S. corporation. Issuers of unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States, and therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers.

 

Money Market Instruments

 

The Fund may invest during periods of adverse market or economic conditions for defensive purposes some or all of their assets in high quality money market instruments and other short-term obligations, money market mutual funds or repurchase agreements with banks or broker-dealers or may hold cash or cash equivalents in such amounts as the Investment Manager deems appropriate under the circumstances. The Fund also may invest in these instruments for liquidity purposes pending allocation of their respective offering proceeds and other circumstances. Money market instruments are high quality, short-term fixed-income obligations, which generally have remaining maturities of one year or less, and may include U.S. government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued by domestic branches of United States banks that are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and repurchase agreements.

 

Lending Portfolio Securities

 

The Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions needing to borrow securities to complete certain transactions. The Fund continues to be entitled to payments in amounts equal to the interest, dividends or other distributions payable on the loaned securities which affords the Fund an opportunity to earn interest on the amount of the loan and on the loaned securities’ collateral. The Fund generally will receive collateral consisting of cash, U.S. government securities or irrevocable letters of credit which will be maintained at all times in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. The Fund might experience risk of loss if the institution with which it has engaged in a portfolio loan transaction breaches its agreement with the Fund.

 

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Securities

 

To reduce the risk of changes in securities prices and interest rates, the Fund may purchase securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable with respect to such purchases are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty. After the Fund commits to purchase such securities, but before delivery and settlement, it may sell the securities if it is deemed advisable.

 

Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis are subject to changes in value, generally changing in the same way (i.e., appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise) based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities so purchased may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment, when-issued or delayed delivery basis when the Fund is fully or almost fully invested results in a form of leverage and may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the net assets of the Fund. In addition, there is a risk that securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may not be delivered and that the purchaser of securities sold by the Fund on a forward basis will not honor its purchase obligation. In such cases, the Fund may incur a loss.

 

SPECIAL INVESTMENT INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES

 

For purposes of this section, references to “the Investment Manager” and “the Fund” should be read to include the Underlying Managers and the Investment Funds, respectively, as applicable.

 

The Investment Manager may utilize a variety of special investment instruments and techniques to hedge against various risks (such as changes in interest rates or other factors that affect security values) or for non-hedging purposes to pursue the Fund’s investment objective. These strategies may often be executed through derivative transactions. Certain of the special investment instruments and techniques that the Investment Manager may use are speculative and involve a high degree of risk, particularly in the context of non-hedging transactions.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are securities and other instruments the value or return of which is based on the performance of an underlying asset, index, interest rate or other investment. Derivatives may be volatile and involve various risks, depending upon the derivative and its function in a portfolio. Special risks may apply to instruments that are invested in by the Fund in the future that cannot be determined at this time or until such instruments are developed or invested in by the Fund. Certain swaps, options and other derivative instruments may be subject to various types of risks, including market risk, liquidity risk, and the risk of non-performance by the counterparty, including risks relating to the financial soundness and creditworthiness of the counterparty, legal risk and operations risk.

 

Call and Put Options

 

There are risks associated with the sale and purchase of call and put options. The seller (writer) of a call option which is covered (e.g., the writer holds the underlying security) assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the purchase price of the underlying security less the premium received, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The seller of an uncovered call option assumes the risk of a theoretically unlimited increase in the market price of the underlying security above the exercise price of the option. The securities necessary to satisfy the exercise of the call option may be unavailable for purchase except at much higher prices. Purchasing securities to satisfy the exercise of the call option can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, sometimes by a significant amount, thereby exacerbating the loss. The buyer of a call option assumes the risk of losing its entire premium invested in the call option. The seller (writer) of a put option which is covered (e.g., the writer has a short position in the underlying security) assumes the risk of an increase in the market price of the underlying security above its short sales price plus the premium received for writing the put option, and gives up the opportunity for gain on the short position if the underlying security’s price falls below the exercise price of the option. The seller of an uncovered put option assumes the risk of a decline in the market price of the underlying security below the exercise price of the option. The buyer of a put option assumes the risk of losing his entire premium invested in the put option.

8 

 

Hedging Transactions

 

The Investment Manager may utilize a variety of financial instruments, such as derivatives, options, interest rate swaps, caps and floors, futures and forward contracts to seek to hedge against declines in the values of their portfolio positions as a result of changes in currency exchange rates, certain changes in the equity markets and market interest rates and other events. Hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the value of the hedged portfolio positions should increase. It may not be possible for the Investment Manager to hedge against a change or event at a price sufficient to protect the Fund’s assets from the decline in value of the portfolio positions anticipated as a result of such change. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge against certain changes or events at all. While the Investment Manager may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce currency exchange rate and interest rate risks, or the risks of a decline in the equity markets generally or one or more sectors of the equity markets in particular, or the risks posed by the occurrence of certain other events, unanticipated changes in currency or interest rates or increases or smaller than expected decreases in the equity markets or sectors being hedged or the nonoccurrence of other events being hedged against may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if the Investment Manager had not engaged in any such hedging transaction. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio position being hedged may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, the Investment Manager may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Such imperfect correlation may prevent the Investment Manager from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to additional risk of loss.

 

Leverage

 

The Fund may employ leverage through borrowings or derivative instruments, and is likely to directly or indirectly acquire interests in real estate assets with highly leveraged capital structures. If income and appreciation on investments made with borrowed funds are less than the cost of the leverage, the value of the relevant portfolio or investment will decrease. Accordingly, any event that adversely affects the value of an Fund will be magnified to the extent leverage is employed. The cumulative effect of the use of leverage by the Fund in a market that moves adversely to the relevant investments could result in substantial losses, exceeding those that would have been incurred if leverage had not been employed.

 

Short Selling

 

The Investment Manager may engage in short selling. Short selling involves selling securities that are not owned and borrowing the same securities for delivery to the purchaser, with an obligation to replace the borrowed securities at a later date. Short selling allows an investor to profit from declines in market prices to the extent such declines exceed the transaction costs and the costs of borrowing the securities. A short sale creates the risk of an unlimited loss, as the price of the underlying security could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying those securities to cover the short position. There can be no assurance that the securities necessary to cover a short position will be available for purchase. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of the securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. For these reasons, short selling is considered a speculative investment practice.

 

The Fund may also effect short sales “against the box.” These transactions involve selling short securities that are owned (or that the Fund has the right to obtain). When the Fund enters into a short sale against the box, it will set aside securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such securities) and will hold such securities while the short sale is outstanding. The Fund will incur transaction costs, including interest expenses, in connection with opening, maintaining and closing short sales against the box.

 

Distressed Securities

 

The Fund may invest in debt or equity securities of domestic and foreign issuers in weak financial condition, experiencing poor operating results, having substantial capital needs or negative net worth, facing special competitive or product obsolescence problems, or that are involved in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. Investments of this type may involve substantial financial and business risks that can result in substantial or at times even total losses. Among the risks inherent in investments in troubled entities is the fact that it frequently may be difficult to obtain information as to the true condition of such issuers. Such investments also may be adversely affected by state and federal laws relating to, among other things, fraudulent transfers and other voidable transfers or payments, lender liability, and a bankruptcy court’s power to disallow, reduce, subordinate, or disenfranchise particular claims. The market prices of such securities are also subject to abrupt and erratic market movements and above-average price volatility, and the spread between the bid and ask prices of such securities may be greater than those prevailing in other securities markets. It may take a number of years for the market price of such securities to reflect their intrinsic value. In liquidation (both in and out of bankruptcy) and other forms of corporate reorganization, there exists the risk that the reorganization either will be unsuccessful (due to, for example, failure to obtain requisite approvals), will be delayed (for example, until various liabilities, actual or contingent, have been satisfied), or will result in a distribution of cash or a new security the value of which will be less than the purchase price to the Fund of the security in respect to which such distribution was made.

 

OTHER POTENTIAL RISKS AND ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION

 

Dependence on the Investment Manager and Underlying Managers

 

The Fund invests its assets primarily in a number of Underlying Funds, selected by the Investment Manager. The success of the Fund depends upon the ability of the Investment Manager to develop and implement investment strategies that achieve the investment objective of the Fund, and upon the ability of the Underlying Managers to develop and implement strategies that achieve the Investment Funds’ investment objectives. Shareholders will have no right or power to participate in the management or control of the Fund or the Investment Funds, and will not have an opportunity to evaluate the specific investments made by the Investment Funds or the Underlying Managers, or the terms of any such investments.

9 

 

Compensation Arrangements with the Underlying Managers

 

Underlying Managers may receive compensation based on the performance of their investments. Such compensation arrangements may create an incentive to make investments that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case if such arrangements were not in effect. In addition, because performance-based compensation is calculated on a basis that includes unrealized appreciation of an Investment Fund’s assets, such performance-based compensation may be greater than if such compensation were based solely on realized gains.

 

Subsidiary Risks

 

The Fund may make investments through wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries of the Fund, including the Cayman Subsidiary and Onshore Subsidiary. Investment in the Cayman Subsidiary and/or Onshore Subsidiary provides the Fund with exposure to certain Private Funds within the limitations of Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.

 

The Cayman Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Cayman Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Cayman Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors.

 

The Onshore Subsidiary is organized under Delaware law (the “Onshore Subsidiary”) and is classified for federal income tax purposes as an association taxable as a corporation. The Fund is the sole shareholder of the Onshore Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Onshore Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors.

 

While the Cayman Subsidiary and Onshore Subsidiary may be considered similar to an investment company, they are not registered under the Investment Company Act and, unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus and this SAI, are not subject to all of the investor protections of the Investment Company Act and other U.S. regulations. Although the Cayman Subsidiary and Onshore Subsidiary are not registered under the Investment Company Act, the Investment Manager complies with provisions of the Investment Company Act relating to investment advisory contracts with respect to the Cayman Subsidiary and Onshore Subsidiary. Changes in the laws of the United States, Delaware and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Fund and/or its subsidiaries to operate as described in the Prospectuses and this SAI and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.

 

Tax Risk

 

The Fund intends to qualify annually to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code. If the Fund so qualifies and distributes each year to its shareholders at least the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, the Fund will not be required to pay federal income taxes on any income it distributes to shareholders. The Fund may also invest, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries of the Fund, in Private Funds treated as partnerships for U.S. tax purposes. To the extent that the Fund invests in Private Funds treated as partnerships for U.S. tax purposes directly and not through a subsidiary, the Fund’s ability to meet the RIC diversification and income requirements will depend upon the investments held by such Private Funds and the nature of the income produced by such investments. If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain (if any), will be taxable to the Fund’s shareholders as ordinary income. However, such distributions will be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income, which is subject to tax at reduced rates, in the case of Fund shareholders taxed as individuals, and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, in order to re-qualify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions.

 

Business and Regulatory Risks

 

Legal, tax and regulatory developments that may adversely affect the Fund, the Underlying Managers or the Investment Funds could occur. Securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements enforced by the SEC, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial actions. The regulatory environment for private funds is evolving, and changes in the regulation of private funds and their trading activities may adversely affect the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy and the value of investments held by the Fund. There has been an increase in governmental, as well as self-regulatory, scrutiny of the alternative investment industry in general. It is impossible to predict what, if any, changes in regulations may occur, but any regulations which restrict the ability of the Fund to trade in securities or the ability of the Fund to employ, or brokers and other counterparties to extend, credit in its trading (as well as other regulatory changes that result) could have a material adverse impact on the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Control Positions

 

Investment Funds may take control positions in companies. The exercise of control over a company imposes additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise and other types of liability related to business operations. In addition, the act of taking a control position, or seeking to take such a position, may itself subject an Investment Fund to litigation by parties interested in blocking it from taking that position. If those liabilities were to arise, or such litigation were to be resolved in a manner adverse to the Investment Funds, the Investment Funds likely would suffer losses on their investments. Additionally, should an Investment Fund obtain such a position, such entity may be required to make filings concerning its holdings with the SEC and it may become subject to other regulatory restrictions that could limit the ability of such Investment Fund to dispose of its holdings at a preferable time and in a preferable manner. Violations of these regulatory requirements could subject the Investment Fund to significant liabilities.

 

Effect of Investor Withdrawals on an Underlying Manager’s Ability to Influence Corporate Change

 

From time to time an Investment Fund may acquire enough of a company’s shares or other equity to enable its Underlying Manager, either alone or together with the members of any group with which the Underlying Manager is acting, to influence the company to take certain actions, with the intent that such actions will maximize shareholder value. If the investors of such an Investment Fund request withdrawals representing a substantial portion of the Investment Fund’s assets during any period when its Underlying Manager (or members of any such group) are seeking to influence any such corporate changes, the Underlying Manager may be compelled to sell some or all of the Investment Fund’s holdings of the shares or other equity issued by such company in order to fund such investor withdrawal requests. This may adversely impact, or even eliminate, the Underlying Manager’s (or the group’s) ability to influence such changes and, thus, to influence shareholder value, possibly resulting in losses to the Investment Fund and accordingly, the Fund.

10 

 

Reliance on Key Personnel of the Investment Manager

 

The Fund’s ability to identify and invest in attractive opportunities is dependent upon the Investment Manager. If one or more of the key individuals leaves the Investment Manager, that Investment Manager may not be able to hire qualified replacements, or may require an extended time to do so. This could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.

 

Dilution

 

If an Underlying Manager limits the amount of capital that may be contributed to an Investment Fund by the Fund, additional sales of Shares of the Fund will dilute the participation of existing Shareholders in the indirect returns to the Fund from such Investment Fund.

 

Indirect Investment in Investment Funds

 

Any transaction by which the Fund indirectly gains exposure to an Investment Fund by the purchase of a swap or other contract is subject to special risks. The Fund’s use of such instruments can result in volatility, and each type of instrument is subject to special risks. Indirect investments generally will be subject to transaction and other fees that will reduce the value of the Fund’s investment in an Investment Fund. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s indirect investment in an Investment Fund will have the same or similar results as a direct investment in the Investment Fund, and the Fund’s value may decrease as a result of such indirect investment.

 

Counterparty Insolvency

 

The Fund’s and the Investment Funds’ assets may be held in one or more funds maintained for the Fund or the Investment Funds by counterparties, including their prime brokers. There is a risk that any of such counterparties could become insolvent. The insolvency of such counterparties is likely to impair the operational capabilities or the assets of the Investment Funds and the Fund. If one or more of the Investment Funds’ counterparties were to become insolvent or the subject of liquidation proceedings in the United States (either under the Securities Investor Protection Act or the United States Bankruptcy Code), there exists the risk that the recovery of the Investment Funds’ securities and other assets from such prime broker or broker-dealer will be delayed or be of a value less than the value of the securities or assets originally entrusted to such prime broker or broker-dealer.

 

In addition, the Investment Funds may use counterparties located in various jurisdictions outside of the United States. Such local counterparties are subject to various laws and regulations in various jurisdictions that are designed to protect their customers in the event of their insolvency. However, the practical effect of these laws and their application to the Investment Funds’ assets are subject to substantial limitations and uncertainties. Because of the large number of entities and jurisdictions involved and the range of possible factual scenarios involving the insolvency of a counterparty, it is impossible to generalize about the effect of their insolvency on the Investment Funds and their assets and the Fund. The insolvency of any counterparty would result in a loss to the Fund, which could be material.

 

Financial Failure of Intermediaries

 

There is always the possibility that the institutions, including brokerage firms and banks, with which the Fund does business, or to which securities have been entrusted for custodial purposes, will encounter financial difficulties that may impair their operational capabilities or result in losses to the Fund.

 

Suspensions of Trading

 

Each exchange typically has the right to suspend or limit trading in all securities that it lists. Such a suspension could render it impossible for an Investment Fund to liquidate its positions and thereby expose it to losses. In addition, there is no guarantee that non-exchange markets will remain liquid enough for an Investment Fund to close out positions.

 

Enforceability of Claims Against Investment Funds

 

The Fund has no assurances that it will be able to: (1) effect service of process within the U.S. on foreign Investment Funds; (2) enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against foreign Investment Funds based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws; (3) enforce, in an appropriate foreign court, judgments of U.S. courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws; or (4) bring an original action in an appropriate foreign court to enforce liabilities against an Investment Fund or other person based upon the U.S. federal securities laws. It is unclear whether Shareholders would ever be able to bring claims directly against the Investment Funds, domestic or foreign, or whether all such claims must be brought by the Board on behalf of Shareholders.

 

Cyber Security Risk

 

The Fund and its service providers may be prone to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, or lose operational capacity. Breaches in cyber security 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-attacks. Cyber security breaches affecting the Fund, the Investment Manager, financial intermediaries and other third-party service providers may adversely impact the Fund. For instance, cyber security breaches may interfere with the processing of Shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private Shareholder information or confidential business information, impede investment activities, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for Investment Funds and for the issuers of securities in which the Fund or an Investment Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for the Investment Funds or such issuers and may cause the Fund to lose value.

 

LIBOR Transition

 

The Fund’s investments, payment obligations and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such LIBOR. LIBOR is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. On July 27, 2017, the head of the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. Regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, but global consensus is lacking and the process for amending existing contracts or instruments to transition away from LIBOR remains unclear. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments which reference LIBOR. There also remains uncertainty and risk regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to include enhanced provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. The transition away from LIBOR may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, reduced values of LIBOR-related investments, and reduced effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting the Fund’s performance or net asset value (“NAV”). In addition, the alternative reference rate may be an ineffective substitute resulting in prolonged adverse market conditions for the Fund.

11 

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS

 

The business operations of the Fund are managed and supervised under the direction of the Board, subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The Board has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of the business affairs of the Fund on behalf of its Shareholders, including the authority to establish policies regarding the management, conduct and operation of its business. The Board exercises the same powers, authority and responsibilities on behalf of the Fund as are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a registered investment company organized as a corporation. The officers of the Fund conduct and supervise the daily business operations of the Fund.

 

The members of the Board (each, a “Trustee”) are not required to contribute to the capital of the Fund or to hold Shares. A majority of Trustees of the Board are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund (collectively, the “Independent Trustees”). Any Trustee who is not an Independent Trustee is an interested trustee (“Interested Trustee”). The identity of Trustees of the Board, the advisory board member and officers of the Fund, and their brief biographical information, including their addresses, their year of birth and descriptions of their principal occupations during the past five years is set forth below.

 

The Trustees serve on the Board for terms of indefinite duration. A Trustee’s position in that capacity will terminate if the Trustee is removed or resigns or, among other events, upon the Trustee’s death, incapacity, retirement or bankruptcy. A Trustee may resign upon written notice to the other Trustees of the Fund, and may be removed either by (i) the vote of at least two-thirds of the Trustees of the Fund not subject to the removal vote or (ii) the vote of Shareholders of the Fund holding not less than two-thirds of the total number of votes eligible to be cast by all Shareholders of the Fund. In the event of any vacancy in the position of a Trustee, the remaining Trustees of the Fund may appoint an individual to serve as a Trustee so long as immediately after the appointment at least two-thirds of the Trustees of the Fund then serving have been elected by the Shareholders of the Fund. The Board may call a meeting of the Fund’s Shareholders to fill any vacancy in the position of a Trustee of the Fund, and must do so if the Trustees who were elected by the Shareholders of the Fund cease to constitute a majority of the Trustees then serving on the Board.

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

 

NAME, ADDRESS
AND YEAR OF
BIRTH

POSITION(S)
HELD WITH
THE FUND

LENGTH
OF TIME
SERVED

PRINCIPAL
OCCUPATION(S)
DURING PAST 5

YEARS

NUMBER OF 

PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX*
OVERSEEN
BY TRUSTEE

OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
HELD BY
TRUSTEES

David G. Lee

Year of Birth: 1952

 

c/o UMB Fund 

Services, Inc. 

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 

Chairman and

Trustee

 

Since Inception

President and Director, Client Opinions, Inc. (2003 – 2012); Chief Operating Officer, Brandywine Global Investment Management (1998 – 2002). 

9 None

Robert Seyferth

Year of Birth: 1952

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Trustee Since Inception

Chief Procurement Officer/Senior Managing Director, Bear Stearns/JP Morgan Chase (1993 – 2009). 

9 None

Gary E. Shugrue 

Year of Birth: 1954

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Trustee Since Inception

Managing Director, Veritable LP (2016- Present); Founder/ President, Ascendant Capital Partners, LP (2001 – 2015).

5

Trustee, Quaker Investment Trust (5 portfolios)(registered investment company); Scotia Institutional Funds (2006 – 2014) (3 portfolios)(registered investment company). 

 

*The fund complex consists of the Fund, Infinity Core Alternative Fund, Infinity Long/Short Equity Fund, LLC, The Relative Value Fund, Variant Alternative Income Fund, Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund, Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, Agility Multi-Asset Income Fund, Keystone Private Income Fund, and Aspiriant Risk-Managed Capital Opportunities Fund.

12 

 

INTERESTED TRUSTEE AND OFFICERS

 

NAME, ADDRESS AND YEAR OF BIRTH POSITION(S) HELD WITH THE FUND LENGTH OF TIME SERVED

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS

NUMBER OF

PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX* OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE

OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE

Terrance P. Gallagher**

Year of Birth: 1958

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Trustee Since Inception Executive Vice President and Director of Fund Accounting, Administration and Tax; UMB Fund Services, Inc. (2007-present); President, Investment Managers Series Trust II (2013- Present); Treasurer, American Independence Funds Trust (2016-2018); Treasurer, Commonwealth International Series Trust (2010-2015). 9 Trustee, Investment Managers Series Trust II (13 portfolios) (registered investment company).

Marc Castellani

Year of Birth: 1969

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

President Since Inception Managing Director, Aspiriant, LLC (2015-present); J.P. Morgan Private Bank (2012 to 2015). N/A N/A

Benjamin Schmidt

Year of Birth: 1976

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Treasurer Since Inception Assistant Treasurer; Secretary; Chief Compliance Officer; Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Aspiriant Trust (2015-present); Director, Aspiriant, LLC (2015-present); AVP Fund Administration, UMB Fund Services, Inc. (2000-2015). N/A N/A

Laura Boucher

Year of Birth: 1981

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Assistant Treasurer Since Inception Manager, Fund Administration, Aspiriant, LLC (2015-present); Auditor, Cohen & Company, Ltd. (June 2015 – October 2015); Lead Fund Administrator, UMB Fund Services, Inc. (2011-2015). N/A N/A

Perpetua Seidenberg

Year of Birth: 1990

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Chief Compliance

Officer

Since Inception

Compliance Director,

Vigilant Compliance, LLC (an investment management services company) (2014 – present); Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (2012 – 2014).

N/A N/A

Ann Maurer

Year of Birth: 1972

 

c/o UMB Fund

Services, Inc.

235 W. Galena St. Milwaukee, WI 53212

Secretary

Since

Inception

Senior Vice President, Client

Services (2017 –Present); Vice President, Senior Client Service Manager (2013 –

2017); Assistant Vice President, Client Relations Manager (2002 – 2013); UMB Fund Services, Inc.

N/A N/A

 

*The fund complex consists of the Fund, Agility Multi-Asset Income Fund, Corbin Multi-Strategy Fund, LLC, Keystone Private Income Fund, Cliffwater Corporate Lending Fund, Infinity Long/Short Equity Fund, LLC, The Relative Value Fund, Infinity Core Alternative Fund, and Variant Alternative Income Fund.

**Mr. Gallagher is deemed an interested person of the Fund because of his affiliation with an affiliate of the Fund’s Administrator.

 

The Board believes that each of the Trustees’ experience, qualifications, attributes and skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee should serve in such capacity. Among the attributes common to all Trustees is the ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, the Investment Manager, the Fund’s other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s business, consulting, and public service; experience as a board member of non-profit entities or other organizations; education or professional training; and/or other life experiences. In addition to these shared characteristics, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee.

 

Terrance P. Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher has been a Trustee since the Fund’s inception. He has more than 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds in the fund complex.

13 

 

David G. Lee. Mr. Lee has been a Trustee since the Fund’s inception. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds in the fund complex.

 

Robert Seyferth. Mr. Seyferth has been a Trustee since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Seyferth has more than 30 years of business and accounting experience. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds in the fund complex.

 

Gary E. Shugrue. Mr. Shugrue has been a Trustee since the Fund’s inception. Mr. Shugrue has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. The Board also benefits from his experience as a member of the board of other funds in the fund complex.

 

Specific details regarding each Trustee’s principal occupations during the past five years are included in the table above.

 

Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

 

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Board. The Fund has engaged the Investment Manager to manage the Fund on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing the Investment Manager and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The Board is currently composed of four members, three of whom are Independent Trustees. The Board meets in-person at regularly scheduled meetings four times each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibility. The Independent Trustees meet with their independent legal counsel in person prior to and during each quarterly in-person board meeting. As described below, the Board has established a Valuation Committee, an Audit Committee and a Nominating Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has appointed David Lee, an Independent Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as liaison with the Investment Manager, other service providers, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman serves as a key point person for dealings between management and the Trustees. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.

 

The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Investment Manager and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which carry out the Fund’s investment management and business affairs. The Investment Manager and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each of the Investment Manager and other service providers has its own independent interests in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. The Board requires senior officers of the Fund, including the President, Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and the Investment Manager, to report to the full Board on a variety of matters at regular and special meetings of the Board, including matters relating to risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee also receive regular reports from the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm on internal control and financial reporting matters. The Board also receives reports from certain of the Fund’s other primary service providers on a periodic or regular basis, including the Fund’s custodian, distributor and administrator. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.

 

Committees of the Board of Trustees

 

Audit Committee

 

The Board has formed an Audit Committee that is responsible for overseeing the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls, and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit of those financial statements; and acting as a liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board. In performing its responsibilities, the Audit Committee will select and recommend annually to the entire Board a firm of independent certified public accountants to audit the books and records of the Fund for the ensuing year, and will review with the firm the scope and results of each audit. The Audit Committee currently consists of each of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. As the Fund is recently organized, the Audit Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.

 

Nominating Committee

 

The Board has formed a Nominating Committee that is responsible for selecting and nominating persons to serve as Trustees of the Fund. The Nominating Committee is responsible for both nominating candidates to be appointed by the Board to fill vacancies and for nominating candidates to be presented to Shareholders for election. In performing its responsibilities, the Nominating Committee will consider candidates recommended by management of the Fund and by Shareholders and evaluate them both in a similar manner, as long as the recommendation submitted by a Shareholder includes at a minimum: the name, address and telephone number of the recommending Shareholder and information concerning the Shareholder’s interests in the Fund in sufficient detail to establish that the Shareholder held Shares on the relevant record date; and the name, address and telephone number of the recommended nominee and information concerning the recommended nominee’s education, professional experience, and other information that might assist the Nominating Committee in evaluating the recommended nominee’s qualifications to serve as a trustee. The Nominating Committee may solicit candidates to serve as trustees from any source it deems appropriate. With the Board’s prior approval, the Nominating Committee may employ and compensate counsel, consultants or advisers to assist it in discharging its responsibilities. The Nominating Committee currently consists of each of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. As the Fund is recently organized, the Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.

14 

 

Valuation Committee

 

The Board has formed a Valuation Committee that is responsible for reviewing fair valuations of securities held by the Fund in instances as required by the valuation procedures adopted by the Board and is responsible for carrying out the provisions of its charter. The Valuation Committee currently consists of each of the Fund’s Trustees. As the Fund is recently organized, the Valuation Committee did not hold any meetings during the last year.

 

Trustee Ownership of Securities

 

The Fund has not yet commenced operations, therefore none of the Trustees own Shares of the Fund.

 

Independent Trustee Ownership of Securities

 

As of December 31, 2019, none of the Independent Trustees (or their immediate family members) owned beneficially or of record securities of the Investment Manager or a principal underwriter, or of an entity (other than a registered investment company) controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Manager or a principal underwriter.

 

Trustee Compensation

 

In consideration of the services rendered by the Independent Trustees, the Fund will pay each Independent Trustee a retainer of $10,000 per fiscal year. Trustees who are interested persons will be compensated by the Fund’s administrator and/or its affiliates and will not be separately compensated by the Fund.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Fund and the Investment Manager have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 of the Investment Company Act, which is designed to prevent affiliated persons of the Fund and the Investment Manager from engaging in deceptive, manipulative, or fraudulent activities in connection with securities held or to be acquired by the Fund. The codes of ethics permit persons subject to them to invest in securities, including securities that may be held or purchased by the Fund, subject to a number of restrictions and controls. Compliance with the codes of ethics is carefully monitored and enforced.

 

The codes of ethics are included as exhibits to the Fund’s registration statement filed with the SEC and are available on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov, and may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SERVICES

 

The Investment Manager

 

Aspiriant, LLC serves as the investment advisor to the Fund. The Investment Manager is owned by its key employees and has 72 equity partners. The Investment Manager is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Subject to the general supervision of the Board, and in accordance with the investment objective, policies, and restrictions of the Fund, the Investment Manager is responsible for the management and operation of the Fund and the investment of the Fund’s assets. The Investment Manager provides such services to the Fund pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement.

 

The Investment Management Agreement became effective as of [DATE], and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (i) the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or a majority of the Board, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Investment Management Agreement, or any other investment advisory contracts, will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual report to Shareholders.

 

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Investment Manager is entitled to a quarterly Investment Management Fee equal to 0.50% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net assets as of each quarter-end. The Investment Management Fee will be calculated before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date, and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders. NAV means the total value of all assets of the Fund, less an amount equal to all accrued debts, liabilities and obligations of the Fund; provided that for purposes of determining the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for any quarter, NAV will be calculated prior to any reduction for any fees and expenses of the Fund for that quarter, including, without limitation, the Investment Management Fee payable to the Investment Manager for that quarter.

 

The Investment Manager has entered into an investment management fee limitation agreement (the “Management Fee Limitation Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager has agreed to waive 0.40% of its Investment Management Fee. The Management Fee Limitation Agreement is in effect for one year from the Fund’s commencement of operations (the “Current Term”) and will automatically renew for consecutive one-year terms thereafter. Neither the Fund nor the Investment Manager may terminate the Management Fee Limitation Agreement during the Current Term. After completion of the Current Term, either the Fund or the Investment Manager may terminate the Management Fee Limitation Agreement upon 30 days’ written notice. The Investment Management Fee is paid to the Investment Manager before giving effect to any repurchase of Shares in the Fund effective as of that date and will decrease the net profits or increase the net losses of the Fund that are credited to its Shareholders.

 

The Investment Manager also serves as the investment adviser to the Cayman Subsidiary and Onshore Subsidiary, each a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Fund, pursuant to a separate investment advisory agreement with each subsidiary. The Cayman Subsidiary is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company and the Onshore Subsidiary is organized as a corporation under Delaware law. The Investment Manager does not receive additional compensation for its management of the Cayman Subsidiary or Onshore Subsidiary. 

15 

 

The Investment Manager has entered into an administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) with the Fund, whereby the Investment Manager is entitled to 0.10% on an annualized basis of the Fund’s net assets as of each quarter-end for providing certain administrative services to the Fund. Such services include the review of shareholder reports and other filings with the SEC; oversight and management of the Fund’s primary service providers; periodic due diligence reviews of the Fund’s primary service providers; coordination and negotiation of all of the contracts and pricing relating to the Fund’s primary service providers; providing information to the Independent Trustees relating to the review and selection of the Funds’ primary service providers; and all such other duties or services necessary for the appropriate administration of the Fund. The Administrative Services Agreement became effective as of [ ], and will continue in effect for an initial two-year term. Thereafter, the Administrative Services Agreement will continue in effect from year to year provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Fund. The Administrative Services Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned (as defined in the Investment Company Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty upon sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Fund by either the Board or the Investment Manager.

 

The Portfolio Managers

 

The personnel of the Investment Manager who have primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio (the “Portfolio Managers”) are John Allen and Mark Castellani.

  

Other Accounts Managed by the Portfolio Managers(1)

 

  Type of Accounts

Total 
# of

Accounts
Managed

Total Assets
($mm)

# of Accounts

Managed that
Advisory Fee

Based on
Performance

Total Assets
that

Advisory Fee
Based on

Performance
($mm)

1. John Allen Registered Investment Companies: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
  Other Accounts: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
2. Mark Castellani Registered Investment Companies: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
  Other Pooled Investment Vehicles: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
  Other Accounts: [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

 

(1)As of [DATE].

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

While the compensation of Portfolio Managers is not tied directly to the performance of a Fund, the Portfolio Managers’ management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the Portfolio Manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the Portfolio Managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby the Portfolio Manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. However, the Investment Manager has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated. The Investment Manager’s trade allocation policy is to aggregate client transactions, including the Fund’s, where possible when it is believed that such aggregation may facilitate the Investment Manager’s duty of best execution. Client accounts for which orders are aggregated receive the average price of such transaction. Any transaction costs incurred in the transaction are shared pro rata based on each client’s participation in the transaction. The Investment Manager generally allocates securities among client accounts according to each account’s pre-determined participation in the transaction. The Investment Manager’s policy prohibits any allocation of trades that would favor any proprietary accounts, affiliated accounts, or any particular client(s) or group of clients more over any other account(s). The Investment Manager prohibits late trading, frequent trading and/or market timing in the Funds and monitors trades daily to ensure this policy is not violated.

 

Compensation

 

The Portfolio Managers are compensated with base compensation, bonus (a percentage of base compensation), and a share purchase incentive (bonus based on percentage of profit of the Investment Manager divided by shareholders per capita).

 

Portfolio Manager’s Ownership of Shares

 

As of [DATE], none of the portfolio managers beneficially owned any shares of the Fund.

16 

 

BROKERAGE

 

It is the policy of the Fund to obtain the best results in connection with effecting its portfolio transactions taking into account factors such as price, size of order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of a brokerage firm and the firm’s risk in positioning a block of securities. In most instances, the Fund will purchase interests in an Investment Fund directly from the Investment Fund, and such purchases by the Fund may be, but are generally not, subject to transaction expenses. Nevertheless, the Fund anticipates that some of its portfolio transactions (including investments in Investment Funds) may be subject to expenses. The Investment Funds incur transaction expenses in the management of their portfolios, which will decrease the value of the Fund’s investment in the Investment Funds. Each Investment Fund is responsible for placing orders for the execution of its portfolio transactions and for the allocation of its brokerage. The Investment Manager will have no direct or indirect control over the brokerage or portfolio trading policies employed by the Underlying Managers.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM; LEGAL COUNSEL

 

[], located at principal business address [], serves as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm providing audit and other related services.

 

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Fund and theIndependent Trustees.

 

CUSTODIAN

 

UMB Bank, n.a. (the “Custodian”), serves as the primary custodian of the assets of the Fund, and may maintain custody of such assets with U.S. and non-U.S. subcustodians (which may be banks, trust companies, securities depositories and clearing agencies) in accordance with the requirements of Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act. Assets of the Fund are not held by the Investment Manager, or commingled with the assets of other accounts other than to the extent that securities are held in the name of the Custodian or U.S. or non-U.S. subcustodians in a securities depository, clearing agency or omnibus customer account of such custodian. The Custodian’s principal business address is 1010 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64106. The Custodian is an affiliate of UMB Fund Services, Inc., which serves as the Fund’s administrator.

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

UMB Distribution Services, LLC, (the “Distributor”) is the distributor (also known as principal underwriter) of the shares of the Fund and is located at 235 W. Galena Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212. The Distributor is a registered broker-dealer and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”). Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor acts as the agent of the Fund in connection with the continuous offering of Shares of the Fund. The Distributor continually distributes Shares of the Fund on a best efforts basis. The Distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Shares. The Distributor and its officers have no role in determining the investment policies of the Fund.

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Fund invests substantially all of its investable assets in Investment Funds. While it is unlikely that the Fund will receive notices or proxies from Investment Funds (or receives proxy statements or similar notices in connection with any other portfolio securities), to the extent that the Fund does receive such notices or proxies and the Fund has voting interests in such Investment Funds, the Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Investment Manager. The Investment Manager will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures.

 

The Investment Manager’s proxy policies and procedures require that the Investment Manager vote proxies received in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders and not affected by any material conflict of interest. The Investment Manager considers shareholders’ best economic interests over the long term (i.e., considers the common interest of all shareholders over time). Although shareholders may have differing political or social interests or values, their economic interest is generally uniform.

 

The Investment Manager has adopted proxy voting guidelines to assist in making voting decisions on common issues. The guidelines are designed to address those securities in which the Fund generally invests and may be revised in the Investment Manager’s discretion. Any non-routine matters not addressed by the proxy voting guidelines are addressed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote, particularly where such matters have a potential for major economic impact on the issuer’s structure or operations. In making voting determinations, the Investment Manager may conduct research internally and/or use the resources of an independent research consultant. The Investment Manager may also consider other materials such as studies of corporate governance and/or analyses of shareholder and management proposals by a certain sector of companies and may engage in dialogue with an issuer’s management.

 

The Investment Manager acknowledges its responsibility to identify material conflicts of interest related to voting proxies. The Investment Manager’s employees are required to disclose to the Investment Manager’s chief compliance officer any personal conflicts, such as officer or director positions held by them, their spouses or close relatives, in any publicly traded company. Conflicts based on business relationships with the Investment Manager or any affiliate will be considered only to the extent that the Investment Manager has actual knowledge of such relationships. The Investment Manager then takes appropriate steps to address identified conflicts.

 

In some cases, the cost of voting a proxy may outweigh the expected benefits. For example, casting a vote on a foreign security may involve additional costs such as hiring a translator or traveling to the foreign country to vote the security in person. The Investment Manager may abstain from voting a proxy if the effect on shareholders’ economic interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant.

 

In certain cases, securities on loan as part of a securities lending program may not be voted. Nothing in the proxy voting policies shall obligate the Investment Manager to exercise voting rights with respect to a portfolio security if it is prohibited by the terms of the security or by applicable law or otherwise.

17 

 

The Investment Manager will not discuss with members of the public how it intends to vote on any particular proxy proposal.

 

The Fund will be required to file Form N-PX, with its complete proxy voting record for the twelve months ended June 30, no later than August 31 of each year. The Fund’s Form N-PX filing will be available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at [ ] or (ii) by visiting the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

 

The Investment Manager has provided the initial capitalization of the Fund and therefore is deemed to be a control person because it was the sole shareholder of the Fund at that time. However, it is anticipated that the Investment Manager will no longer be a control person of the Fund once this offering of Shares is completed. As of [ ], the following persons were the only persons who were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Fund, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the Shares.

 

[  ]

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Appendix A to this SAI provides financial information regarding the Fund and the Global Real Estate Opportunities, L.P. (the “Predecessor Fund”). The Fund’s financial statements have been audited by [  ]. The Predecessor Fund’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been audited by [  ].

 

   
   

 

18 

 

APPENDIX A

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A-1 

 

APPENDIX B

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

An S&P Global Ratings short-term issue credit rating is generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. The following summarizes the rating categories used by S&P Global Ratings for short-term issues:

 

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

 

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

 

“A-3” – A short-term obligation rated “A-3” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

“B” – A short-term obligation rated “B” is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

“D” – A short-term obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Ratings – S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. A foreign currency rating on an issuer will differ from the local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

“NR” – This indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) short-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issuer.

 

Fitch, Inc. / Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.1 Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets. The following summarizes the rating categories used by Fitch for short-term obligations:

 

“F1” – Securities possess the highest short-term credit quality. This designation indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

“F2” – Securities possess good short-term credit quality. This designation indicates good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

“F3” – Securities possess fair short-term credit quality. This designation indicates that the intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

“B” – Securities possess speculative short-term credit quality. This designation indicates minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

“C” – Securities possess high short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

“RD” – Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

“D” – Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) – The “F1” rating may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show the relative status within that major rating category.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.

 

The DBRS Morningstar® Ratings Limited (“DBRS Morningstar”) short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the sub-categories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS Morningstar for commercial paper and short-term debt:

 

“R-1 (high)” - Short-term debt rated “R-1 (high)” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

 

1A long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity.

- 2

 

 

“R-1 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (middle)” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from “R-1 (high)” by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-1 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-1 (low)” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“R-2 (high)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (high)” is considered to be at the upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“R-2 (middle)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (middle)” is considered to be of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.

 

“R-2 (low)” – Short-term debt rated “R-2 (low)” is considered to be at the lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.

 

“R-3” – Short-term debt rated “R-3” is considered to be at the lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.

 

“R-4” – Short-term debt rated “R-4” is considered to be of speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.

 

“R-5” – Short-term debt rated “R-5” is considered to be of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

 

“D” – Short-term debt rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS Morningstar may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by S&P Global Ratings for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” – An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

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

 

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

 

“BBB” – An obligation rated “BBB” exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

- 3

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“CC” – An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The “CC” rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

“C” – An obligation rated “C” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

“D” – An obligation rated “D” is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

 

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

 

“NR” – This indicates that a rating has not been assigned, or is no longer assigned.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating on it when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, versus obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

Moody’s long-term ratings are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations with an original maturity of one year or more. Such ratings reflect both on the likelihood of default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for long-term debt:

 

“Aaa” – Obligations rated “Aaa” are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

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

 

“A” – Obligations rated “A” are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

- 4

 

“Baa” – Obligations rated “Baa” are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

“Ba” – Obligations rated “Ba” are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“NR” – Is assigned to unrated obligations.

 

The following summarizes long-term ratings used by Fitch:

 

“AAA” – Securities considered to be of the highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

“AA” – Securities considered to be of very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

“A” – Securities considered to be of high credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

“BBB” – Securities considered to be of good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

“BB” – Securities considered to be speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

“B” – Securities considered to be highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

“CCC” – A “CCC” rating indicates that substantial credit risk is present.

 

“CC” – A “CC” rating indicates very high levels of credit risk.

 

“C” – A “C” rating indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned “RD” or “D” ratings but are instead rated in the “CCC” to “C” rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

- 5

 

Plus (+) or minus (-) may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the “AAA” obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below “CCC”.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated issue of a rated issuer.

 

The DBRS Morningstar long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligation has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. The following summarizes the ratings used by DBRS Morningstar for long-term debt:

 

“AAA” – Long-term debt rated “AAA” is of the highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.

 

“AA” – Long-term debt rated “AA” is of superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from “AAA” only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

“A” – Long-term debt rated “A” is of good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than “AA.” May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.

 

“BBB” – Long-term debt rated “BBB” is of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.

 

“BB” – Long-term debt rated “BB” is of speculative, non-investment grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.

 

“B” – Long-term debt rated “B” is of highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.

 

“CCC”, “CC” and “C” – Long-term debt rated in any of these categories is of very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although “CC” and “C” ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the “CCC” to “B” range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the “C” category.

 

“D” – A security rated “D” is assigned when the issuer has filed under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or winding up statute or there is a failure to satisfy an obligation after the exhaustion of grace periods, a downgrade to “D” may occur. DBRS Morningstar may also use “SD” (Selective Default) in cases where only some securities are impacted, such as the case of a “distressed exchange”.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

 

Amortization schedule - the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

- 6

 

Source of payment - the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

Municipal Short-Term Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

“SP-1” – A municipal note rated “SP-1” exhibits a strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

“SP-2” – A municipal note rated “SP-2” exhibits a satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

“SP-3” – A municipal note rated “SP-3” exhibits a speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

“D” – This rating is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed exchange offer, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Moody’s uses the global short-term Prime rating scale (listed above under Short-Term Credit Ratings) for commercial paper issued by U.S. municipalities and nonprofits. These commercial paper programs may be backed by external letters of credit or liquidity facilities, or by an issuer’s self-liquidity.

 

For other short-term municipal obligations, Moody’s uses one of two other short-term rating scales, the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) and Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scales provided below.

 

Moody’s uses the MIG scale for U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, Moody’s uses the MIG scale for bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

MIG Scale

 

“MIG-1” – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

“MIG-2” – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

“MIG-3” – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

“SG” – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), a two-component rating is assigned: a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interests payments. The short-term demand obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to make payments associated with the purchase-price-upon demand feature (“demand feature”) of the VRDO. The short-term demand obligation rating uses the VMIG scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term Counterparty Risk Assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG Ratings of demand obligations with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

- 7

 

Moody’s typically assigns the VMIG short-term demand obligation rating if the frequency of the demand feature is less than every three years. If the frequency of the demand feature is less than three years but the purchase price is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the short-term demand obligation rating is “NR”.

 

“VMIG-1” – This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-2” – This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“VMIG-3” – This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“SG” – This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

“NR” – Is assigned to an unrated obligation.

 

About Credit Ratings

 

An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Fitch credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. Fitch’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign financial, bank, insurance, and public finance entities (including supranational and sub-national entities) and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

DBRS Morningstar provides independent credit ratings services for financial institutions, corporate and sovereign entities and structured finance products and instruments. Credit ratings are forward-looking opinions about credit risk that reflect the creditworthiness of an entity or security. The Rating Committee process facilitates rating decisions, which are a collective assessment of DBRS Morningstar’s opinion rather than the view of an individual analyst. Ratings are based on sufficient information that incorporates both global and local considerations and the use of approved methodologies. They are independent of any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. DBRS Morningstar credit ratings are formed and disseminated based on established methodologies, models and criteria (Methodologies) that apply to entities and securities that we rate, including corporate finance issuers, financial institutions, insurance companies, public finance and sovereign entities as well as Structured Finance transactions. DBRS Morningstar methodologies are periodically reviewed and updated by the team.

 

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PART C:

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund (the “Registrant”)

 

Item 25. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(1)Financial Statements:

 

Not Applicable

 

(2)Exhibits

 

(a)(1)Agreement and Declaration of Trust is filed herewith.

 

(a)(2)Certificate of Trust is filed herewith.

 

(b)By-Laws are filed herewith.

 

(c)Not applicable.

 

(d)Refer to Exhibit (a)(1), (b).

 

(e)Not applicable.

 

(f)Not applicable.

 

(g)Form of Investment Management Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(h)Form of Distribution Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(i)Not applicable.

 

(j)Form of Custody Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(k)(1)Form of Administration, Fund Accounting and Recordkeeping Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(k)(2)Expense Limitation and Reimbursement Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(k)(3)Platform Management Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(k)(4)Form of Joint Insured Bond Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(k)(5)Form of Joint Liability Insurance Agreement to be filed by amendment.

 

(l)Consent of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is filed herewith.

 

(m)Not applicable.

 

(n)Not applicable.

 

(o)Not applicable.

 

(p)Not applicable.

 

 

 

(q)Not applicable.

 

(r)(1)Code of Ethics of Registrant to be filed by amendment.

 

(r)(2)Code of Ethics of Aspiriant, LLC is filed herewith.

 

Item 26. Marketing Arrangements

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 27. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution of Securities Being Registered

 

All figures are estimates:

 

Registration fees $21,820
Legal fees $50,000
Printing fees $2,500
Blue Sky fees $30,670
Transfer Agent fees $500
Total $105,490

 

Item 28. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With Registrant

 

The Board of Trustees of the Registrant is identical to the board of trustees and/or board of directors of certain other funds. Nonetheless, the Registrant takes the position that it is not under common control with the other funds since the power residing in the respective boards arises as a result of an official position with the respective funds.

 

Item 29. Number of Holders of Securities

 

Title of Class Number of Shareholders*
Shares 0

 

*As of November 3, 2020.

 

Item 30. Indemnification

 

Sections 8.1-8.4 of Article VIII of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust states:

 

Section 8.1Limitation of Liability. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust, when acting in such capacity, shall be personally liable to any person other than the Trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, any Trustee or any officer of the Trust. Neither a Trustee nor an officer of the Trust shall be liable for any act or omission in his capacity as Trustee or as an officer of the Trust, or for any act or omission of any other officer or any employee of the Trust or of any other person or party, provided that nothing contained herein or in the Act shall protect any Trustee or officer against any liability to the Trust or to Shareholders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee or the duties of such officer hereunder.

 

Section 8.2Indemnification. The Trust shall indemnify each of its Trustees, officers and persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor, or otherwise, and may indemnify any trustee, director or officer of a predecessor organization (each a “Covered Person”), against all liabilities and expenses (including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, as fines and penalties, and expenses including reasonable accountants’ and counsel fees) reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, before any court or administrative, regulatory, or legislative body, in which he may be involved or with which he may be threatened, while as a Covered Person or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such a Covered Person, except that no Covered Person shall be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or its Shareholders to which such Covered Person would otherwise be subject by reason of bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties involved in the conduct of such Covered Person’s office (such willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard being referred to herein as “Disabling Conduct”). Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees so incurred by any such Covered Person (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise or as fines or penalties), may be paid from time to time by the Trust in advance of the final disposition of any such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of (a) an undertaking by or on behalf of such Covered Person to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under this Article VIII and (b) any of (i) such Covered Person provides security for such undertaking, (ii) the Trust is insured against losses arising by reason of such payment, or (iii) a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees, or independent legal counsel in a written opinion, determines, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe that such Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

 

 

Section 8.3Indemnification Determinations. Indemnification of a Covered Person pursuant to Section 8.2 shall be made if (a) the court or body before whom the proceeding is brought determines, in a final decision on the merits, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct or (b) in the absence of such a determination, a majority of a quorum of disinterested, non-party Trustees or independent legal counsel in a written opinion make a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that such Covered Person was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct.

 

Section 8.4Indemnification Not Exclusive. The right of indemnification provided by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any such Covered Person may be entitled. As used in this Article VIII, “Covered Person” shall include such person’s heirs, executors and administrators, and a “disinterested, non-party Trustee” is a Trustee who is neither an Interested Person of the Trust nor a party to the proceeding in question.

 

Section 8.5Shareholders. Each Shareholder of the Trust and each Class shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to, the Trust or by or on behalf of any Class. The Trustees shall have no power to bind any Shareholder personally or to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay pursuant to terms hereof or by way of subscription for any Shares or otherwise.

 

In case any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Class shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of such Class and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives, or, in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable Class to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Class, shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Class and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Class. The indemnification and reimbursement required by the preceding sentence shall be made only out of assets of the one or more Classes whose Shares were held by said Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred that gave rise to the claim against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section shall not impair any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust or any Class thereof to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.

 

Additionally, the Registrant’s various agreements with its service providers contain indemnification provisions.

 

 

 

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

 

Information as to the directors and officers of the Registrant’s investment adviser, Aspiriant, LLC (the “Investment Manager”), together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which the Investment Manager, and each director, executive officer, managing member or partner of the Investment Manager, is or has been, at any time during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, managing member, partner or trustee, is included in its Form ADV as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records

 

All 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 are maintained at the offices of (1) the Registrant’s Administrator, (2) the Investment Manager, and/or (3) the Registrant’s counsel. The address of each is as follows:

 

1.UMB Fund Services, Inc.

235 West Galena Street

Milwaukee, WI 53212

 

2.Aspiriant, LLC

11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA 90025

 

3.Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square, Ste. 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6996

 

Item 33. Management Services

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 34. Undertakings

 

1. Not applicable.

 

2. Not applicable.

 

3. The Registrant undertakes:

 

(a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”);

 

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

 

 

 

(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

(b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

 

(c) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

 

(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(1) if the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B [17 CFR 230.430B]:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

 

(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C [17 CFR 230.430C]: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

(e) that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

 

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

 

 

 

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;

 

(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrants;

 

(3) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

 

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

4. Not applicable.

 

5. Not applicable.

 

6. Not applicable.

 

7. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee, and the State of Wisconsin on the 3rd day of November, 2020.

 

  Aspiriant Risk-Managed Real Asset Fund  
       
  By:  /s/ Terrance Gallagher  
    Name: Terrance Gallagher  
    Title: Trustee  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following person in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Terrance Gallagher   Trustee   November 3, 2020
Terrance Gallagher        

 

 

 

Exhibit Index

 

(a)(1)Agreement and Declaration of Trust

 

(a)(2)Certificate of Trust

 

(b)By-Laws

 

(l)Consent of Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

 

(r)(2)Code of Ethics of Aspiriant, LLC