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MATSON MONEY, INC.

FAMILY OF FUNDS

of

The RBB Fund, Inc.

 

Institutional Class

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund:  FMUEX

Free Market International Equity Fund:  FMNEX

Free Market Fixed Income Fund:  FMFIX

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

December 31, 2012

(as revised March 7, 2013)

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Matson Money, Inc.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed-Income Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”).  The Funds are series of The RBB Fund, Inc. (the “Company”).  This information is in addition to the information contained in the Funds’ Prospectus dated December 31, 2012 (the “Prospectus”).  This SAI is not a prospectus.  Copies of the Prospectus and Annual Report may be obtained free of charge by calling toll-free (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863.  The financial statements and notes contained in the Annual Report are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

1

 

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

1

 

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

2

 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

4

 

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

31

 

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

33

 

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

41

 

 

CODE OF ETHICS

42

 

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

43

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

43

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER

43

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

46

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

47

 

 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

50

 

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

51

 

 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

52

 

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

52

 

 

TAXES

52

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

54

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

56

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

56

 

 

APPENDIX A

A-1

 

 

APPENDIX B

B-1

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Company is an open-end management investment company currently operating seventeen separate investment portfolios.  The Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) and was organized as a Maryland corporation on February 29, 1988.  This SAI pertains to Institutional Class shares representing interests in three diversified Funds, which are offered by the Prospectus.  Matson Money, Inc. (“Matson Money” or the “Adviser”) serves as the investment adviser to the Funds.

 

NON- PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

 

Although the Funds invest primarily in shares of other registered investment companies, for temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may hold cash or invest in a variety of money market instruments, including U.S. government securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and bankers’ acceptances.  When a Fund invests for temporary defensive purposes, it may do so without any percentage limitations.  A Fund may not achieve its investment objective during periods when it has taken such a temporary defensive position.

 

U.S. Government Securities.  Each Fund may invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities (“U.S. Government”) that have remaining maturities not exceeding one year.  Agencies and instrumentalities that issue or guarantee debt securities and that have been established or sponsored by the U.S. government include the Export-Import Bank, the Federal Farm Credit System, the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Federal Land Banks, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”).

 

Bank Obligation.  Each Fund may invest in obligations of U.S. banks (including certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances) and U.S. dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks having total assets at the time of purchase in excess of $1 billion.  Such banks must be members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

The activities of banks are subject to extensive regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans that may be made and the interest rates that may be charged.  In addition, the profitability of the banking industry is largely dependent upon the availability and costs of funds for the purpose of financing lending operations under prevailing money market conditions.  General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties play an important part in the operation of this industry.

 

Commercial Paper.  Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by bank holding companies, corporations, and finance companies.  The commercial paper purchased by the Funds consists of direct obligations of domestic issuers which, at the time of investment, are (i) rated “P-1” by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”), (ii) issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by issuers or guarantors having an existing debt security rating of “Aa” or better by Moody’s or “AA” or better by Standard & Poor’s, or (iii) securities which, if not rated, are, in the opinion of the Adviser, of an investment quality

 

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comparable to rated commercial paper in which the Funds may invest.  In the event that a security held by a Fund is placed on a credit watch or is downgraded by a rating agency, the value of such security may decline and the Fund invested in such security may consequently experience losses in respect of such security.  See Appendix A for a description of Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rating categories.

 

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

The Funds have adopted the following fundamental investment limitations which may not be changed with respect to a Fund without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund outstanding shares (as defined in Section 2 (a) (42) of the 1940 Act).  As used in this SAI and in the Prospectus, “shareholder approval” and a “majority of the outstanding shares” of a Fund means, with respect to the approval of an investment advisory agreement or a change in a fundamental investment limitation, the lesser of (1) 67% of the shares of the Fund represented at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.  Each Fund’s investment goals and strategies described in the Prospectus may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without the approval of the Fund’s shareholders. Each Fund may not:

 

1.  Borrow money or issue senior securities, except that the Fund may borrow from banks and enter into reverse repurchase agreements and the Free Market Fixed Income Fund may enter into dollar rolls (including mortgage dollar rolls), for temporary purposes in amounts up to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing and provided that, for any borrowing with respect to the Fund, there is at least 300% asset coverage for borrowings of the Fund.  A Fund may not mortgage, pledge or hypothecate any assets, except in connection with any such borrowing and then in amounts not in excess of one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time of such borrowing.  Securities held in escrow or separate accounts in connection with a Fund’s investment practices are not considered to be borrowings or deemed to be pledged for purposes of this limitation.

 

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

 

3.  Act as underwriter of securities within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except insofar as the Fund might be deemed to be an underwriter upon disposition of certain portfolio securities acquired within the limitation on purchases of restricted securities.

 

4.  Purchase or sell real estate (including real estate limited partnership interests), provided that the Fund may invest:  (a) in securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by companies that invest in real estate or interests therein; or (b) in real estate investment trusts.

 

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5.  Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that to the extent consistent with its investment policies and restrictions, the Fund may deal in forward foreign exchanges between currencies of the different countries in which it may invest and purchase and sell stock index and currency options, stock index futures, financial futures and currency futures contracts and related options on such futures.

 

6.   Make loans, except through loan portfolio instruments and repurchase agreements, provided that, for purposes of this restriction, the acquisition of bonds, debentures or other debt instruments or interests therein and investment in government obligations, loan participations and assignments, short-term commercial paper, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

7.  Purchase any security if, as a result of such purchase, more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of issuers concentrated in a particular industry except that this limitation does not apply to securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

8.  Purchase the securities of any one issuer, other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if immediately after and as a result of such purchase, more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer would be owned by the Fund, except that up to 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets may be invested without regard to such limitations.

 

With respect to Investment Limitation No. 1, in the event that asset coverage is below 300%, the Fund will be required to reduce the amount of its borrowing to obtain 300% asset coverage within three business days.

 

For purposes of Investment Limitation No. 2, the SEC has concluded that even though reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements, and standby commitment agreements fall within the meaning of the term “evidence indebtedness,” the issue of compliance with Section 18 of the 1940 Act will not be raised with the SEC by the Division of Investment Management if a Fund covers such securities by earmarking and maintaining certain assets on the books and records of the Fund’s custodian.

 

Similarly, so long as such earmarked assets are maintained, the issue of compliance with Section 18 will not be raised with respect to any of the following:  any swap contract; any borrowings or pledge or encumbrance of assets permitted by Investment Limitation No. 1; any collateral arrangements with respect to the writing of options, futures contracts, options on futures contracts and foreign currency contracts and collateral arrangements with respect to short sales and initial and variation margin; and purchases and sales of futures or related options

 

The Funds have adopted the following non-fundamental investment limitation, which may be changed by the Company’s Board of Directors without shareholder approval:

 

1.              No Fund will invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

 

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Securities held by the Funds generally may not be purchased from, sold or loaned to the Adviser or its affiliates or any of their directors, officers or employees, acting as principal, unless pursuant to a rule or exemptive order under the 1940 Act.

 

If a percentage restriction under one of the Fund’s investment policies or limitations is adhered to at the time a transaction is effected, later changes in percentages resulting from changing values will not be considered a violation (except with respect to any restrictions that may apply to borrowings or senior securities by the Fund.)

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF UNDERLYING INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND RELATED RISKS

 

The underlying investment companies in which the Funds invest have their own investment objectives, policies, practices, and techniques, any one or all of which may subject their assets to varying degrees of risk.  In addition, as a shareholder of another investment company, each Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of that company’s expenses, including advisory and administrative fees.  These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.  Therefore, it may be more costly for a Fund to own shares of another investment company than to own directly the underlying securities owned by such company.  Investment companies in which the Funds may invest also may impose a sales or distribution charge in connection with the purchase or redemption of their shares and other types of commissions or charges.  Such charges will be payable by the Funds and, therefore, will be borne by shareholders. The underlying investment companies in which each Fund invests may purchase securities of affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds.

 

Set forth below is additional information with respect to the types of securities and instrument techniques of the underlying investment companies and the risks involved in certain of these practices and techniques.

 

Asset-Backed Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in asset-backed securities, which represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of assets such as motor vehicle installment sale contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (credit card) agreements and other categories of receivables.  Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized by a portfolio of U.S. government securities, but are not direct obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities.  Such asset pools are securitized through the use of privately-formed trusts or special purpose corporations.  Payments or distributions of principal and interest on asset-backed securities may be guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit or a pool insurance policy issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trust or corporation, or other credit enhancements may be present; however privately issued obligations collateralized by a portfolio of privately issued asset-backed securities do not involve any government-related guarantee or insurance.  In addition, asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable to mortgage assets.  See “Mortgage-Backed Securities.”

 

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Corporate Obligations.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in debt obligations, such as bonds and debentures, issued by corporations and other business organizations whose commercial paper is rated at the time of purchase “A-1” by Standard & Poor’s or “Prime-1” by Moody’s.  If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated then the debt securities must be rated AA or Aa2 or better.  See Appendix “A” to this SAI for a description of corporate debt ratings.  An issuer of debt obligations may default on its obligation to pay interest and repay principal.  Also, changes in the financial strength of an issuer or changes in the credit rating of a security may affect its value.

 

Convertible Securities and Preferred Stocks.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in convertible securities.  A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, preferred stock or other security that may be converted into or exchanged for a prescribed amount of common stock of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula.  A convertible security entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on debt or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged.  Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities in that they ordinarily provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stocks of the same or similar issuers.  Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure but are usually subordinated to comparable nonconvertible securities.  While no securities investment is completely without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security.  Convertible securities have unique investment characteristics in that they generally:  (1) have higher yields than common stocks, but lower yields than comparable non-convertible securities; (2) are less subject to fluctuation in value than the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics; and (3) provide the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.

 

The value of a convertible security is a function of its “investment value” (determined by its yield in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable maturity and quality that do not have a conversion privilege) and its “conversion value” (the security’s worth, at market value, if converted into the underlying common stock).  The investment value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline.  The credit standing of the issuer and other factors also may have an effect on the convertible security’s investment value.  The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock.  If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value.  Generally the conversion value decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity.  To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value.  A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which

 

5



 

investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security.

 

A convertible security might be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument.  If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption, that Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party.

 

Preferred stocks are securities that represent an ownership interest in a company and provide their owner with claims on the company’s earnings and assets prior to the claims of owners of common stocks but after those of bond owners.  Preferred stocks in which the Funds may invest include sinking fund, convertible, perpetual fixed and adjustable rate (including auction rate) preferred stocks.  There is no minimum credit rating applicable to a Fund’s investment in preferred stocks and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

 

Depository Arrangements. To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”).  ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying foreign securities. ADRs are denominated in U.S. dollars.  They are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter in the United States.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in both sponsored and unsponsored ADR programs. There are certain risks associated with investments in unsponsored ADR programs.  Because the non-U.S. securities issuer does not actively participate in the creation of the ADR program, the underlying agreement for service and payment will be between the depository and the shareholder.  The company issuing the stock underlying the ADR pays nothing to establish the unsponsored facility because fees for ADR issuance and cancellation are paid by brokers.  Investors directly bear the expenses associated with certificate transfer, custody and dividend payment.

 

In an unsponsored ADR program, there also may be several depositories with no defined legal obligations to the non-U.S. company.  The duplicate depositories may lead to marketplace confusion because there would be no central source of information for buyers, sellers and intermediaries.  The efficiency of centralization gained in a sponsored program can greatly reduce the delays in delivery of dividends and annual reports.

 

The underlying investment companies may also invest in Holding Company Depository Receipts (“HOLDRS”).  HOLDRS represent trust-issued receipts that represent individual and undivided beneficial ownership interests in the common stock or ADRs of specific companies in a particular industry, sector or group.

 

The underlying investment companies of the Free Market International Equity Fund may also invest in European Depository Receipts (“EDRs”), International Depository Receipts (“IDRs”) and Global Depository Receipts (“GDRs”).  These are receipts issued by a non-U.S. financial institution evidencing ownership of underlying foreign or U.S. securities and are usually denominated in foreign currencies.  They may not be denominated in the same currency

 

6



 

as the securities they represent.  Generally, EDRs, GDRs and IDRs are designed for use in the foreign securities markets. Investments in EDRs, GDRs and IDRs involve certain risks not typically involved in purely domestic investments, including currency exchange risk.  These risks are set forth under “Foreign Securities” in this SAI.

 

Dollar Rolls.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, the Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into dollar rolls in which the investment companies sell fixed income securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contract to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, an investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the investment company would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale.  The return on dollar rolls may be negatively impacted by fluctuations in interest rates.  For additional information on dollar roll transactions, see the section entitled “Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions” in this SAI.

 

Equity Markets.  The underlying investment companies of the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund and Free Market International Equity Fund invest primarily in equity markets at all times.  Equity markets can be highly volatile, so that investing in the underlying investment companies involves substantial risk.  As a result, investing in the underlying investment companies involves the risk of loss of capital.

 

European Currency Unification.  On January 1, 1999, the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) introduced a new single currency called the euro. The euro has replaced the national currencies of many European countries.

 

The new European Central Bank has control over each member country’s monetary policies. Therefore, the member countries no longer control their own monetary policies by directing independent interest rates for their currencies. The national governments of the participating countries, however, have retained the authority to set tax and spending policies and public debt levels.

 

The elimination of currency risk among EMU countries has affected the economic environment and behavior of investors, particularly in European markets, but the long-term impact of those changes on currency values or on the business or financial condition of European countries and issuers cannot fully be assessed at this time.  In addition, the introduction of the euro presents other unique uncertainties, including the fluctuation of the euro relative to non-euro currencies; whether the interest rate, tax and labor regimes of European countries participating in the euro will converge over time; and whether the conversion of the currencies of other countries that now are or may in the future become members of the European Union (“EU”) will have an impact on the euro.  Also, it is possible that the euro could be abandoned in the future by countries that have already adopted its use.  These or other events, including political and economic developments, could cause market disruptions, and could adversely affect the value of securities held by the Fund.

 

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Foreign Securities.  The underlying investment companies of the Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund may invest in securities issued by foreign companies. Investments in foreign securities involve higher costs than investments in U.S. securities, including higher transaction costs as well as the imposition of additional taxes by foreign governments.  In addition, foreign investments may include additional risks associated with currency exchange rates, less complete financial information about the issuers, less market liquidity and political stability.  Volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility or price can be greater than in the United States. Future political and economic information, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest income, the possible seizure or nationalization of foreign holdings, the possible establishment of exchange controls, or the adoption of other governmental restrictions, might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on foreign obligations.  Inability to dispose of securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to an underlying investment company due to subsequent declines in value of the securities, or, if the underlying investment company has entered into a contract to sell the securities, could result in possible liability to the purchaser.  Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth or gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.

 

Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges.  There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Settlement mechanics may be slower or less reliable than within the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities.  Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions.  Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of an underlying investment company is uninvested and no return is earned thereon.  The inability of an underlying investment company to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the underlying investment company to miss attractive investment opportunities.

 

Although the underlying investment companies may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, each investment company values its securities and other assets in U.S. dollars.  As a result, the NAV of an underlying investment company’s shares may fluctuate with U.S. dollar exchange rates as well as the price changes of the underlying investment company’s securities in the various local markets and currencies.  Thus, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar compared to the currencies in which an underlying investment company makes its investments could reduce the effect of increases and magnify the effect of decreases in the price of the underlying investment company’s securities in their local markets.  Conversely, a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar may have the opposite effect of magnifying the effect of increases and reducing the effect of decreases in the prices of an underlying investment company’s securities in its foreign markets.  In addition to favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate

 

8



 

developments, an underlying investment company is subject to the possible imposition of exchange control regulations or freezes on convertibility of currency.

 

The underlying investment companies may invest in obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks (Eurodollars) and U.S. branches of foreign banks (Yankee dollars) as well as foreign branches of foreign banks. These investments involve risks that are different from investments in securities of U.S. banks, including potential unfavorable political and economic developments, different tax provisions, seizure of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations or other governmental restrictions which might affect payment of principal or interest. The underlying investment companies may also invest in debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, including Yankee bonds, which are issued by foreign governments and their agencies and foreign corporations, but pay interest in U.S. dollars and are typically issued in the United States.

 

Forward Commitment and When-Issued Transactions.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis.  These transactions involve a commitment by an underlying investment company to purchase or sell securities at a future date (ordinarily one or two months later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the other party, and such commitments are not traded on exchanges.

 

When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable an underlying investment company to lock in what is believed by the underlying investment adviser to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For instance, in periods of rising interest rates and falling prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, an underlying investment company might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or a similar security on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. When-issued securities or forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value are reflected in the computation of an underlying investment company’s NAV starting on the date of the agreement to purchase the securities, and the underlying investment company is subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on that date. An underlying investment company does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and delivered on the settlement date. When an underlying investment company makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement are included in the underlying investment company’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities are not reflected in the underlying investment company’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally

 

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takes place within two months after the date of the transaction, but an underlying investment company may agree to a longer settlement period.

 

An underlying investment company generally will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, an underlying investment company may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. An underlying investment company also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the underlying investment company on the settlement date. An underlying investment company may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions, and its distributions from any net realized capital gains will be taxable to shareholders.

 

When an underlying investment company purchases securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the investment company or its custodian will maintain in a segregated account cash or liquid securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the underlying investment company’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that the underlying investment company will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.

 

Forward Foreign Currency TransactionsThe Free Market International Equity and Free Market Fixed Income Funds’ underlying investment companies may, to the extent that they invest in foreign securities, enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates.  The underlying investment companies will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.  A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract.  These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades.  Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

The underlying investment companies generally are permitted to enter into forward contracts under two circumstances. First, when an underlying investment company enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security quoted or denominated in a foreign currency, it may desire to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale, for a fixed number of U.S. dollars, of the amount of foreign currency involved in the underlying security transactions, the underlying investment company will be able to insulate itself from a possible loss resulting from a change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received.

 

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Second, when the investment adviser to an underlying investment company believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may cause the investment company to enter a forward contract to sell, for a fixed U.S. dollar amount, the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the investment company’s portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency.  The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it matures.

 

The underlying investment companies may engage in cross-hedging by using forward contracts in one currency to hedge against fluctuations in the value in securities denominated or quoted in a different currency if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the two currencies. Cross-hedging may also include entering into a forward transaction involving two foreign currencies, using one foreign currency as a proxy for the U.S. dollar to hedge against variations in the other U.S. foreign currency, if the investment adviser determines that there is a pattern of correlation between the proxy currency and the U.S. dollar.

 

The underlying investment companies will not enter into forward contracts to sell currency or maintain a net exposure to such contracts if the consummation of such contracts would obligate the investment company to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of the value of the investment company’s respective portfolio securities or other assets quoted or denominated in that currency. At the consummation of the forward contract, an underlying investment company may either make delivery of the foreign currency or terminate its contractual obligation by purchasing an offsetting contract obligating it to purchase at the same maturity date, the same amount of such foreign currency. If an underlying investment company chooses to make delivery of foreign currency, it may be required to obtain such delivery through the sale of portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such currency or through conversion of other assets of the Fund into such currency. If an underlying investment company engages in an offsetting transaction, the underlying investment company will realize a gain or a loss to the extent that there has been a change in forward contract prices. Closing purchase transactions with respect to forward contracts are usually effected with the currency trader who is party to the original forward contract.

 

The underlying investment companies’ transactions in forward contracts generally will be limited to those described above. Of course, the underlying investment companies are not required to enter into such transactions with regard to their foreign currency quoted or denominated securities, and the investment companies will not do so unless deemed appropriate by their respective investment advisers.

 

When entering into a forward contract, an underlying investment company will segregate either cash or liquid securities quoted or denominated in any currency in an amount equal to the value of the underlying investment company’s total assets committed to the consummation of forward currency exchange contracts which require the underlying investment company to purchase a foreign currency. If the value of the segregated securities declines, additional cash or

 

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securities will be segregated by the underlying investment company on a daily basis so that the value of the segregated securities will equal the amount of the underlying investment company’s commitments with respect to such contracts.

 

This method of protecting the value of an underlying investment company’s portfolio securities against a decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange which can be achieved at some future point in time. The precise projection of short-term currency market movements is not possible, and short-term hedging provides a means of fixing the U.S. dollar value of only a portion of the underlying investment company’s foreign assets. It also reduces any potential gain which may have otherwise occurred had the currency value increased above the settlement price of the contract.

 

While the underlying investment company may enter into forward contracts to seek to reduce currency exchange rate risks, transactions in such contracts involve certain other risks. Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from such transactions, unanticipated changes in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not engaged in any such transactions.  Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the underlying investment company’s portfolio holdings or securities quoted or denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts entered into by the underlying investment company. Such imperfect correlation may cause the underlying investment company to sustain losses, which will prevent the underlying investment company from achieving a complete hedge, or expose the underlying investment company to the risk of foreign exchange loss.

 

Forward contracts are subject to the risks that the counterparts to such contract will default on its obligations. Since a forward foreign currency exchange contract is not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house, a default on the contract would deprive an underlying investment company of unrealized profits, transaction costs or the benefits of a currency hedge or force an underlying investment company to cover its purchase or sale commitments, if any, at the current market price.

 

The underlying investment companies’ foreign currency transactions (including related options, futures and forward contracts) may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company.

 

Futures Contracts.  A futures contract may generally be described as an agreement between two parties to buy and sell particular financial instruments for an agreed price during a designated month (or to deliver the final cash settlement price, in the case of a contract relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the end of trading in the contract).  When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, an underlying investment company can seek to offset a decline in the value of its current portfolio securities through the sale of futures contracts. When interest rates are falling or securities prices are rising, an underlying investment company, through the purchase of futures contracts, can attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when it affects anticipated purchases.

 

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To seek to increase total return or to hedge against changes in interest rates or securities prices, an underlying investment company may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. An underlying investment company may also enter into closing purchase and sale transactions with respect to any of such contracts and options. The futures contracts may be based on various securities (such as U.S. government securities), securities indices, and any other financial instruments and indices. Generally an underlying investment company will engage in futures and related options transactions for bona fide hedging purposes as described below or for purposes of seeking to increase total return, in each case, only to the extent permitted by regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). All futures contracts entered into by an underlying investment company are traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that are licensed and regulated by the CFTC or on foreign exchanges.

 

Positions taken in the futures markets are not normally held to maturity but are instead liquidated through offsetting transactions, which may result in a profit or a loss. While futures contracts on securities will usually be liquidated in this manner, an underlying investment company may instead make, or take, delivery of the underlying securities or currency whenever it appears economically advantageous to do so. A clearing corporation associated with the exchange on which futures on securities are traded guarantees that, if still open, the sale or purchase will be performed on the settlement date.

 

Hedging, by use of futures contracts, seeks to establish with more certainty than would otherwise be possible the effective price or rate of return on portfolio securities or securities that an underlying investment company proposes to acquire or the exchange rate of currencies in which portfolio securities are quoted or denominated. An underlying investment company may, for example, take a “short” position in the futures market by selling futures contracts to seek to hedge against an anticipated rise in interest rates or a decline in market prices that would adversely affect the value of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. Such futures contracts may include contracts for the future delivery of securities held by an underlying investment company or securities with characteristics similar to those of the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. If, in the opinion of the investment adviser to an underlying investment company, there is a sufficient degree of correlation between price trends for an underlying investment company’s portfolio securities and futures contracts based on other financial instruments, securities indices or other indices, the underlying investment company may also enter into such futures contracts as part of its hedging strategy. Although under some circumstances prices of securities in an underlying investment company’s portfolio may be more or less volatile than prices of such futures contracts, the underlying investment adviser will attempt to estimate the extent of this volatility difference based on historical patterns and compensate for any such differential by having the underlying investment company’s enter into a greater or lesser number of futures contracts or by seeking to achieve only a partial hedge against price changes affecting the underlying investment company’s portfolio securities. When hedging of this character is successful, any depreciation in the value of portfolio securities will be substantially offset by appreciation in the value of the futures position. On the other hand, any unanticipated appreciation in the value of an underlying investment company portfolio’s securities would be substantially offset by a decline in the value of the futures position.

 

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On other occasions, an underlying investment company may take a “long” position by purchasing futures contracts. This would be done, for example, when the underlying investment company anticipates the subsequent purchase of particular securities when it has the necessary cash, but expects the prices then available in the applicable market to be less favorable than prices that are currently available.

 

Indexed Securities.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in indexed securities whose value is linked to securities indices.  Most such securities have values which rise and fall according to the change in one or more specified indices, and may have characteristics similar to direct investments in the underlying securities. Depending on the index, such securities may have greater volatility than the market as a whole.  An underlying investment company may also invest in exchange-traded funds, which generally track their related indices and trade like an individual stock throughout the trading day.  For example, an underlying investment company may invest in Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts (commonly referred to as “Spiders”), which are exchange-traded shares of a closed-end investment company that are designed to replicate the price performance and dividend yield of the Standard & Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index.

 

Initial Public Offerings.  To the extent consistent with its investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase stock in an initial public offering (“IPO”).  An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public.  Risks associated with IPOs may include considerable fluctuation in the market value of IPO shares due to certain factors, such as the absence of a prior public market, unseasoned trading, a limited number of shares available for trading, lack of information about the issuer and limited operating history.  The purchase of IPO shares may involve high transaction costs.  When an underlying investment company’s asset base is small, a significant portion of the underlying investment company’s performance could be attributable to investments in IPOs, because such investments would have a magnified impact on the underlying investment company.  As an underlying investment company’s assets grow, the effect of the underlying investment company’s investments in IPOs on the underlying investment company’s performance probably will decline, which could reduce the underlying investment company’s performance.  Because of the price volatility of IPO shares, an underlying investment company may choose to hold IPO shares for a very short period of time.  This may increase the turnover of the underlying investment company’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses to the underlying investment company, such as commissions and transaction costs.  In addition, the underlying investment advisers cannot guarantee continued access to IPOs.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, known as “TIPs” or “Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities,” which are debt securities whose principal and interest payments are adjusted for inflation and interest is paid on the adjusted amount. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the consumer price index (“CPI”). A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the

 

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principal value and the interest payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment.

 

Inflation-protected securities normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation is 2%, the real interest rate is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected security will decline and could result in losses for the Fund’s underlying investment companies.

 

Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by IRS regulations to be taxable income in the year it occurs. For direct holders of an inflation-protected security, this means that taxes must be paid on principal adjustments even though these amounts are not received until the bond matures. By contrast, an underlying investment company holding these securities distributes both interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments in the form of cash or reinvested shares, which are taxable to shareholders.

 

Interest Rate Swaps, Floors and Caps and Currency Swaps.  The Free Market Fixed-Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into interest rate swaps and may purchase interest rate floors or caps. An underlying investment company will typically use interest rate swaps to preserve a return on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio or to shorten the effective duration of its portfolio investments. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the underlying investment company with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. The purchase of an interest rate floor or cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the seller, to the extent the specified index falls below (floor) or exceeds (cap) a predetermined interest rate. The Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund may enter into currency swaps, which involve the exchange of the rights of the underlying investment company and another party to make or receive payments in specific currencies.

 

An underlying investment company will only enter into interest rate swaps or interest rate floor or cap transactions on a net basis, i.e. the two payment streams are netted out, with the underlying investment company receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. In contrast, currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency.

 

The net amount of the excess, if any, of an underlying investment company’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each interest rate or currency swap will be accrued on a daily basis, and an amount of liquid assets having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to such accrued excess will be segregated by the underlying investment company.

 

If there is a default by the other party to such transaction, the underlying investment company will have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

 

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Lending of Portfolio Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may lend their portfolio securities to financial institutions provided that (1) the loan is continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities or cash or cash equivalents maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned; (2) the underlying investment company may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (3) the underlying investment company will receive any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the underlying investment company.  Such loans would involve risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event the value of the collateral decreased below the value of the securities loaned or risk of delay in recovering the securities loaned or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially.

 

Loan Participations.  The Free Market Fixed-Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase participations in commercial loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participation in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. An underlying investment company may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing loan participations, the underlying investment company assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which the Fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

 

A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the underlying investment company has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, the underlying investment company may have to rely on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.

 

Purchases of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the underlying investment company does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the underlying investment company’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer the underlying investment company more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated.

 

An underlying investment company invests in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the

 

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amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the underlying investment company bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.

 

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the underlying investment company’s investment adviser believes to be a fair price.

 

Investments in loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to an underlying investment company.  For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the underlying investment company could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, an underlying investment company could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, an underlying investment company relies on its investment adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Fund.

 

Market Fluctuation.  The market value of the investments of each underlying investment company, and thus each underlying investment company’s NAV, will change in response to market conditions affecting the value of its portfolio securities. When interest rates decline, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate loans are reset periodically, yields on 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.

 

Micro Cap, Small Cap and Mid Cap Stocks.  Securities of companies with micro, small and mid-size capitalizations tend to be riskier than securities of companies with large capitalizations.  This is because micro, small and mid cap companies typically have smaller product lines and less access to liquidity than large cap companies, and are therefore more sensitive to economic downturns.  In addition, growth prospects of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be less certain than large cap companies, and the dividends paid on micro, small and mid cap stocks are frequently negligible.  Moreover, micro, small and mid cap stocks have, on occasion, fluctuated in the opposite direction of large cap stocks or the general stock market.  Consequently, securities of micro, small and mid cap companies tend to be more volatile than those of large cap companies.  The market for micro and small cap securities may be thinly traded and as a result, greater fluctuations in the price of micro and small cap securities may occur.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in mortgage pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through securities, such as real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMIC”) pass-through certificates and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”).

 

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Guaranteed mortgage pass-through securities represent participation interests in pools of residential mortgage loans and are issued by U.S. governmental or private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, including but not limited to the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Ginnie Mae certificates are guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government for timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Fannie Mae certificates are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, a federally chartered and privately owned corporation, for full and timely payment of principal and interest on the certificates. Fannie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations. Freddie Mac certificates are guaranteed by Freddie Mac, a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government, for timely payment of interest and the ultimate collection of all principal of the related mortgage loans.

 

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be placed in conservatorship under the FHFA.  On June 16, 2010, FHFA ordered Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s stock de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange after the price of common stock in Fannie Mae fell below the New York Stock Exchange’s minimum average closing price of $1 for more than 30 days. The long-term effect that this conservatorship will have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s debt and equity and on securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is unclear.

 

In a February 2011 report to Congress from the Treasury and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Obama administration provided a plan to reform the U.S. housing finance market.  The plan would reduce the role of and eventually eliminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Notably, the plan does not propose similar significant changes to GNMA, which guarantees payments on mortgage-related securities backed by federally insured or guaranteed loans such as those issued by the Federal Housing Authority or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  The report also identified three proposals for Congress and the administration to consider for the long-term structure of the housing finance markets after the elimination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, including implementing: (i) a privatized system of housing finance that limits government insurance to very limited groups of creditworthy low- and moderate-income borrowers; (ii) a privatized system with a government backstop mechanism that would allow the government to insure a larger share of the housing finance market during a future housing crisis; and (iii) a privatized system where the government would offer reinsurance to holders of certain highly-rated mortgage-related securities insured by private insurers and would pay out under the reinsurance arrangements only if the private mortgage insurers were insolvent.

 

In addition, in August 2012, the Treasury announced that it had amended the terms of its bailout agreement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to decrease the holdings of each firm more quickly.  Under the amended agreement, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have to turn over all profits they earn every quarter. They will also have to accelerate the reduction of their mortgage holdings to hit a cap of $250 million by 2018, four years earlier than planned.  Under the new arrangement, the portfolios of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can be no larger than $650 billion each at the end of 2012.

 

There is risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises. A Fund may purchase U.S. Government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S. Government securities held by a Fund may greatly exceed their current resources, including their legal right to support from the U.S. Treasury. It is possible that these issuers will not have the funds to meet their payment obligations in the future.

 

CMOs and REMIC pass-through or participation certificates may be issued by, among others, U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities as well as private lenders. CMOs and REMIC certificates are issued in multiple classes and the principal of and interest on the mortgage assets may be allocated among the several classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates in various ways. Each class of CMOs or REMIC certificates, often referred to as a “tranche,” is issued at a specific adjustable or fixed interest rate and must be fully retired no later than its final distribution date. Generally, interest is paid or accrues on all classes of CMOs or REMIC certificates on a monthly basis.

 

Typically, CMOs are collateralized by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac certificates but also may be collateralized by other mortgage assets such as whole loans or private mortgage pass-through securities. Debt service on CMOs is provided from payments of principal and interest on collateral of mortgaged assets and any reinvestment income thereon.

 

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A REMIC is a CMO that qualifies for special tax treatment under the Code and invests in certain mortgages primarily secured by interests in real property and other permitted investments. Investors may purchase “regular” and “residual” interest shares of beneficial interest in REMIC trusts.

 

An underlying investment company may invest in mortgage-backed securities issued by trusts or other entities formed or sponsored by private originators of and institutional investors in mortgage loans and other non-governmental entities (or representing custodial arrangements administered by such institutions). These private originators and institutions include savings and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.

 

Privately issued mortgage-backed securities are generally backed by pools of conventional (i.e., non-government guaranteed or insured) mortgage loans. Since such mortgage-backed securities normally are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit standing of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac in order to receive a high quality rating from the rating organizations (e.g., S&P’s or Moody’s), they often are structured with one or more types of “credit enhancement.” Such credit enhancement falls into two categories: (1) liquidity protection and (2) protection against losses resulting after default by a borrower and liquidation of the collateral (e.g., sale of a house after foreclosure). Liquidity protection refers to the payment of cash advances to holders of mortgage-backed securities when a borrower on an underlying mortgage fails to make its monthly payment on time. Protection against losses resulting after default and liquidation is designed to cover losses resulting when, for example, the proceeds of a foreclosure sale are insufficient to cover the outstanding amount on the mortgage. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit, through various means of structuring the securities or through a combination of such approaches.

 

Examples of credit enhancement arising out of the structure of the transaction include “senior-subordinated securities” (multiple class securities with one or more classes entitled to receive payment before other classes, with the result that defaults on the underlying mortgages are borne first by the holders of the subordinated class), creation of “spread accounts” or “reserve funds” (where cash or investments are held in reserve against future losses) and “over-collateralization” (where the scheduled payments on the underlying mortgages in a pool exceed the amount required to be paid on the mortgage-backed securities). The degree of credit enhancement for a particular issue of mortgage-backed securities is based on the level of credit risk associated with the particular mortgages in the related pool. Losses on a pool in excess of anticipated levels could nevertheless result in losses to security holders since credit enhancement rarely covers every dollar owed on a pool.

 

Investing in mortgage-backed securities (such as those described above) involves certain risks, including the failure of a counter-party to meet its commitments, adverse interest rate changes and the effects of prepayments on mortgage cash flows.  Further, the yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments (usually monthly), the adjustability of interest rates, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made substantially earlier than their final distribution dates.

 

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Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. Both adjustable rate mortgage loans and fixed rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater rate of principal prepayments in a declining interest rate environment and to a lesser rate of principal prepayments in an increasing interest rate environment. Under certain interest rate and prepayment rate scenarios, a Fund may fail to recoup fully its investment in Mortgage-Backed Securities notwithstanding any direct or indirect governmental or agency guarantee. When a Fund reinvests amounts representing payments and unscheduled prepayments of principal, it may receive a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities. Thus, mortgage-backed securities, and adjustable rate mortgage pass-through securities in particular, may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities.  This possibility is often referred to as extension risk. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. The market for certain types of mortgage-backed securities (i.e., certain CMOs) may not be liquid under all interest rate scenarios, which may prevent a Fund from selling such securities held in its portfolio at times or prices that it desires.

 

Different types of derivative debt securities are subject to different combinations of prepayment, extension and/or interest rate risk. Conventional mortgage pass-through securities and sequential pay CMOs are subject to all of these risks, but are typically not leveraged. Thus, the magnitude of exposure may be less than for more leveraged mortgage-backed securities.

 

Planned amortization class (“PAC”) and target amortization class (“TAC”) CMO bonds involve less exposure to prepayment, extension and interest rate risk than other mortgage-backed securities, provided that prepayment rates remain within expected prepayment ranges or “collars.” To the extent that prepayment rates remain within these prepayment ranges, the residual or support tranches of PAC and TAC CMOs assume the extra prepayment extension and interest rate risk associated with the underlying mortgage assets.

 

An underlying investment company may invest in floating rate securities based on the Cost of Funds Index (“COFI floaters”), other “lagging rate” floating rate securities, floating rate securities that are subject to a maximum interest rate (“capped floaters”), and mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount. The primary risks associated with these derivative debt securities are the potential extension of average life and/or depreciation due to rising interest rates.

 

Recently, rating agencies have placed on credit watch or downgraded the ratings previously assigned to a large number of mortgage-related securities (which may include certain of the mortgage-related securities in which an underlying investment company may have invested or may in the future be invested), and may continue to do so in the future.  In the event that any mortgage-related security held by an underlying investment company is placed on credit

 

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watch or downgraded, the value of such mortgage-related security may decline and the underlying investment company invested in such security, and thus the Free Market Fixed Income Fund, may consequently experience losses in respect of such mortgage-related security.

 

Mortgage Dollar Roll Transactions.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions in which the underlying investment company sells securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date.

 

During the roll period, the underlying investment company would forgo principal and interest paid on such securities.  However, the underlying investment company would benefit to the extent of any difference between the price received for the securities sold and the lower forward price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) or fee income plus the interest on the cash proceeds of the securities sold until the settlement date of the forward purchase. Unless such benefits exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss due to mortgage prepayments that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the mortgage dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the underlying investment company compared with what such performance would have been without the use of mortgage dollar rolls.  Any benefits derived from the use of mortgage dollar rolls may depend upon mortgage prepayment assumptions, which will be affected by changes in interest rates.  There is no assurance that mortgage dollar rolls can be successfully employed.  For additional information on dollar rolls, please refer to the section entitled “Dollar Rolls” in this SAI.

 

Options on Futures Contracts.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may purchase and sell various kinds of futures contracts, and purchase and write call and put options on any of such futures contracts. The acquisition of put and call options on futures contracts will give an underlying investment company the right (but not the obligation) for a specified price to sell or to purchase, respectively, the underlying futures contract at any time during the option period. As the purchaser of an option on a futures contract, an underlying investment company obtains the benefit of the futures position if prices move in a favorable direction but limits its risk of loss in the event of an unfavorable price movement to the loss of the premium and transaction costs.

 

The writing of a call option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset a decline in the value of an underlying investment company’s assets. By writing a call option, an underlying investment company becomes obligated, in exchange for the premium, (upon exercise of the option) to sell a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a put option on a futures contract generates a premium, which may partially offset an increase in the price of securities that an underlying investment company intends to purchase.  However, the underlying investment company becomes obligated (upon exercise of the option) to purchase a futures contract if the option is exercised, which may have a value lower than the exercise price. Thus, the loss incurred by an underlying investment company in writing options on futures is potentially unlimited and may exceed the amount of the premium received. The underlying

 

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investment company will incur transaction costs in connection with the writing of options on futures.

 

The holder or writer of an option on a futures contract may terminate its position by selling or purchasing an offsetting option on the same financial instrument. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected. An underlying investment company’s ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the development and maintenance of a liquid market.

 

Transactions in futures contracts and options on futures involve brokerage costs, require margin deposits and, in some cases, may require the applicable underlying investment company to establish a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the underlying value of such contracts and options.

 

The use of futures contracts entails certain risks, including but not limited to the following: no assurance that futures contracts transactions can be offset at favorable prices; possible reduction of the underlying investment company’s income due to the use of hedging; possible reduction in value of both the securities hedged and the hedging instrument; possible lack of liquidity due to daily limits on price fluctuations; imperfect correlation between the contract and the securities being hedged; and potential losses in excess of the amount initially invested in the futures contracts themselves. If the expectations of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, the underlying investment company may have experienced better investment results without hedging. The use of futures contracts and options on futures contracts requires special skills in addition to those needed to select portfolio securities.

 

While transactions in futures contracts and options on futures may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves entail certain other risks.  Thus, while an underlying investment company may benefit from the use of futures and options on futures, unanticipated changes in interest rates or securities prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the underlying investment company than if it had not entered into any futures contracts or options transactions. In the event of an imperfect correlation between a futures position and a portfolio position which is intended to be protected, the desired protection may not be obtained and the underlying investment company may be exposed to risk of loss.

 

Perfect correlation between an underlying investment company’s futures positions and portfolio positions will be impossible to achieve. There are no futures contracts based upon individual securities, except certain U.S. government securities. Other futures contracts available to hedge an underlying investment company’s portfolio investments generally are limited to futures on various securities indices.

 

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Options on Securities and Securities Indices.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may each write covered call and secured put options on any securities in which it may invest or on any domestic stock indices based on securities in which it may invest. An underlying investment company may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on national domestic securities exchanges or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. A call option written by an underlying investment company obligates the investment company to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price of the security.

 

A put option written by an underlying investment company obligates the underlying investment company to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date, regardless of the market price for the security. The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income. However, in return for the option premium, the underlying investment company accepts the risk that it will be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.

 

A written call option or put option may be covered by (i) maintaining cash or liquid securities, either of which may be quoted or denominated in any currency, in a segregated account noted on the underlying investment company’s records or maintained by the underlying investment company’s custodian with a value at least equal to the underlying investment company’s obligation under the option, (ii) entering into an offsetting forward commitment and/or (iii) purchasing an offsetting option or any other option which, by virtue of its exercise price or otherwise, reduces the underlying investment company’s net exposure on its written option position.

 

An underlying investment company may terminate its obligations under an exchange-traded call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written.  Obligations under over-the-counter options may be terminated only by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparts to such option. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions” and do not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying security from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying security or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying security. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the underlying investment company will have incurred a loss in the transaction.

 

An underlying investment company may also write (sell) covered call and put options on any securities index composed of securities in which it may invest. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. The amount of this settlement will be equal to the difference between the closing price of the securities index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified amount.  In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price

 

23



 

fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

An underlying investment company may cover call options on a securities index by owning securities whose price changes are expected to be similar to those of the underlying index or by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire such securities without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration held in a segregated account) upon conversion or exchange of other securities in its portfolio. An underlying investment company may also cover call and put options on a securities index by using the other methods described above.

 

An underlying investment company would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase, or put options in anticipation of a decrease (“protective puts”) in the market value of securities of the type in which it may invest. The purchase of a call option would entitle an underlying investment company, in return for the premium paid, to purchase specified securities at a specified price during the option period. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain on the purchase of a call option if, during the option period, the value of such securities exceeded the sum of the exercise price, the premium paid and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option. The purchase of a put option would entitle an underlying investment company, in exchange for the premium paid, to sell specified securities at a specified price during the option period. The purchase of protective puts is designed to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of an underlying investment company’s securities. Put options may also be purchased by an underlying investment company for the purpose of affirmatively benefiting from a decline in the price of securities which it does not own. An underlying investment company would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs; otherwise the underlying investment company would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the put option. Gains and losses on the purchase of put options may be offset by countervailing changes in the value of the underlying portfolio securities.

 

An underlying investment company may purchase put and call options on securities indices for the same purposes as it may purchase options on securities. Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Although an underlying investment company may use option transactions to seek to generate additional income and to seek to reduce the effect of any adverse price movement in the securities or currency subject to the option, they do involve certain risks that are different in some respects from investment risks associated with similar mutual funds, which do not engage in such activities. These risks include the following: for writing call options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the inability to participate in the appreciation of the underlying securities above the exercise price; for writing put options, the inability to effect closing transactions at favorable prices and the obligation to purchase the specified

 

24



 

securities or to make a cash settlement on the securities index at prices which may not reflect current market values; and for purchasing call and put options, the possible loss of the entire premium paid. In addition, the effectiveness of hedging through the purchase or sale of securities index options, including options on the S&P 500® Index, will depend upon the extent to which price movements in the portion of the securities portfolio being hedged correlate with the price movements in the selected securities index. Perfect correlation may not be possible because the securities held or to be acquired by an underlying investment company may not exactly match the composition of the securities index on which options are written. If the forecasts of the adviser of the underlying investment company regarding movements in securities prices or interest rates are incorrect, an underlying investment company’s investment results may have been better without the hedge transactions.

 

There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on a domestic or foreign options exchange will exist for any particular exchange-traded option or at any particular time. If an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to covered options it has written, the investment company will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if an underlying investment company is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities or currencies.

 

Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

 

The writing and purchase of options is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The successful use of options for hedging purposes depends in part on the adviser’s ability to predict future price fluctuations and the degree of correlation between the options and securities markets.

 

Pay-in-Kind Securities, Zero Coupon and Capital Appreciation Bonds.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in pay-in-kind (“PIK”) securities.  PIK securities may be debt obligations or preferred shares that provide the issuer with the option of paying interest or dividends on such obligations in cash or in the form of additional securities rather than cash.

 

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Similarly, zero coupon and capital appreciation bonds are debt securities issued or sold at a discount from their face value and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or a specified date.  The amount of the discount varies depending on the time remaining until maturity or cash payment date, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. These securities also may take the form of debt securities that have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, the coupons themselves or receipts or certificates representing interests in such stripped debt obligations or coupons. A portion of the discount with respect to stripped tax-exempt securities or their coupons may be taxable.  Such securities are designed to give an issuer flexibility in managing cash flow.  PIK securities that are debt securities can either be senior or subordinated debt and generally trade flat (i.e., without accrued interest).  The trading price of PIK debt securities generally reflects the market value of the underlying debt plus an amount representing accrued interest since the last interest payment.

 

PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds involve the additional risk that, unlike securities that periodically pay interest to maturity, an underlying investment company will realize no cash until a specified future payment date unless a portion of such securities is sold and, if the issuer of such securities defaults, an underlying investment company may obtain no return at all on its investment.  In addition, even though such securities may not provide for the payment of current interest in cash, an underlying investment company is nonetheless required to accrue income on such investments for each taxable year and generally is required to distribute such accrued amounts (net of deductible expenses, if any) to avoid being subject to tax.  Because no cash is generally received at the time of the accrual, an underlying investment company may be required to liquidate other portfolio securities to obtain sufficient cash to satisfy federal tax distribution requirements applicable to the underlying investment company.  Additionally, the market prices of PIK securities, zero coupon bonds and capital appreciation bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of interest bearing securities and are likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than interest bearing securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

 

Purchase Warrants.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in purchase warrants and similar rights.  Purchase warrants are privileges issued by a corporation which enable the owner to subscribe to and purchase a specified number of shares of the corporation at a specified price during a specified period of time.  Subscription rights normally have a short lifespan to expiration.  The purchase of warrants involves the risk that the underlying investment company could lose the purchase value of a warrant if the right to subscribe to additional shares is not executed prior to the warrants’ expiration.  Also, the purchase of warrants involves the risk that the effective price paid for the warrant added to the subscription price of the related security may exceed the value of the subscribed security’s market price such as when there is no movement in the level of the underlying security.

 

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Real Estate Investment Trust Securities.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).  REITs generally invest directly in real estate, in mortgages or in some combination of the two. Individual REITs may own a limited number of properties and may concentrate in a particular region or property type.  A REIT is a corporation, or a business trust that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation, which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level Federal income tax and making the REIT a pass-through vehicle for federal income tax purposes. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs) or cash and government securities, derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property, and distribute to shareholders annually a substantial portion of its otherwise taxable income.

 

Generally, REITs can be classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs.  Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents and capital gains from appreciation realized through property sales.  Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments.  Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both equity and mortgage REITs.  The values of securities issued by REITs are affected by tax and regulatory requirements and by perceptions of management skill. They also are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers or tenants, self-liquidation and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status under the Code or to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act.

 

The REITs in which the underlying investment companies may invest may be affected by economic forces and other factors related to the real estate industry.  REITs are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.  Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws.  REITS whose underlying assets include long-term health care properties; such as nursing, retirement and assisted living homes, may be impacted by federal regulations concerning the health care industry.  An underlying investment company will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the underlying investment company.  An underlying investment company is also subject to the risk that the REITs in which it invests will fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and/or fail to qualify for an exemption from registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of the credit extended.  A REIT’s return may be adversely affected when interest rates are high or rising.

 

Investing in REITs may involve risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.  Historically, small capitalization stocks, such as REITs, have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500® Index.

 

27



 

Repurchase Agreements.  Each Fund’s underlying investment companies may agree to purchase securities from financial institutions subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at an agreed-upon time and price (“repurchase agreements”).  The securities held subject to a repurchase agreement may have stated maturities exceeding 397 days, provided the repurchase agreement itself matures in less than 13 months.  Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, however, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Default by or bankruptcy of the seller would, expose an underlying investment company to possible loss because of adverse market action or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying obligations.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Securities.  Each Fund’s underlying investment companies may not invest more than 15% of their respective net assets in illiquid securities, including securities that are illiquid by virtue of the absence of a readily available market or legal or contractual restrictions on resale.  Illiquid securities include: repurchase agreements and time deposits with a notice or demand period of more than seven days; interest rate; currency and mortgage swaps; interest rate caps; floors and collars; municipal leases; certain restricted securities, such as those purchased in a private placement of securities, unless it is determined, based upon a review of the trading markets for a specific restricted security, that such restricted security is liquid; and certain over-the-counter options. Securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale but have a readily available market are not considered illiquid for purposes of this limitation.

 

Mutual funds do not typically hold a significant amount of restricted or other illiquid securities because of the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation.  Limitations on resale may have an adverse effect on the marketability of portfolio securities and a mutual fund might be unable to dispose of restricted or other illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemptions within seven days.  A mutual fund might also have to register such restricted securities in order to dispose of them resulting in additional expense and delay.  Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.

 

Each underlying investment company may purchase securities which are not registered under the Securities Act but which may be sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Restricted Securities”).  These securities will not be considered illiquid so long as it is determined by the underlying investment adviser that an adequate trading market exists for the securities.  This investment practice could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity in an underlying investment company during any period that qualified institutional buyers become uninterested in purchasing restricted securities.

 

The underlying investment adviser will monitor the liquidity of Restricted Securities held by an underlying investment company.  In reaching liquidity decisions, the underlying investment adviser may consider, among others, the following factors: (1) the unregistered nature of the security; (2) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (3) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (4) dealer

 

28



 

undertakings to make a market in the security; and (5) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers and the mechanics of the transfer).

 

The purchase price and subsequent valuation of Restricted Securities normally reflect a discount from the price at which such securities trade when they are not restricted, since the restriction makes them less liquid. The amount of the discount from the prevailing market price is expected to vary depending upon the type of security, the character of the issuer, the party who will bear the expenses of registering the Restricted Securities and prevailing supply and demand conditions.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into reverse repurchase agreements.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the sale of securities held by an underlying investment company subject to the underlying investment company’s agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and rate of interest.  Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by an underlying investment company may decline below the price of the securities the underlying investment company is obligated to repurchase and the interest received on the cash exchanged for the securities.  Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act.

 

Short Sales.  To the extent consistent with their respective investment policies and limitations, each Fund’s underlying investment companies may enter into short sales.  Short sales are transactions in which an underlying investment company sells a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the underlying investment company must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer.  The underlying investment company then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement.  The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by the underlying investment company.  Until the security is replaced, the underlying investment company is required to pay to the lender amounts equal to any dividend which accrues during the period of the loan.  To borrow the security, the underlying investment company also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold.  The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Until an underlying investment company replaces a borrowed security in connection with a short sale, the underlying investment company will: (a) maintain daily a segregated account, containing cash, cash equivalents, or liquid marketable securities, at such a level that the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short or (b) otherwise cover its short position in accordance with positions taken by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

29



 

An underlying investment company will incur a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the underlying investment company replaces the borrowed security.  The underlying investment company will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates.  This result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security.  The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium or amounts in lieu of interest the underlying investment company may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

Short Sales “Against the Box.”  In addition to the short sales discussed above, an underlying investment company may make short sales “against the box,” a transaction in which a fund enters into a short sale of a security that the fund owns or has the right to obtain at no additional cost.  The proceeds of the short sale will be held by a broker until the settlement date at which time the underlying investment company delivers the security to close the short position.  The underlying investment company receives the net proceeds from the short sale.

 

Structured Securities.  The Free Market Fixed Income Fund’s underlying investment companies may invest in structured securities.  The value of the principal of and/or interest on structured securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, commodities, securities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in two or more References.  The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference.  Examples of structured securities include, but are not limited to, notes where the principal repayment at maturity is determined by the value of the relative change in two or more specified securities or securities indices.

 

The terms of some structured securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, an underlying investment company could suffer a total loss of its investment.  Structured securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity.  In addition, changes in the interest rate or the value of the security at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value of the Reference.  Consequently, structured securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of securities.  Structured securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities due to their derivative nature.

 

Special Note Regarding Market Events. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally.  While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected.  These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the underlying investment companies’ investments.  It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

 

The instability in the financial markets has led the U.S. government to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and certain segments of the financial markets.  Federal, state and foreign governments, regulatory agencies, and self-

 

30



 

regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable.  Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude an underlying investment company’s, and thus a Fund’s, ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions.  The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such ownership or disposition may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the underlying investment companies’ holdings.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Company has adopted, on behalf of the Funds, a policy relating to the disclosure of each Fund’s portfolio securities to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio holdings is in the best interest of Fund shareholders.  The policies relating to the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio securities are designed to allow disclosure of portfolio holdings information where necessary to the Fund’s operation without compromising the integrity or performance of the Fund.  It is the policy of the Company that disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio holdings to a select person or persons prior to the release of such holdings to the public (“selective disclosure”) is prohibited, unless there are legitimate business purposes for selective disclosure and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality that includes a duty not to trade based on the selective disclosure.

 

The Company discloses portfolio holdings information as required in regulatory filings and shareholder reports, discloses portfolio holdings information as required by federal and state securities laws and may disclose portfolio holdings information in response to requests by governmental authorities.  As required by the federal securities laws, including the 1940 Act, the Company will disclose the Funds’ portfolio holdings in applicable regulatory filings, including shareholder reports, reports on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q or such other filings, reports or disclosure documents as the applicable regulatory authorities may require.

 

The Company may distribute or authorize the distribution of information about the Funds’ portfolio holdings that is not publicly available to its third-party service providers of the Company, which include The Bank of New York Mellon, the custodian for the Funds; BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), the administrator, accounting agent and transfer agent; PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm; Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, legal counsel; and Merrill Corporation, the financial printer. These service providers are required to keep such information confidential, and are prohibited from trading based on the information or otherwise using the information except as necessary in providing services to the Funds.  Such holdings are released on conditions of confidentiality, which include appropriate trading prohibitions. “Conditions of confidentiality” include confidentiality terms included in written agreements, implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g. attorney-client relationship), or required by fiduciary or regulatory principles (e.g., custody services provided by financial institutions). Portfolio holdings may also be

 

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provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in a Fund’s portfolio.

 

Portfolio holdings may also be disclosed, upon authorization by a designated officer of the Adviser, to (i) certain independent reporting agencies recognized by the SEC as acceptable agencies for the reporting of industry statistical information, and (ii) financial consultants to assist them in determining the suitability of a Fund as an investment for their clients, in each case in accordance with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Company’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duties to Fund shareholders.  The foregoing disclosures are made pursuant to the Company’s policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings.  The Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof may, in limited circumstances, permit other selective disclosure of portfolio holdings subject to a confidentiality agreement and/or trading restrictions. Portfolio holdings may also be provided earlier to shareholders and their agents who receive redemptions in kind that reflect a pro rata allocation of all securities held in the Funds’ portfolios.

 

The Adviser reserves the right to refuse to fulfill any request for portfolio holdings information from a shareholder or non-shareholder if it believes that providing such information will be contrary to the best interests of the Funds.

 

Any violations of the policy set forth above as well as any corrective action undertaken to address such violations must be reported by the Adviser, director, officer or third party service provider to the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, who will determine whether the violation should be reported immediately to the Board of Directors of the Company or at its next quarterly Board meeting.

 

Portfolio Turnover.  Changes may be made to a Fund’s portfolio consistent with the investment objective and policies of such Fund whenever such changes are believed to be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.  The portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities by the average monthly value of a Fund’s portfolio securities.  For purposes of this calculation, portfolio securities exclude all securities having a maturity when purchased of one year or less.  For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds can be found in the “Financial Highlights” section of the Funds’ Prospectus.  High portfolio turnover may result in increased brokerage costs to a Fund and also adverse tax consequences to a Fund’s shareholders.  Under normal circumstances each of the Funds expects to have a low portfolio turnover rate.  The portfolio turnover rate for the Free Market Fixed Income Fund was 1% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012. The portfolio turnover rate for the Free Market International Equity Fund was 3% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.  The portfolio turnover rate for the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund was 4% for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the oversight of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the laws of the State of Maryland and the Company’s Charter. The Directors are responsible for deciding matters of overall policy and overseeing the actions of the Company’s service providers. The officers of the Company conduct and supervise the Company’s daily business operations.

 

Directors who are not deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), are referred to as “Independent Directors.” Directors who are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Company are referred to as “Interested Directors.” The Board is currently composed of six Independent Directors and two Interested Directors. The Board has selected Arnold M. Reichman, an Independent Director, to act as Chairman. Mr. Reichman’s duties include presiding at meetings of the Board and interfacing with management to address significant issues that may arise between regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings. In the performance of his duties, Mr. Reichman will consult with the other Independent Directors and the Company’s officers and legal counsel, as appropriate. The Chairman may perform other functions as requested by the Board from time to time.

 

The Board meets as often as necessary to discharge its responsibilities. Currently, the Board conducts regular, in-person meetings at least four times a year, and holds special in-person or telephonic meetings as necessary to address specific issues that require attention prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board also relies on professionals, such as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms and legal counsel, to assist the Directors in performing their oversight responsibilities.

 

The Board has established five standing committees — Audit, Product Development, Executive, Nominating and Governance, and Regulatory Oversight Committees. The Board may establish other committees, or nominate one or more Directors to examine particular issues related to the Board’s oversight responsibilities, from time to time. Each Committee meets periodically to perform its delegated oversight functions and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board. For more information on the Committees, see the section “Standing Board Committees,” below.

 

The Board has determined that the Company’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to effectively perform its oversight responsibilities.

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

The Directors and executive officers of the Company, their dates of birth, business addresses and principal occupations during the past five years are set forth below.

 

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Name, Address, and
Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
and 
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/33

 

Director

 

1988 to present

 

Director and Vice Chairman, Comcast Corporation (cable television and communications) from 1969 to 2011.

 

17

 

AMDOCS Limited (service provider to telecommunications companies)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 9/38

 

Director

 

2002 to present

 

Director of Haydon Bolts, Inc. (bolt manufacturer) and Parkway Real Estate Company (subsidiary of Haydon Bolts, Inc.) since 1984; and Director of Cornerstone Bank since March 2004.

 

17

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 12/66

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since May 2009, Chief Financial Officer, Emtec, Inc. (information technology consulting/services); from February 2003-April 2009, Managing Director, head of Business Services and IT Services Practice, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (investment banking/brokerage).

 

17

 

Emtec, Inc.; FS Investment Corporation (business development company); FS Energy and Power Fund (business development company).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/43

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Consultant, financial services organizations from 1997 to present.

 

17

 

Kalmar Pooled Investment Trust; (registered investment company); Wilmington Funds (registered investment company); WT Mutual Fund (registered investment company) (until March 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 5/48

 

Chairman

Director

 

2005 to present

1991 to present

 

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lifebooker, LLC, from 2006 to present.

 

17

 

None

 

34



 

Name, Address, and
Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
and 
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 3/41

 

Director

 

2006 to present

 

Since 2009, Administrative Law Judge, New York City; from 1980 to present, Founding Partner, Straniere Law Group; from 2006 to 2008, President, The New York City Hot Dog Company.

 

17

 

Reich and Tang Group (asset management); The SPARX Asia Funds Group (registered investment company) (until 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay F. Nusblatt
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/61

 

Director

 

2012 to present

 

Since July 2010, Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing; from 2006 to July 2010, Senior Vice President, Fund Accounting and Administration, PNC Global Investment Servicing.

 

17

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 4/38

 

Director

 

1991 to present

 

Since July 2002, Senior Vice President and prior thereto, Executive Vice President, of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. (a registered broker-dealer).

 

17

 

Kensington Funds (registered investment company) (until 2009)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, JD,
CPA, CFE
Vigilant Compliance Services
Brandywine Two
5 Christy Drive, Suite 209 Chadds Ford, PA 19317 DOB: 12/62

 

President and Chief Compliance Officer

 

President 2009 to present and Chief Compliance Officer 2004 to present

 

President, Vigilant Compliance Services since 2004; and Director of Energy Income Partnership since 2005.

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joel Weiss
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 1/63

 

Treasurer

 

2009 to present

 

Since 1993 Vice President and Managing Director, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Rogers
301 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 7/74

 

Secretary

 

2007 to present

 

Since 2005, Managing Director and Senior Counsel, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company).

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

35



 

Name, Address, and
Date of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held with
Fund

 

Term of Office
and 
Length of Time
Served(1)

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

 

Number of
Portfolios in
Fund Complex
Overseen
by Director*

 

Other Directorships
Held by Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James G. Shaw
103 Bellevue Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19809
DOB: 10/60

 

Assistant
Treasurer

 

2005 to present

 

Since 1995, Vice President of BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (financial services company)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael P. Malloy
One Logan Square, Ste. 2000
Philadelphia, PA 19103
DOB: 7/59

 

Assistant
Secretary

 

1999 to present

 

Since 1993, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (law firm)

 

N/A

 

N/A

 


* Each Director oversees seventeen portfolios of the Company that are currently offered for sale.

 

(1)         Subject to the Company’s Retirement Policy, each Director may continue to serve as a Director until the last day of the calendar year in which the applicable Director attains age 75 or until his successor is elected and qualified or his death, resignation or removal.  The Board reserves the right to waive the requirements of the Policy with respect to an individual Director.  The Board has approved a waiver of the policy with respect to Mr. Brodsky. Each officer holds office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors until the next special meeting of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed.

 

(2)         Messrs. Sablowsky and Nusblatt are considered “interested persons” of the Company as that term is defined in the 1940 Act and are referred to as “Interested Directors.”  Mr. Sablowsky is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as a senior officer of Oppenheimer & Co., Inc., a registered broker-dealer. Mr. Nusblatt is considered an “Interested Director” of the Company by virtue of his position as the Head of U.S. Fund Accounting and Administration at BNY Mellon Asset Servicing, administrator and accounting agent and transfer agent to the Company.

 

Director Experience, Qualifications, Attributes and/or Skills

 

The information above includes each Director’s principal occupations during the last five years.  Each Director possesses extensive additional experience, skills and attributes relevant to his qualifications to serve as a Director.  The cumulative background of each Director led to the conclusion that each Director should serve as a Director of the Company.  Mr. Giordano has years of experience as a consultant to financial services organizations and also serves on the boards of other registered investment companies. Mr. Reichman brings decades of investment management experience to the Board, in addition to senior executive-level management experience.    Mr. Straniere has been a practicing attorney for over 30 years and also serves on the boards of an asset management company and another registered investment company.  Mr. Brodsky has over 40 years of senior executive level management experience in the cable television and communications industry.  Mr. Sablowsky has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Nusblatt has demonstrated leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the financial services industry.  Mr. Carnall has decades of senior executive-level management experience in the banking and financial services industry and also serves on the boards of various corporations and a bank. Mr. Chandler has demonstrated  

 

36



 

leadership and management abilities as evidenced by his senior executive level positions in the investment technology consulting/services and investment banking/brokerage industries, and also serves on various boards.

 

Standing Committees

 

The responsibilities of each Committee of the Board and its members are described below.

 

Audit Committee.  The Board has an Audit Committee comprised of three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Brodsky, Giordano and Chandler.  The Audit Committee, among other things, reviews results of the annual audit and approves the firm(s) to serve as independent auditors.  The Audit Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

Executive Committee.  The Board has an Executive Committee comprised of one Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Executive Committee are Messrs. Giordano, Reichman,Sablowsky and Chandler.  The Executive Committee may generally carry on and manage the business of the Company when the Board of Directors is not in session. The Executive Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee.  The Board has a Nominating and Governance Committee comprised only of Independent Directors.  The current members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Giordano, and Reichman.  The Nominating and Governance Committee recommends to the Board of Directors all persons to be nominated as Directors of the Company.  The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  Recommendations should be submitted to the Committee care of the Company’s Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee convened three times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

Regulatory Oversight Committee.  The Board has a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprised of two Interested Director and three Independent Directors.  The current members of the Regulatory Oversight Committee are Messrs. Carnall, Reichman, Sablowsky, Straniere and Nusblatt.  The Regulatory Oversight Committee monitors regulatory developments in the mutual fund industry and focuses on various regulatory aspects of the operation of the Company. The Regulatory Oversight Committee convened four times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

Product Development Committee.  The Board has a Product Development Committee comprised of two Interested Directors and one Independent Director. The current members of the Product Development Committee are Messrs. Reichman, Sablowsky and Nusblatt. The Product Development Committee oversees the process regarding the addition of new investment advisers and investment products to the Company and evaluates the Company’s current investment advisers and investment products.  The Product Development Committee is new and did not meet during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012.

 

37



 

Risk Oversight

 

The Board of Directors performs its risk oversight function for the Company through a combination of (1) direct oversight by the Board as a whole and Board committees and (2) indirect oversight through the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, Company officers and the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Company is subject to a number of risks, including but not limited to investment risk, compliance risk, operational risk, reputational risk, credit risk and counterparty risk.  Day-to-day risk management with respect to the Company is the responsibility of the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk) that carry out the Company’s investment management and business affairs.  Each of the investment advisers and the other service providers have their own independent interest in risk management and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models and may differ from the Company’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls.

 

The Board provides risk oversight by receiving and reviewing on a regular basis reports from the Company’s investment advisers or other service providers, receiving and approving compliance policies and procedures, periodic meetings with the Company’s portfolio managers to review investment policies, strategies and risks, and meeting regularly with the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer to discuss compliance reports, findings and issues.  The Board also relies on the Company’s investment advisers and other service providers, with respect to the day-to-day activities of the Company, to create and maintain procedures and controls to minimize risk and the likelihood of adverse effects on the Company’s business and reputation.

 

Board oversight of risk management is also provided by various Board Committees.  For example, the Audit Committee meets with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firms to ensure that the Company’s respective audit scopes include risk-based considerations as to the Company’s financial position and operations.

 

The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.  The Board’s oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Company’s investments or activities.

 

Director Ownership of Shares of the Company

 

The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each Director in the Funds and in all of the portfolios (which for each Director comprise all registered investment companies within the Company’s family of investment companies overseen by him) as of December 31, 2011.

 

38



 

Name of Director

 

Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in the Fund

 

Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Registered Investment Companies
Overseen by Director within the
Family of Investment Companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 

 

 

 

J. Richard Carnall

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

 

 

Gregory P. Chandler

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas A. Giordano

 

None

 

$10,001-$50,000

 

 

 

 

 

Arnold M. Reichman

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

 

 

 

 

Robert A. Straniere

 

None

 

$1-$10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTED DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay F. Nusblatt

 

None

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Sablowsky

 

None

 

Over $100,000

 

Directors’ and Officers’ Compensation

 

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company pays each Director a retainer at the rate of $27,500 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $2,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in-person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically. From February 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011, the Company paid each Director a retainer at the rate of $17,500 annually, $3,500 for each regular meeting of the Board of Directors, $1,500 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors attended in person and $1,000 for each committee meeting or special meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee meeting attended telephonically.  The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $17,500 per year for his services in this capacity, and each Chairman of the Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Regulatory Oversight Committee receives an additional fee of $4,000 per year for his services. From February 2, 2010 to December 31, 2011, The Chairman of the Board received an additional fee of $12,000 per year for his services in this capacity.

 

39



 

Directors are reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. The Company also compensates its President and Chief Compliance Officer for his services to the Company. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from the Funds in the following amounts:

 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Aggregate
Compensation
from Funds

 

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses

 

Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement

 

Total
Compensation
From Funds and
Fund Complex
Paid to

Directors
or Officers

 

FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

16,089.73

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

46,000.00

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

17,008.98

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

48,000.00

 

Gregory P. Chandler, Director*

 

$

1,958.08

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

6,875.00

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

19,391.07

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

55,000.00

 

Francis J. McKay, Director**

 

$

7,364.23

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

18,375.00

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

22,656.15

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

68,125.00

 

Marvin E. Sternberg, Director***

 

$

4,010.28

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

11,375.00

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

16,089.05

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

46,000.00

 

Interested Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay F. Nusblatt, Director*

 

$

0

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

0

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

17,138.50

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

50,000.00

 

Officers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA
Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

96,640.40

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

$

339,996.00

 

 


*Messrs. Chandler and Nusblatt were elected to the Board on June 19, 2012 and, therefore, the compensation reflected is for the period June 19, 2012 through August 31, 2012.

**Mr. McKay died on December 17, 2011.

* **Mr. Sternberg died on October 29, 2011.

 

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, each of the following members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Compliance Officer received compensation from each of the Funds in the following amounts:

 

40



 

Name of Director/Officer

 

Free Market
U.S. Equity Fund

 

Free Market
International
Equity Fund

 

Free Market
Fixed Income
Fund

 

Independent Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julian A. Brodsky, Director

 

$

5,770.65

 

$

4,385.30

 

$

5,933.78

 

J. Richard Carnall, Director

 

$

6,115.27

 

$

4,609.52

 

$

6,284.19

 

Gregory P. Chandler*

 

$

691.07

 

$

545.70

 

$

721.31

 

Nicholas A. Giordano, Director

 

$

6,957.25

 

$

5,273.95

 

$

7,159.87

 

Francis J. McKay, Director**

 

$

2,638.46

 

$

1,988.92

 

$

2,736.85

 

Arnold M. Reichman, Director and Chairman

 

$

8,095.62

 

$

6,214.68

 

$

8,345.85

 

Marvin E. Sternberg, Director***

 

$

1,447.29

 

$

1,132.60

 

$

1,430.39

 

Robert A. Straniere, Director

 

$

5,777.56

 

$

4,378.61

 

$

5,932.88

 

Interested Directors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay F. Nusblatt*

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Robert Sablowsky, Director

 

$

6,142.59

 

$

4,682.64

 

$

6,313.27

 

Officers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salvatore Faia, Esquire, CPA, Chief Compliance Officer and President

 

$

34,090.94

 

$

27,242.86

 

$

35,306.60

 

 


*Messrs. Chandler and Nusblatt were elected to the Board on June 19, 2012 and, therefore, the compensation reflected is for the period June 19, 2012 through August 31, 2012.

**Mr. McKay died on December 17, 2011.

***Mr. Sternberg died on October 29, 2011.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Independent Directors and their respective immediate family members (spouse or dependent children) did not own beneficially or of record any securities of the Company’s investment advisers or distributor, or of any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment advisers or distributor.

 

On October 24, 1990, the Company adopted, as a participating employer, the Fund Office Retirement Profit-Sharing Plan and Trust Agreement, a retirement plan for employees, pursuant to which the Company will contribute on a quarterly basis amounts equal to 10% of the quarterly compensation of each eligible employee.    Edward J. Roach, who served as President and Treasurer until June 1, 2009, was the only employee who participated in the Fund Office Retirement Profit-Sharing Plan and Trust Agreement.  No officer, Director or employee of the Adviser or the distributor currently receives any compensation from the Company.

 

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

As of November 30, 2012, to the Company’s knowledge, the following named persons at the addresses shown below were owners of record of approximately 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of each Fund as indicated below.  See “Additional Information Concerning Company Shares” below.  Any shareholder that owns 25% or more of the outstanding shares of a portfolio or class may be presumed to “control” (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) the portfolio or class.  Shareholders controlling a portfolio or class could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the portfolio or class on any matter requiring approval of the shareholders of the portfolio or class.

 

41



 

Name of Fund

 

Shareholder Name and Address

 

Number and Percentage of
Shares Owned as of
November 30, 2012
*(Percentage of shares
owned rounded to the
nearest whole percentage)

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANSISCO CA 94104-1122

 

66,191,192.983

 

80.93

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA
FBO 24
PO BOX 6503
CENTENNIAL CO 80155-6503

 

13,962,048.202

 

17.07

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANSISCO CA 94104-1122

 

68,814,067.243

 

80.60

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA
FBO 24
PO BOX 6503
CENTENNIAL CO 80155-6503

 

14,698,449.010

 

17.22

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FBO CUSTOMERS
ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS
101 MONTGOMERY ST
SAN FRANSISCO CA 94104-1122

 

78,743,494.814

 

83.41

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

TRUST COMPANY OF AMERICA
FBO 24
PO BOX 6503
CENTENNIAL CO 80155-6503

 

14,497,624.947

 

15.36

%

 

As of November 30, 2012, the Directors and officers as a group owned 4.47% of the Schneider Value Fund, 1.08% of the Schneider Small Cap Value Fund and less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each other portfolio and class within the Company.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company, the Adviser and Foreside Funds Distributors, LLC, formerly known as BNY Mellon Distributors Inc. (“Foreside Distributors”) have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act that permits personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Company.

 

42



 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

 

The Board of Directors has delegated the responsibility of voting proxies with respect to the portfolio securities purchased and/or held by each Fund to the Adviser, subject to the Board’s continuing oversight.  In exercising its voting obligations, the Adviser is guided by its general fiduciary duty to act prudently and in the interest of the Funds.  The Adviser will consider factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments and the rights of shareholders in its determination on voting portfolio securities.

 

The Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures with respect to voting proxies relating to portfolio securities held by the Funds.  A copy of the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Policies is included with this SAI.  Please see Appendix B to this SAI for further information.

 

Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-261-4073 or by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser

 

The Adviser renders advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”) dated as of December 31, 2007.  The Adviser is not a subsidiary of or under the control of any other company.  Mark E. Matson, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Adviser, owns approximately 90% of the Adviser’s voting stock, and members of Mr. Matson’s family own all of the remaining shares of the Adviser’s voting stock.

 

Subject to the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Adviser will provide for the overall management of the Fund including (i) the provision of a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities, investments, cash and cash equivalents, (ii) the determination from time to time of what securities and other investments will be purchased, retained, or sold by the Fund, and (iii) the placement from time to time of orders for all purchases and sales made for the Fund.  The Adviser will provide the services rendered by it in accordance with the Fund’s investment goal, restrictions and policies as stated in the Prospectus and in this SAI.  The Adviser will not be liable for any error of judgment, mistake of law, or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the performance of the Advisory Agreement, except a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services or a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Advisory Agreement.

 

For its services to the Fund the Adviser is entitled to receive a monthly advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of each Fund’s average daily net assets.  Effective January 1, 2013, the Adviser is entitled to an advisory fee at an annual rate of 0.50% of the first $1 billion of each  

 

43



 

Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.49% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion to $5 billion and 0.47% of each Fund’s average daily net assets over $5 billion.  The Adviser has voluntarily agreed to waive its advisory fee and/or reimburse expenses to the extent that the Fund’s total annual operating expenses exceeded 1.13%, 1.35% and 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets with respect to the Free Market U.S. Equity Fund, Free Market International Equity Fund and Free Market Fixed Income Fund, respectively.  The Adviser may discontinue these arrangements at any time.

 

The advisory fees, including waivers and reimbursements for the past three fiscal years are as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Period Ended
August 31, 2012

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

4,034,791

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

2,810,636

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

4,277,194

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Period Ended
August 31, 2011

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

3,343,605

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

2,451,731

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

2,883,895

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Period Ended
August 31, 2010

 

Advisory Fees (after waivers
and reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

2,138,040

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

1,570,240

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

1,704,185

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

The Adviser will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its activities under the Advisory Agreement.  Each Fund bears all of its own expenses not specifically assumed by the Adviser.  General expenses of the Company not readily identifiable as belonging to a portfolio of the Company are allocated among all investment portfolios by or under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors in such manner as it deems to be fair and equitable. Expenses borne by the Fund include, but are not limited to the following (or the Fund’s share of the following): (a) the cost (including brokerage commissions) of securities purchased or sold by the Fund and any losses incurred in connection therewith; (b) fees payable to and expenses incurred on behalf of the Fund by the Adviser; (c) filing fees and expenses relating to the registration and  

 

44



 

qualification of the Company and the Fund’s shares under federal and/or state securities laws and maintaining such registrations and qualifications; (d) fees and salaries payable to the Company’s Directors and officers; (e) taxes (including any income or franchise taxes) and governmental fees; (f) costs of any liability and other insurance or fidelity bonds; (g) any costs, expenses or losses arising out of a liability of or claim for damages or other relief asserted against the Company or the Fund for violation of any law; (h) legal, accounting and auditing expenses, including legal fees of special counsel for the independent Directors; (i) charges of custodians and other agents; (j) expenses of setting in type and printing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto for existing shareholders, reports, statements, and confirmations to shareholders and proxy material that are not attributable to a class; (k) costs of mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information and supplements thereto to existing shareholders, as well as reports to shareholders and proxy materials that are not attributable to a class; (1) any extraordinary expenses; (m) fees, voluntary assessments and other expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; (n) costs of mailing and tabulating proxies and costs of shareholders’ and Directors’ meetings; (o) costs of independent pricing services to value a portfolio’s securities; and (p) the costs of investment company literature and other publications provided by the Company to its Directors and officers.  Distribution expenses, transfer agency expenses, expenses of preparation, printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and reports to shareholders, and organizational expenses and registration fees, identified as belonging to a particular class of the Company, are allocated to such class.

 

Disclosure relating to the material factors and the conclusions with respect to those factors that formed the basis for the Board of Directors’ approval of the continuation of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders dated August 31, 2012, which may be obtained by calling (866) 780-0357 Ext. 3863 or visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  The Advisory Agreement is terminable by vote of the Company’s Board of Directors or by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, at any time without penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser.  The Advisory Agreement may be terminated by the Adviser at any time, without payment of any penalty, on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund.  The Advisory Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its assignment.

 

The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall at all times have all rights in and to the Fund’s name and all investment models used by or on behalf of the Fund.  The Adviser may use the Fund’s name or any portion thereof in connection with any other mutual fund or business activity without the consent of any shareholder, and the Company has agreed to execute and deliver any and all documents required to indicate its consent to such use.

 

The Advisory Agreement further provides that no public reference to, or description of, the Adviser or its methodology or work shall be made by the Company, whether in the Prospectus, SAI or otherwise, without the Adviser’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In each case, the Company has agreed to provide the Adviser a reasonable opportunity to review any such reference or description before being asked for such consent.

 

45



 

Portfolio Managers

 

Description of Compensation.  The Portfolio managers currently and will continue to receive a base salary, a year-end incentive bonus based on company profitability and may receive a quarterly bonus based on services provided to the Adviser.  Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Portfolio manager’s supervisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors.  The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that they manage.  The Portfolio manager’s supervisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market.

 

Other Accounts. The table below discloses accounts, other than the Funds for which each Portfolio Manager is primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management, as of August 31, 2012.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager
or Team Member

 

Type of Accounts

 

Total
# of
Accounts
Managed

 

Total Assets

 

# of Accounts
Managed that
Advisory Fee
Based on
Performance

 

Total Assets
that Advisory
Fee Based on
Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Daniel J. List

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

33,595

 

$

3.332 billion

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Mark E. Matson

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

33,595

 

$

3.332 billion

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Steven B. Miller

 

Other Registered Investment Companies:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles:

 

0

 

$

0

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

 

Other Accounts:

 

33,595

 

$

3.332 billion

 

0

 

$

0

 

 

The portfolio managers utilize a team based approach to other accounts managed.  The portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the management of a portion of the total assets and number of accounts shown.

 

Conflicts of Interest.  Matson Money reviewed its conflicts of interest and risk factors and has attempted to develop policies and procedures to address these matters. Matson Money does not engage in transactions on behalf of client accounts with any affiliates. Matson Money does not have custody of any client securities or funds. Neither Matson Money nor any of its related persons act as general partners or managing members of any unregistered pooled investment vehicle. Matson Money does not manage its own proprietary account. Moreover, none of Matson Money’s officers or employees engage in any outside business activities that conflict with Matson Money’s duties to its clients. Finally, Matson Money does not purchase IPOs or individual securities for clients. Thus, Matson Money’s conflicts and risk factors are in the following areas: solicitation practices, suitability of Matson Money’s services for a client, trade errors, marketing practices, compliance with any client guidelines and restrictions, valuation of client accounts and calculation of fees,

 

46



 

safeguarding of client assets, safeguarding of the privacy of client information, disaster recovery, accurate disclosure of information to clients and regulators, and accurate creation and secure maintenance of client records.  Matson Money’s Compliance Manual is available upon request, which has more detailed explanations of policies and procedures currently in place to safeguard against potential conflicts/risks.

 

Securities Ownership.  The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Portfolio Manager in each of the Funds as of August 31, 2012:

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Dollar ($) Value of Fund Shares
Beneficially Owned

 

 

 

Free Market U.S. Equity

 

 

Daniel J. List

 

$1-$10,000

Mark E. Matson

 

$100,001-$500,000

Steven B. Miller

 

$100,001-$500,000

 

 

 

Free Market International Equity

 

 

Daniel J. List

 

$1-$10,000

Mark E. Matson

 

$100,001-$500,000

Steven B. Miller

 

$50,001-$100,000

 

 

 

Free Market Fixed Income

 

 

Daniel J. List

 

$1-$10,000

Mark E. Matson

 

Over $1,000,000

Steven B. Miller

 

$1-$10,000

 

Custodian Agreement

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286, serves as the custodian of the Funds’ assets pursuant to a custodian agreement between BNY and the Company dated as of July 18, 2011, as amended, and supplemented (the “Custodian Agreement”).  Under the Custodian Agreement, BNY:  (a) maintains a separate account or accounts in the name of each Fund; (b) holds and transfers portfolio securities on account of each Fund; (c) accepts receipts and makes disbursements of money on behalf of each Fund; (d) collects and receives all income and other payments and distributions on account of each Fund’s portfolio securities; and (e) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the Funds’ operations.  BNY is authorized to select one or more banks or trust companies to serve as sub-custodian on behalf of the Funds, provided that BNY remains responsible for the performance of all of its duties under the Custodian Agreement and holds the Company harmless from the acts and omissions of any sub-custodian.  The Fund has made arrangements with BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company to serve as custodian for Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). For its services to each Fund under the Custodian Agreement, the Custodian receives a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, of 0.01% of each Fund’s first $250 million of average net assets; 0.0075% of each Fund’s next $500 million of average net assets; and 0.005% of each Fund’s average net assets in excess of $750 million, exclusive of transaction charges and out-of-pocket expenses, which are also charged to each Fund.

 

47



 

Transfer Agency Agreement

 

BNY Mellon, with corporate offices at 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware 19809, serves as the transfer and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds pursuant to a transfer agency agreement dated November 5, 1991, as supplemented (collectively, the “Transfer Agency Agreement”).  Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon:  (a) issues and redeems shares of each Fund; (b) addresses and mails all communications by the Funds to record owners of Shares of the Fund, including reports to shareholders, dividend and distribution notices and proxy materials for its meetings of shareholders; (c) maintains shareholder accounts and, if requested, sub-accounts; and (d) makes periodic reports to the Company’s Board of Directors concerning the operations of the Funds. For its services to each Fund under the Transfer Agency Agreement, BNY Mellon receives a fee at the annual rate of $20.00 per direct account and $3.60 per inactive account in the Fund, with a minimum monthly fee of $3,125 per Fund payable monthly on a pro rata basis, exclusive of certain fees and out-of-pocket expenses, and also receives reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses.

 

 

BNY Mellon also provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Anti-Money Laundering Program.  The Company pays an annual fee, ranging from $3,000 - $50,000, based on the number of open accounts in each portfolio.  In addition, BNY Mellon provides services relating to the implementation of the Company’s Customer Identification Program, including the verification of required customer information and the maintenance of records with respect to such verification.  The Funds will pay BNY Mellon $2.25 per customer verification and $0.02 per month per record result maintained.

 

Administration and Accounting Services Agreement

 

BNY Mellon also serves as the Funds’ administrator and fund accounting agent pursuant to an Administration and Accounting Services Agreement (the “Administration Agreement”).  BNY Mellon has agreed to furnish to the Funds statistical and research data, clerical, accounting and bookkeeping services, and certain other services required by the Funds.  In addition, BNY Mellon has agreed to prepare and file various reports with the appropriate regulatory agencies.  The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall be obligated to exercise care and diligence in the performance of its duties, to act in good faith and to use its best efforts, within reasonable limits, in performing services thereunder. BNY Mellon shall be responsible for failure to perform its duties under the Administration Agreement arising out of its willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard. For its services to each Fund, BNY Mellon is entitled to receive a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.065% of each Fund’s first $250 million of average net assets; 0.055% of each Fund’s next $250 million of average net assets; 0.040% of each Fund’s next $200 million of average net assets; and 0.030% of each Fund’s average net assets in excess of $700 million.

 

The minimum monthly fee is $5,208 per month for each Fund, exclusive of costs of obtaining independent security market quotes, data repository and analytics suite access fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

 

The administration and accounting fees, including waivers and reimbursements, for the past three fiscal years were as follows:

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
2012

 

Administration and
Accounting Fees and
Expenses (after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

485,645

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

377,802

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

505,873

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

48



 

For the Fiscal Period Ended August
31, 2011

 

Administration and
Accounting Fees and
Expenses (after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

688,910

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

543,301

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

615,402

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
2010

 

Administration and
Accounting Fees and
Expenses (after waivers and
reimbursements)

 

Waivers

 

Reimbursements

 

Free Market U.S. Equity Fund

 

$

483,194

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market International Equity Fund

 

$

369,828

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

Free Market Fixed Income Fund

 

$

395,304

 

$

0

 

$

0

 

 

The Administration Agreement provides that BNY Mellon shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Company or a Fund in connection with the performance of the agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

On June 1, 2003, the Company entered into a regulatory administration services agreement with BNY Mellon.  Under this agreement, BNY Mellon has agreed to provide regulatory administration services to the Company.  These services include the preparation and coordination of the Company’s annual post-effective amendment filing and supplements to the Company’s registration statement, the preparation and assembly of board meeting materials, and certain other services necessary to the Company’s regulatory administration.  BNY Mellon receives an annual fee based on the average daily net assets of the portfolios of the Company.

 

Prior to September 1, 2011, for its services to the Funds pursuant to the Custodian Agreement, Transfer Agency Agreement and Administration Agreement, BNY and BNY Mellon received a monthly fee calculated at the annual rate of:

 

·                  .11% of the first $250 million of average net assets;

·                  .0925% of the next $250 million of average net assets;

·                  .0725% of the next $200 million of average net assets;

·                  .055% of average net assets in excess of $700 million

 

Prior to September 1, 2011, there was a minimum monthly fee of $9,375 for each Fund, exclusive of multiple class fees, custody transaction charges, shareholder account fees (if applicable) and expenses, and out-of-pocket expenses.

 

49



 

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS

 

Distribution Agreement

 

Foreside Funds Distributors, LLC, formerly known as BNY Mellon Distributors Inc., (“Foreside Distributors” or the “Underwriter”) whose principal business address is 400 Berwyn Park, 899 Cassatt Road, Berwyn, PA 19312, serves as the principal underwriter of the Funds pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement, effective as of April 1, 2012, as supplemented (the “Distribution Agreement”) entered into by Foreside  Distributors and the Company.  Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, the Underwriter will use appropriate efforts to solicit orders for the sale of each Fund’s shares.  The offering of the Fund’s shares is continuous.  Foreside Distributors does not receive compensation from the Company for the distribution of the Fund’s shares; however, the Adviser pays an annual fee to Foreside Distributors as compensation for underwriting services rendered to the Funds pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Subject to policies established by the Board of Directors and applicable rules, the Adviser is responsible for the execution of portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage transactions for the Funds.  In executing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks to obtain the best price and most favorable execution for the Funds, taking into account such factors as the price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of the order, difficulty of execution and operational facilities of the firm involved.  While the Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive commission rates, payment of the lowest commission or spread is not necessarily consistent with obtaining the best price and execution in particular transactions.

 

No Fund has any obligation to deal with any broker or group of brokers in the execution of portfolio transactions.  The Adviser may, consistent with the interests of the Funds and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, select brokers on the basis of the research, statistical and pricing services they provide to the Funds and other clients of the Adviser.  Information and research received from such brokers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under its respective contracts.  A commission paid to such brokers may be higher than that which another qualified broker would have charged for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in terms either of the transaction or the overall responsibility of the Adviser to a Fund and its other clients and that the total commissions paid by a Fund will be reasonable in relation to the benefits to a Fund over the long-term.

 

Investment decisions for each Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser are made independently of each other in the light of differing conditions.  However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts.  In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable.  Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and allocated as to amount according to a formula deemed equitable to each such account.  While in

 

50



 

some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect upon the price or value of the security as far as a Fund is concerned, in other cases it is believed to be beneficial to a Fund.

 

No Fund paid brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions for the past three fiscal years.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

 

You may purchase shares through an account maintained by your brokerage firm and you may also purchase shares directly by mail or wire.  The Company reserves the right, if conditions exist that make cash payments undesirable, to honor any request for redemption or repurchase of a Fund’s shares by making payment in whole or in part in securities chosen by the Company and valued in the same way as they would be valued for purposes of computing that Fund’s NAV.  If payment is made in securities, a shareholder may incur transaction costs in converting these securities into cash.  A shareholder will also bear any market risk or tax consequences as a result of a payment in securities.  The Company has elected, however, to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act so that each Fund is obligated to redeem its shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder of the Fund. A shareholder will bear the risk of a decline in market value and any tax consequences associated with a redemption in securities.

 

Under the 1940 Act, the Company may suspend the right to redemption or postpone the date of payment upon redemption for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “NYSE”) is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings), or during which the SEC restricts trading on the NYSE or determines an emergency exists as a result of which disposal or valuation of portfolio securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC may permit.  (The Company may also suspend or postpone the recordation of the transfer of its shares upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing conditions.)

 

Shares of the Company are subject to redemption by the Company, at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation: (1) to reimburse a Fund for any loss sustained by reason of the failure of a shareholder to make full payment for shares purchased by the shareholder or to collect any charge relating to a transaction effected for the benefit of a shareholder as provided in the Prospectus from time to time; (2) if such redemption is, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, desirable in order to prevent the Company or any Fund from being deemed a “personal holding company” within the meaning of the Code; (3) or if the net income with respect to any particular class of common stock should be negative or it should otherwise be appropriate to carry out the Company’s responsibilities under the 1940 Act.

 

Each Fund has the right to redeem your shares at current NAV at any time and without prior notice if, and to the extent that, such redemption is necessary to reimburse the particular Fund for any loss sustained by reason of your failure to make full payment for shares of the Fund you previously purchased or subscribed for.

 

51



 

TELEPHONE TRANSACTION PROCEDURES

 

The Company’s telephone transaction procedures include the following measures: (1) requiring the appropriate telephone transaction privilege forms; (2) requiring the caller to provide the names of the account owners, the account social security number and name of the Fund, all of which must match the Company’s records; (3) requiring the Company’s service representative to complete a telephone transaction form, listing all of the above caller identification information; (4) permitting exchanges (if applicable) only if the two account registrations are identical; (5) requiring that redemption proceeds be sent only by check to the account owners of record at the address of record, or by wire only to the owners of record at the bank account of record; (6) sending a written confirmation for each telephone transaction to the owners of record at the address of record within five (5) business days of the call; and (7) maintaining tapes of telephone transactions for six months, if the Company elects to record shareholder telephone transactions. For accounts held of record by broker-dealers (other than Foreside Distributors), financial institutions, securities dealers, financial planners and other industry professionals, additional documentation or information regarding the scope of a caller’s authority is required. Finally, for telephone transactions in accounts held jointly, additional information regarding other account holders is required. Telephone transactions will not be permitted in connection with Individual Retirement Account or other retirement plan accounts or by an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

In order to assist in the determination of fair value, the Company’s Board of Directors may authorize the Funds to employ outside organizations, which may use a matrix or formula method that takes into consideration market indices, matrices, yield curves and other specific adjustments in determining the approximate market value of portfolio investments.  This may result in the securities being valued at a price that differs from the price that would have been determined had the matrix or formula method not been used.  All cash, receivables, and current payables are carried on a Fund’s books at their face value.  Other assets, if any, are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Funds’ Valuation Committee under the direction of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

TAXES

General

 

The following summarizes certain tax considerations generally affecting the Funds, the underlying investment companies, and Fund shareholders that are not fully described in the Prospectus.  No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds, the underlying investment companies, or Fund shareholders, and the discussions here and in the Prospectus are not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.  Potential investors should consult their tax advisers with specific reference to their own tax situations.

 

52



 

The discussions of the federal tax consequences in the Prospectus and this SAI are based on the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and the regulations issued under it, and court decisions and administrative interpretations, as in effect on the date of this SAI.  Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the statements included herein, and such changes may be retroactive.

 

Each Fund and each underlying investment company intends to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code.  As such, each Fund and underlying investment company generally will be exempt from federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains that it distributes to shareholders.  To qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, each Fund and underlying investment company must meet three important tests each year.

 

First, each Fund and underlying investment company 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 such stock, securities, or currencies or net income derived from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships.

 

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

 

Third, each Fund and underlying investment company must distribute an amount equal to at least the sum of 90% of the Fund’s or underlying investment company’s investment company taxable income (net investment income and the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) before taking into account any deduction for dividends paid, and 90% of its tax-exempt income, if any, for the year.

 

Each Fund and underlying investment company intends to comply with these requirements.  If a Fund or underlying investment company 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 or underlying investment company could be disqualified as a regulated investment company.  If for any taxable year a Fund or underlying investment company were not to qualify as a regulated investment company, all its taxable income would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions

 

53



 

to shareholders.  In that event, shareholders in a Fund or underlying investment company would recognize dividend income on distributions to the extent of the Fund’s or underlying investment company’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 regulated investment companies 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).  Each Fund and underlying investment company intends to make sufficient distributions or deemed distributions each year to avoid liability for this excise tax.

 

State and Local Taxes

 

Although each Fund and underlying investment company expects to qualify as a regulated investment company and to be relieved of all or substantially all federal income taxes, depending upon the extent of its activities in states and localities in which its offices are maintained, in which its agents or independent contractors are located or in which it is otherwise deemed to be conducting business, a Fund or an underlying investment company may be subject to the tax laws of such states or localities.

 

Taxation of Certain Investments

 

The tax principles applicable to transactions in financial instruments, such as futures contracts and options, that may be engaged in by a Fund or an underlying investment company, and investments in passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), are complex and, in some cases, uncertain.  Such transactions and investments may cause a Fund or an underlying investment company to recognize taxable income prior to the receipt of cash, thereby requiring the Fund or the underlying investment company to liquidate other positions, or to borrow money, so as to make sufficient distributions to shareholders to avoid corporate-level tax.  Moreover, some or all of the taxable income recognized may be ordinary income or short-term capital gain, so that the distributions may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

 

In addition, in the case of any shares of a PFIC in which a Fund or an underlying investment company invests, the Fund or the underlying investment company may be liable for corporate-level tax on any ultimate gain or distributions on the shares if the Fund or the underlying investment company fails to make an election to recognize income annually during the period of its ownership of the shares.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPANY SHARES

 

The Company has authorized capital of 100 billion shares of common stock at a par value of $0.001 per share.  Currently, 80.373 billion shares have been classified into 140 classes, however, the Company only has 25 active share classes that have begun investment operations.  Under the Company’s charter, the Board of Directors has the power to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of common stock from time to time.

 

54



 

Each share that represents an interest in a Fund has an equal proportionate interest in the assets belonging to such Fund with each other share that represents an interest in such Fund, even where a share has a different class designation than another share representing an interest in that Fund.  Shares of the Company do not have preemptive or conversion rights.  When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus, shares of the Company will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company does not currently intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.  The Company’s amended By-Laws provide that shareholders collectively owning at least ten percent of the outstanding shares of all classes of Common Stock of the Company have the right to call for a meeting of shareholders to consider the removal of one or more directors. To the extent required by law, the Company will assist in shareholder communication in such matters.

 

Holders of shares of each class of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by class on all matters, except where otherwise required by law. Further, shareholders of the Company will vote in the aggregate and not by portfolio except as otherwise required by law or when the Board of Directors determines that the matter to be voted upon affects only the interests of the shareholders of a particular portfolio. Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted by the provisions of such Act or applicable state law, or otherwise, to the holders of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, of an investment company such as the Company shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio affected by the matter. Rule 18f-2 further provides that a portfolio shall be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of each portfolio in the matter are identical or that the matter does not affect any interest of the portfolio. Under Rule 18f-2 the approval of an investment advisory agreement or distribution agreement or any change in a fundamental investment objective or fundamental investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to a portfolio only if approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio. However, the Rule also provides that the ratification of the selection of independent public accountants and the election of directors are not subject to the separate voting requirements and may be effectively acted upon by shareholders of an investment company voting without regard to a portfolio.  Shareholders of the Company are entitled to one vote for each full share held (irrespective of class or portfolio) and fractional votes for fractional shares held.  Voting rights are not cumulative and, accordingly, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate shares of common stock of the Company may elect all of the Directors.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of Maryland law requiring a greater vote of shares of the Company’s common stock (or of any class voting as a class) in connection with any corporate action, unless otherwise provided by law (for example by Rule 18f-2 discussed above), or by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Company may take or authorize such action upon the favorable vote of the holders of more than 50% of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock voting without regard to class (or portfolio).

 

55



 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Counsel

 

The law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Ste. 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as independent counsel to the Company and the Independent Directors.

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The audited financial statements and notes thereto in the Funds’ Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year period August 31, 2012 (the “Annual Report”) are incorporated by reference into this SAI.  No other parts of the Annual Report are incorporated by reference herein.  The financial statements included in the Annual Report have been audited by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, whose report thereon also appears in the Annual Report and is incorporated by reference into this SAI.  Such financial statements have been incorporated herein in reliance upon such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.  Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained at no charge by telephoning BNY Mellon at the telephone number appearing on the front page of this SAI.

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s short-term issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion of the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation having an original maturity of no more than 365 days.  The following summarizes the rating categories used by Standard & Poor’s for short-term issues:

 

“A-1” — A short-term obligation rated “A-1” is rated in the highest category and indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment 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 lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment 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 which 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 commitment on the obligation.

 

“D” — A short-term obligation rated “D” is in payment default.  The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s 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 if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks — Standard & Poor’s 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 when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

 

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 the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments.  Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments.

 

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.

 

A-1



 

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

 

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 or security stream and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation.  Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short-term” based on market convention.  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.  Applicable to entity ratings only.

 

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

 

The DBRS® Ratings Limited (“DBRS”) 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 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.

 

“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.

 

A-2



 

“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” implies a financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future, or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange.  A downgrade to “D” may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods, other procedural considerations, or extenuating circumstance may exist.

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings

 

The following summarizes the ratings used by Standard & Poor’s for long-term issues:

 

“AAA” — An obligation rated “AAA” has the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s.  The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment 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 commitment 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 lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

“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 exposures 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 which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment on the obligation.  Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment 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 commitment 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 commitment on the obligation.

 

“CC” — An obligation rated “CC” is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

 

A-3



 

“C” — A “C” rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default.  Among others, the “C” rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

 

“D” — An obligation rated “D” is in payment default.  The “D” rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made within five business days, irrespective of any grace period.  The “D” rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.  An obligation’s rating is lowered to “D” upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

 

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 major rating categories.

 

“NR” — This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that Standard & Poor’s does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks - Standard & Poor’s 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 when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. 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.  They address the possibility that a financial obligation will not be honored as promised.  Such ratings reflect both the likelihood of default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.  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.

 

“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.

 

A-4



 

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 “D” ratings, but are instead rated in the “B” to “C” rating categories, depending upon their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics.  Fitch believes that this approach better aligns obligations that have comparable expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

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”.

 

The DBRS 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 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.

 

A-5



 

“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” implies that a financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange.  A downgrade to “D” may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods or extenuating circumstances may exist.

 

Municipal Note Ratings

 

A Standard & Poor’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects Standard & Poor’s 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, Standard & Poor’s 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

 

·  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.

 

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.

 

Moody’s uses the Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale to rate U.S. municipal bond anticipation notes of up to three years maturity.  Municipal notes rated on the MIG scale may be secured by either pledged revenues or proceeds of a take-out financing received prior to note maturity.  MIG ratings expire at the maturity of the obligation, and the issuer’s long-term rating is only one consideration in assigning the MIG rating.  MIG ratings are divided into three levels — “MIG-1” through “MIG-3”.  In addition, those short-term obligations that are of speculative quality are designated “SG”, or speculative grade.  The following summarizes the ratings used by Moody’s for short-term municipal obligations:

 

“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.

 

A-6



 

“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 first element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments.  The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or “VMIG” rating.  The rating transitions on the VMIG scale differ from those on the Prime scale to reflect the risk that external liquidity support, generally, will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade.

 

VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

“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 an investment grade 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

 

A Standard & Poor’s 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 Standard & Poor’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Moody’s credit ratings must be construed solely as statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings provide 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 (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

A-7



 

DBRS credit ratings are opinions based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of information sourced and received by DBRS, which information is not audited or verified by DBRS.  Ratings are not buy, hold or sell recommendations and they do not address the market price of a security.  Ratings may be upgraded, downgraded, placed under review, confirmed and discontinued.

 

A-8


 


 

APPENDIX B

 

PROXY POLICY STATEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

 

STATEMENT OF POLICY

 

Matson Money, Inc. (formerly known as Abundance Technologies, Inc.) views the fiduciary act of managing plan assets to include the voting of proxies appurtenant to shares held in the plan.  As a rule, Matson Money, Inc. strives to ensure that all proxies are received from the custodian in a timely manner and then exercises its right to vote all proxies.  In keeping with the ERISA definition of fiduciary responsibility and the Department of Labor directives, all proxy voting decisions are made “solely in the best interest of the client’s plan participants and beneficiaries.”

 

This document represents what the firm believes to be important elements of sound corporate governance and social responsibility.  In our opinion, good corporate governance should maintain an appropriate balance between the rights of shareholders (the owners of the corporation) and the needs of management to direct the corporation’s affairs devoid of distracting short-term pressures.  As a responsible long term investment manager, Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its responsibility to strive for improved corporate governance and performance discipline.  Matson Money, Inc. offers this policy as a basis for dialogue with the objective of improving corporate governance and social practices.  This statement identifies Matson Moneys’ voting guidelines on numerous proxy issues.  These guidelines are not an exhaustive list of every issue that may arise.  Proxy issues that are not described herein will be considered in light of the relevant facts and circumstances.

 

CRITERIA AND STANDARDS

 

Each proxy issue is reviewed on its own merits, on a case-by-case basis.  Every proxy voting decision, whether on Corporate Governance or Social Issues, is made with the exclusive purpose of maximizing the economic value of the client’s investment.  Matson Money, Inc. gives special consideration to “out of the ordinary” matters and may vote against management on specific issues which are deemed to impair shareholder rights or value.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any proposal which would entrench or protect management interest contrary to the financial interests of the stockholder.

 

PROXY ADMINISTRATION

 

The portfolio manager and compliance officer are primarily responsible for monitoring corporate actions, making voting decisions and ensuring that proxies are submitted timely, consistent with this policy.  Matson Money, Inc. may form special committees, from time to time, to address unusual proxy voting issues or conflicts.

 

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

All conflicts of interest will be resolved in the interest of the clients.  Occasionally, Matson Money, Inc. may be subject to conflicts of interest in the voting of proxies due to business or personal relationships it maintains with persons having an interest in the outcome of certain votes.  In situations where Matson Money, Inc. perceives a material conflict of interest, Matson Money, Inc. may disclose the conflict to the relevant clients; defer to the voting recommendation of the clients or of an independent third party provider of proxy services; send the proxy directly to the clients for a voting decision; abstain from voting; or take such other action in good faith, in consultation with counsel, to determine the appropriate method to resolve the conflict in the interest of clients, based upon the particular facts and circumstances.  With respect to investment company clients, conflicts may arise as to votes involving the investment adviser, the underwriter, their affiliates or affiliates of the investment company.  In such cases, Matson Money, Inc. will follow the voting guidelines described herein, including the process for handling conflicts.  Under normal circumstances, if a conflict is determined not to be material, Matson Money, Inc. will vote the proxy in accordance with this policy.  The method selected by Matson Money, Inc. to vote proxies in the presence of a conflict may vary depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law.

 

I.                                        CORPORATE GOVERNANCE:

 

A.                                    BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

 

A company’s board of directors represents the focal point of corporate governance.  The board is a group of elected individuals which oversees the operation and direction of the company on behalf of its owners.  The principal responsibility of the board is to further the long term success of the corporation while remaining true to its fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders.  Matson Money, Inc. supports the primary authority of the board; however, at the same time, the firm believes that directors must remain accountable to the shareholders.  Consequently, Matson Moneys’ guidelines are as follows:

 

1.                                      Election of Directors:  While Matson Money, Inc. normally votes for the board’s nominees, the firm may decline to vote for unopposed candidates when their record indicates that their election to the board would not be in the interest of shareholders.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may vote for alternative candidates when its analysis indicates that these candidates will better represent shareholder interests.

 

2.                                      Independent Directors:   In Matson Moneys’ opinion, the ideal board should be comprised primarily of independent (non-management) directors who are both willing and qualified to serve in such capacity.  In this context, independence means no present or former employment by the company or its management which could interfere with the director’s loyalty to the shareholders.

 

3.                                      Cumulative Voting:  This voting procedure entitles each stockholder to as many votes as shall equal the number of shares owned multiplied by the number of directors to be elected.  Such votes may all be cast for a single candidate or for any two or more as the stockholder sees fit.  Matson Money, Inc. believes this method is an important democratic means of electing directors and allows shareholders to obtain representation on the

 

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board by significant vote.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally supports the practice of cumulative voting.

 

4.                                      Classified Board:  A classified board is a staggered board arrangement in which each director is elected for an established term of two, three, or four years, depending on the number of classes established.  Only those directors in the class up for election can be approved or rejected by shareholders in any given year.  In Matson Moneys’ opinion, a classified board serves to entrench management and limit shareholders’ ability to effect favorable change.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes classified boards.

 

5.                                      Director Liability and Indemnification:  A proper director liability policy should balance the need to hold directors accountable for improper actions with the need to attract competent and diligent individuals for board positions.  The Corporation should be free to indemnify directors for legal expenses and judgments in connection with their service as directors and eliminate the directors’ liability for ordinary negligence.  However, directors should be held liable to the corporation for violations of their fiduciary duty involving gross negligence.  Similarly, proposals that indemnify directors who have committed fraud or dereliction of duty would be opposed.

 

6.                                      Director Compensation:  Normally, the remuneration of Directors is considered a routine item of business.  Therefore, it is not usually submitted for a shareholder vote.  However, non-employee director compensation has become a shareholder issue recently.  Generally, Matson Money, Inc. would prefer to see more of the directors’ compensation based upon shareholder returns as measured by stock price appreciation or some other meaningful performance measure.  Furthermore, Matson Money, Inc. encourages corporations to phase out pension or retirement plans for their non-employee directors.  Most non-employee directors have retirement benefits from their primary employer; however, Matson Money, Inc. recognizes that a blanket vote to eliminate all such retirement plans could negatively impact a company’s access to potentially valuable directors.  Consequently, Matson Money, Inc. will not vote in favor of unilaterally eliminating retirement benefits.

 

7.                                      General:  Matson Money, Inc. recognizes the responsibilities of the board to organize its function and conduct its business in an efficient manner.  Therefore, barring unusual circumstances, Matson Money, Inc. would favor management proposals related to board size and oppose shareholder resolutions calling for the separation of the CEO and Chairman positions, establishing age limits for directors, special interest representation, and the formation of shareholder advisory committees, or term limits for directors.  Matson Money, Inc. is also against restricting the date or location of the annual meeting.

 

B.                                    CAPITALIZATION ISSUES:  Capitalization related proposals pertain to the creation, repurchase, or reclassification of securities.  Matson Money, Inc. may support the authorization of additional stock if management provides a satisfactory explanation of its plans for the stock; however, Matson Money, Inc. will oppose large unexplained increases in common stock.  Matson Money, Inc.

 

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will also oppose the issuance of “blank check” preferred or convertible stock which could potentially be used as a takeover deterrent or dilute/jeopardize the clients’ common stock ownership.

 

1.                                      Increase Authorized Common Stock:  Matson Money, Inc. considers a proposal to increase the number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock on case-by-case basis.  Matson Money, Inc. takes into account the size of the requested increase, its stated purpose, and how much authorized but unissued common stock remains.  The firm generally supports a stock split or a reasonable replenishment after a stock split.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. may approve an increase to support a shareholder value enhancing acquisition, to provide the necessary flexibility to maintain an optimal capital structure, or to fund stock option and stock purchase plans.  Requests to significantly increase the number of authorized shares (those resulting in greater than 10% dilution) without a stated reason or demonstrated need would be opposed.  Similarly, Matson Money, Inc. would oppose an increase when additional shares are to be used for anti-takeover measures.

 

2.                                      Authorize Blank Check Preferred Stock:  This proposal would grant authority to the board to create and issue a new class of preferred stock with unspecified terms and conditions.  “Blank check” preferred stock could be granted special voting rights and be used to entrench management or deter takeover attempts.  Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes proposals to vest the board with such power.

 

3.                                      Authorize Convertible Stock:  Matson Money, Inc. would review the rationale on a case-by-case basis taking into account the company’s current capitalization structure, the stated purpose for the security and the potential dilution effect this security would have on existing common shareholders upon conversion.  Matson Money, Inc. would oppose any request which is “blank check” in nature, where the company’s rationale is unclear, and where the request appears to blunt possible takeover attempts.

 

C.                                    SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AND PROXY VOTING:  The proxy vote is the key mechanism by which shareholders render their opinion in corporate governance.  In exercising its votes, Matson Money, Inc. believes:

 

1.                                      Confidential Voting should be adopted by all corporations on all matters brought before the shareholders.  Such provisions would protect the importance of the proxy vote and eliminate the appearance of any impropriety.

 

2.                                      Multiple Classes of Common Stock with disparate voting rights should not exist.  Rather, the board should adhere to the principle of one share-one vote.

 

3.                                      Super-majority rules or requirements which interfere with the shareholder’s right to elect directors and ratify corporate actions should be opposed.

 

4.                                      Changes in Corporation’s Domicile should only be proposed for valid business reasons, not to obtain protection against unfriendly takeovers.

 

5.                                      Change of Control occurs when a third party becomes, or obtains the right to become, the beneficial owner of Company securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of

 

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the company.  Change of Control also would occur when the directors prior to a given event cease to constitute a majority of the Board as a result of the event.

 

6.                                      Fair Price Provisions and measures to limit the corporation’s ability to buy back shares from a particular shareholder at higher than market prices are generally supported.

 

7.                                      Pre-emptive Rights allow shareholders the option to buy part of any new issue prior to its public offering.  This provision allows existing shareholders to maintain their original ownership percentage.  However, pre-emptive rights often raise the cost of capital by increasing both the time and expense of issuing new shares.  Therefore, pre-emptive rights should generally be eliminated, except where Matson Moneys’ analysis concludes such rights have value to the shareholders.

 

8.                                      “Anti-Takeover” measures should be submitted for shareholder approval.  Matson Money, Inc. is generally against such measures.

 

9.                                      Bundled Proposals: Occasionally management will attempt to tie a non-routine issue to one that is routine, attempting to pass both items in the form of a bundled proposal.  Disparate issues should not be combined and presented for a single vote.  Such proposals are generally not well received and must be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

10.                               Special Meetings of the Board of Directors, on such issues as takeovers and changes in the make-up of the Board, by its shareholders is permitted at most companies. Matson Money, Inc. is generally against limitations on the calling of Special Meetings.

 

D.                                    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION:  The board and its compensation committee should set executive compensation levels adequate to attract and retain qualified executives.  These managers should be rewarded in direct relationship to the contribution they make in maximizing shareholder value.  Matson Money, Inc. readily admits it is not qualified to thoroughly evaluate the specific issues of executive compensation for each of its portfolio holdings; however the firm does evaluate the reasonableness of compensation policies, criteria and formulas.  Likewise, Matson Money, Inc. decides what constitutes adequate disclosure of executive compensation.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports sound “pay for performance” plans which ensure equitable treatment of both corporate management and shareholders.  Compensation should include both salary and performance components.  The salary should have a defined relationship to salaries in an industry peer group.  Similarly, performance measures should relate to key industry success measurements and be judged over adequate time periods.

 

1.                                      Incentive Plans should be set forth annually in the proxy statement.  The criteria used to evaluate the performance of senior executives should be clearly stated.  Terms of the awards, such as type, coverage and option price should be specified.  Excess discretion will not be approved.  Matson Money, Inc. generally supports management if the company defines their performance goals.  However, Matson Money, Inc. opposes incentive plans where no specific goals are defined.  Without specific performance goals, there is no assurance that awards will be paid based upon realistic performance criteria.  Matson Money, Inc. also votes against plans where performance hurdles are, in its opinion, set too low.  Total potential

 

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dilution from existing and proposed compensation plans should not exceed 10% over the duration of the plan(s).  Finally, Matson Money, Inc. generally opposes plans which grant reload options (favorable repricing of options) or where options become immediately exercisable following a change of control defined as anything less than 50%.

 

2.                                      Stock/Stock Option Plans:  Matson Money, Inc. generally votes against a plan if the exercise price is unspecified or below 90% of the fair market value on the date of the grant.

 

3.                                      Golden Parachutes should always be put to shareholder vote because they often exceed ordinary compensation practices.  We are generally against Golden Parachutes.

 

E.                                     ROUTINE CORPORATE ISSUES:  Proposals in this category, which have been seen repeatedly on an historical basis, are usually non-controversial.  Generally, these issues revolve around items that are related to the normal operating procedures of the company.  Matson Money, Inc., however, votes against a management proposal to “approve any other business that properly comes before the meeting.”  As a fiduciary, Matson Money, Inc. opposes any attempt by management to get a blanket approval without full disclosure.  Conversely, each of the proposals listed below are generally supported, unless compelling reasons exist to question why it is not in the best interest of shareholders.

 

1.                                      Appointment of Auditors

2.                                      Corporate Name and/or Ticker Change

3.                                      Approval of Articles of Incorporation

4.                                      Changes to the Articles of Incorporation

5.                                      Changes in the Date, Time and/or Location of Annual Meeting

6.                                      Stock Splits

7.                                      Acceptance of Director’s Report

8.                                      Approval of Corporate Dividend

 

II.                                   SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ISSUES:  Matson Money, Inc. acknowledges its duty both as a corporate citizen and as a manager of investment funds to address important social issues.  The intention of our firm is not to impose its moral or social views upon clients.  Nor should Matson Money, Inc. restrict in any way the day-to-day operating procedures of a corporation unless, in so doing, the economic value of the client’s investment is enhanced.

 

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DOCUMENTATION OF VOTING DECISIONS

 

Matson Money, Inc. maintains accurate records of each corporate proxy received and voted along with documentation of the proxy voting decisions on each issue.  The records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

 

REPORTING

 

In order to facilitate a client’s monitoring of proxy decisions made and actions taken by Matson Money, Inc., a report summarizing each corporate issue and corresponding proxy vote is available to clients upon request.

 

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